Captures of Perfect Timing (The Art of Life #1: Life Version)

00.00.17 - starting over again

"Huh?" He shifted from his seat. He folded his leg and rested it on the sofa so he could fully face my direction.

"Makulit." Madaldal. Isip-bata.

That was how I knew him.

In the room, he and his friends would always fool around. They were always laughing. Palaging nagkukulitan at siya madalas ang bida roon.

He liked bickering. I would always hear his unsolicited comments and replies all over the room, making everyone laugh. Even our teachers!

But he was not even trying to be funny! I knew it from the way he delivered and his facial expressions! I concluded he really was just like that! Kung ano mang maisip niya, sasabihin niya!

And he'd do the most random things!

One time, our subject teacher caught him doing Wolverine's fingers and putting them on his own fingers while the discussion was on-going. Seryoso ang discussion habang seryoso rin siya sa ginagawa niyang iyon.

Maybe these were the reasons why he'd stand out!

It was my first time encountering such personality. Hence, I would observe him a lot. I found him interesting.

Kaya nga napansin ko agad na iba siya kapag magkakasama kaming magkakagrupo! I was already expecting his care-free personality. Pero bigla na lang kapag kami-kami magkakasama, behaved na siya! Tahimik at sumusunod lang! Pormal, gano'n. Parang ibang tao.

But now, it seemed like his façade was suddenly gone. Ang daldal niya na lang bigla—ang kulit.

"Nakukulitan ka sa 'kin?" His smile fell.

I saw his pout as he sulkily buried his face on the pillow he was leaning to.

"But it's fine."

Sumilip siya. "Okay lang?"

Tumango ako. Maingay siya pero ewan ko, hindi naman nakakairita talaga.

The next week, Ma'am Santos was absent until the holiday so we had time to shoot and were able to finish it. Kaya ngayong holiday ay mag-e-edit na ako.

I followed my schedule and finished editing everything since I wanted to submit it this week. Magsisimula na kasi ang practice for Florante't Laura roleplay tapos malapit na exam.

"Game na! Practice na!" sigaw ni Nathan sa gitna ng maingay naming classroom. "Ano ba 'yan! Manahimik nga kayo! May nagpapractice dito! Respeto naman!"

"SAPHIRRE!" suway ni Mr. Buenaventura, silencing the class. He placed his hands on his waist. "Worst section talaga kayo! Ang kakapal ng mukha ng mga nag-iingay na 'yan! Mga bagsak naman sa subject ko! Ha?! Mga bastos talaga kayo!"

Nagtuloy-tuloy pa ang sermon ni Sir hanggang sa ten minutes na lang ang natira sa 'min para makapagpractice. Nagkaroon tuloy kami ng practice nung uwian.

Dahil nalalapit na ang deadline ng roleplay ay naging sunod-sunod pa ang practice namin.

Ma'am Santos, our MAPEH teacher, would often take absences now so every time she wasn't around, we would ask the last subject teacher to advance so we could get dismissed and practice early.

"Okay! It's a wrap!" sigaw ni Nathan. "Walang a-absent bukas ha! Pasok kayo maaga!

"Atsaka oo nga pala... Sa Friday—after exam—punta kayo sa 'min, birthday ko!" aya pa niya habang naghahanda na kaming umalis.

"Invited kaming lahat?"

"Oo. Punta kayo." When our gaze locked, he smiled. "Punta ka, Avien, ha?"