Platonic Hearts (Compass Series #1)

Chapter Two

Subject

“Bakit mo ba kasi inalok ito, Ella? Kailan pa kayo naging close?” pabulong na singhal ng senior namin sa harapan naming dalawa ni Ella. She walked in front of us with scowl on her face. “Naging kalaban ko pa naman ‘yan sa school election noon…”

Nagkatinginan kami ni Ella bago napabuntong-hininga siya ulit sa hindi na mabilang pagkakataong. She scratched the back of her neck before facing Leren, our senior. “Paulit-ulit naman kayo. Promise wala po talaga akong kinalaman diyan!” She pointed at Ashen and to one of our professors that were facilitating in our organization. Masinsinang nag-uusap silang dalawa sa table ni Sir Valez as if the two of them are having a deep interview with each other.

I scratched the back of my neck and glanced at my wrist watch again. How long do I have to stay here? Mala-late na naman ako sa trabaho dahil dito. As far as I’m concerned, w-wala akong kinalaman dito sa pagpo-promote sa kanya.

“Leren, I really have to go…”

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at sumilay ang ngisi sa mukha. “Date with Rhysand again?” tukso niya.

I sighed, almost frustrated because of the situation. Napahimas ako ng noo. “Hindi, okay? Alam mong may trabaho pa ako, Leren…”

“Naku! ‘Yan rin yung rason namin ni Ivan noon everytime na may date kami. Aminin niyo na kasi in public, Aria… You can’t just keep it to yourselves and to your friends, di ba?” bumungisngis siya, nakisabay na rin si Ella sa kanya.

Mas lalo pa akong nagtimpi sa kanila. Couldn’t they spare a day without teasing?

“I’m serious. Mapapagalitan ako nito…”

Leren just shrugged. “Well, you can’t just leave. You’re the one who was with him here. Marami pang itatanong si Sir Valez sayo for sure.”

Napailing ako. “I swear I didn’t invite him to join! K-Kusa niya iyong sinabi…” I looked at Ashen and Sir Valez. “Hindi ko nga alam na alam niya pala ang tungkol sa organization natin.”

“Duh.” Leren smirked. “He’s a fan of reading our school papers kaya. Palagi kaming napaparaan sa section nila at palagi ko siyang nakikitang may hawak ng recent publications natin, I didn’t mind it at first.” She shrugged. Lumapad ang ngisi niya. “…until he showed up here.”

“Sa tingin niyo po ba seryoso siya sa pagsasali?” our freshmen member, Nikolai asked. Tumabi siya kay Ella matapos ilapag ang backpack niya sa likuran at humalukipkip na tumingin sa inaabangan naming apat.

“I don’t know…” I shook my head.  “Siguro.”

Leren sat on the chair next to us before crossing her legs. She folded her hands and stare intently at the two. “Hindi kaya may binabalak ‘yan?”

“Ate…”

Bahagya siyang tinulak ni Ella sa likuran dahil sa malakas niyang pagkakasabi. I also eyed her warningly. “He seemed sincere. Sa tingin gusto niya talagang maging photographer natin.”

Mabilis na napaangat ang tingin niya sakin. “Nagbibiro lang ako, okay? And if he wanted to then it’s fine with me! Pero kailangan pa nating makipag-usap sa ibang members… It’s just it was so sudden. Of all people, I didn’t expect the son of the owner of this school to be interested in this kind of org.” pabulong na singhal niya.

“Tanungin nalang kaya natin siya, ate?” saad ni Nikolai.

Leren sighed. “Kung papayagan siya ni Sir Valez ngayon, kailangan na niya talagang magpresent ng sample shots or manuscripts. Wala naman tayong camera ngayon dahil hiniram lahat, so he’ll definitely stick with the manuscript…”