The Search

Chapter 12

The classes for the whole day had ended already. I was about to exit the room with Psalm when Mrs. Yllon entered and told me to stay for some time because she had something to tell me.

"Hintayin mo na lang ako sa labas," I told Psalm.

Mrs. Yllon invited me to take a seat before she said her agenda. "So, how's the study?" she asked when we finally fixed ourselves.

"So far so good, Ma'am," I smiled.

"Glad to hear that," she smiled as well. "Anyway, kaya kita pinaiwan muna ay dahil may gusto lang akong itanong sa'yo."

"Ano po 'yon?"

"The school is now looking for campus journalists who will represent the university," she started. "Since maraming graduates ang wala na sa team, naghahanap sila ng mga bago. I didn't recommend you yet kasi baka ayaw mo. But I know you have potential, so I'm asking you right now. Would you like to join the publication team?"

Napalunok ako. "Grabe po, Mrs. Yllon, parang hindi naman po yata ako bagay sa ganyan kalaking department."

"As I've told you, naniniwala ako sa kakayahan mo. In fact, ikaw ang pinakamagaling dito sa klase, especially in writing. Alam kong marami ka pang ibubuga," she said. "Isa pa, hindi naman basta-basta 'yon na sasabak kayo kasi may mga training pa na mangyayari."

"I think that's interesting po, Mrs., pero puwede po bang pag-isipan ko muna?"

"Sure, dear." She took the ballpen and wrote something on the paper. "Kapag may decision ka na, just call me or text me. Here's my number," abot nito sa 'kin sa papel. "Baka kasi hectic schedule ko the following days at baka 'di na tayo mag-meet dito, kaya 'yan na lang."

"Oh, okay po, Ma'am. Basta I'll update you na lang po kapag may decision na ako."

Nagpaalam na rin ako pagkatapos, saka dumiretso kay Psalm na nakaupo sa may hallway at naghihintay. "Let's go," I said when I finally reached him.

He stood up. "Anong sinabi ni Mrs. Yllon?"

"Journalism," tipid kong sabi habang palabas kami ng building.

"Journalism?"

I nodded.

"Did she invite you to join?"

I nodded. "But I don't think so I'd be able to."

"It's a big opportunity," he said. "Why don't you join?"

"'Yon na nga, it's a big opportunity na may kapalit ding big responsibility. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko, mukhang mahirap."

"Ano ka ba, ikaw pa ba? Don't hesitate, just join. Honestly speaking, malaki ang potential mo, nakikita ko 'yon, kaya naniniwala ako sa 'yo. Why don't you believe in yourself, too?" he asked. "'Yan kasi ang hirap sa'yo, wala kang tiwala sa sarili mo."

"Hindi naman sa walang tiwala. I'm just thinking of the responsibilities, baka mahirapan din ako sa studies ko. Isa pa, inaasikaso ko pa 'yong kaso ni Mommy."

"Don't worry, I'm working on it. I've told you na tutulungan kita, 'di ba?"

Tipid akong tumango.

"And when I said I will help, I will help. Don't worry too much. Maayos din ang lahat ng 'to."

I thanked him and smiled.

"Nga pala, text mo ako kapag nakauwi ka na, ha?" sambit niya sa 'kin nang makarating na kami sa parking area.

I looked at him. "Sira phone ko, remember?"

"Akala ko ba nakabili ka na?"

"No, not yet," I answered. "Wala naman akong pambili. Maghahanap muna ako ng work bago ako bibili."

"Let's buy now."

"Wala nga akong pera sabi."

"Ako na muna ang bahala."

I puckered my eyebrows. "Huh?"

"Sabi ko ako muna ang bahala. Bayaran mo na lang sa 'kin kapag may pera ka na. Need mo ng phone ngayon, kaya huwag ka nang makulit."

Tatanggi pa sana ako, pero wala na akong nagawa since he insisted. Nagsimula na akong mag-drive papunta sa mall, samantalang ang kotse niya'y nasa likuran ko. It took as a half hour to arrive at the mall. Dumiretso na rin kami agad sa stalls ng mga cellphone. Wala pang ilang minuto ay nakapili na rin kami. Dahil medyo madilim na, umuwi na kami.

