"Okay, kids, if I raise this up, what will you do?" I told the sixth graders as I raised a tall placard with number '1' on it.
"Fall in line, Ms. Kaye." All of them answered.
It was the 10th of February. Maaga kaming bumiyahe mula Silang papuntang Rizal bago bumyahe pa-Tagaytay dahil sa Field Trip ng Wilford Primary Academy, isang private school sa Rizal.
Nakatayo lang ako at nakakapit ang isang kamay sa bakal na katabi ko habang nagpapaliwanag sa mga bata. Nasa byahe na kami papunta sa field trip nila sa Tagaytay.
"If I whistle like this." I blew a little on the whistle hanging on my neck. "What shall you do?"
"Gather up, Ms. Kaye." They answered altogether.
"Maraming tao sa lugar na pupuntahan natin so I can't watch each of you. Make sure that you have your friends with you, okay?" I told them with a low tone of voice.
"Yes, Ms. Kaye." They politely answered.
I somehow thought that field trips were supposed to be educational, because that's how it was when I was still schooling, but I guess not all. DreamLand kasi ang destination namin ngayon, it's an amusement park famous for their rides, beautiful landscape view, and cool prizes and souvenirs. They have the whole day to spend there.
Isa ako sa mga napili na mag-tour guide sa mga bata. Wala naman akong masyadong inaral kundi ang bus at ground rules namin for the whole trip, pati ilang landmarks na madadaanan namin habang nasa byahe. Bago pa kami makaalis sa meet-up venue nila ay tinuro ko na sa kanila ang lahat. Gladly, the kids are so easy to talk to.
"Ms. Kaye, pwede po bang sa inyo ako sumama?" A kid named Isaac asked me.
"Pwede naman Isaac, pero bakit hindi ka sa mga friends mo sumama? I have to be with the other tour guides." I showed him a small sad face.
"Crush po kasi kita." He pouted. Napaka-cute! Nag-react naman ang mga kaklase niya at inasar siya.
"Hay nako, ikaw talaga!" I messed his hair a little.
"Isaac, may boyfriend na si Ms. Kaye! Wala ka ng pag-asa!" Tyler, a kid seated at the jump seat of the bus, shouted which made everyone shocked, even me.
Ako? May boyfriend? Bakit siya alam niya 'tas ako hindi?
"Tyler, saan mo naman nalaman 'yan?" Nakapamewang pa ako at kunwaring galit, kaya natawa sila.
"Nakita na kita dati, Ms. Kaye! Sa ball ng mga Walters hihihi." He covered his mouth a little, looking like a girl.
"Talaga-" natigilan ako sa pagsasalita nang may magsalita na naman.
"Patingin kami ng boyfriend mo po, Ms. Kaye." Pangungulit ni Zarra, a cute kid seated on the middle part of the bus.
"Nako-" hindi ko na naman natapos nang may magsalita, this time, marami na sila.
"Patingin kami Ms. Kaye!"
"Hala! May boyfriend na si Ms. Kaye,"
"Siguro gwapo din kasi maganda si Ms. Kaye, e,"
"Tyler, gwapo ba?"
The bus went loud because of them. Natawa naman ako, gusto nila makita boyfriend ko e ako nga mismo ay hindi ko alam na meron pala.
"Class One, wag niyo na kulitin si Ms. Kaye, stay seated." Their class adviser told them with an authoritative voice.
Sa isang iglap, natahimik kaagad ang mga bata. Or maybe hindi pa din sila natahimik kaya nag-uusap na lang sila nang kani-kanila.
Naupo na lang ako ulit sa upuan ko at nag-cellphone na lang muna. I replied to some messages from Barbie, Ms. Quezon and some other friends.
Natatanaw na namin ang Taal sa byahe namin. Hangang-hanga 'yung mga bata na halos wala ng pumansin nang magsalita ako para ipakilala sa kanila ang bulkan. They were all trying so hard to look at it from the window. Tumigil na lang ako sa pagsasalita dahil sinabihan na rin ako ng adviser nila, natawa pa tuloy kami pareho.
Nakarating na rin kami sa DreamLand after almost half an hour or so. Pinaalala ko muna sa mga bata ang ground rules bago kami bumaba. They fall in line beside the other students from other buses.
"Walang lalabas ng DreamLand nang hindi nagsasabi kay Miss. Kaye or kay Adviser, understood?" I asked them with authority.
"Yes, Ms. Kaye." They answered.
Katabi ang adviser ng Class 1, naglakad na kami papasok sa DreamLand. We had to stop at the entrance for a while because their advisers need to distribute their tickets first. By bus number ang pagpasok kaya nauna na kami.
