Make Me Fall (ON HOLD)

Thirteen: Don't Care

COLUMBUS

"Okay that's it. We're done here!" Nagpalakpakan sila ng sabihin iyon ng photographer. Pati ako pumalakpak na din.

Ibinaba ko amg librong hawak ko. Lumapit sakin ang photographer at nakipag kamay. I thought it would take us long before we could wrap up and end this. But then again, I am not that surprised. After all, I have the most well-known photographer.

"Thanks kuya Ezequel." Tinapik niya lang ang balikat ko matapos kong magpasalamat.

"If you really want to thank me, then might as well sign this." Napangiti ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Pati ba naman siya?

Lumapit kami sa laptop niya para i-check ang mga shots niya. As expected, he's really good. Magaganda ang mga kuha niya. I wonder how much will be his compensation for this project?  He's known all over the world. Both local and international artists  posed already in front of him and his camera. So malamang sa malamang, malaki ang bayad sakanya ng CEO ng company na to.

Dumiretso kaming dalawa sa office ng CEO ng kumpanya na to dahil kailangan namin siyang i-meet. After his executive secretary informed him about our arrival through the intercom, bumukas ang double door ng office niya. Iniluwa noon si kuya Columbus.

"How was the photoshoot?" He asked as he walked towards us. Smiling.

"Basic as fuck. Believe me, this guy was way better than your wife Mr. Larisima." I scratched the back of my head after hearing that compliment from the photographer himself.

I really hate to stand and pose in front of camera. My sister and I were different. She enjoyed hearing the click of camera and seeing those flashes. And I feel like I'm about to lose my sight whenever I see the flash of camera.

"I'll disagree with that Mr. So. My wife's the best!" Kuya Cloud smirked as he took his friend's hand being offered to him. Still being proud was evident in his tone. 

The three of us left the fifty floored building and went directly to my in-law's house where his wife and kuya Ezequel's fiancé were waiting. Suddenly I felt so tired once I was comfortably sitting at the back seat of kuya Cloud's black FJ Cruiser.

And then I passed out.

A light tap on my shoulder woke me up from my good sleep. The first thing I saw was my sister's worried face. I stretched and went out of the car.

How long have I been sleeping? Those two assholes left me sleeping inside the damn car! I followed Sky inside the house where I can already hear the laughter of my four-year old niece.

I'll make sure to get my revenge on those two old men who didn't bother waking me up!

"Titoooooooooooo!" Snow's thin voice echoed inside the whole house.

The dinner was filled with laughter and stories. Not to mention that our tummies were filled with great foods too cooked my my sister and her manager, ate Marjo who sitting beside her fiancé, kuya Ezequel.

The four of them dominated the entire conversation. I will just talk whenever they ask me something. After couple of hours, I decided to leave because I still have a class tomorrow. The couple both agreed to stay there for the night.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Ang gwapoooooo!" What the hell! Even though I  using mg earphones it was of no use compared to the voice of my classmate.

Ang aga-aga tumitili at ang ingay-ingay na agad ng mga babaeng to. Talagang may pagtalon pang nalalaman. Tsk!

I went straight to my seat and removed the earphones from ears. Napailing nalang ako dahil sa ingay nila.

"Kyaaaah! Bes mata palang ulam na! Tignan mo oh!"

"Oh gosh! Sisiguraduhin ko na pupunta talaga ako sa book signing niya!"

What exactly were they talking about para tumaas ang energy nila ng ganun? Talo pa ata lumaklak ng vitamins at energy drink eh. Ipinikit ko nalang ang mga mata ko para umidlip. Inaantok ako dahil napuyat ako kagabi.

Nagising ako sa isang tapik. Nakatingin sa akin si Ellie tapos lumingon siya sa harapan. Nasa harap na ang prof namin para sa unang subject. Umayos ako at nilabas ang mga gamit mula sa bag.

