Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Exam
"I failed in some subjects in exam, but my friend passed in all. Now he's an engineer in Microsoft and I'm the owner of Microsoft."
-Bill Gates
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Eiffel's PoV
It was Saturday and I already finished all the house chores and had nothing to do anymore so here I am reading a book in the living room.
I looked at the clock, its 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon at hindi parin lumalabas ng kuwarto niya si Kuya Clyde.
What could he be doing to be this busy?
Without second thinking, I went to the kitchen and prepared some refreshments and went to his room. I inhaled and exhaled saka dahan dahang kumatok.
"H-Hubby, can I come in?" tanong ko.
"Uh... Sige" narinig kong pahintulot niya at napangiti ako!
Pumasok ako sa kwarto niya at nadatnan ko siyang nakaupo sa study table niya at seryosong nakatutok sa libro niya habang nagsusulat.
"I-I brought you something to eat, kasi kanina ka pa hindi lumalabas" I indicated at inilapag ang tray nadaladala ko study table niya at iniabot ang juice sa kanya.
Kinuha nman niya ito at ininom, "Thanks. I was busy at di ko na namalayan ang oras" he stated
"Uhm..." hindi ko alam kung papaano ko siya tatanungin, baka isipin nia na mapaka chismosa ko.
"It's for my final exams" he answered after anticipating my possible question. Inunat niya ang dalawa niyang kamay at hinimas ang leeg niya.
"Hati kasi ang atensyon ko sa training ko para sa kompanya at sa klase ko. Though wala namang problema sa grades ko, there's this subject na nahihirapan ako and I hate it"
"What subject?" curious na tanong ko.
"No need to worry yourself about it Eiffel, I am an heir to our company and I'm confident I can handle my studies"
"I'm not worried at all, I just want to know if I can help you" nakangiting ani ko "I maybe only eleven but my lessons and education back in Britain is not to be little Hubby, what subject is it? Foreign Language? So far I can only speak 9 languages, French, Italian, Spanish, Nihongo, Mandarin, Greek, Russian, Portuguese and a little bit of Arabic. Sociology? In what branch? Sociometry, Sociocultural, Sociopolitics or Sociopyschological? I know a little bit of Humanities too. Could it be Math? Basic, Advance or college Algebra? Geometry, Calculus, or Trigonometry, Statistic? Or maybe-"
Bigla akong natigil nang tinakpan ni Kuya Clyde ang bibig ko gamit ang kamay niya.
"Stop, you're making my head hurt Eiffel, I'm trying to forget that you're a genius and have better brain than I am. But to answer your question it's History" masakit ang ulong sagot niya.
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa narinig ko!
"It's so boring at ang daming kailangang tandaan na taon at mga tao! Nakakainis! I excell at Math subjects and to my other major subject! Finance, marketing legal, management! Those are so easy! Hindi ko na kailangang pasukan pa ang mga yun because it's just a piece of cake for me! But this history! Huggghhh a fucking minor subject! What's the use of studying it? It already happened! It's all in the past kaya nga HISTORY! Ayaw mag move on!" litanya niya habang naiinis na kinakamot ang ulo niya"
I found it a bit amazing. I never saw this childish side of him.
Napansin niya atang nanahimik ako at biglang namula ang tenga niya "So there, alam mo na. No need to worry"
"Why study history? It's to comprehend with the past, to be aware of the future, to understand the changes..." I stated habang yakap yakap ang tray. I looked at him and smiled.
"Because the past is bound to happen again"
Natigil siya at panandaliang natulala sa akin.
"How-"
Inilabas ko ang maliit na libro mula sa bulsa ng apron ko at pinakita sa kanya.
"I love reading history and I'm really good at it" I cut him off from his question showing him the book I was reading recently.
"Well, that maybe a fact but I'm dealing with College History, samantalang ikaw elementary Hekasi pa rin" he taunted.
"Try me" nakangiting hamon ko.
Kinuha niya ang isang libro sa study table niya at tiningnan ang unang page.
"Who is the father of history?" tanong niya.
"The greek Heredotus is known as the father of History." walang hirap na sagot ko.
He paused then flipped the pages of the book looking for harder question "Ano ang mga yugto ng pagunlad ng mga sinaunang tao? In tagalog!"
I smirked, I knew it, mas mahirap na tanong ang ibibigay niya. But this is just piece of cake.
"Ang unang yugto ay ang panahong Paleothic, naganap noong 500,000-10,500 BC. Mula sa salitang Paleos na ibig sabihin ay matanda, at lithos, na ibig sabihin nman ay bato. Naging ganap na ang tao dahil nahiwalay na siya sa hayop dahil sa kanyang kultura. Sa yugtong ito natutung gumamit ng matutulis na kasangkapang gawa sa bato, natuklasan ang gamit ng apoy.
