Slow Motion

It was 3:30 P.M. when I and my classmate/close friend decided to go back to the university for our 4:00 P.M. class. While entering the university's premises I've got a glance of a nursing girl talking to someone on her phone with her not so good aura.

Minding my own business, I keep on talking and laughing with my companion about my life being a K-POP fan girl.

The nursing girl pass on us and I was terrified when I saw her throw her phone and it bounced back after it hit the big tree near the university's activity ground. I saw her wipe her tears.

"Oh gosh! She's crying, you see that?", the only lines I've uttered to my classmate before heading back towards the nursing girl sitting on the U-bench while covering her face.

"Excuse me Miss. Are you okay?", I've asked her while my voice are trembling.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Thank you." , she told me this line before she flashed her smile at me.

I let out a deep sigh before smiling at her and go back to my close friend waiting for me.

"Why did you do that? What did you say to her?.", my close friend asked me without taking a breath in between.

"It's just that. . .", I pause because of the guy in front of me.

"It's just what?.", my close friend asked again with an irritation on her voice.

"I don't want to see any girl crying..", I let these words came out of my mouth when the guy in front of me is already on my side. And I was surprised that it seems everything went into a slow motion, I even feel the rub of his shoulder to mine.

I hold my classmate's hand and drag her away on that spot and when we are already on the other side of the U-bench, I've tried to glance at that guy and I was startled when I saw him looking at us.

Everything was on a slow-mo..

"You don't want to see any girl crying? Because you know how it feels. . ", my classmate uttered while looking at the same direction with mine. She's looking at the guy, she's looking at my ex-boyfriend.

Concerned Mentor

While I'm on my way to school this morning, I've seated on the back portion of the jeepney.
When I gave my fare, I took a glance of a high school boy sitting right on the side of the jeepney driver.
Then, the jeepney pulled over because a middle-aged man ride in. He's wearing a school uniform and identification card that gave me the cue that he is a teacher.
After giving his fare, the man suddenly said in a higher volume of his voice. .
"Mr. Juan Dela Cruz, could you mind of attending my class and the rest of your subjects today? It's been three months since I last saw you inside the classroom. I don't know that you're still up to school."
I was shocked after hearing what he said, telling my self 'what kind of teacher is this. Doesn't he know that it's a public vehicle he's riding on?.

"Yes sir. I will."
This words even shocked me and I turn my glance from where the voice came from. It's the high school boy sitting beside the driver.

"Don't you pity your parents? In three months time, you let them believe that you're attending school but sad to say you're not. You're spending the money your mother gave you in the computer shop, did it ever strike to your mind that the money you're wasting is from the blood, tears and sweat of your Mom, Mr. Dela Cruz?"

Then there was silence. .

"Look at to what you're wearing. Who laundry that? It's your Mom right? Your Mom is trying all his best to let you wear clean clothes and send you to school even if she's struggling hard enough. Attend your classes Mr. Dela Cruz."

"Yes Sir. . "
The only words uttered by the high school boy.

"If your heart and mind is as hard as the steels then this meeting on public is still useless.."
The last words said by the teacher.

The jeepney pulled over in the front of the school where the boy and the teacher attends.
Then the engine started again. I tried to look back, and a smile curve on my lips when I saw the teacher holding the boy's hand, not dragging him leading to the school gate.

Instead of negative comments, all of the feedback I heard from my co-passengers are positive. Saluting the teacher for being brave enough to sacrifice his pride and being the little fire that melts the steel within the boy.