As he had told me, I texted him when I went home already. I was happy with my new cellphone of course, and as I was thinking how I would spend time with this properly, Mrs. Yllon's favor registered into my mind.

I was taking Bachelor of Arts in Literature because I wanted to be a journalist someday, yet I still doubted myself in joining the publication team. I was already a third-year college and it would be a great start for my future work, wouldn't it?

I took the paper from my pocket that Mrs. Yllon gave me because I planned to call her. Good thing it was ringing. "Hello, Ma'am," I greeted her as soon as she answered the call. "This is Margot Sarbien po."

"Oh hi, Margot! What's up?"

"Good, Mrs. Yllon," I answered. "Busy po ba kayo?"

"Hindi naman gaano, Anak. I'm taking rest now kasi kakatapos ko lang gawin 'yong lesson plan ko. Bakit ka pala napatawag? About ba 'to sa desisyon mo?"

"Yes, Mrs. I made my final decision na po. I know it's a very good ang big opportunity po sa 'kin, and soI've decided to join the publication team po."

"Wow, that's very nice to hear! I'm so glad, Margot. I promise you won't regret joining in."

"Napag-isip-isip ko rin po kasi na kailangan ko 'to para po sa future ko. Total sinasanay na rin naman po kami sa loob ng klase, siguro much better po if sanayin ko na rin ang sarili ko sa mas mataas na level."

"That's true, dear. Hindi ka nagkamali ng desisyon. Saka huwag kang masyadong mag-alala sa acads mo, kaya 'yang i-handle ng team. 'Di nila hahayaan na mawalan kayo ng oras sa klase n'yo. May schedule kayo for training."

"Good to hear po, Ma'am. Sa totoo lang po, medyo nag-aalangan po kasi ako sa schedule at sa magiging responsibilities ko."

"Basta don't worry, Anak, I got you," she said. "Tamang-tama rin na tumawag ka kasi in-inform din nila ako kanina na may meeting daw kayo bukas."

"Agad-agad po?"

I heard her let out a soft chuckle. "Don't worry, may program bukas sa school kaya walang maaapektuhan. Hindi ka ba na-inform?"

"Ay, may program po pala? 'Di po ako na-inform," marahan kong tawa.

"So paano ba 'yan, Margot, bukas na lang okay? Eight in the morning nga pala ang start ng meeting n'yo, so better to be early tomorrow. See you!"

I thanked her before we exchanged goodbyes. Natulog na rin ako pagkatapos dahil maaga pa ang meeting kinabukasan.

When the sun came up, I fixed myself and drove to the school. Pagkarating ko roon ay wala pang masyadong tao dahil alas siyete pa lamang ng umaga. Classes usually would start at seven thirty in the morning, but since there was a program, I didn't know how the schedule would be arranged.

I was all alone at the classroom. It wasn't that bad because I could find peace there. Ngunit paglipas ng ilan pang minuto ay nagsidatingan na ang mga kaklase ko.

"Naks, ang aga," rinig kong sabi ni Psalm, kaya napalingon ako.

"Oh, nandito ka na rin pala," sambit ko. "Maaga talaga ako ngayon, nakakagulat na naman ba?"

"Medyo," tawa niya. "Ano bang meron? Program naman 'di ba? Excited ka ba?"

"Baliw, hindi. May meeting kasi kami mamayang eight para sa journalism."

"So you've decided to join?"

I nodded.

He clapped and shouted, dahilan para mapatingin sa kaniya ang mga kaklase ko. "Nice! Aangat status mo diyan. Gaganda ang career mo!"

Natawa na lamang ako sa inasal niya. I looked at my watch then, sakto namang may pumunta sa classroom at nagtawag sa pangalan ko. The lady who called my name, lead me to the room for the journalists.

I was sitting quietly in the room while looking at the other student journalists. Ang iba'y nakasalamin pa kaya mukhang matatalino. Ang iba naman ay nakahawak na ng mga mukhang mamahaling pen. Bigla tuloy lumundag ang puso ko at parang gusto ko nang umatras.

"Newbie?" biglang tanong sa akin ng katabi kong babae.

I looked at her and smiled. "Ah, oo."

