It's already 10:00 AM at katatapos pa lang ng first subject namin which is Zoology 1100. Though katulad nga ng sinabi ko, walang klaseng naganap dahil sa loob ng halos dalawang oras ay nakinig lang kami sa orientation ni sir West–advisory instructor namin and at the same time, professor namin sa first subject. Idiniscuss niya yung mga rules and regulation ng department pati na'rin ang vision, mission and philosophy nito. Ipinakita din yung grading systems throughout the whole semester, ganun din ang mga special projects and laboratory works na maaari naming iconduct.
"Okay guys, bago ko kayo pakawalan, we will first have an election for your homeroom officers," Anunsyo ni sir Alfonso na ikinabusangot ng lahat.
"Luh sir, tanghali na!" Kontra ni Tiffy, isa sa mga kaklase kong babae.
"Oo nga sir! Next meeting na lang!" Pag-sang-ayon ng lahat dito.
"Hindi yan, then make it quick, bilis na." Pinal na desisyon ng aming adviser habang nakangiti. Hindi nag-tagal ay nag settle-down na'rin ang buong klase at umayos ng upo. Mas mapapabilis nga naman kasi ang election kung sisimulan na kaagad ito kaysa pilitin ang aming adviser na sa next meeting na lamang ito ituloy.
"Okay good, alam niyo naman na siguro ang magiging tungkulin ng mga elected officers, kaya pagbutihin niyo sa pag-pili at pag-boto," Panimula nito at saka inilabas ang isang white-board marker.
"My name is West Alfonso. And the chair is now open for the nomination for president, who want's to nominate," Pagbubukas nito sa election na sinundan kaagad ng pag-taas ng kamay ng mga kaklase ko.
"My name is Brayce Jimenez. And I would like to nominate Mr. Zachary M. Bautista for president." Proud na anunsyo nito at saka ako nginisihan bago bumalik sa pagkaka-upo. Napa-simangot na lamang ako sa kagagawan ng magaling kong kaibigan.
Inilibot ko ang tingin ko sa kabuuan ng classroom kung saan nakita ko ang mga mata nilang nakatingin sa akin–maliban sa lalaking naka-upo malapit sa bintana. It looks like he doesn't even give a fucking interest to this election at all. Nasa labas pa'rin ng bintana ang atensyon nito which makes me irritated–again.
"Mr. Bautista is nom—"
"No objection sir! Siya na yung president!" Pagputol ni Tiffy kay sir Alfonso. Napa-buntong hininga na lamang ako. Here we go again!
"Oo nga sir, wala ng botohan! Si Zach na po ang president namin, diba guys?" Pangungumbinsi pa ni Peanut na sinang-ayunan naman ng lahat.
Naiwang nakabukas ang bibig ng aming adviser. Nagtataka ito at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa klase. He cleared his throat and positioned his eyeglasses.
"O-okay, sigurado kayo ha? Then Mr. Bautista is now officially your block president, give him a round of applause." Sir Alfonso proclaimed as he call me on the front to continue the election.
Frankly, I knew it was going to happen eversince Brayce nominated me. For the past two years in our senior high, they always did this to me, pinagkaka-isahan nila ako. Kesyo I'm fit to be a president daw and I can always handle the pressure, which I sincerely admitted. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon, all I remember was I'm quite good at leading people and I think it was an instincts at first, hanggang sa dumating yung time that I moved to my own place, it's when I was in grade 11 and that was the start na naging independent ako.
I opened the nomination for the vice president and the election continues. Sa totoo lang ay hindi naman na talaga election ang nangyari kundi appointing, halos wala na kasing botohan na naganap, kung sino na lang ang gusto ng majority ay yoon ang na-e-elect. Kung sino ang pinaka maganda magsulat ay siyang naging secretary, kung sino ang sanay sa keeping and auditing ay sila yung naging treasurer and auditor, as well as the position for the PIO and Sgt. At Arms appointing din ang nangyari. Hindi naman na ako nag-reklamo pa dahil may punto naman sila sa bagay na iyon, mas mapapabilis nga naman ang election and besides wala din namang nagreklamo at nagbigay ng negative comments patungkol sa mga apppointed officers.
But when it comes to the position for muse and escort, dito na naging seryoso ang nomination and election. Hindi kasi pwedeng kung sino-sino lang na magaganda at gwapo ang i-appoint nila, hindi sapat na puro itsura lang ang labanan, dapat ay meron ding talino at lakas ng loob ang mga ito. And besides, I'm sure na kung sino man ang ma-e-elect na muse and escort ay sila din yung mga ilalaban for the upcoming events of the department and universities. Sa pagkaka-alam ko pa naman ay title holders sa mga events ang aming department maging ang college so it will definitely be a huge pressure for the next candidates.
