Stitching It Together

Second Chapter

Second Chapter. It Scares Me

Florence

"It's unfaaair," Shannon whined. Hinipan ko ang bagong pintura kong mga kuko at sinimangutan siya. Mahigit dalawang oras na kami dito sa tapat ng computer sa loob ng kwarto niya at hanggang ngayon wala pa rin siyang nasisimulan.

"And the girls say I'm the dramatic one," bulong ko, satisfied with my nails. I gave them one final blow, at kinuha ang maliit na purse sa tabi ko. I reached in, taking a small amount of moisturizer and rub it on my arms. Brushing back my thick light brown hair locks.

"May naisip akong magandang idea," Shan snapped her fingers and move the mouse. Tinuro niya ang computer screen at may lumabas doon na babaeng nakasuot ng leather armor at may hawak na sword.

"Sayangin ang buong araw kakalaro niyan?" I guessed. I don't hate it. Pero hindi ko hilig ang maglaro ng mga mobile games. I think it lacks motive, I suppose at times it's not so bad, just wasting a few minutes while you wait around or when you don't particularly feel like engaging your mind.

"Don't knock it until you try it," Sumandal siya sa upuan at ginalaw ulit ang mouse. Pinindot niya ito at sandaling naging blue ang screen. At lumabas sa screen ang babaeng nakasuot ng leather armor kanina, this time her back facing us, and a large town with what seemed to be hundreds of other men and women running around, yung iba tao, yung iba naman parang mga halimaw? I saw Orcs, gnomes, trolls, even a centaur strode past Shannon's character, nakasuot ng golden armor at may nakapalibot dito na kakaibang shield.

"Ayos!" Shannon commented. "That shield is like a one in fifty chance against the last boss in the Quick Fire."

At dahil wala akong naintindihan, hindi na lang ako nagsalita. Rolling my eyes instead at Shan as she pressed down on a key, sending her character forward.

"At paano naman ito makakatulong sa papel natin?" Tanong ko.

"Watch and learn, girly." Tinanggal ko ang tingin ko sa screen at sinamaan siya ng tingin, aabutin na naman kami ng ilang oras dito. I guess I'll have to start it on my own. Binalik ko ang tingin sa screen, nagbago yung lugar. Maraming nagsasayawan at may isang lalaking nakaupo habang naglalaro ng piano.

"Awww," She whined. "May naglalaro na sa piano mini game, kainis."

"Should I ask where this is going?" Bulong ko. Feeling quite unsure of her actions.

"Easy-peasy." She smirked. She went to the game's chat box. She cracked her knuckles and lay her fingertips delicately over the keyboard, then lay out her thoughts.

'Does anybody here have some creative ideas to write for a paper?'

Napanganga ako. Bakit diyan pa siya sa laro nagtatanong? Kahit labag man sa kalooban ko, pwede naman magsearch sa Google. Mas maraming ideas roon at legit pa.

"Shannon, dear, perhaps—" Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang tumunog ang phone ko. Tinignan ko kung sinong nag message. Si Kiara, sabi niya pumunta daw kami sa Cealum Tenoris Mall pagkatapos namin dito. Tutal wala pa naman kaming naiisip pwede kaming kumuha ng idea habang nagala. That way we can enjoy and finish our work too.

I smiled, tumango at pinakita kay Shan ang message. "See? That sudden jolt of inspiration can come out of nowhere. It's just like when I work cloth at the boutique. You work, think, a—" Napatigil ako nang tumunog ang computer kaya napatingin ako ulit dito. Isa sa mga naglalaro ang nag reply.