Act Off Script | ✓

Chapter 1

"Saan?" I jolted a bit.

"Earth to Nacia!" Ruby snapped her fingers in front of my face. "You're zoning out again! Kung type mo rin ba si Kiran?"

"Oh, type is a bit too much," I started to fidget my fingers. "He inspires me in all things that I do."

Nanglaki ang mga mata ni Mineth at Ruby sa isiniwalat ko. I got lost in my thoughts right away with their question.

"I just feel like I crave Kiran's existence," I told them with utmost honesty. "It makes me feel indebted to the world that we co-exist in the same timeframe and being able to be near him is a blessing."

"Tinanong ka lang 'te kung type mo ba?" Mineth widened her eyes more. "Ba't parang sumali ka na sa Miss Universe kung sumagot?"

"I'm sorry," I bashfully said. Nakakahiya! Pinangunahan na naman ako ng kadaldalan!

"Girl, tama ka na," Ruby faked tears then laughed heartily. "Kulang na lang mag-alay ka ng wedding song dahil parang vows na 'yang sinasabi mo sa amin. Kikilalanin pa lang natin si Kiran! Malay mo pangit talaga ang ugali ng isang iyon. Hindi naman namin hahayaan na ma-uto ka ng masamang nilalang! Kahit pa kasing-gwapo n'ya."

Napanguso ako. I can't help but admire Kiran beyond his appealing visuals. Hindi ko rin naman maitatanggi na kahit sa malayo ay gwapo talaga siya. At kahit nga siguro pangit ang ugali n'ya, his entire face could make us forget about it. He looked ethereal; someone so angelic that you couldn't even believe that they're real and they exist.

"Bakit pala Creative Writing ang kinuha mo?" tanong ni Mineth habang papunta kami sa mga unoccupied na lamesa.

Ruby coughed, waving her hand to dismiss a thought. "Honestly? I heard that it didn't have a long line. I really didn't know what to take anyway. Hindi ko nga alam na aabot ako ng college."

Medyo nanglaki ang mga mata ko. I forgot to ask them that question. Hindi ko rin naman kasi alam ang mga dahilan nila sa pagtahak ng kursong ito. We had to pass an essay before having our application confirmed for this course. Kung sa College of Tourism and Hospitality Management ay nagkakaroon muna ng screening kung pasok sa 5'2 man lang ang height, sa kurso naman namin ay tinitingnan kung may alam na ba sa pagsusulat. . or atleast innate talent for it.

"What do you mean?" Si Mineth.

Ruby grinned like she was faking it. "Screw teenage Ruby for thinking life ends at eighteen. I never thought that pursuing life is harder than seeking death. Kaya eto ako ngayon, hinahayaan na lang na gaguhin ako ng mundo."

"Oh. . ." Mineth gasped as if she had concluded something. "Mine's not really that deep. We're a family of writers, it runs in the blood. Kaya naman para sa akin mas makakatulong na may background na ako sa pagiging manunulat."

"Well, nepobaby na ba tawag sa 'yo n'yan?" biro ni Ruby.

"Is that supposed to be derogatory?" tanong ni Mineth at nagtaas ng kilay. "Sapakan na lang tayo?"

"Hindi! Geez, take a chill pill! Grabe, sa OSA na naman bagsak ko?" tawa ni Ruby at lumingon sa akin. "Ikaw ba, Nacia? What made you take Creative Writing?"

"I want to write," simpleng sagot ko. "Gusto sana ng magulang ko na kumuha ako ng mas praktikal na kurso. Sabi nila ay mag-doctor daw, pero mahal ang med school. Sabi nila ay mag-abogado raw, pero ganoon din ang law school. If I try to be a scholar, I don't even know how to survive knowing it isn't what I want. Sinabi nila na kahit anong kurso basta praktikal. . .doon sa magkakaroon raw ako ng trabaho agad."

Parehong natahimik ang dalawa. I bit my lower lip. I couldn't help but tell them the whole story right away. Ni hindi ko man lang naisip na baka hindi sila kumportable sa magiging sagot ko. But I usually don't have people to talk to, kaya nga nagsusulat ako. Writing has always been an outlet for me.