Paper Memories

Chapter 4-I

Chapter 4-I

It's always my routine to be at school this early.

I left my house as Percival obediently stayed there, he's clingy but he doesn't complain about it. Saya lang ang isasalubong niya pagkabalik ko mamaya; walang tanong, walang angal. Ginawan niya ako ng breakfast kanina, binati niya akong good morning, pero umalis lang ako. I should take my class at Vitruvius University seriously afterall.

Dadaan muna ako sa art club----palagi ako nag-iiwan dun ng gamit.

Kaso ganto ang madadatnan ko. Kailan sila nagkaoras gawin to?

Sira-sira ang mga plaster figurines na ginagamit pang-reference, putol-putol na wooden easel, at maraming natapon na pintura, brushes at iba pang art materials na nagkalat sa paligid. How can they not value things that make art? Both new and old members of the art club could still take this room back and use it. But they did this.Still, I just left everything as it is; I can't fix it, so all I could do is leave.

Kailan ko na lang dalhin ang sa ibang lugar ang attensyon ko. So I decided to drop by the gymnasium, but Ellie stands out from the crowd, damay tuloy ako." Sheena. Are you here to play?!"

Bigla na lang siyag naghagis ng bola, buti na lang nasalo ko!" Not really, you brute."

" Good morning, Sheena! Bakit ang aga mo ulit?" Naalala praises patungkol kung kagaling sa sports si Ellie. Aside from volleyball she also excel in other sports; right now she could even exceed some of the boy's skills in basketball. Kaso ngayong final college year na siya, iniwan na niya ang pag-c-compete." Tayo naman laro? Light game lang para hindi ka pagpawisan masyado, ano?"

My friend's wavy brunette hair is tied in a ponytail, napaconfident niyang tingnan. habang ako naman ay yukong-yuko dahil sa mga mata ng ibang nasa gymnasium."The others seems to not want me here, El."

"Kanila ba to?" Liningon niya ang mga nagmamasid.

"Just for change." Pagpayag ko na lang.

Masuwerte akong sanay na akong makipaglaro sa kanya.

Kaya napapabigyan ko siya. Nang papalapit na kami sa basketball ring ay tuluyang lumayo ng iba. Ipinagsawalang bahala ko na lang to para kay Ellie. I raised my arms and assess where I should aim at basketball ring, all while I was waiting for her to start questioning me.

I threw, it but missed my shot. Akala ko sa tamang angulo na ako bumato.

Akmang babagsak na to ng habulin ito ni Ellie at muling maitira niya papasok ng ring. Displaying her athleticism and her passion in a swift. Alam kong magtatanong siya, pero hindi ko inakalang ganto ang unang lalabas sa bibig niya. "Is Percival really your boyfriend?"

Malakas ang nagawang ingay ng ring. " He is, just this summer, El."

"At wala ka pinagsabihan?"

"Like he said, he is a family acquaintance, and my parents introduced us to each other last year in a business party. I didn't imagine we would end up together." I'm looking her eye to eye as we speak, but she passed the ball back to me again." Kasi nga kagaya ng alam mo namang hindi ko gusto ang mga suggestions ng parents ko. The rest of the details is boring and insignificant. Things happened too fast, but it's okay. Don't worry. We have eternity to know each other."

"Kahit nung ni-reject ka ni Ralph, you didn't thought to bring it up?"

I dribbled the ball." Hindi ko nakaya..."

" Sheena, you're like a complicated poem. Hindi ka namin mabasa." I jog towards her to get closer to the ring, she take it easy so we could continue playing; she's more focus on her words than our game. Ilang inches ang baba niya sakin, ilang taon siyang nagtraining; hindi ako mananalo." We don't know if you keep secrets to not hurt others or if it's just to protect yourself with lies.."

"...Ganun ba ako?"

"Di ko lang inexpect na magkakalove-life ka ng ganto... Ralph and I were clueless! Don't get me wrong, us wrong! We're worried. Di naman kita sinesermonan o sinusumbatan. We trust you, you know what you are doing... And you have more special person in your life to help you."

I grimace. Tama siyang nagsisinungaling lang ako." You're a worry wart.

Ellie smirked, letting her arms down. She acts gentler than ever." Percival's a lucky guy Sadly, I had three boyfriends kaya di ako NBSB. Kaya naman this time lovelife mo na lang pag-t-trabahuhan ko."

The ball left from hands, and this time it entered right through the hoops and made a nice sound. Ellie cheered for me as that's first time I have done that, its not like I have a bad dexterity like Ralph. Agad niyang hinabol ang bola para magkapaglaro pa kami.

Parang kuntento na siyang ganto na lang kami.

All satisfied with her few questions and my incomplete answers.

Sabi niya light game pero mukang nag-eenjoy siya. I try to do the same, I still have too much time before class, I have change of clothes in the locker, I have no art club to scoot myself in. Wala akong dahilan para tanggihan na nagsasaya kami ngayon.

I can face my problems and Percival later---we're already living a lie.