Captured in His Eyes (The Art of Life #1: Art Version)

07.16.18 - A Book that is All Cover

A Book that is All Cover

07.16.18

I find people the most interesting creatures in the world.

The easiest to read.

"Dito ako kay Avien! Avien, sali ako sa group mo ha!"

"Ako rin! Evangelista tayo!"

"Group ulit tayo, Avien!"

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga kaklaseng lumapit.

May ngiti sa mga labi nila. Ngiting "papasa na 'ko".

I knew the likes of them. Sa isang taon kong pag-a-aral dito, kilala ko na ang karakter nila.

"Kumpleto na sa grupo ko," pagsisinungaling ko. "Kay Hanz baka kulang pa."

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagsusulat ng mga napili kong kagrupo sa 1/4 habang narinig ko ang pagkadismaya nila.

Tumatanggap naman ako ng mga pabigat sa grupo, kung hindi lang film ang bago naming performance task ngayon.

I tapped my pen on the paper after completing my list of groupmates.

Ang iilan sa kanila ay may kaniya-kaniyang circle of friends at alam kong default na na iyon ang grupo nila.

Matapos ng ilang sandaling pag-i-isip ay tumayo ako at nilibot ang paningin sa classroom.

I eyed the people in my list. They were exactly where I needed them to be. With their circles.

Marami rin ang nasa classroom kaya lumapit na ako sa unang taong nasa listahan ko.

"Hi, Erin," I called her attention. Napalingon ang buong grupo sa akin. "Okay lang ba kunin kita sa group ko? Perfect ka kasi sa naiisip kong character."

Her friends laughed and teased her about a crazy character.

A few of our classmates nearby cheered.

"Erin, I choose you!"

"Ikaw pala ang napili!"

"Pwede ba mag-audition, Avien?! Ako rin pasali!"

Erin grinned. "Oo naman, Avien!"

A smile appeared on my lips.

"Luh, Erin! 'Kala ko ba ikaw na gaganap sa atin na Chloe?!" her friend complained.

"Che! Magsawa naman kayo! Lagi na lang tayo-tayo!"

Sunod ay lumapit ako kay Shanice. She dramatically covered her mouth in playful disbelief as if she won an award while I walked over her direction.

"Yes!!" aniya, wala pa man din akong sinasabi.

Then, suddenly, everyone started following me with their eyes, anticipating my chosen group mates. They fooled around. May mga naghold hands pa at parang nagdadasal na sana'y mapili kahit na alam kong isang grupo na sila.

The peer pressure and hype made it easier for me to bring chosen individuals into my group.

Well, except for one.

Kiel Santillan.

Nagtama ang tingin namin. His eyes narrowed at me as I neared his direction.

"Ayoko," he declined.

I grimaced, half expected that.

But still! The pressure should have worked on him! Everybody said yes!

"Kagrupo ko na sila ano! Rain!"

Sinungaling.

"Di ba, 'tol!" Pinagtatapik niya ang mga nakapalibot sa kaniya. "Kailan ba shooting natin ulit?"

"Ako na lang, Avien!"

"Willing akong maging puno!"

Kiel didn't give me anymore glance, busied himself fake planning with his imaginary group.

I rolled my eyes, annoyed. Before I could fully turn my back at him, I noticed him take a sigh of relief.

Tinapunan ko ulit siya ng tingin. He returned my gaze and just flashed his usual smile.

I gritted my teeth.

Everybody is an open book to me.

But him.

I couldn't read anything behind his fake smiles and lies.

* * *

July 16, 2023