#3 : How I Learned Patience

Patience is one of my most hated words.

I just despise the word mainly because of a very certain occurrence in the past. The very time I completely embarrassed myself.The very day I learned patience, itself.

...

Setting : 1st quarter of my Freshman year of High School (June 2009), Wednesday, First Class: Gen. Science, Room 208, Rainy Morning

...

"Good Morning Class!" The professor said as he carefully ran through the door to the Teacher's Table.

"Gooood Mórning Professor Ryaaan." The Class said as they all stood up to greet the rushing teacher.

"You may sit down."

"Thank you very much." All except the teacher sat down comfortably on their seats. 

"Today class I'm going to discuss about your first project this Quarter. It would be about the famous Sci-" The eager teacher was stopped because of a sudden quiet knock coming from the door. The Prof. sadly went to the door as if he already knew who it would be. A girl with a shy smile on her face wearing a heavily wet green raincoat, small in height, and holding a black broken umbrella stumbled upon his sight. Smirks appeared on everyone's faces, and again, except for the teacher. 

"Good Morning Ms. Ela ****." The Prof greeted the Girl with a hidden smile in his eyes.

"Morning Sir." The girl replied weakily as if to admit defeat.

"Is that all you wanted to say?"

"I'm Sorry. Sir. I'm sincerely sorry for being late in your class. It's just that It's raining like crazy I-"

"You're telling me its the rain's fault?" The way he said it doesn't sound anything close to a question.

The girl felt very angry but decided to not show the overflowing emotions. 'Here we go again' She thought.

"I was about to say it added to my problems since I woke up late." She replied giving a soft snort on the word woke.

"Good. You may go to your seat." The man said along with a small sigh.

The girl went outside, removed her raincoat, and placed it on a small table along with her wet broken umbrella. She hurriedly went inside and straight to her seat. 'Alas, my beloved comfy seat' she thought.

The now panicking teacher then continued on with his speech. Somehow, Ela found his face very annoying.

"As I was saying, We will be discussing today about your first project this Quarter. I am going to a meeting 11 minutes from now that a while ago was 20 minutes." he sighed. "The project is about Famous Scientists. yesterday I assigned you your groups and today i will be giving each of the groups A minute and a half to Write in a 1/4 sheet of paper your groupname.." As the man was saying this, most of the students were staring boringly at any thing they could put eyes on beside from the teacher. "the counting, in which if ended will result to anyone late officially 75 ,starting now.." Suddenly, all eyes were on the teacher that took a split second. After the shocking proclamation of the Professor, Everyone especially the group leaders panicked, asked for the said paper, and started thinking of a name for they still haven't thought of one which was supposed to be done the day before. They followed the instructions of the man as he continued.."group members, date, and lastly but not the least the desired scientist. Ofcourse, a scientist could only be taken once and not twice. The one who's passed it first will of course be assigned with it. I'll be looking on my watch."

The students were rushing not minding of their messy handwriting keeping up with the time left.

...

Every group has already passed their paper, some heaved a sigh. Nobody had a second try because of luck it seems. After checking if all passed their work for a few moments, the teacher spoke.

"Good. Now that you've done what I said, i will be telling what is to happen on Friday. On friday, Each group will be presenting a powerpoint presentation and discussing about their assigned scientist. There will be only one who will impersonate and dress like the scientist and,along with the others, be doing whatever they want that will surely make the grade. You could make a play or sing or anything. Just don't forget to explain your presentation. That would be your project. Remember, all will present on Friday. i'll be Leaving you the rest of the time and plan on your big day. bye." The teacher again in a rush went out the classroom and straight to his meeting leaving his students shocked and out of their minds. 

...

" so bring what is assigned to you tomorrow okay? bye ela." Ela's group leader said while running to his service van.

'Too many projects. I don't think I'm feeling well.' she thought walking to her service jeepney.

...

Setting: Home, Stormy night, ela's bedroom

"Ma, I'm not feeling so well right now."

"Stress.. You just need to rest. That'd be over in the morning." 

"I think I'm gonna throw up." Ela replied looking pained.

"No,no,no, Ela. You can't. How about the apples and cartons i just bought? Aren't you assigned to bring it tomorrow?"

"Can I just give them to Lili and ask her to bring those tomorrow?"

"Is she your groupmate?"

"Nah, I trust her enough."

"Okay, you rest. I'll call her later."

'Oh no. What about my participation grade. Oh no.' she thought.

...

Setting: Friday, School, Good day, an hour before class starts

"What am i supposed to do, Nina? Am I going to say anything?" Ela asked as she panicked over thinking about her grades.

"No, the scientist, Paul, will explain everything. all we have to do is stare at him and look like scientists with our attire. well, we could not and say yes. or no. To what he is saying. And wait until the climax in which he'll ask us about what is important of all..."Nina was about to continue when the their gen science teacher got inside the class.

...

"Nina! what is the important part? We're the first one to-" Ela asked pleading when Nina and their groupmates walked to the front of the class. She has no choice then. All she can do is wait and nod. 

...

"I'm Isaac Newton and This apple is what led me to..." Paul continues with his speech while Ela is sweating at the back hiding behind her groupmate. "... the most important of all.." As she heard this phrase her eyes shot wide open. ".. It's patience.." paul continued.

"Yes! Patience! patience! patience is the best! Pátiénce!" Ela shouted giving a very weird and funny tone at the last word. There was silence for like half a minute. All staring at her with very confused looks. Except for the teacher that has a face in any moment would explode and burst into laughter. In a few seconds, they all heard the teacher's very quiet snicker as it grew louder and louder and louder...

"Ela, haha, yeah, haha, Paul isn't, haha, hahahahahah, not yet, hahahhaahhah!!......" It goes on. as a classmate laughed.

The teacher stopped laughing and spoke to Ela.

"Remember this day, It is the day you learn the very meaning of patience."

...

The class ended without the ela's classmates forgetting the certain moment, without finishing the remaining groups, and with a frown dissolving in Ela's face mainly because of seeing for the very first time, his teacher's smile. And the laughing goes on the whole day...

...

That's all.

What a very long story isn't it?

The Proclaimation of my everlasting embarassment.

Annoying teacher, Indeed.