Si Torpe at Si Feeling

Chapter 21: Fade

Chapter 21: Fade

After the camp, I joined a leadership seminar, and another workshop. Parang hindi na ako nawawalan ng trabaho right after I took up on Tris' offer to join the school gazette.  Because of those, my grades had slowly risen with extra credit. And I couldn't be more happier.

Problem is, nawawalan na kami ng oras. Malapit na ang sembreak, then the holidays, then graduation. Pero we've been busy with our own activities. Some, though, magkasama kami, pero ngayon, mamamatay  na ata ako sa inggit because our prof. transferred Aleiah's chair next to Jared.

And sobrang accomodating niya naman, tinutulungan niya pa ito sa Science and Math and Advance Chem., and I'm stuck here sa likod niya, trying to focus on our teacher blabbering about something. I shouldn't be mad, she needed the help after all, pero I've been feeling possessive.

Dismissing my own anger at the situation, I focused sa acads, even during semestrial break. We shot movies, attended seminars, and stuff like that. I was satisfied with the outcome I had by the time our third grading grades came out.

A lucky day came in the form of a radio broadcast seminar, where I was with Szane, Scarlet, Jared and a few other classmates to join. Two days na magkasama kami. Walang masyadong distorbo.

I've been helping him write his script for broadcast at the nearest McDonald's with Coke Float and Fries on hand. Admitted, mahina siya sa English Communication and Writing Skills. Ironic, British panaman siya.

"Let me see." I scan over sa script niya. "Redundant ang isa mong point, I-summarize mo siya."

He erased and scribbled more before showing me the final product.

"Perfect! We're ready for tomorrow. " I stretched and grabbed my Float. "Uwi na tayo. Malapit na ang rush hour."

We walked beside each other, some stray kids circling on me for some food or spare change, kahit na ibinigay ko na sa kanila ang fries ko kanina.

I looked helplessly habang pinagsisikan ng mga palaboy ang sarili nila sa paligid ko.

"Huwag ka kasing magbigay kung hindi enough sa lahat." He took my Coke Float and held it above his height, shielding me with his other arm as we speedwalked to a clear area.

I blushed both from embarrassment and kilig with the feeling of his arm present on my shoulders. He pushed my fringe aside before looking at me.

"Okay ka na?"

I nodded as he hands me back the Float once the coast is clear, then continued to hold my hand until nakasakay na ako sa jeep.

"Thank you." Always the knight in shining armor.

----

For the fourth grading, we were to shoot a music video for English class, then a Research Defense for our Science Investigatory Project, a project we last focused on when we were second or third year. It reminded me. Magkagrupo pala sila ni Aleiah sa Research.

I sat together with Szane and Gab as we plan out our Defense tactic. May one month and two weeks pa kami to prepare, including Christmas break, but its better to be ready.

"Noona, ako nang bahala sa Methodology at Results and Discussion, Ikaw sa Chapter 1 at 2, tapos si Szane ang sa 5 at sa Questioning." Gab explains as he held his laptop in his table.

"Guess that's the deal. Sino ang magpapaprint ng thesis?" Tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa.

Gab and I both looked at each other before staring at Szane.

"Oh bakit ako naman?" Reklamo niya.

"Ako ang nagtype, I won't do it." I said to them.

"Ako ang umasikaso sa Experiment, huwag kayo." Sagot naman ni Gab.

"Ako na nga ang bumili ng materials natin eh!"

"Babayaran ka namin Szane." I dismissed the conversation and hovered my hands on the keyboard. Pero ang mata ko busy sa pagtingin sa kanilang dalawa.

They're sitting there, laughing. Anong nakakatawa sa thesis nila?

"Psst. Noona, huwag mong tunawin sina Al at Red sa tingin." Gab nudges me with his elbow.

"Arrggh!" I sighed tiredly. "Parang nagiging one sided nalang kami nowadays, eh. Paano na?"

"Look, at the end of the day, sayo parin naman siya bumabalik diba?" Szane answered. "Its just a project, Clare."

"Fine. At least nasa akin yung title at affection." I smiled tiredly and continued typing.

Its not like he'll like her right? He said it was a matter of pride that he asked Aleiah out, and confessed his true feelings for him.

"Kung sa akin lang, Clare." Scarlet interrupts my reverie. "I'd say he's fading away. I'd tell you to let go before it hurts you. He's been changing, even before he joined that school pageant, Clare."

My mind flashed to when he ditched a seminar we were supposed to attend together for that contest. I was upset...

But no.. Its not that, this is just a rough patch. Torpe and Feeling would still be together until the end, He's just torpe, and I'm just being a feeler for a reason as well.

Obstacle lang to. Gagraduate kami as a couple. We're not fading, never.

"You know what, let it be, Clare." Tris sighed. "Mangyayari ang mangyayari. Why don't we just begin applying for our senior high now? Its starting anyways."

I nodded at her words. She's right.

"Suggestions?" I ask them as i stopped typing and saved our thesis. "I want to stay but my mother might make me move."

"Hahaha, sayang naman." Gab shakes his head. "Pero kung gusto mo, maraming nakapost sa bulletin board sa labas, like scholarships for Europe, Japan, America, Korea, etc.. And there's always the State Universities near the area."

"Why don't we all try all of it? Just for the fun of it?" I laughed as the bell went off for lunch break.

"Avy, halika. Let's eat outside." He beckoned me and I internally squealed.

"Bye guys!" I waved at them. "See you sa Math?"

We're not fading. Not anytime soon. I said to myself.