In Those Eyes

Kabanata Two

"Scalene, you're in charge sa mga kasali sa Mr. and Ms. Intrams. Bantayan mo sila during practices." The president said as he was assigning us with our work.

Yehey! That means that I'll be excused sa mga klase kasi during school hours lang pwede mag practice. I scanned the list of participants and looked for familiar names, pero wala akong nakita. Mahihirapan yata ako rito ah, pano ko sila tatawagin kung hindi ko sila kilala. Dahil don, inutusan ko nalang yung nakita ko sa hallway na siya ang mag excuse sa mga nakalista at papuntahin sa gym ng school.

"Hi, good morning everyone!" I said without glancing at them kasi naka focus ako sa list of names kasi mag a-attendance ako. Aba, mahirap na ano! Baka mamaya sabihin nila nasa practice sila pero nag cucutting lang. "I'll check your attendance lang, please say "ding ang bato" if you're a man, "darna" if you're a woman, and "ako si valentina" if you have a different pronoun, please do include how you would like to be addressed so that I won't misgender you." I heard groans pero wala akong pake. I have to atleast make this fun.

"Amirah Verano,"

"DARNA!" She said with conviction and raised her hand like she was the real actress. I smiled.

I continued checking the attendance and I heard a few valentinas which made me smile too.

"Jeremiah Trace Houston,"

"Ding ang bato." A man said with a monotone voice, parang napilitan lang siya sumali dito. It sounded familiar though, kaya naman inangat ko nang kaunti ang mga mata ko at bahagya pa itong nanlaki dahil nakita ko si Jem. So that's his name! Kaya naman pala hirap na hirap akong hanapin siya dahil hindi Jem ang totoong pangalan niya. I smirked at that, finally.

"Okay everyone is here, you may start your practice." I said and walked towards the bleachers para don mag observe.

Tinuro sa kanila kung saan sila titigil at kung saan mag popose. They all look lost sa simula ng practice pero kalaunan ay naintindihan na rin naman nila at nakuha na nila ang tamang timing as beat sa tugtog.

I stared at Jem for a while and he looked bored to say the least. He looked so uninterested with what he's doing. Gone was the smile and laugh I always see whenever I get the chance to look at him. I kinda felt guilty? Because he looked like he was forced to do it and had no other choice. I sighed and noticed na malapit na mag recess.

"Do you guys have water?" I asked as I approached them.

"Anong water? Walang mag wawater break hangga't hindi napeperfect!" The instructor said, as far as I know she is also a STEM student assigned to create the choreography and flow of the pageant. I raised my brow because I did not like her tone. I noticed it kanina pa, she kept on shouting at the other students kahit kulang kulang naman ang turo niya.

"I asked if they brought water with them, I didn't ask them to drink." I said, still raising my brow. I wouldn't have this attitude if she addressed it in a nice way or even just in a polite way.

"Bakit, bibilhan mo ba sila?" She also raised her brow.

"Itatanong ko ba kung hindi?" I replied in a cold manner, not wanting to back down. Though I was really going to buy them water and even snacks because I feel like they are really tired of what they are doing. It's not like all of them joined this voluntarily anyway. I know some were forced, bribed with extra credits, or napagtripan lang ng kaibigan.

"Raise your hand if you do not have water and snacks with you." I said, not removing my stare at her.

I felt some raise their hands and I slowly removed my glare at her to check how many students needed water and snacks. Well, all of them. They all looked shy while raising their hands, pero dala siguro ng pagod at uhaw kaya tinaas nalang nila ang kamay.

"Any allergies?" I asked them and they all shook their heads. I stared one more time at the instructor before leaving them and going to the canteen. Mahirap na, malapit na mag recess and mapupuno ito at hahaba ang pila.

I reached the canteen and bought water and snacks for the students.

"Dami niyan ah?" I felt Jace stand next to me.

"Oh? Asan si Kali at Aisle? Hindi pa recess ah? Cutting ka nanamang hayop ka?" I asked him while smacking his head.

"Hindi ah!" He said defensively. "Malapit na rin naman mag time tapos nag tatalambuhay nalang si Sir kaya sabi ko mag c-cr ako." He explained. I laughed and grabbed the water and snacks I purchased, naka plastic na siya.

"Pahinge!" Pahabol pa ni Jace.

I stuck my tongue at him before sprinting and screaming that it was not mine.

I took the long way going back para pagbalik ko ay recess na at makainom at makakain na sila. I was walking when someone called me.

"Scared!" I looked back to see one of my friends from the STEM strand, Rieve. Scared was a nickname he gave me in Junior High School because he combined my name, Scalene and Red.

I looked at his company and saw some of Jem's friends. I was shocked because I never knew they were friends because I don't see them together.

"Rieve, balita? Aga pa ah? Pinalabas agad kayo?" I asked, he isn't the type to cut classes kasi.

"Oo, mabilis natapos discussion eh. Pupunta kami ng gym, papanoorin si Jem, napilitan yun sumali kasi pinilit gawa ng looks at talino e." He chuckled and stared at the food I was carrying for a moment. "Saint Red nga naman oh, pustahan pera mo ginamit mo diyan kasi naawa ka."

"Malamang duh?! My Gosh." I rolled my eyes like it isn't something I do normally. "Tara na nga!"

We walked back to the gymnasium and saw them practicing. Sumasayaw naman sila ngayon, siguro ay para sa opening ng Mister and Miss Intrams.

I dropped the snacks and water I bought and went near them. I checked the time to make sure na hindi ako mali sa pagcalculate ng oras.

"Recess na," I casually said. "Ang utos, susunod sa recess at lunch time kahit nag prapractice." I added so that she wouldn't have anything to say back.

She rolled her eyes at walang nang nagawa. I really don't get her. I understand that she wants to make this event perfect but does she have to be mean when I was talking to her nicely at the beginning?

"Get one water and a snack from there," I pointed at the food and water I bought. "Including you." I turned to the instructor. Hey, I'm not that mean. I still think about her efforts for this program and I know she's tired despite being mean. She looked shocked with what I said.

I went back to my spot and sat down. I felt people going near me, I turned and saw Rieve with his friends... and Jem.

"Scared! This is my friends Waq, Soqi, and Jem. Guys, this is Red." He introduced. They offered their hands and I shook them.

"Thank you for the water and snack, Red." Jem said as I shook his hand.

"No problem!" I smiled at him and he smiled back. Oh please.