Hiding Behind the Lenses (Arte del Amor #3)

Chapter 6

"You available on Saturday?" Chad asked me when he dropped by my classroom. Sa fifth floor pa ito at malayo sa building niya kaya saludo akong halos araw-araw niya akong bisitahin.

Sa tapat ng elevator ang classroom ko kaya maraming dumadaan-daan, kaya marami rin ang tumitingin sa aming dalawa dito sa corridor. "Actually, no, sorry."

"Let me guess, another shoot?"

Tumawa ako, "You got it."

"Why not take a break? You'll be in Senior High soon, and you'll have lesser time to go out. With me."

"Huh? You are in Senior High and you have time to ask me out!" Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kulay, dahilan para matawa rin siya. "Well..." he stumbled upon his words.

I never got to get rid of him over the years, though we never really dated officially. He's not that same arrogant boy anymore, and I could say that he's matured a lot now that he's seventeen, or sixteen.

He's a good friend to me, though I do not know if he'd still be if he finds out I do not know how old he is. Tumingin siya sa relo niya, "It's almost time for my next class. Sige na,"

"Okaaaay," mahaba kong sabi habang papatalikod na para pumasok sa classroom. Sinalubong ako ng kaklase kong lalaki, "Wow! Tirador ka pala ng Senior High!"

"Kaibigan ko lang 'yon." sagot ko sabay irap. Nagtataka din ang mga mata ng mga kaklase kong babae pero walang nagtatangka sa kanila na lumapit sa akin dahil sa takot na malditahan ko sila.

Hindi ko naman talaga sila ka-close. Ang mga kinakausap ko lang dati ay ang mga kaklase ko sa first section dahil tatlong taon ko na silang nakakasama, tapos ngayon pa ako mahihiwalay.

I didn't make it to first section in my last year of Junior High because I got an 85 on my Christian Education last school year, all while my best friends are in star section, just next door.

Thank God that Mommy didn't make a big deal out of it now that I'm actually starting to create a big name in the industry, which matters the most to her. I still got a pretty long lecture about it from her but at this point, I'm just numb to whatever sermon they've got for me.

Maya-maya ay nakita kong dumaan si Sydney at Gia sa tapat ng room kaya nagmadali akong lumabas para sumama sa kanila. "Where are you going?" I asked enthusiastically.

"To the comfort room." sagot ni Gia. Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad, "Chad went here again? Hindi ka pa na talaga tinigilan ng lalaking 'yon, ano?"

Tumawa si Sydney, "Swerte mo nga, Gem, girl. Who knew he'd grow up to be so much more gwapo than he already was!"

"He's not that gwapo naman kaya," sabi ko.

Nagulat ako bigla nang paliko kami sa banyo ay may nakabangga sa akin. "Oops. Sorry—" mahina kong sabi.

Syd snickered. "I-I'm sorry po! Sorry," nauutal na sabi ng nakabangga ko. "Sorry, sorry." ulit pa niya at ilang beses nag-bow bago umalis. Buong oras ay nakayuko lang siya.

Humagalpak sa tawa sina Gia sa nangyari habang ako ay hindi na nakagalaw. Aksidente lang naman 'yon, hindi niya kailangang humingi ng ganoon kadaming sorry.

"Did you see how funny she looked? Girl looked like she's about to pee in her pants." tumatawang sabi ni Gia habang nasa tapat kami ng malaking salamin dito sa C.R.