Heartful Whispers

Kabanata 5

We are now going to record the last part of the video project. I told him I'm gonna clean the table first but they all stopped me. I really want to do it. Hindi ako kumportableng iwanan na lamang ang basong ginamit ko nang hindi naglilinis.

What Andreign did was he covered the food and utensils using his huge body and expensive height.

"There, hindi mo na makikita."

I had no choice but to let him stand there like a celebrity standee.

I slided my palms from my forehead to my hairline to make sure that my bun's still good. I was ready to finish our work when I realized that Leonel is already here. And he'll be watching. Hichasen looked at me, telling me me to start reciting my memorized script.

I suddenly forgot everything. Nagtama ang mata namin ni Leonel. He's standing near the camera with crossed arms. Lumipat ang tingin niya kay Hichasen dahil parang may sinasabe ito. His lips parted slightly while raising his brows.

Slowly, he nodded like he understood something. Kinagat niya ang labi, pinipigilang ngumiti.

"May kukunin lang ako sa baba."

Habang papunta siyang pinto ay ramdam ko ang mga mata niya sa akin. Lalo kong iniwas ang ang tingin. Gusto kong pitikin ang sarili. Why can't I do it properly when he's around? Kinaya ko naman noong si Andreign ang nasa harap, ah? Anong pinagkaiba?

I strongly refuse to find out.

Nang makaalis si Leonel ay nakapagsimula na kami. Mabilis lang din iyong natapos. Maya maya ay biglang humalakhak si Andreign habang hawak ang cellphone. Wala pang isang minuto ay bumalik na si Leonel. He immediately went to his friend and hit him.

"Huwag kang pikon!" si Andreign habang pinoprotektahan ang sarili.

"Everything's good. I'll start editing it tonight." Hichasen told me.

"Chase, si Leo ang editor sa'tin pre. Kaya niya na yan."

"Right,"

Napalunok ako. Si Leonel ang mag-eedit? That means he'll be watching all the videos, right?

"A-ako pwede naman!" napalakas ang sabi ko.

"You sure?" Hichasen turned to me.

Hindi ako nakasagot agad. May laptop naman kami sa bahay na ginagamit lang para sa school works. Ang problema, kahit kailan ay hindi ko pa nararanasang mag edit ng video. I can learn through YouTube, maybe? Pero paano kung hindi ko maayos. Nakakahiya naman kay Hichasen na ang laki ng effort sa project namin.

My shoulders slightly drop.

Saka ko lamang napansin na matamang nakatitig si Leonel. His eyes went to my shoulders. I cleared my throat.

"Susubu-"

"Do it, Chase." Leonel butted in.

"Why? You don't want to?"

Sumulyap sa akin si Leonel.

Hichasen's brow shot up but soon nodded like he understood.

"Yeah, Yula told me you guys are bombarded with school works this week. Spare Coli from the stress." Si Andreign na lumapit sa akin at hinawakan ang nakaikot kong buhok.

Habang nasa loob ng kotse ay muli kong tinanong si Hichasen. "Ayos lang ba talaga? Pwede namang ako na lang... pag-aaralan ko."

"It's fine, Coli. Don't worry."

"Para naman may ambag ako," I tried to chuckle to make it seem like a joke.

"You were there today."