Invalidated
It was Thursday, and tomorrow was the deadline for our movie. I had tried to reach Arden several times yesterday, but it felt like he was deliberately avoiding me. I sighed heavily, searching for answers to my lingering questions.
Fortunately, I didn't have to stress about the movie edits; we had tackled everything we needed to yesterday—except for one critical part: the rooftop scene. That final piece hung in the air, a reminder that our work was still incomplete.
I'm really glad Clay and Leisha were here—they literally saved the whole section. Their input transformed everything, bringing new energy and fresh ideas that made a real difference. With their help, I felt more confident about the edits we had made. Now, if only we could tackle that rooftop scene together, I'd finally feel at ease.
"Uhm, we have to finish this, and you two need to do the kissing scene," he stammered, avoiding eye contact with both me and Arden. His cheeks flushed, making it clear that this was a bit more awkward than he had anticipated.
Te'ka ano? Kissing scene? Hindi ba bawal 'yon, lalo pa na senior high pa lang kami and we're both males. Kung sa'kin okay lang, but if people watch this and criticize us, isa itong malaking gulo.
"Nah, there's no way I'm doing it," I refused, shaking my head firmly. The idea of filming that scene felt way too uncomfortable right now. I glanced at Arden, hoping he'd back me up. We both knew we had to make this work, but I wasn't ready to cross that line just yet.
He just looked away, not saying anything, and the silence stretched between us. I could feel the tension in the air, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. It was clear we needed to push through this moment, but the uncertainty lingered. I sighed, trying to find the right words to break the ice.
"Ayaw rin naman naming isama, kaso..." hindi magawang magpatuloy ni Clay. Ang mga salita niya ay tila naglalaman ng isang pag-aalinlangan na umikot sa hangin. Mukhang nahihirapan siyang ipahayag ang kanyang iniisip, at sa mga tingin naming tatlo, ang sitwasyon ay tila lalong nagiging komplikado.
"Kaso ano?" the anger was slowly building up inside me. I could feel my frustration bubbling to the surface as I faced Clay. "What's the hold-up?" I snapped, struggling to keep my voice steady. "If we don't address this now, we'll never get it done."
I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my emotions, but it was hard when the stakes felt so high. I just needed clarity, and the tension in the room was making it all the more difficult to find it.
"Our subject teacher gave us this scene yesterday, and she threatened us to do it or we'd get a bad grade," he explained, his nervousness evident in his eyes. The weight of the situation hung over him, and I could see how stressed he was.
What kind of teacher she was? Dating pa nga lang prohibited na sa school, iyan pa kayang kissing scene na 'yan. Tsaka siya rin naman ang nagsabi na bahala na kami sa movie and now, why is she giving to us that f-cking ending she wants?
I held my waist, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. I glanced at the two of them, searching for any sign of support, before I started to walk away, needing a moment to breathe. The tension was thick in the air, and I needed to clear my head.
"Pres, sa'n ka pupunta?" He shouted, which made me stop in my tracks. I turned to face him, surprised by the sudden outburst. "What?" I asked, my heart racing a bit. His frustration was palpable, and I could see the determination in his eyes. It was clear he was at his breaking point, and I knew we needed to address this together.
"Of course, I'm gonna talk to our teacher," I said, my voice firm as I regained my composure. "We can't just do this under pressure. It's not fair to any of us."