"Oh, nice," she said. "I'm Lucille."

"And I'm Margot," I said. "Nice meeting you."

We shook hands.

"What year ka nga pala?" tanong nito. "Parang ngayon lang kita nakita dito sa univ."

"I'm a third-year college, under the course of Bachelor of Arts in Literature."

"OMG, are you for real?" Her eyes turned bigger. "We're on the same year and course!"

"Yes, I know. Minsan na kitang nakita sa kabilang block. You're an active student. Lahat yata ay kilala ka."

She chuckled. "Not really. Yes, active ako sa mga ganito, but I'm not famous," sambit nito. "Pero 'yong totoo, pareho pala tayo ng ano, eh. Nakakagulat ka naman. It's a bit embarrassing that I don't know you."

"Wala namang nakakahiya ro'n," tawa ko. "Saka hindi na ako nagulat kasi hindi naman talaga ako active sa mga gan'to kaya siguro hindi ako kilala. Napilit lang din akong sumali dito, so I'm giving it a try."

"Alam mo, wala kang pagsisisihan dito, lalo na kapag nalaman mo kung sino ang president."

I puckered my eyebrows. "President?"

"Uh-huh. Dito kasi ay may mga officer. Sa rami ba naman ng members ng publication team, need talaga ng mga leader. But now, I guess we'll be having an election since maraming officers ang graduated na."

"Oh, I see."

We were not able to talk more when a lady came in front and talked.

"She's the head of the SPAs," Lucille whispered.

Tumango na lamang ako at nakinig sa babaeng nagpakilalang si Mrs. Laila Guazon. Sa ganda ng boses nito ay makikinig ka talaga.

"So, all of you here are a combination of the former and the new members of this publication team," she said. "Before we proceed to the main agenda, I wanna let you know that there will be no more screening since every one of you is qualified already to be a campus journalist. As I know, the majority of you are Literature students, right?"

Everyone said yes.

"Okay, that's good," she grinned. "So now we are going to start the election. If you are not informed yet, today we're going to have an election for this school year. But, but, but... of course your president will not be replaced, he will still remain.

"To lead the nomination for this election, may I call in Mr. Kye Vonnier."

My eyes and mouth automatically widened as I saw Kye walking in front. So, he was the president of the publication team?

"Ang pogi, 'di ba?" kilig na kilig na bulong sa akin ni Lucille.

Kye fixed his posture and started talking. He greeted us first and went right away to his agenda. "As you all know, activities are now starting to run in the university, so we, as campus journalists, need to record all of them. Since we are going to start very soon the school paper, we will be needing people who will lead everyone."

My eyes were still widened and I wasn't blinking for some time. Nang sabihin ni Kye na mag-uumpisa na ang nomination para sa bise presidente, doon lamang ako natauhan.

"Okay, three are now nominated. Who else wants to nominate?" Kye asked.

Tulala akong nakatingin rito, not until Lucille tapped me on my arms. "Bakit?" tanong ko.

"Punta ka na sa harap, ni-nominate kita," ngiting-ngiti na sabi niya.

Halos hindi maipinta ang mukha ko. May balak pa sana akong tanungin so Lucille kung bakit ako nito naisipang i-nominate, pero lahat ng tao sa loob ay nakatingin sa akin, kaya wala na rin akong nagawa kung hindi ang pumunta sa harapan.

Kye asked one more time if who wanted to nominate, but someone had closed already the nomination, so the voting had started also.

I was looking at Lucille. Gustong-gusto ko na siyang sapakin pero hindi ko magawa dahil hindi pa naman kami masyadong magkakilala. My gaze was still into her until the voting had ended.

Everyone clapped their hands.

Mabilis akong nagtungo pabalik kay Lucille nang pigilan ako ni Kye, kaya napalingon ako rito. "B-bakit?" tanong ko.

"Don't leave yet," he said. "Since you're the newly elected vice president, you have to help me here."

Napatingin ako sa board at doon ko lamang napagtanto na ako pala ang may pinakamaraming boto, I thought it was the girl next to me.

My heart was pounding as I walked in front, near Kye. Before the nomination continued, I looked at him first, uncertain. "A-anong gagawin?"