Chapter 3

THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC3

IRIS

Marami na akong nabasa at narinig na mga assumptions sa mga Professors na Attorney. The majority stated na pahirap sa buhay ng mga estudyante ang magkaroon ng Prof na Atty kasi nakakatakot at namamahiya ng mga estudyante. I somehow agreed with them because I read novels and watched films about law school and how they describe their Professors and their room ambiance were congruent to these assumptions. 

But nothing beats my classmates' hypothesis—theirs were horrible. Narinig kasi nila sa ibang block na namamahiya at nakakatakot daw yung prof nila—which apparently ay prof din namin. 

Kung isa akong matatakutin at mahiyaing estudyante, baka nag-drop na ako sa subject na 'to. 

Grabe sila mag-assume. 

"Naging prof na rin daw 'yon ng senior namin sa org and sabi niya namamahiya raw talaga 'yon," my classmate murmured. 

Kaia and I were sitting at the front at rinig na rinig namin ang conversation ng mga kaklase namin. I was just looking at the whiteboard while Kaia was intensely listening to our classmates when the door swung open and the subject of my classmates' conversation finally arrives. 

Umayos kami ng upo and I heard some of my classmates' subtle gasped nang humarap sa amin si Atty. 

"Is this AMC-302?" my prof inquired. 

"Yes," we announced in unison. 

"I'm Atty Galicia; I will be your professor in Communication Media Laws and Ethics." 

I could tell that my classmates—including Kaia were holding their breaths while my professor was looking around. I fought the urge to laugh kasi kung titingnan mo talaga sila para silang takot na takot. I would love to think na hindi pa naman siguro kami papahiyain ni Atty kasi first meeting pa lang namin 'to—siguro soon. 

"Mga Comm students kayong lahat? Third-year?" Atty guessed. 

"Yes, Sir!" 

"My pre-law was in Journalism. I'm sure alam niyo na kung bakit nag-withdraw ng membership ang GMA from KBP?" Atty asked and I immediately heard muffled sounds. 

"Why?" 

Wala pa rin nagtaas ng kamay sa amin. 

"Don't worry hindi pa naman 'to graded. I just want to know kung natatandaan niyo pa yung mga inaral niyo. I think na-discussed na ito sa inyo way back first-year, right?"  

Introduction to Communication.

I vaguely remember the details but I think I knew the answer. Hindi pa naman 'to graded. Siguro pwede na kung key words lang muna ang isagot. 

I raised my hand para matapos na ang agony ng mga kaklase ko. 

"Yes!" Atty acknowledges me. 

I stood up. I saw Kaia shocked. 

"Ito po yung tungkol kay Mike Enriquez and ABS-CBN?" I stammered. 

"That's one," Atty agreed. "Ano pa?" 

"Uhm, yung isa pong host ng Startalk, I think it was Rossana Roces—no'ng may 'foul' po siyang sinabi, and last yung sa commercial po." 

I sighed after kong maka-upo. That was first-year lessons! Buti na lang nakinig ako no'ng time na 'yon. 

"Yes, GMA withdraws their membership from Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas because of these three reasons, diba? The first ground ay yung kay Rossanna Roces—yung obscene statement niya while being on aired sa Startalk. Also Mike Enriquez, for lambasting rival station ABS-CBN, that's correct, and yung commercial overloading nila," Atty further explained. 

Kaia gave me a triumph smile. Nakahinga na rin siya nang maayos. 

"Isa 'yan sa mga itotopic natin, mga ethical codes sa Media Industry. Alam niyo ba kung bakit walang Journalists na nag a-advertise?" 

Atty Galicia also shared the scope of our topics for prelims. He said that we have to do an extensive reading sa Constitution ng Pilipinas dahil start na ng recitation sa Thursday.   

"On Thursday, please bring 1/8 index card..." 

I heard papers and bags being shuffled when Atty assigned us to bring 1/8 index card on Thursday. I didn't bother jutting down because I saw Kaia hastily scribbling Atty's assignment to us. 

"Write your full name on the right side corner, your section, the subject, and the schedule. Then put a 1x1 picture on the top left. That's all. See you on Thursday," yun lang at mabilis na lumabas ng room si Atty. 

Halos magyakapan ang mga kaklase ko—may napaluhod pa nga.

"Pano mo nalaman 'yung sagot dun, Ris?" tanong ni Kaia habang pababa kami ng building. 

May 1-hour vacant kami and I am craving paotsin. 

"Saan?" 

"Dun sa tanong ni Atty!" 

Nagtataka ko siyang nilingon, "Pinag-aralan natin yun no'ng first-year. Na-take niyo na Intro to Comm diba?" 

Nag-isip pa siya saglit bago bumaling sa akin. "Yeah, first-year, I guess. Pero di ko na maalala yung lesson na 'yun." 

"Lesson learned: making na kay Teacher," paalala ko. 

