Across Minds (ACROSS Series 1)

Chapter 6

"Maggie, nagawa mo na ba 'yung budget for each booth?" Ate Janna approached me.

We are currently preparing for the upcoming Valentine Fair. May meeting kami ngayon pero para kaming magkakaaway dahil may kanya-kanya kaming ginagawa.

"Yes Ms. President?" I laughed. "Kaunti na lang 'to Ate. Kailangan ko na lang kausapin 'yung ibang mga committee para malaman ko kung may mga ipapabago sila d'on sa initial budget proposal nila saka kung may mga requests pa sila."

Kinindatan ko naman si Ate Janna na nakapagpatawa sa kanya. I was assigned as the Finance Committee Head kaya naman inaasikaso ko ngayon ang budget allocation for each booth na ipe-prepare ng Student Council. Blind Date, Handcuffs, Photobooth, and...Marriage booth? Ang corny naman n'on. May mga snacks din na ititinda ang bawat year level.

"Oh, sige sige. Basta hihintayin ko 'yan this week. Kailangan na natin 'yan mapakita kay Ma'am para ma-approve na 'yung budget request natin."

I nodded at her then she turned around to talk to another officer. I was scratching my head with the ballpen I was holding. Ang hirap naman mag-budget. Baon ko nga for a week three days pa lang paubos na dahil marupok ako sa mga art supplies 'pag dumadaan ako sa book shops.

"'Uy. Hello." someone said.

I looked behind me and saw Ace standing there while holding a bunch of bond papers, a ruler, and a pencil stuck behind his right ear. Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin dahil naaalala ko pa'rin 'yung kahihiyang ginawa ko n'ung yumakap ako sa kanya.

"'Nu ginagawa mu, ha ati?" He said with his funny Visayan accent.

"I'm completing this budget proposal." I said, still not looking at him.

He sat in front of me, because I was sitting on the floor. Nilatag niya 'yung mga bondpapers niya sa sahig at nagsimulang mag drawing ng kung ano. I guess he is making the designs for the booths. I secretly glanced at his drawings. They were actually really good. Ang creative niya naman.

"Oo nga pala." He looked at me. "May babaguhin ako d'on sa mga sinubmit ko n'ung nakaraan. Na-miscalculate ko kasi 'yung ibang mga materials. Pupunta ako mamaya sa mall. Tetext ko na lang sa'yo 'yung mga ipapabago ko." 

"Uh, sure. Hintayin na lang kita." I told him.

"Ano?" he looked at me, confused.

"I mean...hintayin ko na lang 'yung text mo. 'Yon." I said while stuttering.

"Ah, okay." he shrugged.

Bumalik naman siya sa pagguhit. From the papers, I looked up to his face. He seemed really serious with what he was doing. He knotted his forehead and tilted his head a little, like he was trying to think of something. He licked his lip and bit the bottom one while erasing a part of his layout. 

Siguro naramdaman niyang may nakatingin sa kanya kaya naman umangat ang tingin niya. I immediately looked at my laptop and pretended like I was typing something kahit na naka shut down naman ito. I heard him a chuckle a little.