You Captured Me

Chapter 18

"Lumi, sino kaya ang unang ipapakita ni madam? Sana iyong sa inyo muna."

"Bakit? 'Di ka confident sa output niyo?" I was wiping the lens of my camera using the camera cloth. Ngayon na kasi namin papanoorin ang bawat short film na ginawa ng bawat grupo kaya tinanong sa akin ni Gideon kung sino ang mauuna. I saw the first few edits of ours on our meetings but I haven't seen the final edit yet. I haven't also seen the edits of others since my blockmates tend to be pretty competitive when it comes to this.

I even heard that whoever gets to be the best film for our prof would garner a big advantage.

He messed his hair in frustration.

"Kasi naman, ginawa akong extra character sa isang scene! Tsk."

I widened my eyes in surprise. Natawa naman ako dun. Oh now I'm excited.

"Ano bang role mo?"

He sighed. "Ginawa ba naman akong waiter na natapunan ng wine..."

I howled in laughter. Napatingin naman ang ibang blockmates ko sa akin saglit bago bumalik sa kani-kanilang ginagawa. Oh, imagine Gideon in that state. I should have seen it firsthand! Napairap naman siya.

"Ayaw mo yun, artista ka na," komento ko.

"Please. Baka magselos si Celestial kapag sumikat ako."

I snickered at his nickname again for my sister. Ang hangin din talaga ng lalaking ito kahit kailan. Sabihan ko nga ang kapatid ko na mas pahirapan pa itong masugid niyang manliligaw.

"Maniniwala lang ako kapag sinagot ka na ng kapatid ko."

He chuckled.

"In time, Lumien. I'll wait for her."

In the end, our film was highly appreciated by our prof. She was in awe of everyone's work so the decision for best film would be announced at a later time. Tuwang tuwa naman ako sa film nina Gideon at pinagtawanan ko lang siya habang ipinapakita ang scene na tinutukoy niya. Ang stiff niya kasi tingnan! Well, who am I to judge? Hindi rin naman ako marunong umarte pero nakakatawa talaga. Hindi ko alam kung natural din ang pagkagulat niya o talagang inarte niya lang iyon. Siya naman ay nakayuko lang at panay scroll sa phone at pag-irap sa akin. Ni hindi binigyan ng isang tingin ang scene niya kahit na ilang paghampas ang ginawa ko.

"Tawa pa."

Sige, sabi mo eh. Tawa pa ko.

"Ok, tama na. Magkekwento ka pa diba?"

I calmed down as we were walking down the hallway. "Tungkol saan?"

"Anong nangyari sa club?"

My smile faded a little. Oh. That.

Umiling naman ako. "Nothing. Just, his friend told me that I'm a distraction to him."

"Bakit naman niya sinabi yun?"

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako.

"I guess that friend is Bethany right?"

Hindi ako sumagot.

"Ahh. Jealousy, an old friend," he said.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"Don't let it get to your head Lumi."

"I don't. I-"

"Bago pa lang kayo. Don't let it break that easily."

I know that. And I won't let it break. Not with him.

"Papalapit na exams ah."

"Oo nga eh. Baka hindi na tayo madalas makakapag-usap."

Everytime exams come into play, as much as possible, I don't talk so much to people on my phone. Alam iyon ng mga kaibigan ko. Kaya't parang nawawala ako sa mundo kapag revision. It's like I go into hibernation. I try my best to focus on it because I want to do well. I need to do well.