Fascinated by You (GM Series #1)

27

Never again.

Jordyn swore to herself that she will never step again in that faculty room if it's only for that matter. Sisiguraduhin niyang hindi na siya mahuhuling mag sagot sa kahit anong quiz para hindi na s'ya ma-obligang magpasa at lalong hinding-hindi na siya maaawa pa kay Jerome.

Ang buset na Jerome na iyon! Ugh...

"Itsura mo?" Shan commented, nakasalubong n'ya ito papasok ng auditorium.

They will be doing a play for this year's festival, so automatically, reserved na agad sa kanila ang auditorium.

"Wala," sagot naman n'ya, slamming herself on the floor.

She started helping cutting some props. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin nila maintindihan kung bakit sila ang gagawa ng play ngayon taon. Usually kasi ay Education o yung may linya sa arts ang gumagawa niyon. But something funny came up with the supreme student council and they suddenly thought this. Ang ibigay sa engineering ang may kinalaman sa ganitong bagay.

Each department of engineering will be performing a play. Swerte na lamang niya at hindi siya napili na isa sa mga aarte kahit halos ibenta na siya ni Olive makasali lang. And for their play, iyong top one ng klase nila at ng fifth year ang gaganap.

"Alam nyo ba 'yung latest chika?" Olive whispered to both of her and Shan. Hindi naman siya sumagot at hinayaan lang itong mag salita, ganun din si Shan.

"Baka raw magkaroon ng changes sa casting," sabi nito.

"Saan mo naman narinig 'yan?" Shan asked.

"Sa council, malamang!" sagot naman ni Olive. "Ang sabi kasi, may problema raw itong mga bida natin. E, 'di ba nga kasi ay may gusto itong si Kuya Treyton kay Sol? At itong si Sol naman ay kagagaling lang sa break-up nila nung nasa kabilang department, 'yung Kairo ng M.E? Nagka-bugbugan daw, e..." kuwento pa nito.

"Chismosa mo talaga, no? Alam na alam mo buong kaganapan," Shan commented.

"Huy! Hindi chismis 'yun, no! Totoo 'yun, tanungin mo pa si Jerome," Olive answered.

"Bakit tatanungin ko pa? Edi nag mukha rin akong chismoso na tulad mo," sagot naman ulit ni Shan.

Hindi naman siya nakisali sa kaguluhan ng dalawa. Hinayaan niya lang ang mga ito at ipinag patuloy lang ang ginagawa. Hindi naman kasi siya apektado kahit may mag bago sa casting nila. Isa lang naman siya sa mga props men at tuloy pa rin ang trabaho n'ya maiba man ang mga bida.

Or she thought...

"Have you gone nuts?" she asked Jerome, who almost kneels in front of her just so she would agree on his proposal.

"Sige naman na kasi, Addison. Kayong dalawa naman kasi talaga ni Sol ang pinag pipilian para sa role ng bida, nauna nga lang nilang makausap si Sol at mapapayag dahil na rin kay Sandra," sabi pa nito.

"Oh, gusto mo ay matuwa pa ako na kasama ako sa mga choices n'yo, huh?" tanong naman niya.

Apparently, Marie Sol and Treyton both backed out from portraying the protagonist in their play, Reason, personal conflict. Asar.

And since the two were both the faculty's favorite, their decision were accepted without being asked. Basta sabi lang daw ng dalawa ay personal ang dahilan nila at pinakawalan na agad ang mga ito.

At ngayon, s'ya itong kinukulit ni Jerome para pumalit sa posisyon ng bida.

"Pumayag ka na, Addy! Once in a lifetime chance lang 'yan, aarte ka pa?" Olive encourage her. Agad namang tumango-tango si Jerome sa sinabi ng kaibigan niya.

She arched her brow and folded her arms to her chest. "Kung gusto mo ay ikaw na lang. Mas interesado ka naman sa posisyon na iyon, e," sagot n'ya.

Olive arched her brow too. "Ay, uma-attitude and ate mo," ani nito.

Napairip naman s'ya. "Listen, guys. I'm flattered to know that I was one of your choices but I think I'm better off the stage," she said.

"I think otherwise though..." someone spoke from behind them and without seeing it, she knew it was Caius. Gusto niya tuloy mapaisip bigla.

"Sir Riley!" Olive squealed. Dali-dali itong tumabi para mas makalapit ang huli sa kanila.

"It was me who suggested you in the council," sabi pa nito. Napa-irap ulit siya at hindi na siya nahihiyang ipakita pa iyon kay Caius.

The hell to this guy? She asks herself.

"Suggesting me to be one of the choices is fine, but forcing me to actually do it? I don't think so," she said.

Caius arched his brow and smirked. "We are not forcing you, we are convincing you. I know you know the difference between the two," he said.

"And I'm not convinced, so stop bothering me," she said as well before walking out. Olive tried to chase her but she heard Caius stopping her. Instead, it was him who followed her.

"I didn't know you're a killjoy now, Jordyn..." sabi nito ng maabutan s'ya. They were in the empty hallway of the engineering department.

"It's Addison, Sir. I'm no longer the Jordyn you said to be known," she answered, emphasizing the Sir word.

Caius smirked at tumango. "Mukha naman nga. Ang taray-taray mo nang sumagot ngayon. Samantalang noon ay hindi ka makasalita pag kinakausap kita," sabi nito.

Napairap na naman s'ya. "Stop comparing the past to the person I am now, Sir. Because like I said, I'm no longer her," sagot n'ya. Inis na inis na sa ipinipilit nito.

"I'm sad to know that you had to turn yourself like that," he said.

Lalo naman siyang nainis. "I don't need anyone's pity, especially yours. And please, stop acting concerned and if you can, forget that we knew each other," sabi n'ya pa. Tinalikuran na niya ito at ambang aalis na ng magsalita itong muli.

"I'm not acting concerned, Jorge. I am really concerned about you and I will never act like you were never part of my life," he said.

Natawa naman s'ya. "I was never part of your life in the first place, Sir. Stop bluffing," she said.

Caius shrugged. "Van is already engage and she swore that she won't get married unless you're her maid of honor," he added, making her stop on her track. "Have mercy on Easton, frustrated na iyong tao na pakasalan ang kapatid ko," dagdag pa nito.