Burning Flames

Chapter 2

Superior

Mas napalapit nga ako kila Audrey ng mga sumunod na araw hanggang sa lagi na kami magkakasama tuwing break and even lunch time. As usual, lagi kaming nauuna sa lahat ng bagay kaya walang ka hirap hirap kapag bibili tuwing break and lunch basta kasama sila Audrey. And para naman sa uwian, pinagkaiba nga lang ay sinusundo ako ng sasakyan namin and ganon din naman sila.

It's the campaign week kaya naman sobrang busy ng buong campus preparing for the voting of the Student Council. Sa totoo lang hirap ako mamili ng mga iboboto kasi unang una, hindi ko pa naman sila kilala masyado and pangalawa, i do not want to waste my vote for a person who's not capable of doing their task. Every vote is important, it's needed to be worth it because it's us naman students who will benefit from it since events and other organizations will depend on them.

Audrey and the gang will not participate in the campaign because for them it's hassle and a big responsibility that they think they cannot handle. Pero okay na rin yun at least they're aware of the limitations of their capabilities but still, nasa tao naman yun kung gusto mo talaga i-pursue kahit alam mong di ka ganon ka galing but for them, they chose to not join nalang. Well it depends talaga.

Para naman sakin, hindi ko kasi sure kung may boboto sakin and parang di pa ko ready kasi nag seself-doubt pa ko and i dont have that kind of mentality wherein I can balance everything in just a snap. Siguro dun nalang muna ako sa safer side but why not diba next time, kapag di na ko takot I'd grab the opportunity but for now it's up for those who have the capacity to do job that can be surely maintained for the rest of the school year.

And speaking of having the upper hand, habang papuntang cafeteria I glance at the people who's interested of joining the campaign. Ang dami rin nangangarap maging leader na I think that's good. I also saw the soft guy falling in line with his friends. Uhh, okay? So he's that smart?

Nang makarating sa cafeteria ay pinag usapan namin ang nalalapit na voting for the Student Council since yun naman talaga ang usap usapan the whole week.

"Sa tingin nyo sinong worth it i-vote? Wala pa kasi akong kilala eh..." tanong ko sa kanila habang kumakain kami. Matagal na sila Audrey so sa tingin ko naman alam nila kung sino karapat dapat.

"We're planning to vote Apollo's group kasi I think because of their kalokohan mas magiging maganda ang events natin the whole year hindi katulad kayla Marcus, boring..." maarteng sabi ni Audrey at saka sipsip sa juice na iniinom nya.

"Hindi naman sila pure kalokohan. Matatalino rin kaya sila basagulero lang." Dagdag ni Felicity na tumatango tango pa.

"Actually Marcus' group is great naman, kasi lahat sila legit talaga na matatalino pero kasi ang boring ng trip nila..." ani Olivia.

"Yeah, Via got the point. You know Raya, We're friends with Apollo's. Minsan nag gigimik kami at pumupunta sa kanila. You know. Party." Tawa ni Lily sa gilid ko na nag paalala sa kanila ng iba't ibang karanasan ng party nila sa bahay nila Apollo.

"S-sorry. Who's Apollo and Marcus?" Palagi nilang binabanggit pero hindi ako familiar sa mukha nila kaya naman napatingin kami nang dumating ang mga Seniors na tatakbo para sa Student Council.

"Yang nasa unahang nag lalakad, that's Apollo together with his friends. Like what I've said earlier, matatalino mga yan sikat at mayaman..." Puri ni Audrey sa limang mag babarkada na parating na hula ko'y mag tetake rin ng break nila.

Just by looking at Apollo and his friends, mukha silang mga mayayabang. The way they walk speaks volume, mga mukhang brat at pag f-flex lang ng yaman ang alam. I dont think they can handle events and organizations the whole year. Itsura palang parang mga bulakbol.

"Tapos yung next yang mga mukhang nerdy and lambutin, Sila Marcus. That's Marcus yung naka salamin..." turo nya kay soft guy. So Marcus pala name nya. Common but his facial features definitely says a lot about how is he as a person. The way they bring themselves while walking is speaking too much of how they can be a great leader.

Dont get me wrong. Maybe Apollo's friends are pretty smart too like Marcus' is but the way they positioned themselves in the campus is a big impact too for a person if he is going to be a great leader or not. It's just my quick judgement, may campaign pa naman na I think I can rely to.

Habang pinag uusapan namin sila ay nag paalam ako saglit para bumili ng drinks. Ayoko na rin kasi maalala yung mga tingin sakin ni Marcus na galit na parang na disappoint ko sya e kahit naman once di kami nagkausap.

Habang naka pila ay hindi ko napansin na sa likod ko lang din pala sya malapit sakin. Hindi nalang ako nag padala sa presensya nya at tahimik na nag iintay ng turn ko.

"Marcus ikaw pala. Sige wait kunin ko lang yung pagkain mo." Rinig kong sabi ni Ate sa kabila. So akala ko kami lang ang nasusunod dito pero bakit ang unfair? Mas nauna ako dapat ako unang bibili.

"Ate mas nauna ako ah. Nasa likod ko sya bakit inuna nyo? Uhaw na uhaw na po ako." Daing ko dahil ang tagal kong pumila rito tapos ito pa madadatnan ko. Nakakainis naman. Dapat sinama ko si Audrey para man lang mauna ako.

"Pasensya kana neng, naka meal plan kasi si Marcus at inagahan ang pag kuha nya ng pagkain para sa preparation ng campaign..." Paliwanag ni ate na syang mas kinainis ko. Mag sasalita na dapat ako nang mag sumabat si Marcus.

"It's okay, ate. Paunahin nyo na ang batang 'to." Matipuno at may diin nyang sabi. Bahagya akong nainsulto sa word na 'bata' kaya nilingon ko sya at pumaywang sa harap nya.

"Hoy Ma—mister, Anong bata ang sinasabi mo?! Senior High na ko!" Iritado kong sambit. Muntikan ko pang masabi yung pangalan nya baka akalain nya stalker nya ko. No way.

Looking at his perfect angle of jaw, he smirk like he's mocking me and look at me with his bored eyes.

"Sorry. Para ka kasing batang inagawan ng candy... So now you know the feeling of someone who got steal their turn by the feeling superior ones?" Matigas nyang ingles na syang nag pakaba sakin. Alam kong kinokonsensya nya ko dahil sa madalas naming ginagawa ni Audrey na pangunguna sa lahat dahil nakakaangat kami. Hindi naman big deal sakin ang pag bibida minsan but for today, i just feel humiliated by his sudden burst.

"Miss ito na po yung juice na order nyo. Pasensya na po ulit." Abot ni ate sa order ko kaya tinanggap ko nalang din 'to at binayaran. Not looking in his face and ignoring his presence, I managely go back in our spot at saka tuluyang kinain ng hiya at takot.