The Variable Y | (Fate Series #1.0)

Chapter 04 - The New Applicant

CHAPTER 04

*The New Applicant*

Two weeks had passed at club day na namin ngayon. Since seniors na kami, most of us ay naka-assign na sa pag facilitate nitong event to recruit freshies or 'yung mga interesado pang old students to join a club. Dito sa school namin, every student must be a member of at least one club, to maximize each student's potential for extra-curricular activities.

Nahahati rin ang clubs sa categories. Academic clubs, for instance, includes the Student Council, at ang mga subject-centered clubs na silang lead facilitator every month ng school activities. Sports club includes all the sport teams na meron dito sa school namin, iilan pa nga sa mga athletes ay napipili na maging scholar na sa big universities dito sa bansa. Socio-cultural clubs naman includes mostly on the performing arts, tulad ng dance troupe, band, theater and the like. Ako naman I belonged to the Art and Literary club which includes our school paper and the broadcasting team. Currently ako ang Feature Editor ng aming paper named The Vanguard. May mga leisure/hobby clubs din dito like Novelista for bookworms, Art & Hands, Quest. Pwede kang mag create ka ng bagong club basta ma-approve ng student council at ng Prefect of Discipline.

Sa amin namang magbabarkada, Sharmaine is in Math, Science, and Novelista club. Si Reggie member naman ng dance troupe, si Chelsea sa TLE club, at si Trix naman ay sa no permanent club, meaning palipat-lipat siya ng club ever since first year pa lang kami. Kung nasaan 'yung crush niya, doon siya sasali, 'yun nga lang di siya makasali sa volleyball girls dahil hindi talaga siya sporty.

Naghiwa-hiwalay na muna kami to go to each other's respective clubs. Nasa activity area kami ngayon at kasalukuyang naghahanda sa booth namin. 'Yung mga officers lang naman ang kailangan na nandito at nagbabantay, mamaya pa siguro kami sasamahan ng aming mga club advisers.

Kasalukuyan kong inaayos 'yung last year issues ng aming school paper at folio, idi-distribute kasi namin ito prioritizing the freshies. Need pa naming mag recruit ng mga new writers and illustrators. It makes me happy na most of the students are looking forward to each issue, though most of us staff know na ang inaabangan lang nila doon 'yung "Who's Who" column sa paper.

"Nance, don't forget to save me a copy ng folio ha," Shar reminded. "Oo nga, what are friends for diba?" Chelsea even added when they passed sa both ng Journ club. Pinagtabi ko na sila dahil baka maubusan, lalo na 'yung sa folio.

Di kalayuan sa booth namin, I saw Raven malapit sa booth ng Math/Science club. Come to think of it, ano kayang club nito noon? NPC rin ba siya gaya ni Trix?

Since I know I'm within earshot range, I called him. Kumunot pa ang noo niya that someone really called him out of the blue. Kumaway naman ako so that he can see me, pero he just had a questioning look on his face while pointing at himself.

"Oo, ikaw!" I shouted. Hesitant pa talaga siyang lumapit.

"Why? If you are thinking of recruiting me in your club, no thanks. Can't you see I didn't even bother going here first?"

Aba! Hindi pa nga ako nakakapagsalita inuunahan na naman ako!

"Hindi kita ire-recruit 'no! I'm just asking kung anong club mo before." I said in defense.

"I'm with Math/Science club, but maybe I'll switch this year." halatang-halata talaga ang boredom sa mukha nito.

"Di ka na nag eenjoy doon?" Ganun kasi talaga, parang may branding na karamihan daw sa club na yan ay puro nerds, though I have to disagree. And it's even surprising na kinakausap ko siya ngayon, kung 'di lang dahil doon sa plan ni Trix, hinding-hindi ko talaga 'to gagawin! He's not nice to begin with!

"Nah, it's my last year so I wanna do something fun."

Na-curious naman ako doon sa sinabi niya, but I dismissed the thought already. From what I heard kay Reggie noon, mukhang may pagka-dangerous itong si Raven.

"Well, make sure you don't get into trouble," sabi ko na lang.

"I'm sure something interesting will happen this year, and I want to be a part of that." Pagkasabi niya nun, umalis na siya agad. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan pinagsasabi niya! Bahala na nga siya jan, mabuti na lang may nagsilapit na freshies para di na ako nakatanga dito.

"Nance, paki-assist naman 'yung mga applicants dito, pa-fill out mo na rin sila ng form," tawag ni Edith, and EIC namin.

"Copy," at kinuha ko na 'yung forms. Mukhang maraming aspiring writers this year!

I was handing out the forms nang makarinig ako ng pamilyar na boses. But am I hearing it right?

Agad ko namang na-confirm noong kinausap siya ni Jeric, one of our senior writer. I even heard them talking like, "Oo since kulang kami ng illustrators ngayon."

Shit, so mag-aaply siya sa club namin?! Hindi ko naman ineexpect na agad ko na siyang mae-encounter ulit, and I am not prepared!

"Excuse me, dito raw hihingi ng form?"

Lord, bakit mo po ginawang sexy ang boses niya?! I can cry right now. I even heard them laughing at me, nalulutang na naman kasi ako.

"Ah yes, eto.." abot ko sa kanya. Ayaw ko pa ngang bitawan agad 'yung form dahil gusto ko pang makipagtitigan sa kanya. Nagtaka nga siya but he still smiled and said his thanks. Muntikan ko pang mahulog 'yung pile ng mga forms na hawak ko sa pagka-stun sa kanya. Nasa mga limang segundo rin ata 'yung stare off naming dalawa.

At para hindi ako kantyawan dito ng mga kasama ko, I opted to keep the kilig myself. Mahirap na baka makahalata sila and I would ruin my chance. Baka nga hindi pa nagsisimula, ma-friend zone na ako agad.

"May interview na ba agad ngayon?" he asked nang lumapit siya ulit. Lord, please po tulungan niyo naman ako na maging matinong tao kapag kaharap at kausap siya. Gosh!

"Um, malalalaman na lang sa second round ng preliminaries," I explained. "Sa second round ang iinterviewhin ay 'yung mga mapipili na."

"My guidelines ba kayo on that?" he leaned closer and whispered. Shet baka atakihin na ako ng tuluyan ngayon, magkatabi kasi kami ng upuan and he is looking at me.

"Uh.. since nag aaply ka bilang ilustrator, maybe they'll ask you to draw something na related sa paper."

"I see. Kasama ka ba doon sa mag iinterview?" For the first time, hindi ako naiinis na madami siyang tanong, natatawa pa nga ako on how serious he is!

"Nope, sa literary kasi ako eh," pero I can still watch kung ikaw na 'yung iniinterview, pero as if namang kaya kong sabihin sa kanya nang harapan.

"Okay, thank you. Nancy, right?"

He smiled that beautiful smile again, and for the nth time, he still caught me off-guard. How does he know my name?

And as if reading my thoughts, he pointed the nametag we staff had and smiled, "I look forward to work with you."

Naiwan na naman akong nakatulala doon.