Past The Storm Clouds

Chapter 10

Tanga siya kung inakala niyang totoo ang sinabi ko. At tanga ako kung inakala kong totoo ang sinabi niya.

The deal doesn't mean anything to me, obviously. Alam ko na wala ring ibig sabihin 'yun sa kanya. A deal? Seriously? Ang pambatang style naman ng gano'n! I know I initiated it, but I know Ljard didn't take it seriously and only thought of me as a kid again, who negotiate childish deals! He must have thought I'm desperate to be noticed by him, lalo na sa tingin ko'y naniniwala talaga siyang may gusto ako sa kanya.

What's the deal for anyway? Ang sadya ko lang naman ay ang magkaayos ang tungo namin sa isa't isa pero wala naman na akong pakialam kung paano siya makitungo sa akin dahil I'll just ignore him. I realized I'm so over it. Through our deal, we'll be civilized people but I guess there's no need for it since we'll have no interactions as much as he has with his friends.

"Please sign in here."

My gaze drifted down the counter. Mabilis akong pumirma sa papel na ibinigay sa akin ng lalaking nagbigay ng documents and payment sheet ko. Mabilis din akong sumulyap kay Ljard na nakaupo pa rin sa kung saan ako kanina. Naninimbang ang tingin niya sa akin habang ako'y nagkibit lang ng balikat bago bumalik sa kanya.

"Later nga. Ako mismo ang pupunta sa room niyo," pagmamayabang ko sa kanya.

He raised an eyebrow, smirking a bit. "Talaga?"

"Yes. Wait for me," I casually said.

"Okay," aniya na parang hindi pa rin naniniwala sa akin.

Matapang akong tumango-tango. His stare still seems like he's challenging me. Umiwas lamang ako ng tingin at iniwan na siya dahil mamayang uwian pa ang usapan namin. It won't be awkward for me to actually talk to him like a decent human, pero siya? Siguradong tahimik lang 'yun at magmumukhang robot sa harap ko.

"Did you ever love writing? News for instance," ani Ynigo.

"Hindi ako palabasa. Hindi ko rin hilig ang pagsusulat noong bata ako, unlike those dorks na puro books ang hawak." I shrugged.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Wala ka pang experience sa news, editorial writing or pagiging journalist?"

"I didn't say I have no experience. I only said na I'm not into reading or writing," I clarified, almost snorting at his failure to understand me better.

"What's your experience?"

"What experience?" I put on a playful grin.

His lips parted. "Experience sa journalism, Farizah, hindi ang iniisip mo."

"Wala naman akong iniisip," I laughed lightly. "'Yung naging part ako ng broadcasting way back JHS. Ang reporters na rin ang mismong gumagawa ng news and we only depend on a blotter given to us so it exercised my brain cells."

"Nag exer—"

"Don't be a pilosopo." Pinutol ko agad siya dahil advanced ang isip ko. He was probably about to be ignorant and ask me if my brain cells are exercising!

Ynigo laughed and gave me a pout. "Certified pilosopo ka nga pala. Sayang, ang ganda sana ng joke ko."

We both needed to be part of a seminar and a workshop. Anything that is related to communications and media has always been one of my interests. Actually, the HUMSS strand was my other choice but I chose ABM for a particular reason and I also considered the benefits I'd have in the future. It's insane how I entered Senior High, confused, and literally with no idea what to do or be in the future.