Nagsimula na ang election for muse na nagkaroon ng tatlong nominies. Hindi ko maipag-kakailang magaganda ang mga ito and from the looks of their bodies, alam kong sanay at suki na sila ng mga beauty pageants. Pero katulad nga ng inaasahan ko, si Patricia Kite Rivera pa'rin ang nanalo. Katulad nila Brayce ay kaklase ko din ito since senior high at noon pa man ay sumasali na siya sa mga pageants ng school at naghahakot ng awards. She's a half australian who transferred here two years ago. Matangkad ito, maputi at makinis ang balat na binagayan naman ng mahaba at dark brown nitong buhok. Hindi din maipag-kakaila ang tinataglay nitong talino, sa contest man o sa loob ng klase. And I think that was also the reason why she got the majority votes of the class, she deserve it.
And for the last part of the election, I open the chair for the nomination for escort. Saglit na natahimik ang lahat at saka nag-lingunan sa mga katabi–especially the girls. They immediately raise their hand for the nomination.
Two of my classmates back then was already nominated. Mark Velasco and John Patrick Cortez which I can also say na may ipagmamalaki din naman. I think.
"Is there any nomination?" Tanong ko sa kanila matapos ang ilang sandaling katahimikan.
"Then who wants to—"
"Wait! I object!" Putol ni Flu sa pagsasara ko sana ng nominasyon. I gave him the look which he only replied with a smirked while standing. Kahit kaylan talaga.
"My name is Flu Gonzales. And I respectfully nominate—Him!" He arrogantly said while pointing his index finger to his left side. No way, you gotta be kidding me!
Halos lahat ay sabay-sabay na napatingin sa tabi ng bintana, kung saan itinuro ni Flu ang nag-iisang lalaki na naka-pwesto doon. Mababakas ang pagkagulat na bumalot sa mukha nito–and here I thought he doesn't have any emotion at all.
Nagsimulang mag-bulungan ang lahat na sinundan ng mga impit na tili ng mga babae na nagkakaladiyaan. Sa tingin ko ay kanina pa'rin nila ito gustong inominate but the fact that they have been all ignored when they tried to approach him earlier gives them a second thought, pero ngayon nga na pinangunahan na mismo ito ng magaling kong kaibigan ay muling bumalik ang mga plano nila.
"What is your name again, Mr?" Pagtatanong ni sir Alfonso ng maramdaman na wala itong balak magsalita.
Dahan-dahan itong tumayo at saka nag-angat ng tingin kay sir Alfonso.
"Y-yuri sir. Yuri Sato." Nahihiyang pagpapa-kilala nito habang pinapamulahan na ng mukha. Yuri huh?
"Well then Mr. Sato, you are now nom—"
"I want to object sir." Putol agad nito kay sir Alfonso. Nagsimula nanaman itong yumuko at saka pinag-laruan ang pang ibabang labi sa pamamagitan ng pag-kagat niya dito which makes it more reddish than usual. I immediately erase the thought at muling ibinalik ang atensyon sa aming adviser.
Nagtataka nanaman itong tumingin sa lahat habang ang ilan naman sa mga kaklase kong babae ay sine-senyasan ito na wari'y sinasabi na huwag itong payagan sa pag-object. Napabuntong hininga na lamang itong muli at napa-iling.
"I'm afraid you can't Mr. Sato, I think it would be so unfair to your other classmates na hindi 'rin pinayagan na mag-object," Malinaw na paliwanag ng aming adviser.
"But sir hin—"
"No but's. And besides it's just only a nomination. If you really don't want to be elected, then you can convince your admirers here to not give their votes for you–though I think it's not going to happen." Mahabang pagsa-saad ni sir Alfonso.
Wala na itong nagawa kundi ang muling bumalik sa pagkaka-upo. Muka itong pinag-sakluban ng langit at lupa na hindi mapakali sa kanyang kina-uupuan. Napakunot na lamang ako ng kilay, what's the big deal? Simpleng nomination pa lang naman ang kinalalagyan niya pero kung umakto siya ay akala mong alam na niya agad na siya yung magiging escort. Sa tingin niya ba siya yung ma-e-elect? As if naman na maraming boboto sa kanya? Napangisi ako.
The nomination was closed with a three nominated escorts. The dividing of the votes started and with the help of the elected secretary and vice president, we counted the votes individually.
"Mark Velasco got 14 votes in total." Anunsyo ni Alyssa–the elected secretary.
"And John Patrick Cortez got 15 votes." Dagdag naman ni Sharleen–the elected vice president.
Wait what? 14 votes for Mark and 15 votes for Patrick with a total of 29 votes.
Alyssa and Sharleen did not also cast their vote yet, so I assumed that they will probably gave it for the last. I immediately count the number of students inside the classroom. And if I counted correctly, there were only 45 students in total.
"Wait, give my vote to John Patrick." I silently said to Alyssa. Binura niya naman agad yung numerong nakasulat sa white board at saka pinalitan.
"Who are in favor to Yuri Sato, raised your hands please." Utos ni Sharleen at saka sinimulang bilangin ang boto.
I smirked ahead of time.
"Yuri Sato also got a 16 votes in total, which means we will need to re—"
"Wait–I'm giving my vote to Yuri!"