TWO in the morning, im still up. the dawn is breaking yet still my eyes are wide open. i cant sleep because it's too hot. my sweat rolls from my forehead and wets my pillow. i get up and come closer to the cold bars of the door. i glance at the hallway. it's dark yet i can see flashes of light, shadows and footsteps. i can hear people talking. i can hear them buzz.
I opened the door and i was surprised to a stranger sitting on my table. just before i could ask who he was, the principal arrived. He greeted me with "Ping, the books were delivered very late yesterday afternoon. i want you to check it to the stock room now and comeback soon after." After his instruction, i got out immediately.
"Good morning Teachers, i have come so early today to introduce our newly-hired computer facilitator". The principal announced with voice so loud audible inside the teacher's office and even outside the area. I was on my way to the stockroom and i haven't heard the name of the new faculty.
I got back to the office and i met the principal on his way out. he smiled and i did too. i told him that the books were complete and were ready to be distributed. he said his words and proceeded.
I came in the office and everybody was in conversation with the new faculty. Everybody seemed not to notice my presence.
After a while, teachers came to their classes soon after the bell has rung. the new faculty went to the comfort room. Miss Aia took the chance to talk to me. "Hi there ping," miss Aia greeted me with a smile. "Hello miss." and i did smile too."I guess you weren't here when John was introduced," she told with her tone, asking.
Who's John anyway?haha
"i wasn't here, but i guess he's the new faculty, sitting besibe my table..?"
The new faculty came in..."there you are John,"Miss Aia greeted him. "I want you to meet Coffee, she's an English teacher, you both are new here but she came in last semester.Coffee this is John."
We exhanged hellos and smiles. I noticed... he's cute.=)
He came closer heading to his table.
"Miss Coffee, is this yours?" John asked me picking an unused sanitary napkin beside my table. I looked at what he was holding.My eyes bulged... it was mine... I was to deny it but miss Aia already laughed so loudly. I just said yes and laughed a fake laugh. ha ha ha ha. I was so embarrassed. i felt my blood has rushed and painted my face red. the bell rang and the three of us already have our classes. "i'll go ahead ping," miss Aia said as she exited the office. I was fixing my records and plans when John approached and asked "Miss Coffee, shall you guide me to the computer rooms? i've been there once but i can't remember the way."
"Very timely, my class is at the AVR,. The computer rooms are adjacent to it. Come with me then. " I responded.
We walked out the office. I didnt want to make our first moment so dull so i talked and talked to him 'bout the school's facility and the like. He too talked but too little. He's quite quiet.
We arrived at our respective classrooms and we part ways. he looked at me... no, i gues the right term is, he stared at me and smiled before he came in. i too stared at and smiled at him. I came in the classroom with confusion.
i wasn't expecting John'd still be at the office. it's already too late,about 7:30pm when i came back from the stockroom. i was, for the second time, surprised when i got in there. I usually close the office because i'm the last person to leave.
"why are you still here?" I asked with wonders in my eyes.
"I waited for you" he answered. I then thought, is this what the stare meant??
I laughed and asked Why.
"we're just neighbors. i saw you passed by our house yesterday. since my class finished at 7pm, and yours at 7:15, i decided to wait for you, so i'll have company going home. That was a good idea, wasn't it?",he answered.
I smiled and said "is that so? or you're just afraid 'cause it's dark outside?"
He fainted "no, i'm not," he said with a streak of chill in his voice.
"Hahaha, i was just kidding" i laughed as i've seen his reaction.
"How come i haven't seen you? I've been here for a year." I asked
"I took my vacation at my mom's house for a year. I spent time with her because i wasn't with her a long time." he answered
I came to know him better as every morning we walk to school and every afternoon we walk home.
John was computer programmer who worked abroad for three years and he realized that he's called to be a teacher. So he went back to the Philippines and taught computer lessons in highschool.He was young. He was just an inch taller than i was. he's fair, he's cute. he's single, as i knew he was. I was 2 years younger than John. Soon after graduation, i hunted job and after a year i found one, here. An english teacher. i was single but has just gotten over from a heartbreak.
several days had passed and we mutually understood each other. I enjoyed his company and i gues he did too enjoyed mine.Three months had passed and still we're very good friends.Our relationship had grown fonder and I guess we're more than GOOD FRIENDS. I could say we're LOVERS with no commitment. We had shared significant events together. Every month, we celebrate the birth of our friendship.We've exchanged I love you's.
An early Saturday morn, we were having our tea session in a cafe when a friend of ours passed by. I called her, "Hi mitch!." She glanced back and waved. She paused and went to where we were. "What brought you here?" I asked.
"I'm Malou's wedding planner. . ." she talked endlessly as she usually does.
". . .wait, who's with you?"she asked me after her very long explanation of why she was there. I looked back to where Joe was seated. By then I noticed he was no longer there. "I'm with John." I said. "John?..." She was about to tell me something when one of her companies called her back. She said goodbye and "text you when I get home."
I smiled and said "yeah sure".
A moment had passed and John came back.
"Where have you been? Mitch was here a while ago."
"Really?, oh i went to the men's room. Tsk. I should have seen her."
i could see in his eyes that he was lying. But i never minded that.
we did the usual thing that day ; strolled around the park, watched a movie in the afternoon and a sweet walk-talk home.
As i arrived home, i checked my phone. I had seven missed calls from Mitch. I then called her.
"Hello, Mitch. . ."
We talked the whole night.
I cried the whole night.
twas Sunday morning and i was awaken by hard knocks on the front door.
I hurriedly opened the door and was surprised seeing John. He hugged me tightly. He was crying as he told me "I don't wanna marry her. I thought I loved her... I won't marry her. It's you that I want.You and you alone. Ping, Marry me. help me escape this trap i got into."
I was shocked with what happened. I was crying as as he was telling me those words.
having still the hurt he caused me, . . and hearing those words, I slapped him with all my might. I yelled at him "Is that how you murder our hearts? you guys are inhumane. "
I saw him cried in front of me.
with the look in his eyes, I then realized what i said was off my right.
I said sorry and hugged him back.
he kissed me. . . we made love.
John was in a relationship when I met him. He was engaged with Malou, a dear friend of mine in college.
He said he knew me even before i knew him. and he fell in love with me just even before i saw him. He communicated with Malou to get connected with me. but malou fell inlove with my sweet John. And for several years they've been friends.John was frustrated with my absence. he took the chance to make Malou his girl. in the long run they've decided to get married.
months before his wedding, he decided to enjoy his life as a bachelor so he got back to his hometown where i happen to find my job.And we met. . .
I enjoyed the moment with him in my room, in my bed. We shared the sweetness of each other the whole day, the whole night.
the new morn sky was greeted by the warm ray of sunshine. I hugged my sweet John but he's cold.
i listened to his heartbeat but i couldn't hear it.
I cry. . . holding the cold bars of my cell, remembering the cold body of my sweet John.
I scream, i scream, I scream.
a woman in white dress, having a white mini- sailboat on her head came in and grabbed my hand. "Shhh. Shhhh, It's Ok, " I can hear her tell me those words as she hurt me with her mosquito-like apparatus.
I feel dizzy and I close my eyes.