Ang pangalawang yugto ay ang panahong Mesolithic o panahon ng Gitnang Bato, naganap noong 10,500-8,500 BC. -natutunan din gumawa ng bangka mula sa punong kahoy at natutong magalaga ng hayop." I paused and looked at him na nakanganga na lang sa mga naririnig niya
"at ang huling yugto ay ang panahong Neolithic, naganap noong 8500-4300 BC. Bihasa na ang mga tao sa pagtatanim ng mga butil gaya ng trigo, Millet, barelay, palay at halamang ugat at nagkaroon ng permanenteng bhay o tirahan" pagtatapos ko.
I cheerfully smiled while he was still amused on what he heard.
"T-That was..."
"What's your next question hubby?" I asked, titling my head slightly.
"Philippine History or World History, from the civilizations in the Fertile Crescent to Chinese dynasty and European monarchies. From World War I, World War II and to twenty first century. What do you want to know?"
And at last I caught his attention again. "Umm..." he rubbed the back of his head.
"C-Can you help me?" nahihiyang tanong niya.
Shock was registered at my face and I smiled, at last! He needed my help!
"Pero, kung busy ka-"
"I'm not busy! I'll help you!" medyo malakas na sabi ko at hindi maitago ang excitement and happiness.
Naramdaman ko ang pamumula ng mga pisngi ko at nahihiyang napayuko at napahigpit ang hawak sa tray.
"I-I- I mean, I would be glad to help you" nakangiting sabi ko and he smiled back
Clyde's POV
Its already past twelve in the night and Eiffel insisted on accompanying me. Here she is, sitting beside me with a peaceful expression registered on her sleeping face. Kanina ko pa sinabi na matulog na siya pero matigas ang ulo niya. Ayan tuloy, naka tulog na siya dito.
She tried her best to help me and I'll make sure that her efforts won't go to waste.
After asking for Eiffel's help, I decided na lumipat sa sala, atleast ay hindi siya mahihirapan. She helped me diligently at hindi ko na namalayan ang oras.
I asked her a question earlir out of nowhere.
"What do you think of humans?"
That was a question asked by our Prof my classmates answered that humans are selfish, humans are power-hungry and other negative things. So I was curious sa isasagot niya.
"Humans are amazing. Who ever thought that we are just an evolved formation of monkeys? Thousand years have past and humans were able to build ships that can sail across the seven seas. They were able to create carriers that can soar the sky, humans were able to go to outer space! From being ignorant to inventors, from being brainless to genius... This is the God-given gift to humans"
Is she really only a child? Napakalawak ng panguunawa niya sa mga bagay bagay at malalim ang paraan ng pagiisip niya.
I absent mindedly held the strands of her hair that was veiling her beautiful face and smiled.
Tumayo ako at dahan dahan siyang binitbit na puno ng ingat. Looking at her now, I just realized how she perfectly fits on my arms, just like a small child. Inilapag ko siya sa kama ko at humiga sa tabi niya.
Her long aye lashes, her cute button nose her perfect lips and her pinkish cheeks that completes her angelic face. Such a beauty bestowed before me.
She snuggled closer to me and put her hands on my chest, akala niya ata teddy bear ako. Kinumutan ko siya at inayos ang buhok nia.
I tenderly kissed her forehead.
"Thank you"
Eiffel's PoV
Dahan dahan kong minulat ang mata ko at umupo mula sa pagkakahiga, inunat ang dalawa kong kamay habang inaalala ang nagyari kahapon.
Oo nga pala, tinulungan ko si Kuya Clyde na magreview sa History subject niya para sa finals niya.
A sudden impact of realization came to me at napatingin ako sa loob ng kuwarto. This is his room!
Lumingon ako sa alarm clock sa nakalagay sa study table niya.
7:42 AM na!
I need to cook breakfast for him!
Agad akong bumaba ng kama at tumakbo papalabas ng kuwarto.
Ano ka ba namang klaseng asawa Eiffel! Alam mong examination ngayon ng asawa mo pero anong ginawa mo! Tinanghali ka ng gising! Sermon ko sa sarili ko.
Pagdating ko sa dining room ay agad kong napansin ang mga pagkain na nakahanda sa lamesa, at sakto namang lumabas mula sa kusina si kuya Clyde. Dala dala ang carton ng Fresh Milk.
"You're awake, halika kumain na tayo. I can't cook anything aside from rice kaya ininit ko na lang yung mga natirang pagkain kagabi, I hope you don't mind" sabi niya.
Nakaayos na siya at nakasuot na ng damit, amoy bagong ligo din.
Bigla akong nabato mula sa kinatatayuan ko at napatingin sa sarili.
Magulo ang buhok, hindi pa nakakahilamos at baka may laway pa nga sa bibig ko!
