Chapter 36
The small multipurpose hall was already bustling when Kairi arrived, a modest space converted for the weekend into an art sanctuary. Long tables were covered in newspapers, scattered with crayons, poster paint, brushes, and papers. On the far side, may nakasabit na colorful tarp banner.
Children, mostly between ages 6 and 11, were already seated or running about. Volunteers were handing out aprons and setting up paint trays. Some kids had started scribbling, some already had splashes of color on their cheeks.
Napansin ni Kairi si Miss Herrera sa likod, tying her hair into a bun habang may kausap na organizer. She wasn't in her usual work attire—no heels, no pencil skirts. Just a tucked-in shirt, jeans, and white sneakers. Pero kahit casual, she still looked impossibly composed.
"Miss," Kairi called as she walked over.
Her teacher turned and smiled.
"You came."
"You asked," Kairi replied, feigning nonchalance. "And wala rin naman akong ibang gagawin."
"Such enthusiasm," Miss Herrera deadpanned, handing her an apron.
Kairi snorted. "Pero Miss, don't expect me to be a patient art teacher ha."
"Don't worry. I didn't."
"Wow."
Before Kairi could think of a comeback, a small girl tugged at her apron and pointed to a blank bond paper on the table.
"Ate, anong magandang kulay para sa sky?"
Kairi blinked down. "Uh...blue?"
The girl nodded, then frowned. "Pero gusto ko ng pink."
"Then pink."
Miss Herrera laughed softly from behind. "You'll do fine."
They were separated into tables—each volunteer assisting a small group of kids with their art. Napunta si Kairi sa tatlong batang babae, mga eight or nine years old, all hunched over their bond papers.
Their brushes moved with chaotic enthusiasm—jagged strokes, watery color puddles, and an overwhelming obsession with hearts and clouds. The table was a mess, but the kind of mess that felt alive.
"Ate Kairi," one girl said, tugging at her sleeve. "Pwede niyo po ako i-draw ng dog?"
Kairi blinked. "Dog? Anong klaseng dog?"
"'Iyong cute," the girl said matter-of-factly. "Iyong parang may ribbon."
Kairi chuckled. "Okay. Pero kayo mag-paint, ha?"
"Okay lang po. Basta kayo po mag-drawing."
She pulled a clean sheet closer and began sketching—a small dog with floppy ears and a giant bow on its head. Lumapit agad iyong mga bata, leaning in with wide eyes, their brushes momentarily forgotten.
"Ang galing," one of them whispered.
"Gusto ko rin niyan!" said the second.
"Sige," Kairi laughed. "Isa-isa lang."
Soon she had drawn a puppy, a cat wearing a crown, and a chubby bird with a balloon tied to its foot. The girls painted over her lines, careful and clumsy all at once, asking for color suggestions every few minutes.
"Ate, ano pong kulay ng pusa?" one asked.
"Hmm orange?" Kairi said, biting back a grin.
"Gusto ko purple," the girl replied proudly.
"Then purple it is," Kairi said, watching her dab too much paint on one side of the paper.
Kairi leaned in again to help adjust the paper angle—but her hair kept slipping forward, falling onto the page and streaking pink into the white space. Napabuntong-hininga siya and tucked it behind her ear. Pero bumagsak ulit.
"Ugh," she muttered, under her breath. "Should've brought a tie."
She was focused, head bent over the sketch of a ribbon for the dog's ear, when she suddenly felt something at the back of her neck.
Fingers. Gathering her hair gently.
She straightened in surprise, starting to turn.
"Don't move."
The voice was low, calm, and unmistakably close.
Kairi froze, breath caught halfway.
"It's distracting to watch you keep fighting your hair," Miss Herrera said.
Kairi wanted to reply—say something teasing, maybe even sarcastic—but her brain just stalled.
She could feel Miss Herrera's knuckles lightly brushing the back of her neck, the soft tug as her hair was twisted and lifted into a makeshift bun.
Then—firm pressure. A pencil slid through to hold it in place.
Simple.
But her heart was anything but.
"Done," Miss Herrera said, voice casual. "Now, you can draw your royal pets in peace."
Kairi managed to look up at her. "Thanks, Miss..."
Her voice came out barely above a whisper, breathy and weak.
Miss Herrera just raised a brow, unreadable as always, then turned and walked away, already headed toward a group of boys arguing over whether swords should be blue or black.
Kairi turned back to her table, pero hindi na steady iyong kamay niya.
"Ate," one of the girls said, squinting up at her. "Namumula po pisngi niyo."
Kairi blinked down at her. "Ha?"
"Parang kulay ng lipstick ng mama ko," the girl added, pointing at her with the tip of her paintbrush.
Kairi instinctively pressed both palms to her cheeks.
"Uh...mainit lang," she muttered, trying to laugh it off. Pero nag-crack pa iyong boses niya.
The girls just giggled and went back to painting.
Kairi took a slow breath, eyes flicking toward the far table.
Miss Herrera was kneeling beside a young boy, one hand guiding his grip on the brush, the other pointing at the sky he was trying to fill with cloud streaks. Her expression was focused, gentle.
Her teacher didn't glance back.
But Kairi?
She couldn't stop looking.
Cleanup had taken nearly as long as the session itself. The kids had been fetched by their guardians, the volunteers had collapsed into plastic chairs, and the painted paper scraps had been swept into trash bags.
Kairi took a long sip from the bottled water someone had handed her, sabay punas ng braso with a towel.
Miss Herrera walked over, her hands finally clean, though her cheek still had a faint smudge of orange glitter.
"Well?" she asked, settling beside Kairi on the bench.
Kairi leaned back, arms crossed loosely. "Ten out of ten. Masakit legs ko. Masakit ulo ko. At may batang umiyak dahil sinabi kong his dragon couldn't breathe fire and ice at the same time."
Miss Herrera winced. "Why would you say that?"
"I was trying to teach science."
Miss Herrera laughed, tilting her head. "Wrong venue."
A beat passed.
"Do you do this often?" Kairi asked.
"Every few months, when I can," Miss Herrera said. "I've volunteered with the same group since college. Hindi naman palaging ganito ka-chaotic."
Kairi nodded slowly. "You like it."
"I do," she admitted. "It reminds me there are spaces outside the classroom. Places where nothing needs a grade to matter."
Kairi sat with that for a second, then stood, stretching her arms. "So...uwi na tayo?"
Miss Herrera stood as well. "Wait for me. I'll just talk to one of the organizers."
Kairi watched her cross the hall toward a woman in an orange shirt holding a clipboard. They chatted for a moment.
"Miss, may malapit na café. Want to go before we head home?" Kairi said casually pagkabalik ni Miss Herrera
Miss Herrera hesitated. "Kairi—"
"I'm hungry," Kairi added quickly. "Not everything's about you."
That earned a small smile. "Okay, fine."