Tulala ako habang nakatingin sa unahan. Hindi pa rin maproseso ng utak ko ang nangyaring usapan kanina sa pagitan namin ni Kairuse. Parang may marka na naiwan sa buong kaluluwa ko.

"Ohh, Ms. Rueno is the one who's disagreeing with my statement about the Bible verse being included in our law?"

Ano bang nangyayari sa isip ko? Padami nang padami. Mabuti na lang at hindi malaki ang eye bags ko kaya hindi ako mukhang kawawa.

Nabigla ako nang marinig ko ang malakas na hampas sa lamesa ko. Muntik na tumakas ang kaluluwa ko sa katawan ko.

"Are you listening, Ms. Lurether Khaos Rueno?! It seems you're out of your mind!" bulyaw ni Ms. Theresa sa buong silid. "I'm asking you a question! Nakikinig ka ba?!"

Tumingala ako at sinalubong ang masamang titig niya. "What is it, ma'am?"

"I see, you're not listening. Okay, let me repeat my question for you," she said with a smile. "Why... do you disagree with my statement about the Bible verse being included in our law? Are you questioning how I teach?"

Nakalimutan ko. Second period in the afternoon is Bible class. Nalimutan kong mag-ditch. Alam ko na mangyayari ito. Alam na alam ko kung hihingin niya ang sagot ko hanggat hindi siya napapanatag.

This person isn't just teaching the Bible; she's teaching to instill fear in students through her judgmental approach. That's the kind of person she is.

Tumayo ako. Lumunok muna ako bago nagsalita. "Because the Bible starts with the letter 'B', while the law starts with 'L'." Tumigil ako, nagbilang kung ilang letra ang kasunod. Kita ko sa gilid ng mata ko ang mga titig ng mga kaklase ko, nag hihintay kung magkamali ako o kung tatapusin ako ni Ms. Theresa. "12 letters before they meet, therefore those two cannot be in the same place. They're too far apart and can't be connected-"

"Stop with your nonsense! Give me an acceptable answer! You're at a prestigious school, facing a person who graduated with flying honors! Be a student with a brain, not one full of nonsense!" bulyaw niya, galit na galit na ang mukha. Ang mga mata niya, parang umaapoy na.

"But that was my answer-"

"You call that an answer?" tanong niya. Tutok na tutok pa rin ang tingin ng mga kaklase ko sa amin. Wala akong nakitang simpatya sa mga mata nila, siguro naghihintay na lang silang matawa.

This is the nature of this school.

The dark side. Wala galang ang mga studyante rito, pati na rin ang mga guro. They teach however they want. Kaya bata pa lang, hasang-hasa na iba sa mga kagagawan ng ibang guro. Ginagawa nilang impyerno ang buhay ng mga estudyante. They take advantage of the power they have in this school.

May isang salita na paulit-ulit nilang itinatanim sa utak namin: survival. Kung gusto mong mag-graduate, kailangan mong mag-survive sa impyernong dinudulot ng mga guro at estudyante dito.

"But you asked me, I just answered," I said calmly. No one can defeat me in this school, ma'am. Hindi pa ata pinanganak, nakakabagot na.

In order to survive in this school, you must be strong. You must fight. And if you're smart, that helps too. Pero kung wala ka namang talino, okay lang, basta ang una at pangalawang yan ay pwede na.

Kasi kung hayaan mo na kinakawawa ka nila, kawawa ka talaga. Pero kung marunong kang lumaban, hindi ka nila magagawang gawing impyerno ang buhay mo, gaya ng ibang bata na hindi kayang lumaban sa mga guro at kaklasi nila.

"Arg, such nonsense-"

"Ma'am, I also disagree with using the Bible as the foundation for law." Tumayo si Kairuse, tinitigan muna ako bago ibinaling ang atensyon niya kay Ms. Theresa. "Because the Bible serves as a guide for understanding how Jesus saved humanity and teaches us right from wrong, but it differs from secular law. The law requires a justice system to ensure equality for all people. If we rely solely on the Bible, what happens to the justice system that laws are meant to uphold?"

Everyone's attention shifted to Kairuse. I could see awe on the faces of most of my classmates.

