Earthly Secrets

surcease

"I need your help, pretty thing."

Bumuntong-hininga si Leena. Nakadapa siya sa isang table sa cafeteria. Hindi siya nakatulog kagabi sa mga sinabi ng kleiein. Something's about to happen at Homecoming.

"Yfels are hungry ghosts that feed on human souls consumed by fear. They are vulnerable when they are feeding on humans. I need to capture them by then."

Homecoming Staff

Pangulo: Calling everyone to please be in their places.

Pangulo: Also, docu staff sabi ni Sir JK lapit kayo sa kanya if puno na ang storage niyo. May extra memory cards daw siya.

Pangulo: Goodluck to us all!

Napakagat-labi si Leena. Humigpit ang kapit nya sa kanyang DLSR camera. Volunteer siya bilang isa sa mga photographer ng event as  part sa kanyang attendance. Kung hindi kasi sasali sa ball dapat magparticipate as staff ng event for points. Kung hindi naman pwede, magpresent nalang ng excuse letter. Ano namang excuse niya eh nasa dorm pa siya ng campus. She doesn't really want to dress up either kaya sumali siya sa documentation. 

Pagpasok niya sa Soliano Sevirino Sanchel Hall, the sight made her momentarily forget about the impending doom she'll be forced to witness. Everything was just... picturesque. The theme was "The Great Gatsby" and they did justice to it. The door opens to a red carpet flooring the isle all the way to the front of the stage. Soft-looking gold and white cloths hang from the ceiling with beautiful silver and crystal ornaments accenting them. The tables and chairs where almost glass-like it looked fragile. The stage was modified to look like a grand staircase looking over the space where the ballroom area was suppose to be. The lights twinkled and danced making it more magical than it already is. It was like the 1920 New York high society all over again.

Leena continued taking photos before the attendees take the spotlight from the gorgeous setting. She shooed away a few ghosts who's trying to photo bomb her pics. Pinagsabihan niya ang mga itong hindi manakot. Her earpiece made a sound.

"Testing. Testing. Mic check. One. Two. Three. Leena, naririnig mo ba ako?"

"Yup."

"Okay. Since ikaw ang Documentation Head--"

"Teka lang! Ano?!"

"--tanggapin mo na ang title. Wala kang choice. Please lang," the SG President's voice said through the line. Kakilala din niya kaya alam niya ito ang paladesisiyon na gawin siyang Head. Di man lang siya ininform. "Basta, since ikaw ang Head, automatic ka nang nasa event officials. Pakitulungan na rin kami sa games mamaya. Sabihan mo sana ang ibang documentation staff na kumuha ng maraming pics, especially sa games. Salamat!"

"Wait--"

Walang nagawa si Leena kasi five minutes nalang magstastart na ang event. Inasign na naman sila ni Sir JK kung saan poposisyon kaya magrarounds nalang daw siya para icheck ang mga nasa documentation staff sabi nito.

Students donned in beautiful gowns and suits filed in by pair or laughing with friends. Siyempre hindi nagpapahuli ang mga teachers at ibang guests sa pag-awra. Everyone was taking selfies, laughing, dancing. She was pulled from one direction to another taking picture requests mostly from her friends. Gaiah, Vlad, Shey, Chance, and Dawn were present, too. Nagreklamo pa si Dawn kasi iniwan niya daw ito para maging fifth wheel. She laughed it off, glad that they momentarily forget what happened yesterday.

She was taking pictures of couples slow dancing to At My Worst by Pink Sweats (the slowed and reverbed version) that she stood out from the crowd with her black cropped shirt topped with a dark black unzipped hoodie and black highwaisted jeans paired with white sneakers. Smiles, laughs, movements, the way the lights accented everything, she captured them all. She danced with some friends who grabbed her and partnered some girl friends that she noticed wasn't asked out by others. She was supposed to be in the background but found herself immersed in the fun.