Chapter 6 Closeness And Openness

• Closeness and Openness
• Divina and Mr. Salvador had gotten closer with each other after that mistaken love letter incident at his office. Divina became trustful towards Mr. Salvador after knowing that the man had pure intentions for her to be able to pursue teaching. It’s as if Mr. Salvador sees himself in her when he has just begun this path.
• Most of the time, Divina would seek Mr. Salvador for advice about teaching or on how to handle different situations regarding her students or lessons she is teaching. At times she would him, learning from him various teaching strategies.
• Divina is an honest teacher, she is sincere in her job as a teacher, and her actions constantly remind Mr. Salvador of the things he mustn’t forget as a teacher. If given power and position, some people learn to abuse it and tend to forget to humble themselves. With their high position, others would act like someone who bosses around those who are inferior to him. He knows who are those who tried to climb the ladder in a treacherous way. Still, because of his amicable personality, they just let them be as long as they do their job as teachers… and he is thankful that he doesn’t see any perfidious attitude with Divina. She has a simple mind and outlook in life but is passionate about being a teacher.
• “What might be on your mind again for you to frown like this, Miss?”, Mr. Salvador smiled as he teased Divina while she was sitting under the tree near their school. She was in deep thoughts; this is nothing new for Mr. Salvador as he constantly finds her being like this. Most of the time, she is also thinking about teaching… as if she had devoted her life as a teacher.
• "Oh, Mr. Salvador, I just have a question in mind.”, Divina seriously said as Mr. Salvador sat beside her.
• “Hmn… What is it?”, Mr. Salvador curiously asked.
• “If you are a teacher of a child who gets constantly beaten by his parents… what should you do?”, Divina went on to ask Mr. Salvador.
• So, you had been taking teaching very seriously indeed that’s why you seemed to be always lost in your thoughts., Mr. Salvador thought.
• “Is one of your students experiencing this kind of situation?”, Mr. Salvador asked Divina.
• "Oh no, no… but I am just wondering if you were in that situation? What would you do?”, Divina was curious. Mr. Salvador smiled at her.
• "If I were in that kind of situation, I would talk to the child sincerely, and I will also talk with his parents.”, Mr. Salvador answered, but he knows Divina is not contented with it and expected her to ask even further.
• "What if after talking with them, they would still continue to hurt the child? What if the child himself doesn’t want to separate with them even though they hurt him.” Divina nosily insisted; however, when Mr. Salvador looked into her eyes, he could really see her concern towards the wellness of her students.
• "You really like to put ideas on your thought for us to become problematic, huh? How about you, Divina… in your heart, how would you handle it?”, Mr. Salvador tried to gauge Divina’s reactions. Divina was surprised when he called her by her first name, which is common only with someone you are close with.
• "D-Divina?", Divina stuttered in shock. Mr. Salvador was also surprised because he didn’t realize that he called Divina by her first name. Usually, he only calls her first name on his mind, and he didn’t notice that he had said it out loud now.
• “Do you mind me calling you on your first name? It would be nice if you would also call me by my first name… Marco.”, Mr. Salvador immediately said, implying that he trusts her and is comfortable with her already.
• "Oh… I don’t mind, Mr. Salvador, but I think it’s not right to call you by your first name because you are our headteacher.”, Divina answered shyly, but she couldn’t hide her smile as she was delighted for his trust. It means a lot to her because she has so much respect for him.
• "Then you can call me by my first name if we’re just alone together.”, Marco smiled too as if he was also inflicted by her contagious smile. Divina nodded happily.
• "Okay then, mister---“, Divina stopped mid-sentence.
• "Cut it out. You’re adding years to my age.”, Marco jokingly said, and it made Divina laugh too.
• "Yes… Marco.”, Divina said in a shy manner as she is still feeling awkward to call him by his first name. Marco was so amused by Divina’s reaction that it made him laugh.
• "Hey, don’t make fun of me. I am still getting used to it… Marco.”, Divina said, putting emphasis on his name, Marco, which only made him laugh even harder.
• "Hey, hey, before we forget everything. I want to hear your answer first.”, Marco reminded her about their topic.
• “Okay, okay. I’ll tell you what I think.”, Divina smiled and she looks so pretty when she smiles like that.
• "The truth is… I don’t really know, but when I heard your answer, it made me think that if I was the teacher of that student… I would go to his house every day to assure that he is okay.”, Divina answered.
• “But wouldn’t that be such a hassle for you?”, Marco inquired.
• "Well, I think if it’s for the sake of the child, it wouldn’t be. A little sacrifice of extending a bit of my time for him isn’t a big deal for my part. I could also say it would be much more of a hassle if I get sleepless nights thinking how that child would be, what if something bad would happen to him? I would really feel guilty and it would haunt me forever.”, Divina answered. Once again, Marco admired the purity of Divina’s heart for serving as a teacher.
• "That will be indeed hard, sleepless nights? Oh, it will bring you darkened circles around your eyes, and you will have eye bags too. You will look old. It will make you ugly.”, Marco teases her as he laughs.
• "Marco, I’m being serious in here."; Divina complained.
• “Wow, the way you say my first name seems to be so natural. You are adapting well, huh?”, Marco teases Divina more. Divina being sensitive, she pinches Marco on his arm in annoyance. This only made Marco laugh even more. It’s like he had a quick-tempered younger sister.
• "You know what, Divina? You are actually helping me. Thank you.”, Marco smiled sincerely. Divina wondered as to how she was able to help her. In reality, it was also Marco who lent a helping hand. She couldn’t even remember a time when she helped him.
• "You know why, Divina?”, Marco asked as she looked confused about his words. Divina shooked her head.
• "Well… no. I am the one who should be thankful towards you, Marco, because who had helped me tons of times already.”, Divina honestly answered.
• "It’s because every time you seek me for advice and I end up helping you, it’s as if I am also helping myself. Because if I were just by myself, I wouldn’t be able to think about those things, but because you came to me, I am compelled to give you answers, and for this reason, I was able to learn from it.”, Marco sincerely said.
• "Well… I don’t know what to say because honestly speaking, I am confused. I think I don’t deserve these words, Marco.”, Divina humbly said, but deep inside, she feels happy that she is able to help Marco in her small way.
• "Oh… never mind. Just think that each time you seek for me and each time you ask for my advice, it’s all important to me. It’s important because each time you do this, I also learn. So, if you have any problems, something that bothers you, or if you feel heavy… I am just here. You can count on me. Don’t hesitate to come to me, okay?”, Marco smiled. Divina smiled as she nodded.
• "You too, Marco. If you have any problems or if something that bothers you too, even though I may not be of big help, I am willing to be a shoulder to lean on as well.”, Divina answered.
• "Yes, Divina. I know. I know that you are someone I could count on.”, Marco said honestly and went on to pinch her nose as he laughed.
• "Marco!", Divina complained in annoyance, but Marco just laughed even harder as he stood up. He felt happy every time he is with Divina.
• “I told you, you got a beautiful nose! It’s been asking me to pinch it!”, Marco laughed and offered his hand to Divina to help her stand up as well.
• Divina looked at Marco’s hand because only Alfredo had been able to touch her hand… and for the first time, someone else had offered his hand to her. Divina accepted Marco’s hand without any hesitation, trusting him completely. When she is able to stand up, she pinches Marco on his arm once again. Marco acted as if he was hurt, but they both laughed together happily in the end.