Binaling ni Ms. Theresa ang tingin kay Kairuse. "I know you're smart, but I believe you may not fully grasp this perspective. Only Jesus can truly judge humanity, as He created us. So why do you disagree with incorporating the Bible into law instead of relying solely on acts and statutes?"

"So, what should it be, ma'am? A Bible verse instead? Are we to say, 'You're guilty according to this verse or that'? Is that really what you believe?" Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang sumingit. Her big, circular sunglasses slipped down her nose as she stood up. Her white hair was tied in a ponytail, and her skin seemed even whiter under the sunlight.

She's the girl version of Kairuse-smart and prefers to be alone. The difference is that Kairuse loves to read, while Nora loves to draw. She's always with her MacBook and a pen, drawing and painting. She's really good at it.

"Oh, a Guivoro joining the disagreeing team. I thought you and your parents always went to church every Sunday. Why are you suddenly opposing the idea of incorporating the Bible into the law? It could help others understand the sacrifices of our beloved Jesus Christ." Napapikit pa ito sa sinabi niya.

"What does my family have to do with this? You make it sound like I'm joining the forces of evil just to win this argument. In fact, your worthless words come from a worthless person. Do you know that the field of education doesn't suit you? Or are you imagining that being a 'Nan' suits you instead?" Nora laughed sarcastically. "No, you know what suits you well? That!" Tinuturo ni Nora si Ms. Theresa. "Be a trash and stay in the trashcan, it suits you well."

Nagmumula sa galit ang mukha ni Ms. Theresa. Kita ko ang biglaang pagkuyom ng kamao nito. "You bra-"

"You may think you can hurt me or others without consequence, but I urge you to reconsider," Nora interrupted. "You know my parents well, and you're aware of what they're capable of if you choose to cross this line. Think carefully before you act."

Napatigil si Ms. Theresa sa sinabi niya.

"You! And you! All of you are just a bunch of hypocrites! You'll never get anywhere in life, just rot in hell!" she shouted before storming out, leaving behind a room full of mixed emotions.

Hindi na ako nagulat sa biglaang pagpalapak ng iba kasi lagi naman nila ginagawa iyon. Kahit anong bagay ay nakakatuwa sa kanila , lalo na siguro sa pamamahiyang ginagawa nila sa ibang estudyante.

Napatingin ako kay Kairuse. Nag-iiwas ang tingin niya nung napansin niyang nakatingin ako. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nagfocus na lang sa klase habang hinihintay ang guro.

Kung si Kairuse at Nora ang magdedebate, sino kaya ang mananalo? Pareho silang matalino, kaya sa tingin ko, walang kasiguraduhan sa sagot.

Kinuha niya ang makapal na MacBook at inayos ang salamin. Sinimulan niyang gumuhit, parang walang nangyari. Wala ni isang pagbabago sa hitsura niya, tila walang pinatalsik na guro.

Nakapag-inhales ako at nakaramdam ng pagod. May mahigit isang oras pa kami bago ang huling subject sa hapon. Imbes na magpunch sa mukha ng isa o makipagplastikan sa mga kaklase, hinayaan ko na lang ang sarili kong matulog ng mahimbing.

"Lure! Wake up."

"Ahmm?"

"Lure, hey. Wake up." Nararamdaman ko pa ang pagpisil nito sa pisngi ko.

"Lure, hey!"

"Aghh, Sunghae." Gulat na gulat si Kairuse sa sinabi ko. Bigla akong natauhan at nagising. "God! Nasa school pala ako, hindi sa bahay!" Mahinang sambit ko habang inaantok pa. "Nandiyan na ang last period teacher natin? I'm tired."

Wala siyang sinabi. Bakit parang walang laman ang classroom? Wala akong ibang maramdamang presensya maliban kay Kairuse. Bigla kong nilingon ang buong kwarto at laking gulat ko nang makita kong wala ng ibang tao. Kami lang ni Kairuse ang natira. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang ibalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya.

"The last subject ended three hours ago. It's already 6:30 in the evening. I didn't want to disturb your sleep, but I can't stay with you because I need to go home too. Or do you want to stay here while I lock the room?"