Agad na nagtakbuhan ang mga bata papunta sa mga rides na gusto nila. May mga ibang tao na rin kahit maaga pa lang. I was a little relieved that the students are wearing their P. E uniform and school ids so madali lang silang makikita.
They're wearing their white shirt with a big logo of the school on its side, black jogging pants and school ids. Pwede naman sila magpalit, kapag pauwi na nga lang. Pwede rin kung nabasa na ng pawis or some other valid excuses.
'Yung ibang mga primary schoolers na nasa ibang bus ay may kasamang mga parents, especially those who are in grades 1-3. Ang iba naman ay kasama ang mga yaya kung hindi ang magulang.
I used to be like that when I was in primary school. Karamihan kasi sa mga naging fieldtrips namin ay may physical activities, o mahahabang lakaran, kaya hindi ako nasamahan nila Lolo o Lola. Kapag field trip tuloy, kasama ko si Yaya Dyna, siya yung yaya ko mula nung 7 years old pa lang ako.
My heart tightened at the memories. Madalas kami ni daddy sa ganitong mga amusement parks kapag wala siyang pasok. Sila Lolo at Lola naman, sinasamahan pa rin ako dito para lang maging maayos ang pakiramdam ko, kahit minsan napapagod sila nang todo.
"Kath." I heard a voice from behind, and saw Sheila there, my co-tour guide from Adieux Silang.
"Oh, Sheila." Hinarap ko na siya.
"Let's go?"
I nodded at her before we walked side by side towards the other tour guides. Nakilala ko na sila sa office noon, 'nung kakalipat ko pa lang, so I feel no awkwardness towards them. Naglibot kami nang magkakasama. Nakakatawa na kasama namin sa pila ang mga estudyante para sumakay sa mga rides. Nagkikita rin kami ng ibang mga teachers nila.
The place indeed looks like a dreamland. Kita mula rito ang Taal at malamig pa ang simoy ng hangin. Maganda rin ang kulay at disenyo ng mga rides nila at ang kabuuan ng amusement park.
Nakapila na kami sa ikalawang ride na sasakyan namin nang mag-vibrate ang phone ko. Kinuha ko 'yun mula sa belt bag ko at binuksan.
dylan.flynn, _barbiebb, its_andreyam, recently added to their stories.
I was about to open Dylan's Instagram story when Valerie, another co-tour guide, called me. Kami na ang sasakay kaya tinago ko na ang phone ko sa belt bag ko.
The ride was fun, kasabay rin namin ang mga bata at ilang teachers. We went to different rides for one or two more before we stopped for a while to eat lunch. Good thing the amusement park has food kiosks inside, hindi kasi ako nakapag-prepare ng snacks or packed lunch, hindi rin naman pwede magpasok ng food.
Nakaupo lang ako sa isang bench na nasa ilalim ng isang waiting shed, hinihintay ang ibang mga katrabaho ko. Bumili lang ako ng hotdog sandwich at iced tea, 'yung iba ay natagalan pa sa pagbili dahil ang hahaba rin ng pila.
I took some pictures around the place and found some beautiful spots, especially the view with Taal. Nagpa-picture rin ako kay Princess, isa rin sa mga katrabaho ko, nag-iintay na lang kaming dalawa para 'don sa iba.
I posted some pictures on my Instagram and ig story. Ang bilis ng views kaya itatago ko na sana ang phone ko sa belt bag ko nang biglang mag-beep ito.
dylan.flynn replied to your story.
I immediately checked it, a little excited because it's been days since I last saw and chatted with him. He must be so busy.
dylan.flynn: DreamLand?
hei_katherine: yup, fieldtrip :)
dylan.flynn: what a coincidence!
hei_katherine: why? What coincidence?
dylan.flynn: count one to three
hei_katherine: bakit?
dylan.flynn: three
"Omg!" I heard someone's voice from my right. I turned to the one who exclaimed and saw a cute girl on her short denim jumper and pink oversized shirt inside.
"Deila?" I furrowed my brows while looking at Dylan's little sister, stood up and walked closer to her. Wala pa naman 'yung mga kasama ko kaya lumapit muna ako sa kanya.
"Oh, kuya, she remembers me!" She looked back while pointing at me.
Saka ko lang napansin si Dylan na naglalakad palapit sa amin habang itinatago sa bulsa niya ang kanyang phone.
He's wearing a gray pullover hoodie and black casual shorts with white shoes. He still has the same wrist watch and silver chain necklace with him. Meron din siyang shades na nakasabit sa collar ng hoodie niya.
Ang soft niya tingnan huhu..