"Before anything else, alam nyo naman siguro na malapit na ang foundation day ng school. That means mawawalan ng klase for the whole week to give way for the celebration. Kaya naman ngayon na ako magpapa-quiz para maenjoy niyo ang foundation week!" Mahabang anunsyo nung prof namin.

Actually, I didn't know na next week na ang foundation week. I'm a bit surprised with her announcement kasi naman isang linggo daw ang celebration. Usually, isang araw lang ang celebration ng foundation day eh. Just like sa inalisan kong university.

Nonetheless, it's our advantage. Makakapagpahinga ako. Sana nga lang makapagpahinga ako dahil baka may itambak na gawain sa akin.

True to her words, after the discussion we had a 15 item quiz. We checked it right away and I got 14. It doesn't matter anyway.

Ipinasa ko sa taong nasa harapan ko ang papel ko at agad na isinalpak ang earphones sa tenga ko. Antok na antok talaga ako ngayon. Dapat pala hindi ako nagpuyat kagabi!

Inunan ko ang mga braso ko na nakpatong sa arm chair. Pero wala pang isang minuto simula ng ipikit ko ang mga mata ko ay bigla namang nag vibrate ang phone ko. Tamad ko itong kinuha para tignan kung sino ang nag text.

My brother-in-law's name flashed on the screen of my phone.

Free your Wednesday next week from commitments. U r occupied the whole day. I know u know what I mean.

That was the content of kuya Cloud's message. So sa wednesday na pala? Mukhang hindi rin pala ako makakapag pahinga next week kahit walang klase.

Susubsob na sana ulit ako ng bigla naman akong kalabitin ng katabi ko. What the fuck! Kanina yung pag vibrate ng phone ko. Ngayon naman kalabit! Ayaw ba akong patulugin?!

Iritado kong tinignan si Ellie.

Ellie didn't say a word but rather pointed her finger somewhere. Sinundan ko ang daliri niya at nakaturo ito sa pinto ng room kung saan nakatayo ang adviser ng class namin at nakatingin sa direksyon namin ni Ellie.

I removed my earphones.

"Tawag tayo?" Tanong ko sakanya.

"Oo. Tara na." Nauna siyang tumayo at pumunta sa pintuan. Sinundan ko lang siya ag napahikab pa ako.

"Good morning ma'am." Bati namin ni Ellie sakanya at binati niya din kami pabalik.

Agad tinanong ng kasama ko kung anong kailangan ni ma'am sa aming dalawa. Pero hindi ko nagustuhan ang sagot ni ma'am.

"Sorry ma'am but I have no intention in joining. Kung gusto niyo po humanap nalang po kayo ng ibang partner ni Ellie." Paliwanag ko.

She wanted us to join the singing competition that will be held during the foundation week. And that's not my thing. Hindi ko trip ang sumali sa mga ganyang competition.

I prefer staying low-key. And I'm not even interested.

"Pero sa wednesday pa naman yun. May oras pa kayo para mag practice. You're both great kaya naman alam kong may chance kayo manalo." She explained. I think she didn't get my point. I am not saying that we need time to practice. What I am saying is that I'm not interested.

"Sorry ma'am but I have prior commitment on wednesday. Excuse me po." Iniwan ko sila at bumalik ako sa upuan ko.

Hindi ako nagsisinungaling. May lakad ako sa wednesday kaya hindi talaga ako pwede. At kahit wala naman akong lakad, hindi talaga ako sasali.

"Na disappoint si ma'am." Bungad ni Ellie sa'kin pag balik niya sa upuan niya.

"I don't care." Tipid na sagot ko.

Wala naman talaga akong pakialam. Oo, prof namin siya at adviser pa. Pero she can't decide for me. Walang sapilitan sa pagsali doon. Ngayon kung gusto niya talagang may representative yung class namin, then humanap siya ng ibang representative. Wag lang ako.

"Sungit mo!" Inirapan ako ni Ellie.