Stars In Your Eyes (Under Revision)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Punong-puno ng pagtataka ang aking isip habang naglalakad ako papasok sa aming building. All eyes were on me and I don't know why. I don't have any idea why these students are looking at me. May nagawa ba ako? May picture o video ba ako na kumakalat sa social media? Viral ba?

"Why are you guys looking at me?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa aking mga kaklase pagpasok ko sa loob ng aming classroom. Lahat kasi sila ay nakatingin sa akin, kagaya ng mga estudyanteng nadadaanan ko kanina. Napansin ko ring nakangiti nang kakaiba sina Apple, Kimberllie at Francine.

"Winner!" Biglang sigaw ng mga kaklase ko na para bang nanalo silang lahat sa lotto. They were celebrating for an unknown reason. Kumunot tuloy ang aking noo dahil sa kanilang ikinikilos. What's happening here? I don't get it.

"Anong meron?" I asked Apple after I faced at her direction. She was still smiling weirdly. Tapos tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin.

"Sumama ka sa akin para malaman mo," sambit ni Apple bago hawakan ang aking pulso at hilain ako papunta sa hagdanan.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" Pagtatanong ko kay Apple habang hinahatak niya ako pababa. Hindi niya ako sinagot. Tumigil lang siya sa paghila sa akin nang marating namin ang first floor.

"Anong ginagawa natin dito?" Aking pagtataka habang nakatayo kami sa harapan ng bulletin board ng Fine Arts building.

"Look at this," turo ni Apple sa ang isang picture sa bulletin board. Halos mahulog ang aking panga sa sahig nang makilala ko kung sino ang nasa picture.

"Teka, ba't nand'yan 'yang picture ko?" Gulat kong pahayag nang may ituro siya sa bulletin board. It was my picture.

I suddenly remembered that I posted that picture on my social media account two months ago. It was a picture of me while I'm at the beach, topless and waiting for the cold waves to hit me. I wasn't smiling at the photo yet I looked really good, that's why I posted it and it gained over 5k likes.

"Our university's foundation week is coming in two months. Mr. and Ms. Theodosius will be in the last week of August," pagpapaliwanag ni Apple. My eyebrow instantly moved upwards, as if it has its own mind. August? Nasa June pa lang kami ngayon, ah?

"So? Anong connection n'on sa picture ko d'yan sa bulletin board?" Nalilito kong pahayag. Naguguluhan pa rin ako, eh. I can't understand anything she's saying.

"You'll represent our faculty in the university pageant, Nav. You'll be the representative of Fine Arts Faculty in the Mr. and Ms. Theodosius, which will happen in two months," napanganga na lang ako dahil sa aking narinig. Is she serious?

"Huh? Bakit naman ako? Wala naman akong matandaan na sumali ako sa pageant na 'yan, eh," sunod-sunod kong saad. Apple chuckled and it made me even more confused.

"Syempre, si Ma'am Valderrama ang nagsali sa 'yo, 'no," tumatawa niyang sambit. Si Ma'am Valderrama? 'Yung professor namin?

"Pwede pa bang mag-back out? Ayoko kasing sumali d'yan. Hindi ko kaya. Medyo nahihiya ako," dire-diretso kong pahayag. Tila bumagsak ang aking mga balikat nang umiling si Apple.

"Your name is already on the list of candidates. If Ma'am Valderrama already decided, you can't do anything against it because she doesn't care if you agree with her or not. Plus, she's the head of our faculty. Kaya na sa kaniya pa rin ang huling desisyon," Apple explained. I just nodded my head. It's already final, I guess. Mukhang kasali na nga ako sa pageant na 'yan.

"Wait, why is your picture beside my photo?" Aking pagtingin nang malapitan sa bulletin board. Napansin ko kasi ang picture na nasa tabi ng aking litrato. It was Apple's picture. She was sitting on the grass while the wind is blowing her hair gently. She looks gorgeous on that photo.