Ang daming tao sa Canteen nang pagpasok namin. Ang init tuloy. Pero pumasok na rin kami dahil gutom na kami pareho. After we ate our lunch, we immediately go back to our room because it's almost time for our second subject—Music Appreciation. 

Kaia loves this subject dahil parang interesting daw. Favorite niya raw kasing subject no'ng first-year ay Art Appreciation. Baka maging favorite subject niya rin itong Music Appreciation kasi may appreciation.

When we arrived at the classroom, kokonti palang kami. Hindi kasi pumasok last week ang prof namin dito. Baka iniisip ng iba naming classmates ay wala pa rin ang prof namin ngayon. Akala ko konti lang talaga kaming papasok, pero unti-unti ay nadadagdagan kami sa room. 

Maya-maya ay may pumasok na babae sa room namin. Sobrang puti! Tipong kung magca-casting call man ang mga film productions for Elsa ng frozen ay hindi na nakapagtataka na siya ang mapipili. Para rin inspired sa Charlie and the chocolate factory ang kulay ng buhok niya, ang colorful! Hindi mo talaga aakalain na isa pala siyang professor sa overall look niya.  

She was holding nothing but her phone. Initially, we thought na student lang din siya. Pero nagpakilala siya sa amin as prof namin sa Music App. 

Kaia was stoked. 

*** 

Nagpa-attendance lang at nag-early dismissal din kami kay Mam Music App kaya maaga rin makakauwi sina Kaia—while I still have one subject. 

Kaia yet again accompanied me into my room. I didn't know if it's because she cares I might cry for being alone or she just wants to know where Kurt room is. Hindi ko pa kasi nasasabi sa kanya na kaklase ko si Kurt—nakalimutan ko rin kasi. 

"Di ko nakwento sayo..." I began because Kaia was busy searching for every other room. 

"What?" 

"Classmate ko si Kurt mo sa RIPH," I declared while waiting for her reaction. 

"What?!" 

"Yes, and pakihinaan boses mo please mamaya may lumabas na prof dito!" she ignored my request and started punching me on my arm. 

"You should've told me?!" 

"Nakalimutan ko." 

Para makabawi kay Kaia ay sinama ko siya sa harap ng room. Ituturo ko sa kanya kung saan nakaupo si Kurt. Nakasilip kami sa maliit na window ng backdoor kung saan makikita mo ang mga tao sa loob. But Kaia failed to see Kurt dahil wala pa ito sa room. I looked at my watch. It's 4:55 pm. 

Kaia and I jumped from our spot when someone cleared its throat from our back. I immediately looked back to see the Neanderthals only to find out Kurt's face—and Joaquin, and some of their friends. 

"Classmate ka namin, right?" Kurt guessed, looking at me. 

Tiningnan ko si Kaia nang bigla niya akong kurutin sa braso.

"Yeah. Sorry nakaharang kami sa daan." 

Natatawa kaming tiningnan ni Kurt while we scooted on the side para makapasok sila. 

"No, ladies first," Kurt gestured na mauna na kaming pumasok. I waved my hand as my response and told them na mauna na. Bago sila pumasok lahat I saw Joaquin looking at us...weirded out. I looked at what I'm wearing kasi baka ito na naman ang source ng gazing niya.

I'm wearing a white cradle short-sleeve front-tie crop and distressed baggy jeans and my favorite sneakers. While Kaia is wearing white puff-sleeved and white low heel platform. I whipped my head back to Joaquin but he already averted his gaze and entered the room. I looked back at Kaia who was ready to faint. 

"Hoy! Parang timang 'to. Dahil lang sa lalaki?!" 

"Iris!" 

Pinalo na naman niya ako. 

"Thank you, Iris!" she thanked while hugging me. "Buo na araw ko." 

Napangiti ako. 

"Oh sige na, umuwi ka na. Papasok na 'ko." 

"Okay! Bye Iris thank you talaga!" 

"You're welcome. Bye!" I replied before I entered the room. 

Wala pa ang butihin naming propesor pagpasok ko. Hindi na rin ako nag-abala makisalamuha pa dahil hindi pa rin panayag ang loob ko sa kanila. Besides, kabago-bago ko pa lang. Ang weird naman kung makiki-join agad ako sa mga ito gayong una, hindi ko lungga ito, at pangalawa, nandito si Joaquin.  

Hindi rin nagtagal ay pumasok na rin si Mam Constancia. Nagpa-attendance lang siya and assigned the class to look for Class Representative—which was none other than Joaquin. Hindi na kami nag-botohan, parang nawalan kami—lalo na ako—ng rights makapili ng mamumuno sa subject na ito nung isa sa mga barkada ni Joaquin ang nag-insist na ang siya na lamang daw ang maging class representative. Wala ng tanong tanong. Siya na agad. 

She asked Joaquin na ilagay na lang sa office niya yung pina-ikot na 1-whole yellow pad for today's attendance and Mam then dismissed us early. 

‘Yun na ‘yon? Anong meron at lahat ay nagpapa-early dismissal?