Little Treasures

MAKING MEMORIES IN MY HEART #10 : GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

The gift behind kris-kringle presents

(a composition made years ago)

Do you believe that everything has a purpose? Though at first it may seems like nothing but after you had it, you could smile and realized that it’s worth having? What is it?

I am as what they say “smart young looking witty girl who sometimes used to be just in my own closet shelf” in short “naay dating pero ulawon”. I stand 5’2”. I have a fair complexion which I got from my Papa with this enticing brown eyes as well as my curly and a little blonde hair which I used to tie. My friends used to call me “dain” and I love hearing it, perhaps, it has been my identity—that even my ears detects that it’s me who was called by somebody.

It was during the week before our class Christmas party celebration when Teacher Love—a short young looking woman in her 20’s and is our new classroom adviser suggests that we will have a “class kris-kringle” for the exchange gifts which was agreed by the class thinking it would be fun. After we drew lots, including Teacher Love, the class agreed to give something every day depending on the theme until the day before the party and Teacher Love is in charge for it.

The first day was to give something red. What I have received was a super thin biscuit which is red.  Handling it on my hand, I looked towards the penmanship. I found my nom de plume “heart” written using white wash. The handwriting looks like that of Sittie Ainah—an artistic and a smart girl who was one of my closest muslim classmate. I suspected her to be the giver of the super thin. When I let my other classmates look at the handwriting, they suspected her too. I flashes out a smile on my face saying “kang Ainah jud ni.” I teased Ainah and asked if she really was the one who gave it to me. She laughed saying “o.. dain” yet after a while retrieve what she said by exclaiming “dili ako..” and laugh again. But, in my instincts she denies it so that I won’t find it out. I kept the wrapper. I’m fond of writing my daily diaries perhaps it has been my outlet. That day, I wrote on my diary that what I have received reminds me of being lovable (red).

            The next day, the theme is something soft. On my surprise, I have received 3 puto’s wrapped in a bond paper. “Hahaha!” It never came into my senses that my manita would give that to me. Yet, that puto reminds me of being kind-hearted. Other than that, my classmates we’re so excited to, wanting to find out who was the lucky student that Teacher Love picked. “Yahaya sa nahulbutan ni Teacher uieh! ug dili nato ako kay si Ainah ako pero wa’y sure basin diay dili si Ainah,” kiddingly I said to myself.

The third day comes and I was so excited what would I receive again. It is “something fragrant”. At that day we had our “Lab ko si Titser” program tribute so we haven’t had classes’ whole day. The program went on and in the afternoon, after all the activities, we we’re still left for us to get our gifts. I was sitting on the bench, just opposite in our classroom, waiting for my name to be called by Teacher Love but there’s none. My classmates already had their gifts but I was wondering why I haven’t had any. I, disappointedly said, “ngee, wala lage koy ako”, not knowing Ainah was absent until my classmate told me that she is.

The fourth day was about giving something long. “Yes! Ainah was present,” awaited I would have my gift. In the pathway, opposite with the bench I sat the other day; I opened my gifts wrapped in a newspaper. I received two gifts, cologne and a black pencil commonly used by graders. I was so proud of what I have received that I end up leaping with joy. Ainah, seeing me so happy, felt glad too and I thanked her very much that even Teacher Love laughed at me because it made me so talkative that time which just shows how glad am I. The two presents reminds me to have a fragrant character and a pencil-attitude as well.

 The next day was Friday and week after that will be the party. It was noon time then when Teacher Love went inside the room looking for me to ask something. Me, sitting on the front desk writing something on my notebook, looked at her and says “Chr?”, with a big question mark on my thought. With a big smile on her face as projected with her eyes, she replied, “Ai, dain..., unsay nice nga theme nato para karon”. I can’t forget the tone of her voice that moment she calls my name which is so soft that penetrates deep into my senses. For a while I turned mesmerizing the line in my mind until my mind scolded me “hoy! Dainie gipangutana ka”. Coming back to my senses with a blooming smile on my face I said, “something colorful o worthy to be treasured chr could be.” She nodded and left the room. I felt overwhelmed since of all the students in our section, I was the only student whom teacher love asked about it. I asked myself, “why me? What makes me special that she asked me about it?” I answered back myself saying “maybe because I was the president of the class that is why she wanted to know my opinion”. But due to the weather that day, we postponed the kris-kringle.

Then, the day of the party came. The most awaited part was that of the giving of gifts. As the class head, I was called first to give my present for my manita. When it’s Ainah’s turn to give her present, she looks at me, greeting me a smile. Having her moment, she says, “my gift is to..”. While listening her next word, I, (very excited), sitting in the chair, said in my mind, “for me, for heart, It’s Dainie.”. Ainah continued and said “…is…to.. Aisha.” My eyes bulges! I was amazed and doubtful about what I have heard.  I stand, out of my senses for a while. Then I thought, “ha? Dili lage ako? Kinsa diay ang nakakuha sa ako?” While the giving of presents continued, I was so tensed that I found myself walking back and forth out of the room. I can feel how my heartbeat went faster. I went back to my chair, still uncomfortable and tensed while looking towards the left gifts in the table. Last five..not mine. Last four..not for me again.. Last three..not mine. “Hala.. asa ako? Absent akong manita?” Two more gifts left.. Last one… it’s teacher love’s turn. I just told myself..“Lisod pud kang teacher ako? Okey rana dain, you managed the party well”. While I was so into myself, what I have heard was that soft voice again saying my name. My gloomy facial expression turned into a bright sunny one with eyes delighted as I looked into teacher love’s eyes. Yeah! Absolutely! She was the mysterious manita I had. She gave me a hug which wipes away the tiresome feeling I had for the party preparation. That very moment, kris-kringle presents flashes in my mind as I utter the word “ikaw diay chr” calmly she replied, “O dain.”

It’s just once yet the feeling and experience marks in me forever. After that party, I became comfortable already with Teacher Love. The kris-kringle itself bridges me with Teacher Love giving me that time an early Christmas gift of a rare friendship.