"PUTA ina."
"No-no it's putang ina. It has n.g on the last part," the teacher corrected me.
I glared at him and that he immediately apologize to me. I ordered him to talk to me in Filipino so that I can get use to it but he keeps on speaking English. Hah! If he continues to disobey my order then I have no choice but to call mom and ask to fire him!
It's been a week since I started studying the alien language she's using. So far I already know some words and can construct some sentence.
Example?
Ang guwapo ni Nigel.
Guwapo means handsome? Am I right?
Right now I asked him to teach me those cuss they use in Philippines. I want to know if she cussed me when we met.
"Say– sabihin mo ulit," the teacher instructed.
"Putang ina."
"With more conviction. Mas malutong mas dama," he commented.
Lutong? Crispy?
"I didn't mean na literal na lutong," he corrected.
Maybe he read my expression that's why he knew what I was thinking. But who cares? I am here to learn their language not to bother myself on how can he read me just by seeing my reactions.
"Now, sabihin mo lahat ng itinuro ko sayong mura," he ordered.
I took a deep breathe then started reciting all the cuss that he taught me.
"Gago, gaga, letshe, ulol, animal, tarantado, ulupong, bobo, tanga, putang ina," I recited with more conviction.
"That's good," he complimented me as he draw out a paper from his bag.
He handed it to me and I accepted it. I read what's on the paper and looks like I know this is my evaluation test for this week.
"Sagutan mo lahat ng nandiyan sa loob ng kalahating minuto. Kapag tapos ka na, ipasa ko sa akin," he instructed.
I get my pencil and started reading and answering the questions on the paper. It is a hundred item translation quiz. From Filipino to English and vice versa.
Hah! I am getting smarter! I now know how to speak three different languages. I answered almost all the questions without sweating and when I read the last part of the questionnaire I somehow stop for a minute.
Bakit gusto mong matutong magsalita ng Filipino? Sagutin ng hindi bababa sa sampung pangungusap.
I stared on my paper. Why? What is my reason? The only thing I know is that I want to talk to her again. And I know I will only keep on knitting my forehead if I don't know her language.
Hah! Baka mamaya nikokolo na ako niya. Hindi ako magpapakolo sa kanya!
Wait? Is that kolo or loko? Hah! Nevermind!
After a couple of minutes I finally finished answering the questionnaire. I passed it to him and he began checking it.
"I'm surprised you almost got a perfect score," he complimented but instead of giving him a smile I gave him a glare.
"Matatama mo na sana lahat kung hindi lang dahil sa essay. Baliktad ang gamit mo ng ilang salita." He took off his glasses and look at me. "Ilarawan mo ang hitsura ko," he commanded.
"Hah! Are you ordering me?"
"Parte ito ng lesson natin ngayon, young master. At kagaya ng utos mo ay inaasahan kong magsasalita ka rin sa wikang Filipino habang nasa klase tayo."
I don't have any choice but to obey him after all I already want to learn how to speak their language.
•••••
"Ang iyong kulay abong mga mata ay nagniningning sa kalangitan. Mahihiya ang mga bituin kapag nakita ka nila."
"Cut that bullshit Nigel. You sounded like a poet rather than a normal person speaking the language," Rigel commented as he gave me a bored look.
His teacher said that describing everybody's appearance is a good way to practice. But just like what Kuya said I sounded like a Filipino poet or what do they call them again?
"I already want to master this language Kuya so just bear with me," I told him without minding his scary stare.
Wala naman ginagawang bad sa'yo- Argh! It cringes!
"Just give up already."
"I don't want!"
Hah! If he's teaching me right now I might already mastered it right now. My brother knows how to speak Filipino because he grew up with his mother who happens to be a Filipino. I can ask my brother to teach me but I don't think he'll say yes. He's too busy reading books about business but I know he will take up Architecture.
"You want to master the language before you can talk to her, that's what you want?" he asked and I just nodded.
"Then go make her your tutor. If you really want to talk to her so badly then make it your excuse," Kuya suggested and it made my blue eyes twinkled.
Hah! Why didn't I think of it?! Hah! It's so nice to have a genius brother!
"Ang smart ni Kuya!"
"Idiot! It should be ang talino mo kuya," he corrected me.
Hah! Nevermind! At least I already got a very bright idea.
"Huh? Where are you going?" I asked him as he got up from where he was sitting.
"Upstair. Ayokong mahawa sa ka-weirduhan mo," he replied but I didn't understand except for ayoko.
"Kuya!" I called him and luckily he stopped to look at me.
"What?"
"Starting now, remember this, I will never betray you. I will always root for your happiness." I proudly promised.
I didn't get a response from him but it doesn't matter. I know he will do the same. He's my beloved brother after all.
Hah! Leaving that matter, tomorrow I will going to search for her.
But hah! I don't even know her name.
•••••
"Be my tutor!" pasigaw na utos ko while pointing my index finger at her.
Hah! I was right! She's here again under the tree where we first met. I am not really expecting her to be here but my instinct is saying that she is. That is why I immediately run towards here after I jump off from the car.
I stared at her. Her face looks so confuse. Nakakunot ang noo niya habang nakatitig din sa akin. Nakakunot or nakanuot?
Maybe gulat siya sa narinig?
Ah! It really cringes!
"Huh? Baliw ka na?"
I smiled by her answer. I knew it! She's going to respond with her alien language!
"I'm not crazy!"
"Wow! Nakakaintindi ka na ng Tagalog. Ang galing ah! Ilang palakpak ba ang gusto mo?" she teased me.
"I'm serious here!" I insisted.
"Edi ikaw na seryoso. Sana all," she muttered but I didn't understand what she said.
Hah! I guess I haven't mastered it yet.
"Why do you want to learn our language?" she asked as she grabbed my hands and made me sit by her side.
My eyes wandered around looking for the best reason. But arhg! I can't think!
"Sagot!"
"I want to talk to you!"
Damn mouth! When will you know how to shut yourself?!
I heard her chuckled and that one turned into laughter like there's no tomorrow. I felt annoyed but somehow mesmerize. Hah! I'm such a weirdo! Falling just because of a woman's smile?! Where did I get this!
"Crush mo 'ko noh?" she asked.
"What's crush?" I asked totally dumbfounded.
"Hahaha nevermind. Tomorrow morning, try to arrive as early as six."
•••••
"Hokage ka Doc Nigel! Grabe!" natatawang wika niya na may kasama pang pagpalakpak.
Hokage? Ako? Baka si kuya.
"Torpe ako. Alam ko 'yun sa sarili ko," mahinang bulong ko habang nakatingin sa mukha niyang tila nagniningning sa mga mata ko.