Labo: Silent Mode

What's behind the mask?

Rosena's POV

Kung anuman 'yong emergency na kinailangan puntahan ni Rica, sana okay lang siya. Kasi almost one week na siyang hindi nagrereply. Almost one week na rin sinusubukan ni Adrie na kausapin ako at kinukulit ako nina Gico, Paige, at Sharine na kausapin na si Adrie.

Attempt 1

Kakarating ko lang sa school, suot ang oversized kong hoodie at nakamask pa ako. 'Tila wanted akong naglalakad sa napakahabang corridor nang nakayuko dahil hindi pa rin naglalighten ang kilay at labi ko, namamaga pa nga.

Sumalubong sa akin si Adrie nang papalapit na ako sa classroom. "Ros, can we talk?"

Nakayuko akong sumagot, "Oo, nakakapagsalita pa naman ako Adrie, ikaw nakakapagsalita rin. Nice." Sagot ko tapos nagmadali akong pumasok sa room.

Attempt 2

"Rosena, tawag ka ni Ma'am Santos sa library" Sabi ni Paige na kasalukuyang kumakain ng chichirya na mukhang noodles.

"Bakit sa library?" Tanong ko.

"Kasi nandun siya, ano pa ba?" Mapang-asar na sagot ni Gico

"Dali na be, go na, naghihintay si Ma'am Santos" Sabi naman ni Sharine.

Pumunta ako sa library at nakasabay ko pa si Ma'am Santos na pumasok sa library.

"Ma'am Santos, tawag niyo daw po ako?" Tanong ko.

"Huh? Hindi naman Ros. By the way your interview is near na ha, get ready." Sagot ni Ma'am. " Si Vallins daw nakapasok na earlier ha, so do good!"

Napatango na lang ako sa dami ng sinasabi ni Ma'am Santos. Nakita ko naman sa reflection ng glass door sina Gico, Paige, at Sharine na nakasilip, napafacepalm pa si Paige.

Attempt 3

"Ros, usap naman tayo please." Sabi ni Adrie habang hinahabol ako sa park ng Kingdom College.

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad, natumba naman si Adrie kasi paatras siya naglalakad tapos may bato na humarang sa paa niya. "Okay." Sabi ko.

"Great, ieexplain ko lang kung ano talagang nangyari kas-" Sabi ni Adrie.

"Ayan tapos na tayo mag-usap. Bye." Pagputol ko sa sinabi niya tapos lumayo na ako sa kanya.

Kamot-ulo naman siyang naiwan sa kinatatayuan niya.

Attempt 4

"Ros, can you please hear me out?" Sabi ni Adrie habang papalabas kami ng Kingdom College.

"Naririnig naman kita." Sagot ko.

Natawa siya. "My god Ros." Sabi niya.

"Hindi ako god, goddess ako." Sabi ko naman tapos sumakay na agad ako ng tricycle para umuwi.

Attempt 5

"Aray! Tanggalin mo nga Gico! Namamaga pa kilay ko. Bakit ba?" Sabi ko kay Gico na pinipiringan ako.

"Kausapin mo na kasi si Adrie." Sabi naman niya nang natatawa, naluluha naman ako gawa ng pagkakadikit ng panyo niya sa kilay ko.

"Focus muna ako sa pagpasok sa FMPA, okay? Pagtapos nun mag-uusap na kami nang matino." Sabi ko pagkatapos niyang tanggalin 'yong panyo niya sa mukha ko.

Umuwi na ako at nag-review.

Adrie's POV

I haven't seen Rosena's face for almost a week. Literally, she has been covering her face the whole time. I have been trying to talk to her as well and our friends are also trying to get her to talk to me. But today, she can't escape talking to me because she's going to have a panel interview with the FMPA officers, and me.

"Next candidate please pakitawag Ry." Nina, the Federation President, asked the Vice President for Communications, Ryan to call the next candidate, which is Rosena.

"H-hi po, pwede po ba hindi nakatapat sa akin 'yong isang aircon? Nabasa po ako ng ulan" Ros said while removing her hoodie. She's still wearing her mask, even if it's also wet. I'm controlling the urge to give her my jacket because I know she's cold.

