After All Else

Two

Our routine stayed that way weeks after magsimula na ang regular classes. Kalev was always with me and my friends tuwing recess, pero sa mga lalaki niyang kaibigan naman siya nasama tuwing lunch, sina Luca, Zephyr, at Kaius. Luca and Zephyr were our classmates as well, pero si Kaius ay mula sa ibang section. Kaibigan lang din nila dahil magkakasama rin naman sila sa basketball team ng school.

I was right when I deduced na basketball player tong si Kalev. He tried out for the team at agad na natanggap nang mamangha sa kanya si Kaius, ang team captain nila.

"Class, for your first performance task, I will be dividing you into five groups. You will be making a creative presentation about Shakespeare's work which will be assigned to you. You are free to do whatever you want, as long as you meet the requirement of being creative enough." Pagpapaliwanag ni Mr. Castillo, ang aming adviser na siya ring English teacher namin. Isa isa niyang binanggit ang mga members ng bawat group at sinabi na rin ang gawa ni Shakespeare na naka-assign sa mga ito.

"Group 4, Romeo and Juliet." A few of my classmates groaned at nagreklamo na kesyo ang swerte naman daw at ganda ng para sa grupong nabanggit. I have to agree with them, this was one of my favorites aside from Hamlet.

"Anselmo, Silvestre, Villanueva, Aguirran, Trias, Lainez, Ynarez." I silently smiled to myself upon hearing the names of my groupmates. Kasama ko sina Sienna, Vien, Zephyr, at Kalev. May kasama rin kaming isa pang babae at isang lalaki na hindi ko masyadong kaclose.

After our teacher finished announcing the groupings, hinayaan niya na kaming lahat na pumunta sa sari-sariling grupo para makapag brainstorm.

Vien squealed when she saw me sitting in the circle our group formed. Ngayon lang ata narealize na kagrupo niya rin ako. Lutang na naman siguro to. I cleared my throat to get their attention. I'm used to being like this since I am a born leader.

"Do you guys have any suggestions kung paano ang gagawin nating presentation?" I straightforwardly asked.

"We could do a PowerPoint about it?" Lila suggested, yung isa naming kagrupo na babae.

Umiling naman si Zephyr dito. "That's too plain. And I'm sure madami nang nakaisip niyan."

"How about a reenactment of Romeo and Juliet?" Sienna piped up.

"Hindi ba magiging masyadong mahaba kung ganon ang gagawin natin? Baka magka-demerit ang score natin, we are only given 10 minutes max." Kontra nung Villanueva sa kanya, I forgot his first name.

"How about we take that idea and make it a video presentation? We could just do a trailer, para yung highlights lang ang ma-point out natin imbis na bawat detalye." Sabat ko sa usapan nila.

"That could work. Costumes at pag-eedit lang ang magiging matrabaho doon." Lila added. I'm glad they agree.

"Ayos lang, ako na lang ang mag-eedit ng trailer, may alam naman ako tungkol diyan." Zephyr offered. "We could also shoot at my place. Sakto, my parents will be out of town this weekend dahil sa business trip nila," Aniya.

"Oh my god! Guys, what if we commit to this at gumawa na rin tayo ng promotional posters?" Vien excitedly muttered. All of my groupmates agreed to her idea.

"I'll spearhead the photoshoot for the posters then." Sali ni Kalev sa usapan. Medyo ikinagulat ko ito, kanina pa kasi tahimik. Nawala na sa isip ko na kagrupo ko rin pala ang isang to.

"Tangina pre, buhay ka pa pala. Kala ko naestatwa ka na diyan tapos yung isa dito nalusaw na." Sabi ni Zephyr sa kaibigan niya at humagalpak ng tawa. Sinabayan ng iba ang tawa niya, maliban sa amin ni Vien. I kinda got lost mula doon sa part na naestatwa na. Vien probably didn't get it too. Iyon pa, eh ang slow din non. Kalev raised his middle finger at his friend and laughed it off.