The Present Is You (You Series #1)

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 33 - INFIRMARY

"Dahan-dahan naman, Camille. Nawawalan kami ng ganang kumain, eh."

"Ang sarap kasi! Akin na 'tong isa, ha?"

"Tirhan mo si Brooke."

The apple pie is actually delicious. I've never tasted anything like this before. Funny because I'm not really fond of eating pies but this one's an exception. I can truly understand why this pie is limited edition only.

"Masarap ba, Brooke?" Alex asked while quietly chewing the pie inside of his mouth.

I nodded my head. "Yes. Thank you for treating us."

The canteen's packed today. Well, this place is crowded everyday but this day, it was two times crowder than usual. If it hadn't been for Alex's classmates who just finished eating their meals, we wouldn't even get the chance to eat the limited edition apple pie.

"Wala 'yon. Matagal ko na talaga kayong gustong ilibre ni Camille kaso nga lang ay palaging busy sa Student Council. At saka graduating na rin ngayong taon kaya mas lalong tambak talaga ang gawain." He explained.

What a hardworking guy he is. I sometimes wonder if he secretly wishes to quit his position as the student council president and just be a normal honor student instead. That's what I'd do if I was in his position. Luckily, he doesn't think like me 'cause that would be bad.

"Ang sipag mo talaga, Pres. Samantalang ang ibang members ng student council, ayon, pa-chill chill lang. Kayong dalawa lang yata ni Ate Xy ang palaging busy, eh. Sumali pa siya sa photography contest sa Manila at ang alam ko ay pupunta siya roon sa October kasama si Brooke." I swallowed the pie and immediately turned to her.

"Huh? Kasama ako?" I asked intriguingly.

Xylem never mentioned anything to me that we're going to Manila for the photography contest she had joined in.

She looked back at me with her eyebrows furrowed. "Hindi pa ba sa 'yo sinasabi ni Ate Xy? Eh, ano... sabi niya kasi ay kasama raw ang mga models ng mga photographers na sumali sa contest kaya syempre ikaw iyong isasama dahil ikaw ang model ni Ate Xy."

"Really?" Maybe she'd forgotten to mention it to me.

"Sa sembreak pa naman daw kayo pupunta at saka meron pang one month. Kaya siguro hindi pa sinasabi sa 'yo ni Ate Xy dahil masyado pang matagal." She replied. I nodded my head in response.

Oh, so I'll be going back in Manila. It's not been so long since we came here and I'm still adjusting. Going back to the place where I grew up is like going back to my old self where I was all alone and away from the world. Although I'll be going back there as a model for Xylem's photography. It's different this time.

I heard someone cleared their throat.

"Yari ka kay Xylem, Camille. Surprise nga niya 'yon kay Brooke, eh. Bakit mo sinabi?" Alex butted in.

We both looked at him and he pointed someone behind his back. Standing not far away from us was Xylem staring at us as if we had said something that was supposed to be a secret. Uh-oh.

"Ay! He-he. Ate Xy! Nandiyan ka pala?!" Camille hurriedly stood up and walked towards her.

Hinila siya ni Xylem patungo sa bakanteng mesa at binulungan sa tenga. Camille looks so constipated right now.

"Hay nako talaga. Alam ko naman na ang tungkol diyan kaso hindi ko lang sinasabi sa 'yo dahil nga surprise sana pero sadyang madaldal talaga si Camille at inunahan pa ang may karapatang magsabi sa 'yo." Alex muttered while shaking his head.