Hear the mind's need

Chapter 5

Isang pagod na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ko. I got busy sa school this week dahil naging sunod-sunod ang aming group projects and activities. Now, I have no choice but to spend my time with my groupmates in planning and all.

What's up with our teachers, anyway? Why sila sabay-sabay nagbibigay ng groupings!

"I think it's better if we'll make a 3D art," Jane suggested. Isa sa mga kagrupo ko.

We are currently brainstorming for an art group project that we'll be displayed next month for exhibit. Tumango ang iba habang ako naman ay hindi sumang-ayon.

"I don't think so," aniya ko at lahat sila ay bumaling sa akin.

Kita ko pa ang pag-irap ni Lily mula sa gilid,  ang isa sa fake friend ko noon but I don't care. I didn't waste an effort to glance, nanatili ang atensyon ko kay Jane.

"Anong naiisip mo?" tanong ng leader namin.

Humarap ako kay Alex.

"An illusion kinda type," maikling sagot ko.

They are so quiet, I'm intimidating them and I'm not even doing anything bad  nor  did I in the past. I don't remember also na inaaway ko sila. Sadyang, ganito sila sa akin... naiilang, parang hindi komportable sa presensya ko. I'm used to it naman, but sometimes it's tiring.

From the corner of my eyes, Lily folded her arms. Parang may say ata siya. I face towards her direction, expecting her to speak.

Her eyebrows automatically shot up, "Bakit naman pahirap pa suggestion mo?" asik niya.

Hindi naman umimik ang mga kagrupo namin, tila pinapakiramdaman ang tensyon. Kung mayroon mang kayang makipag-away here nang walang dahilan, si lily iyon. That's why their letting this spoiled brat act like a child.

I rolled my eyes, "I'm not pahirap, you're just pa-easy." Akmang magsasalita pa siya nang unahan ko na siya, "Anyway, it's also written din naman in criteria about uniqueness. Or maybe we can make an illusion 3D art," saad ko.

Tumango naman bigla ang iba sa akin. They murmurs agreeing statements that made me smirked at Lily. I'm really thankful that's she's the only groupmate I have out of 3 fake people in the room. The others are in a different strand na.

"Let's just list the materials needed and scheduled our time making," ani ni Laura, ang assistant leader.

Iyon nga ang pinag-usapan namin. Medyo natagalan kami dahil kinailangan muna namin ma-finalize ang pinaka-gagawin. We search inspirations from online before collaborating ideas. After settling agreements together with our schedule and each task, we finally part ways.

Agad akong sumilip sa aking relo but to my disappointment it's already 6:35 pm. I huffed silently in irritation. Nakakainis, when will I have the time para maabutan ko uli siya sa coffee shop.

Pagod akong naglakad papunta sa parking, I met Manong there and we went straight home. I yawned as I entered the house. Medyo ubos na ata ang enerhiya kong sinalubong ang parents ko. I gave them a quick kiss in their cheeks. 

"How's school?" Daddy asked, pinagmamasdan ang ekspresyon ko.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Nagkatinginan sila ni Mommy kaya napaangat ang kilay nito sa akin.

I pouted, "Not good, Daddy! Oh my gosh, they have been giving us group activities na lang," agad na reklamo ko.

Tumawa lang roon si Daddy kaya lalo akong napanguso. He find it funny when I complain about school. I rarely do that though, mga tao lang kasi lagi ang kinaiinisan ko.

"Okay then, change your clothes first so we can eat sweetie." Mommy reminded.

Tumango na lamang ako at dumeretso sa taas para magpalit ng damit. I opened my phone first to check my post from yesterday, I smiled quickly when Chase liked my photo. It was a selfie from morning before I went to school. Mabilis akong pumunta sa inbox, wishing he's online. Hindi naman ako nabigo, he is! I chatted him but my plan to wait for his reply didn't happen. Narinig ko rin agad ang katok sa pinto, senyales na pinapatawag na ako para kumain. I turned off my phone and go downstairs.