"F-Five minutes..." namumulang sabi ko at tinaas ang kamay ko "Just give me five minutes" ulit ko at mabilis na tumakbo papaunta sa banyo.
Grabe nakakahiya ka Eiffel!
Mabilisan akong naligo at ginawa ang mga neccesities ko. Isinuot ang uniform ko at kinuha ang bag pack ko.
Nang masigurado kong ayos na ako ay bumalik na ako sa dining room at umupo
"Pasenysa na sa paghihintay" paumanhin ko. "It's alright, let's eat" sabi niya.
Pagkatapos kumain ay nagtungo na kami sa school. Una niya akong inihatid sa school ko.
"Sige, aalis na ako" paalam niya.
Ewan ko pero bigla ko nlng hinawaakan ang kamay niya at napahinto siya.
"Bakit?"
"M-May sasabihin lang ako..." namumulang tugon ko as I gestured him to come closer to me.
"Huh? Ano yun?" tanong niya ulit at bahagyang umuklo sa harapan ko, sa pagaakalang may ibubulong ako.
Pagkalapit niya ay mabilisan ko siyang hinalikan sa pisngi niya! "Good luck sa exam mo Hubby!" I shouted as I blushed furiously.
Dahil sa sobrang hiya ay tumakbo na ako leaving him stupefied.
Ang daming mga naglalakad na mga bata kasama ang mga magulang nila pagpasok ko s school gate.
Humina ng humina ang pagtakbo ko hangang maging lakad nalang ito at tuluyan na akong napahinto sa lakad at nanatiling nakatulala
Dahan dahang nagsink in sa utak ko ang ginawa ko
So...
"HOW CAN I FACE HIM LATER?!" wala sa sariling sigaw at napahinto ang lahat ng mga naglalakad at napatingi nsa akin.
What in the world did I just do?
Hugghhh....
The day went by fast at pagkauwi ko ay agad akong nagtungo sa kusina at nagsuot ng apron. Tinali ko ang buhok ko kahit na messy at naghanda ng hapunan.
Kahit anong gawin k oay hindi parin matangal sa isipan ko yung ginawa ko!
Ano nalang kaya ang iisipin ni Kuya Clyde tungkol sa akin?
Bumilis agad ang tibok ng puso ko at out of poise na napaupo sa sahig.
Wwwhhhaaa! Gaga mo kasi Eiffel!
Nakakahiya ka, ikaw pa man din ang susunod na kondesa pero ganito ka kumilos!
Pangaapi ko sa sarili ko habang binabatukan ang sarili ko!
"What are you doing?"
Bigla kong inangat ang mukha ko and I saw my husband standing at near the counter looking at me weirdly.
Tumayo ako at pilit na ngumiti.
Ok, remember Eiffel you're a matured housewife, you are his wife in this house.
"Wala, nahulog lang yung kutsilyo kaya pinulot ko" palusot ko.
"Kaya ba binabatukan mo ang sarili mo na parang nasisiraan ng ulo?" nakakunot na tanong niya ulit.
"Aahh... Nakita mo pala yun." I concluded but still remained smiling. Tumalikod ako at pinagpatuloy ang paghihiwa at palihim na napangiwi.
"How was your exam?" I asked as I changed the topic pero sa loob ko ay sinisigawan ko parin ang sarili ko.
Ayan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko Eiffel eh! Panigurado ay isa nang baliw na bata sa paningin niya!
"I got a perfect score" he answered habang umiinom ng coke in can mula sa ref. Nabitawan ko ang hawak kong kutsilyo at napalingon sa kanya.
"You what?" ulit ko.
"Hugghh... I passed?" nagugulhang ulit niya.
I remained my gaze unto him but eventually ran to him and tackled him down!
I was so happy that I didn't care even if I am acting childish.
"A-Aray" inda niya sa lakas ng pagbagsak namin sa sahig.
"Congratulations!" sigaw ko while hugging him tightly.
"E-Eiffel I can't breathe" inda nia ulit at bahagyang umupo.
"I-I'm *sob so happy *Sob..."
"Tch, and that's why you're crying?"
I nodded as I continued crying.
"Stupid" he retorted and patted my head.
"Whhaaa! Ang galing mo Hubby, you perfected it! And as your wife, kailangan ko ding galingan ang studies ko!" I managed to smile atlast.
"Wag na, anong maihaharap ko kay Dad oras na malaman niyang mas matalino pa ang sawa ko kesa sa akin na tagapagmana niya?" and I chuckled hearing his response, men and their egos.
He leaned closer to me and kissed me at my cheeks.
"Thank you" he stated and stood up. Leaving the blushing me...
Dahan dahan kong hinawakan ang pisngi ko na hinalikan niya.
And I smiled "Your welcome"
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