Conquering Territories: Completed

14

That was the first thing I heard from Blake as I saw the three of them right in front of one of the Art Club Booth. I bet it was Aris the reason why they stayed right in front of it. After all, he was the art geek among the four of us. Wala naman kaming hilig sa art na tatlo maliban sa kanya.

"Isang article lang naman ang pinagawa sa akin," I said before roaming my eyes around the whole place. It was already past lunchtime, causing a lot of students to scatter around the place. Some of them do only have morning classes, making the entire place chaotic. Mabuti na rin at maaga akong natapos sa article na pinapagawa sa akin. Mahirap na at baka maubusan ako ng slot sa ibang organization, though isa lang naman ang balak kong salihan

"Saan mo ba balak na sumali?" Clarisse asked, as if she was reading my mind. She was now holding her camera and a flyer from the Photography Club. Siguradong nakahanap na silang tatlo kung saan sila sasali. Kanina pa rin naman sila nag-iikot na tatlo, sadyang sinamahan lang nila ako.

"I actually don't know where to join. Baka sa school newspaper na lang ako sumali." I held out a deep sigh. Hindi ko talaga alam kung ano ba ang sasalihan ko. I don't have the courage to enter such clubs that are too flashy, like the glee club or the dance club yet, I need one sincemas mataas ang possibility for latin honors kapag kasali. "Considered naman na 'yon, 'di ba?"

"Yup, considered na club naman ang school paper pero, don't you want to try sa glee club? I mean, kaya mo naman," Clarisse commented. I was kind of expecting that answer from one of them yet, I couldn't help but to lower my head. Nahihiya pa rin ako.

"Hindi ko kaya." I held out a deep sigh. "Basta." Sigurado akong alam na nila ang ibig kong sabihin. After all, they are my friends.

"Let's take a look around?" Aris interjected as I felt his arm on my shoulder. "Ngayon na lang 'to makakapag-ikot. Wag na tayo magdaldalan dito. Alam niyo namang hectic ang schedule ni Bossing."

The four of us roamed around the whole place. Several seniors gave us flyers from their booths, inviting us to join their club. Halos karamihan sa mga senior ay talagang nanghahatak na ng mga freshmen para lang makapag-recruit sila. It was literally chaos in here. Unahan ba naman sila dahil mas mataas ang fund if mas maraming members.

"May mga club na ba kayo? Sali kayo sa Glee Club!" A senior approached the four of us with a bunch of papers in her hand. Based on how she talked with us, I bet we're now stucked with her. Mga ganitong uri ng tao talaga ang iniiwasan ko, kasing ugali ni Aris.

"May club na po kami. Thank you na lang po," Clarisse spoke in behalf of us. Siya lang kasi ang may mahabang pasensya sa aming apat, at siguradong hindi rin maganda ang sasabihin ng dalawang kasama namin. Baka mas lalo lang kaming magtagal kapag si Blake o Aris ang nagsalita.

"Talaga? Sayang naman," she said, defeated. She was about to walk away but, her eyes focused on me. Bigla na lang kaming nagulat nang bigla siyang sumigaw. And when I say she shouted, it was a loud one. Yung tipong matutuliro sa lakas.

"Di ba ikaw yung kumanta sa perya kagabi? Ang gwapo mo pala sa malapitan!"

Aris, Clarisse, and Blake looked at me with surprise plastered on their faces. I bet my face was now making a weird expression because of her sudden burst out. Sino ba naman ang hindi magugulat sa tanong niya. Kahit ang ibang nasa paligid namin ay napapatingin sa lugar namin.

"Pogi, sigurado ka ba talagang di ka sasali sa glee club? Sayang boses mo kung hindi ka sasali," she said, making her way beside me. I suddenly felt conscious because of the attention focusing on us. Halos lahat ng mga kasama niya sa club ay nakatingin na rin sa direksyon namin. Pakiramdam ko ay kinikilala nila ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Salamat na lang po." I smiled at her, trying to ease the awkward feeling inside me. "Sa school paper po kasi ako sasali. Hindi ko po kaya na maraming clubs na sasalihan."

Our senior smiled at us before accepting our rejection. Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim nang makaalis siya sa pwesto naming apat. It felt like my energy was drained because of the sudden happenings.

"Grabe 'yon," Aris said, making me turn on his direction. "Isang gabi lang kaming nawala, famous na agad ang tropa namin."

I mentally facepalmed myself after hearing Aris' comment. It was literally his mistake, causing that thing to happen. Hindi ko naman alam na karamihan pala sa mga nanood ay nga senior namin.

"It's your fault," I said before the four of us continued our way. Halos isang oras rin kaming umikot sa buong campus para maghanap ng club na masasalihan. I actually don't know whether to enter the school paper or not but, I just found myself writing my name on the recruitment paper.

"So, you also planned to join here?"

I tried to retain my pokerface as I faced Jacob, who was now standing right in front of me. Based on his looks, he already registered in here earlier. I bet he doesn't want me to be part of it.

"Yes," I shortly answered. Some of the students who planned to write their names after me suddenly moved aside. I bet they felt the tension between us.

"Then, welcome," he said before he walked away.

I held out a deep sigh after noticing that he wasn't around anymore. That guy really do have some nerves when it comes to me. Hindi ko man lang alam kung bakit galit na galit sa akin si Jacob. As if I did something onto him.

"Magpapalista lang daw, pero may kaaway na pala rito. Ayos yan Khaydel."

I turned around and saw Aris with a grin plastered on his lips. "You little bad boy. Nawala lang kami saglit may mga nangyayari na sa'yo."