Perennial Blooms (Ciudad de Escalante #2)

Phase 21

As I expected, Guiliana forced me to attend the school right away. My excuse letter ako na nagsasabi na may immediate training lang na naganap sa firm na kinakailangan ko bilang preperasyon.

Kapani-paniwala nga naman kaysa sa excuse letter na sasabihin na may sakit lang ako.

"My most outstanding student is already here. How's your experience in your firm, Gaviaja?" Ms. Delmore, my adviser, asked me while reading the excuse letter I presented.

"Nothing much. I already know how our firm works for the past years," I lied, and I think I just replied a nonsense answer.

"Pinagkuha na pala kita ng Certificate of Candidacy. Just fill the application and pass it later in the registrar's office.." she said and handed me a paper of what she's talking about.

"What is this for?" hindi mapigilan kong tanong.

"Para sa Grade 11 Representatives this year, Pres!" sigaw ng kaklase kong lalaki sa likuran.

Grade 11 Representative? She wants me to run to have a position in Student Council? My leadership skills are superb, but I have no interest in participating in school politics.

"Well, each academic strand already has a representative. Three students from STEM and GAS. Four from ABM. HUMSS is the only strand that doesn't have a representative yet..." Ms. Delmore explained while smiling at me.

"That's why you gave this to me?" tanong ko at itinaas ang application form.

"Because it's for you. It's better if our smartest and most competent student will be the HUMSS representative. You have the potential to be the Chairwoman, so why don't you grab the opportunity?"

But I don't like to be part of the Student Council! Kapag nanalo ako, dagdag trabaho pa iyon. The whole school will expect something from me. More expectations are equal to a higher chance of disappointment.

"Oo nga, Pres! Para naman may panlaban tayong Humanista!" one of my classmates shouted again.

"President Salcedo for Chairwoman!" they cheered.

"See? Your classmates are here to support you. Also, your subject teachers wanted you to run for the position. You're qualified and the most deserving to be a Chairwoman in this batch. If you won, you'd have incentives per subject..." Ms. Delmore convinced me again.

I gulped while looking at my classmates and my adviser. They seemed so happy while waiting for my decision. Who am I to ruin it?

"Okay..." I said with a heavy heart and went back from my seat.

I hope I won't regret this decision.

"Talaga bang sasali ka? Ayaw mo sa mga ganyan diba?" Cassiel asked and he looks frustrated than me.

"Why do you care, Cassiel?" malamig kong tanong pabalik sa kanya habang finifill-up ang mga kailangan sagutan.

"May pakialam ako dahil napilitan ka na naman kanina. Bakit mo ulit hinayaan na magdesisyon ang ibang tao para sa'yo?" giit niya kaya napamasahe ako ng sentido.

"It's from my own decision. I want to run for it so stop disturbing me..." inis kong sabi at naglagay na ng 2x2 picture ko sa form.

"Own decision? Talaga lang, ha?"

I rolled my eyes at him and ignored his sarcastic statements.

"Galit ka pa rin ba sa akin?" he said softly and occupied the seat in front of me.

"Who wouldn't be? You betrayed me..." I replied coldly.

"I didn't betray you..."

Napahinga ako ng malalim at binitawan ang ballpen para tumigil sa pagsusulat.