Story of a Chapter

Ikatlong Pahina

Days turned into weeks. And weeks into months. We didn't talk again since there's no reason for us to talk to each other. Lalo na at pinapalayo ako ni Zirren sa kaniya. Naturally, I'd follow his warning because if there's someone who wishes the best for me, it's Zirren. I'm also bewildered by the fact that we never had the chance to become group mates. He's not that participative in class too. Kaya nga nakakalimutan kong kaklase ko siya.

He's not that relevant in my life no'ng time na 'yon. So we didn't really have much memories with each other in ninth grade. Maybe that's why I treasured every little moment of us in that period of time. It matters because those are the backbone of our story. One of which is our second encounter that happened due to an accident.

Mr. Laurel instructed the class officers to make some designs and booths for the upcoming valentines day. Pinatawag ko sila to stay after class so we can discuss what to do. It's not going to be final but just gathering of ideas then we'll decide tomorrow together with our other classmates.

Kada taon kasi ay may kaganapan tuwing araw ng mga puso. Every section of ninth and tenth grade are tasked to have a booth. Judges will examine each booth at kung sino iyong may pinaka-outstanding na booth ang mananalo. There's also a reward for those who can generate the most income.

Ang mga upuan ay nasa pabilog na posisyon at kaniya-kaniya naman na umupo ang lahat. There's no order of seats so they sat wherever they wanted to. As always, naupo ako sa tabi ni Zirren. Pag-angat ko ng tingin sa harapan ay nakita ko ang taong pilit kong nilalayuan. Agad kong iniwas ang tingin nang ibinaling niya ang gawi sa puwesto ko. Muntik na kaming magkatinginan!

Before we started the discussion, I first instructed the secretary to write the possible takeaways for this meeting. Even though I've been in the class president seat numerous times, starting a discussion always makes me feel a bit awkward.

I cleared my throat and then started the discussion. I first introduced the instructions and rubrics. We divided the class into different committees. Pinag-usapan din namin ang timeline para organisado ang daloy ng aming gawain. We then started pitching for ideas.

Justin raised his hand so everyone's attention went to him. "I suggest na we'd have the handcuffs thing."

"Handcuffs thing?" Everyone got curious as to what he meant by that.

"I forgot the actual name for it but in my previous school, we have this booth every foundation day where someone would pay them twenty pesos in exchange sa kung sino ang gusto nilang i-handcuff. So bale, the people in the booth would catch two certain people tapos iha-handcuff sila. 'Yong isang metal ring ay for one person's hand tapos sa isa naman 'yong other metal ring. And they'd walk around the campus," he explained. Napatango naman ang iba.

We never had that in our school so it's great to have something new.

"Usually they would use that opportunity to handcuff themselves with their crushes or someone would pay the booth to handcuff other people," he added.

"I'm sure the students would be excited kapag we'd have that, 'di ba?" I told them. It's kind of exciting.