"You're here, too! Omg, ang saya!" She jumped a little. She's so full of energy, nakakatuwa ang kakulitan niya.
"Good afternoon, Katherine." Dylan greeted me when he was already standing in front of me.
"Good afternoon, Dylan, Deila." I smiled at the two siblings.
"She wanted to go to an amusement park so I brought her here." He gestured to his sister.
"Oh, that's cute." Nakakainggit, parang gusto ng ganong kapatid.
"Kuya, I'm hungry, I'm going to buy donuts, do you want some?" She asked her brother.
"I'm coming with you." He said.
"What? No, you stay here. I can handle it myself." She raised her one arm and gestured to his brother to stop.
"But Deila, Mom-"
"Kuya, bibili lang ako. Hindi ako tatakas, promise!" She raised her two hands in the air like surrendering.
"Bilisan mo lang ha, bumalik ka kaagad. Five minutes at wala ka pa, uuwi na tayo kaagad 'pag nahanap kita sa kung saan." Dylan said with an authoritative tone.
I chuckled at the two of them. Kung hindi ko sila kilala, I will probably think that they're actually father and daughter. Not that Dylan looks like a father already, it's just that, tunog tatay siya kapag kausap niya si Deila. He sounds strict and composed, but still sweet.
"Okay, okay." She put down her hands. "You, Ate Kath, do you want anything?" She pointed at me.
Dylan's brows furrowed while looking at his sister's finger pointing at me. "Deila, your hand."
"Oh, sorry po!" She gave us a sweet smile before putting down his pointing hand.
"I'm fine Deila, thank you." She just shrugged before waving happily while walking away. Dylan and I watched her as she walked towards a donut food kiosk. She still sounds and acts like a kid, napaka-cute niya.
"I'm sorry about her, baby pa talaga siya." Dylan scratched on his nape while giving me an awkward smile.
"It's okay, nakakatuwa nga siya e." I gave him a reassuring smile.
I wonder what it feels like to have siblings..
"Nakapag-lunch ka na ba?" He asked.
"Oh, right." Saka ko lang naalala 'yung pagkain ko na iniwan ko sa bench.
Paglingon ko sa likod, nandoon na ang ibang katrabaho ko at kumakain na. Katabi ng pagkain ko si Princess na kumakain na rin. Wow, I waited for them earlier and now they're eating without me.
Feeling so betrayed!
I gestured Dylan to follow me and he did so. Nang malapit na kami sa bench, napatingin sa amin ang mga katrabaho ko at napatigil sa pagkain.
"I feel so betrayed, I waited for you guys!" I pouted, but they only laughed at me.
"Akala kasi namin 'di ka na kakain since you're.." Valerie gave Dylan a glance before stifling a smile at me. "..busy,"
"Oh, right. This is Dylan, kaibigan ko saka kapitbahay sa village." I gestured my hand to Dylan before the others. "Dylan, this is Valerie, Princess, Sheila, Jiselle, Cindy and Leanne." I gestured at each one of them.
"Hi, good afternoon." Dylan bowed a little before giving them a small smile.
"Good afternoon." Bati naman ng mga katrabaho ko.
I ate my lunch with Dylan on my right side and the girls on my left. Nakabalik na rin si Deila at kinakain na ang kanyang strawberry donut. Dylan stood up to give his seat to his sister, what a gentleman, really.
"Oo nga pala, is it okay for me to call you Ate Kath?" Deila turned to me.
Minsan lang ako matawag na 'Ate', it feels so good.
"Sure, kung saan ka komportable." I told her as I took a bite on my sandwich.
"Then.." she tilted her head a little to the right. "Can I call you sister-in-law?"
Damn.. I immediately choked on my sandwich.
Agad na inabot sa akin ni Princess ang inumin ko habang natatawa pa nang konti. I glanced at Dylan who was now looking at his sister while massaging his nose bridge.
"Deila." Dylan said, sounding so strictly.
"Kidding!" Deila showed me her peace-signed fingers.
Dylan looked at his sister while his two hands are placed on his waistline. Mukha siyang tatay na sinesermonan ang anak niya.
In fairness, ang gwapo niya puma-maywang.
"I'm sorry, Ate Kath." Deila turned to me after her brother made eye-contact with her, probably telling her to apologize.
"That's okay, Deila." I gave her a small smile.
Natapos na rin kami kaagad mag-lunch. Nag-stay muna ako sa bench since busog pa ako at hindi pa handang sumakay sa mga rides. Sila Leanne, Cindy at Jiselle ay umalis muna para pumunta sa kung saan.
"Ate Kath, pwede ka ba sumama samin ni Kuya?" Deila asked me.