LOVE University

PART II: JOSH 'Self-centered'

After school practice went off late that day for a particular reason. Their captain and coach announced the upcoming sports event for the foundation. Ibig sabihin, each member of the team will be participating on their own colleges to play.

Josh already had a handful of schedule after their Dean talked to him and other participating players of their college. That means, as a member of the school team, people expected him to be the captain. This is his second time doing this, and he successfully manage to win the foundation with his team. Matapos ang practice ay nag announce lang muli ang coach nila nang pagbawas ng schedule sa practice as they'll all be competing with each other.

JOSH: "Not bad..." bati niya nang makatabi si Ken sa bleachers already changing his clothes. Ken answered him with a question.

KEN: "Ibig sabihin ba, kailangan ko ring maglaro para sa college namin...?

JOSH: "Apparently... Teka wala pa bang team college niyo?" tipid na umiling si Ken "Wait mo lang announcement, sa pagkakaalam ko active naman ang Fine Arts sa basketball"

KEN: "Ganoon ba..."

JOSH: "You should play..." he encouraged him.

++++++++++++++++++++

"Hey there!" the girl jumps to his feet that he had to stop so he won't hit her. It was the same girl last time "I see you've never contact me?"

JOSH: "Ahuh..." he walked just by her.

"I have a preposition for you, Josh..." she said on a tone she did before.

JOSH: "Sorry hindi ako interesado..." walang lingon-likod siyang nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. He only stopped when he saw a sign sa entrance nang gym. It was under construction for some reason "...what?"

"Mukhang maluwag na ang schedule mo ngayon? Kung may time ka, as a favor, would you join me now to meet my other candidates?"

JOSH: "Wait... Did you do this?" he asked furiously and almost everyone else looked at their direction. It was the time this week for his team to practice. Lalo pa siyang nainis sa isiping wala manlang nagsabi sa kanya tungkol dito. Kahit na ang kanilang advisor.

"Look at the situation this way. If you come with me now, everything will be over. Whatever you have to decide after this, is only a matter later..."

JOSH: "You want me to join your party? Is this what it is?" his brows frowned.

"I think Reese will have to explain you the rest..."

JOSH: "I've heard that name" he paused, still wondering why he's making this conversation "But who are you?" she did not answer. She just led the way which he followed

++++++++++++++++++++

SNOW: "Joshua Cullen Santos! Is it true?!?" first thing in the morning and he had to take his friends over reacting to anything.

JOSH: "Ano nanaman 'to? Ang aga aga pa oh! Hindi pa nga nagsisimula araw ko!" umupo to sa tabi niya na parang walang narinig at pabulong na nagsalita sa tainga niya.

SNOW: "I just talked to one of my co-writers at the School paper and, she's working an article about you, running for student council..." nanlaki ang mata niya sa sinabi nito, walang sagot kaya nagpatuloy si Snow "...and I know you're not! But... are you?"

JOSH: "Wha- Hell no!"

PABLO: "Bakit, anong meron?" kakarating lang nito sabaty dikit sa kanila.

SNOW: "Josh is running for student council..." she said sarcastically.

JOSH: "Hindi nga! Bakit naman sila magsusulat nang tungkol dyan, at saka sa'n naman nila napagkukukuha 'yung mga ganyang storya?"

SNOW: "Didn't you go to one meeting the other day?" Josh gave him a look of 'how did you know about it?' she looked back to confirm it "Yes! I heard people saw you going and, it went to our office, that's how!" Confused and tangled, Pablo went about his table next to Josh, but remained to listen.

JOSH: "Oh my god..." he blurted realizing what just happened. It was clearly a set-up. It wasn't an incident he ran in to that girl, so that people would see him.

SNOW: "Eh anong nangyari after?"

JOSH: "I left. After meeting with that Reese girl. It was very uncomfortable, and I've never been a fan of politics, kaya naman, I had to decline..."

PABLO: "Wait!" he turned to Snow "And you're writing it to the paper?"

SNOW: "Hindi ako! Iba... That's why I got to ask..."

PABLO: "At least it's clear now..."

JOSH: "It's not clear yet until I get to the bottom of this..." the two went silent after that. None of them asked about it until after class.

PABLO: "Whatever they're doing to you is going to blow-up to them eventually. Once people find out you're not a part of that campaign, they're going to have a reputation..." sabi ng kaibigan once everybody else started going out of the classroom. As always he's right. Maybe he'd been thinking about it too the whole day "...give it some time" habol nito.

++++++++++++++++++++

He thought by ignoring it like Pablo suggested, things would go back to normal on its own. Boy he was wrong. Habang lumilipas ang mga araw lalong lumalaki ang gawak ng mga istorya tungkol sa kaniya. He liked being known by the things he did for the school last year, no argument with that. But rumors? He hated it. He hated the lies. Una ay ang mga kaibigan niya, sumunod ay mga ka-team niya, ngayon naman ay kahit na sinong hindi niya kilala ay hinaharang siya sa daan sa kahit na saang sulok ng campus.

That's when he decide he had enough. He ran to the office which he came last time and decided to look for the girl. Fortunately, he found someone better to scream at.

JOSH: "Reese, right?" sigaw niya sa silid kahit na nag-iisa lamang ang babae roon. He made sure he made a sound for her to notice. He slammed the door behind at matalim na tiningnan lang ito.

REESE: "Josh Cullen..." she smirk at the sight of him. Toss the papers on the long table beside them and face him with her chin up high from his eyes "...I assume you came here to change your mind?"

He only realize this now since he was only seating from the back of the office when he attended the meeting. She's a beaut. A little. He tried to argue to himself sa huli. When her words sink in ay naalala niya muli kung bakit siya naparoon.

JOSH: "I'm here to press on my rejection, actually..." his arms cross to his chest "...that's quite a tale you've been making up around the school. Makes me reason of your standing for this suppose 'council'. Don't you think?"

REESE: "I don't know what you're talking about..." he sense her lie.

JOSH: "Drop it. I have no problem telling people about your party's lie. Tingnan nalang natin kung may boboto pa sa inyo---"

REESE: "That's what you want, right?" he kind demeanor replaced with anger "I was right about you. Sa totoo lang I never wanted you to be part of this. Pero sabi nila, since you're so popular, we could use your name to encourage people to vote for us..."

He didn't respond.

REESE: "Isa pa, as a basketball player, I doubt you'll understand our equally shared budget campaign for all the school clubs. Hindi 'yung ang priority lang nang school ay mga players, and varsities..."

JOSH (coughs): "Like that's my problem?!?"

REESE: "You'd say that dahil ikaw ang nakikinabang..." Josh was taken aback. Ano namang masasabi niya sa sitwasyon na 'yon? Of course he benefits. And he works hard for it. Pero bakit nagksala ang pakiramdam niya?

REESE: "Self-centered..."

JOSH: "Ano?" inis siyang napakunot dito.

REESE: "I was once asked what I thought of you... that was my answer".

---END OF PART 2: JOSH---