Spotlight Oblivion

CHAPTER 5

Today is the last day of the week-long celebration for the university's founding anniversary. Ngayon na rin ang huling araw para sa mga pakulo ng kaniya-kaniyang club kaya halos lahat ay may kaniya-kaniyang pinagkakaabalahan ngayon.

I'm on my way to the designated room for The Scribe Club, the club for various writers, including the school's journalists and even for those who are not, but have the heart for the said craft. Now, they are having a competition for those aspiring writers who want to be part of the club.

Frangels has already listed my name on the participants, without even asking for my permission first. I just woke up and received a text from her. Pero hindi na lang ako umalma. Ikinokonsidera ko rin naman ang pagsali. Sayang din kasi ang chance. Chances rarely come, so if you have one, grab and make the most out of it.

Sinilip ko ang loob ng room nang marating ko ito. Kaunti pa lamang ang nandoon at karamihan ay member ng club na kasalukuyang naghahanda.

I took a deep breath as I shook my hands in the air, shaking off negativities and anxiety that slowly knocked on my mind. For the second time, I breathed in and out and slowly walked towards the door.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" bahagya akong napatalon nang may magsalita sa likuran ko. Ibinaba ko ang mga kamay at dahang-dahang nilingon ito. Bumungad sa akin ang nagtatakang mukha ng isang lalaki.

"H-ha?"

"Hakdog." Agad na kumunot ang noo ko nang natawa siya nang malakas.

He was holding onto his backpack while slightly bowing his head to meet my gaze. He's taller than me. Kasingtangkad niya ata 'yong lalaki sa ulan. Ba't biglang nasali na naman 'yon sa usapan.

"What's funny?" I asked him, still maintaining a crease on my forehead. He cleared his throat, trying to stop himself from laughing. Nakakainis ang mukha niya, lakas makaasar!

"No offense meant, miss. Pero mukha ka kasing ewan diyan," patawa-tawa niyang sabi at saka pumasok na sa loob.

Napapikit ako sa sobrang hiya at saka mabilis na naglakad papasok. I saw that annoying man sitting comfortably on the front seat.

"Miss, dito oh," he offered the seat beside him as if nothing happened awhile ago. Inalis niya ang nakapatong na bag at nilagay ito sa kabilang upuan.

Nahigit ko ang hininga nang mamukhaan ko ang bag. That's why it looked familiar!

Tiningnan ko ang lalaki at pinangunutan ng noo. Leche! Siya 'yong nakabangga sa akin kahapon. Hindi ko siya pinansin at pumwesto na lang malayo sa kaniya.

Mayamaya lang ay nagsidatingan na ang ibang contestants at nagsimula na.

The competition went smooth for me, contrary to what I expected it to be. Binigyan kami ng dalawang oras para tapusin ang task. We were just tasked to answer the question: Why do you write?

Pagkatapos no'n ay sumabay na ako sa iba pang mga contestant na nagsialisan.

"Miss, sandali!" tumigil ako sa paglalakad at napapikit sa inis nang marinig ang nakakairitang boses niya. Siya lang naman tumatawag sa 'kin ng gano'n eh.

He stopped beside me and put his hand on my right shoulder. I shot him an annoyed look, so he quickly took his hands off me.

"I'm sorry, but I don't talk to strangers."

"Sorry din, miss, pero hindi ako si Strangers," then there goes his annoying laugh again. I'm Raven, by the way," he extended his hand. Tiningnan ko lang ito at napabuga ng hangin sa pamimilosopo niya.

"'Look, sorry kung na-offend kita kanina. Pinapatawa lang kita. Para ka nang hihimatayin sa sobrang kaba eh. Tara libre na lang kita."

Sinamaan ko lang siya nang tingin pero parang hindi man lang siya nadala. Tinawanan niya lang ako at hinila na papuntang cafeteria. Wala na akong nagawa at sumama na lang. Hindi naman siguro 'to masamang tao. At libre pa niya. Tamang-tama, gutom na rin ako.