Be With You

Chapter 1

      College life is the last chance of experiencing the hardship in studying.  Many students says that after finishing college you'll be living in the real world, where we need to work hard. Harder than how we work just to pass a subject, to please our profs and also ourselves.

For me, school is where I find my freedom, because in real life, once you got a job, it just feels like being jailed with lots of paperworks to do and other adult stuffs. In school I can still do anything in my own pace, not minding the pressure other people gave me, that's how I live my college life. I don't like procrastinating, when I have something to do, I should be able to do it on time and enjoy the rest of my free time.

But then, not all of what we are used to do speaks about us.

I don't like procrastinating, but I think I'm a lazy kid, or that's just me. So opposite!

"Kuya Leon! Ba't ang tagal mo namang kumain. Malelate ako sa club orientation namin. Bilis bilis!"

That's my sister, Gianna. She's in her first year in our University and she's now pulling me by the arm because she's running late.

" I wonder who's fault it is why you're running late, hmm, lil sis?" I tease her. She just pouted and sit on the passenger seat of my car, motioning me to drive already.

I smiled while shaking my head.

Alam niya naman kasing first day of club orientation ngayon and yet, magdamag pa rin siyang nanood ng kung anong series na pinapanood niya.

The moment that I parked my car, she rushed out and run away while waving her hand, bidding goodbye. I just sighed and prepare to go to class.

" Leon!"

I turned to look at the caller and shut the car's door.

"Kuya Dren!" Lumapit siya sakin sabay abot ng makapal na kumpol ng papel. I sighed and accepted the papers, and Kuya Dren just tapped my shoulder, as if saying,' You can do it.'

"Para sa presentation for welcoming the new Head of Drama Club. Short presentation lang naman." He informed me while I was scanning the papers.

"Short presentation, pero ganito ka kapal?" I asked.

" Ah, nandyan rin kasi yung para sa budget and other stuffs needed for the presentation. And also, yung mga manonood na profs.

I nodded and then put the script inside my bag.

" So, mauna na ako. See you sa practice." We parted ways and I walked my way to my block room.

"Hey Leon, my man! Kamusta ang first week of back to college? Feeling impyerno na ba agad?" He circled his arm around my neck, low-key choking me.

" Ikaw lang naman ang nakakaramdam ng impyerno kasi demonyo ka, diba?" Balik biro ko sakanya. Ginulo niya lalo ang buhok ko kaya siniko ko siya sa tiyan.

"Ang bibig mo talaga, tatahi-tahimik ka, pero pag nagsalita ka, feels like a knife." Sinabi niya yun ng pakanta habang sapo ang bandang dibdib niya.

"Alam mo ba, may magandang gamit ang bibig mo na yan. Hindi pa masasaktan ang paggagamitan mo." His eyebrows are moving up and down, like teasing. I acted like hitting him and he run away, saving himself. Napa- iling na lang ako. Puro kamanyakan ang nasa isip ng tao na yun.

The morning class passed by just like the other days. The profs gave us some individual activities and some printed materials to study on. When it's 10 AM, my schedule is always on the club until 2 PM. I'm one of the actors in the Drama&Film Club of the school. Nasa second year na ako as a Film Major. I joined the club for experience, but then, isa ako sa napili ng mga seniors ko na maging actor ng isang short film noong freshman year ko. The result of the film showing was good. Lots of praises was said to me, kaya pinilit na rin ako nila Kuya Dren na maging actor.

At first, I was hesitant to act. Sabi ko nga at extra lang. Binola pa nila ako na, " Sa gwapo mong yan, mag-e-extra ka lang?"

The first time I acted in front of the camera, it was awkward, but the feeling of fulfilment after we finished the film and with the good reviews, I gave in to their request. Hindi naman ako nagsisisi dahil habang pinag- aaralan ko ang paglalaro ng mga effects sa camera, I also got the chance to experience and feel the emotion the writer wants to show. Kung baga, I can relate to each type of work needed in the industry I want to pursue.

"Mr. Actor, medyo late ka, ah?" Puna ng isang kasama namin. I just smiled and she nodded, dismissing me.

I went straight to my favorite spot here in the club room, the farthest part of the room near the window.

Nilabas ko ang script na binigay ni Kuya Dren kanina at sinimulang basahin. Bumwelo ako para maupo sa bintana. Malaki ang bintana ng mga rooms sa school na 'to, to the point na pwede kang maupo at pwede mong makita ang field.

I put on my ear pods and started reading the script. The plot is not bad. Madali lang nga dahil para lang naman sa school presentation. I think hindi naman kailangan mag-over time sa practice.

"Leon."

"Leonel."

I felt a hand poking me that results for me to wake up.

"Alas dos na. Diba may pasok ka sa isang major subject?"

Napatingin naman ako sa relong pambraso ko at agad na nataranta ng makitang five minutes na after 2 PM. Agad kong niligpit ang mga gamit ko at nagpaalam habang nagpapasalamat sa senior ko sa paggising sakin.

I run hurriedly to my next subject na paniguradong late na ako. Sana na lang ay late o di kaya, hindi pumasok si prof.

I was in front of my room and in the act of opening the door when someone grabbed it first.

"Err, ikaw na po muna." He motioned me to enter first and I did.

"Sorry, Prof, I'm late." Paumanhin ko tsaka naghanap ng upuan. I saw the freshman guy entered the room and handed some papers to the teacher in front.

The teacher mouthed a thank you and the guy just answered with a smile. He has a black hair, its style was just like those from K-drama male leads, natatakpan ang noo niya emphasizing his almond shaped eyes and his nose line, down to his pinkish, plumpy lips.

"Leon, nagawa mo ba yung binigay ni Prof na module?"

I was taken aback when my classmate asked me. Sinagot ko siya ng tapos na ako at binalik ang tingin sa unahan, giving back the lost attention that I gave earlier. But then I smacked my head.

"What are you doing? Did you just complimented a guy?" I murmured to myself.

Ng mag angat ng tingin ay nakita kong nakalingon sakin ang mga kaklase ko, pati si Prof at yung freshman. A big question mark is etched on the face.

" Mr. Guzman, are you okay?" Prof asked, a little confused. Ginala ko ang paningin ko, pabalik kay prof, hanggang doon sa katabi niyang estudyante na may nagtataka ring tingin.

" I'm okay, Prof. Sorry."

Napakamot na lang ako sa batok ko at napayuko, tahimik na pinapagalitan ang sarili.

"What did just happened?"

Napa- angat ako ng ulo ng marinig ang pagsara ng pinto. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang lalaking kakalabas pa lang ng room namin, hanggang sa hindi ko namalayang natulala na lang ako sa buong oras ng klase.

"Cla, may binigay bang activity si prof?" I asked my block mate.

"Wala naman." He said. "Okay ka lang ba? Kanina ka pa weird? Epekto na ba yan ng mga pagpapagabi niyo sa set? Baka kulang ka na sa tulog." He said, concerned. Umiling na lang ako bilang sagot at nauna ng lumabas.

Anong nangyari sayo, Leon? Pull yourself together. Baka nga kulang kana sa tulog.