Beyond The Rules (𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙇𝙀𝙏𝙀𝘿/Under Revision)

CHAPTER 20

Nalu's Point of View

My heart pounded in my chest as I replayed the words that Sir Yoshio had uttered in front of the entire class. I can't believe he actually said that he likes me, I thought to myself, a mixture of excitement and trepidation washing over me. My cheeks burned as I tried to process the implications of his confession.

Meanwhile, I couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in Olivia's behavior. Her normally friendly demeanor had transformed into something more competitive, especially now that we were paired up for an upcoming activity. Her eyes seemed to hold a hint of envy as she observed my interactions with Sir Yoshio, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was determined to prove herself superior to me in her eyes.

“What if mag-draw muna kayo ng couple rito and rings to emphasize the word forever.” Wika ni Olivia.

As Olivia confidently expressed her views, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the glaring absurdity of her assertions. Her narrow-minded perspective and lack of logical reasoning left me utterly unimpressed. “We should start in the beginning wherein love starts, maybe we can add some scenarios,” paliwanag ko sa mga ka grupo ko kabilang na si Olivia roon na napansin kong hindi nakikinig sa akin.

“Oo nga, mas maganda nga ‘yon. Tapos ilagay natin sa gitna yung tula at nakapaligid naman doon ‘yong mga drawing natin.” Sang ayon ni Keiran sa akin. Tumango tango naman ang ilan sa mga ka grupo ko dahilan para mag simula na kami sa pagguhit. Inilagay ko si Olivia sa pag sulat ng tula ngunit napansin kong hindi niya ginagalaw ang mga materyales sa harapan niya.

“Bakit hindi ka kumikilos diyan? Lahat kami rito gumagawa na ng dapat gawin. Tapos ikaw, nakatunganga ka lang diyan?” Panenermon ko kay Olivia. “Bakit naman kita susundin? Lider ka ba? And yet, hindi naman maganda ‘yong suggestion mo. I don't like it, so hindi ako gagawa. Bahala kayo riyan.” Inirapan niya ako at akma na siyang tatayo ng hilahin ko ang kamay niya.

“Ang kapal din ng apog mo ano?” Pang-iinsulto ko sa kanya.

“Wala kang magagawa kung ayaw kong sumunod sayo!” Bulyaw niya sa akin at saka umupo si Olivia sa isang tabi. Maya-maya pa ay natapos na rin kami nila Keiran sa pag guhit. Masamang nakatingin si Olivia sa akin.

As Sir Yoshio summoned the class to present their interpretations of his enigmatic poem through the medium of drawing, an unexpected turn of events unfolded. Olivia found herself thrusted into the spotlight when her name was called. Unbeknownst to her, a classmate had discreetly nominated her to represent their group without her knowledge.

“Hindi mo ba narinig ang pangalan mo? Do I need to repeat that again, Olivia?” Saad ko sa kanya at napangiti ako ng bahagya dahil sa kanyang reaksyon.

A wave of surprise washed over Olivia as she realized the magnitude of the task before her. Panic surged through her as she stumbled to her feet, her mind racing to find the words to express her artistic vision. The classroom fell silent as she grappled with her newfound responsibility.

With trembling hands, Olivia approached the easel that held the group's masterpiece. Her voice faltered as she began to describe the intricate symbolism and poignant imagery that permeated their drawing.

“Uy, girl alam mo ba ‘yang pinagsasabi mo riyan sa harap?” Bulong ni Clarence sa kanya. Inirapan lamang niya ito at sumubok ulit siya sa pag salita.

Long pauses punctuated her speech, each silence seemingly amplifying her nervousness. The once-confident student now appeared as a stuttering, incoherent figure before her classmates.