Sheen, the Vice President for Logistics, gave her a jacket, "May we see what's behind the mask?" Ian, the Vice President asked, making Ros remove her mask.

She's blooming, despite being wet, her eyebrows are well defined and her lips are red as a newly bloomed rose. "Pretty naman pala, hindi na need ng mask." Nina said. "Introduce yourself when you're ready."

"Good afternoon, I am Rosena D'Rio, 3rd year Marketing Student, working student, a waitress, an online seller, and a wedding singer. I am also the Secretary of our school business organization. I like painting, drawing, and writing during my free time."

"Whoa, where do you get the free time?" Nina asked. "Anyway we'll be having three short activities for you."

"Activity number 1, get an object in front of you that describes you best. There's a paper clip, black board eraser, and pen. Which best describes you?" Ry discussed the first activity.

"I am the paper clip, because, I have the ability to get things together no matter how hard it is." Ros answered.

"Activity number 2, take a picture then create a caption for it." Nina told Ros, I, then, gave her my phone for her to do the activity using it. She took a photo of her shoes and captioned it "Put your best foot forward, even on a rainy day"

"Great! Time for activity number 3, you will be answering a question with a 30-second timer. Timer starts, now." Nina said.

"How will you fix a misunderstanding with your coworker?" I asked.

"I will talk to my coworker in private about the misunderstanding in order to hear his side of the story and tell him mine. I believe that talking it out will always fix things rather than not addressing it." She answered.

"Weh" I mumbled they all laughed except Ros, she just smiled.

"Good answer, Ms. D'rio, congratulations for completing your final interview, we'll be contacting you about the result of your interview. You may now go home. Thank you!" Nina said.

"Thank you for your consideration and time!" Ros said before she went out of the room.

Rosena's POV

Hay salamat, natapos na rin ang interview ko na 'yon.

Paalis na sana ako ng building nang makareceive ako ng text galing kay Adrie. Hindi ko sana sasagutin kaso na-open ko.

start of conversation

ADRIEMUNYU: Hey

ME: No?

ADRIEMUNYU: Wait for me, let's go home together.

ME: No. Uwi na ako.

ADRIEMUNYU: Please?

ME: Fine

ADRIEMUNYU: Thank you.

end of conversation

Gutom na gutom na ako habang naghihintay kay Adrie, kaya natulog na muna ako.

"Ros.." Pagtapik sa akin ni Adrie. "Gising na Ros"

Pagkadilat ko, nakita ko si Adrie na may hawak na siomai, hopia at gulaman. Nakangiti siya sa akin na parang bata na nakakuha ng stuffed toy sa claw machine. "This is to siomai regret." Sabi niya sabay abot sa akin ng siomai "I hopia forgive me?" inabot niya ang hopia, "Sana gulaman mo na nagsisisi talaga ako." Inabot niya ang gulaman.

Hindi ko na napigilang matawa kasi, slang 'yong pagkakapronounce niya. "Oo na."

"Talaga?" He asked.

"Oo nga, ayaw mo ba? Edi 'wag" Sabi ko tapos naglakad ako palayo, kunwari iiwanan ko siya.

"Gusto. Huy." Sabi niya habang sumusunod sa akin, kinuha niya bag ko at ang mga dala ko. "So pwede ka na bang umuwi sa amin?" Tanong niya.

"Hindi na mauulit 'yong nangyari last time?" Tanong ko.

"Hindi na, I promise." Sagot niya, may pagtaas pa ng right hand niya na inapiran ko naman.

Tumunog naman ang phone ko at pagtingin ko, email 'yon galing sa Future Marketers of the Philippines Association, tanggap ako. Napatulala ako kasi ang tagal ko talagang pinaghandaan 'yon.

"Congrats." Pagbati ni Adrie sa akin habang nagboobook siya ng ride namin pauwi. Tumawag na rin siya sa GC namin nina Gico, Sharine, at Paige para ibalita lahat.

"HUUuUUUUuUuuUUuUY!" Sigaw ni Paige "Congraaats!"

"Naks naman, nakapasa ang baliw." Pagbati ni Gico.

Kung paano ako nakapasa agad, ay hindi ko rin alam. Siguro magaling talaga ako, o siguro magaling 'tong kasama ko.