Dusk and Downfalls

[01] The Girl Who Sees

"Baka mababang grade ang makuha natin kapag ganoon."

I gave her a shrug as a response and went back to reading. Kung kakausapin niya ako tungkol sa grades ay mauuwi kami sa walang katapusang rants.

Once upon a time, I actually enjoy studying. I enjoy reading books. I enjoy writing essays and doing research about things I'm interested in. I enjoy the projects and tasks they give us. What I don't enjoy is being graded for it.

I just want to learn, I don't need the judgment.

Why do you have to be rated for such things anyway? Why is a good voice necessary if you want to sing? A flexible body if you want to dance? Why do you have to be good at something before you get the social license to do it?

And why do people use this social license to judge other people?

"No, no! Hear me out!" I snapped out of my thoughts when Artemis suddenly shouted.

Natahimik ang buong klase. Pati iyong mga nagpapractice ng sayaw sa harapan ay pinatay muna ang speaker nila. We looked expectantly on the girl at the back of the room, standing atop an armchair. Her hair was slightly being blown away by the wind. Add that to her regal stance and lively expression, you could almost picture a movie heroine.

Nagtataka siyang lumingon sa amin nang mapansin ang katahimikan. "Ay hala hindi kayo, sila lang."

Tinuro niya ang mga class officers na kaharap. May meeting yata sila para sa class play namin sa isang subject.

"Sobrang lakas kasi ng boses mo," Shantelle, our class president, commented.

Art smiled at us apologetically and waved us off, sensyas na bumalik na kami sa kani-kaniyang pinagkakaabalahan. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kanya because I was still in awe that she could command everyone's attention just like that.

That was the top one of our class. She was nice and awesome but her presence wasn't particularly comforting.

I still can't wrap my head around the idea that there are people like her, magaling sa lahat ng bagay at nakukuha ang lahat ng gusto. Siya yung tipong kahit saan mo isabak ay hindi ka madi-dissapoint.

Yes, I know she has her flaws and shortcomings too. People probably expects a lot from her but I never saw her look tired. At times like these, halos lahat ay nakadepende sa kanya but she doesn't seem to mind. She was a transferee but she fits right in.

Meanwhile, I've been in this place for five years and sometimes, I still feel out of place in my own circle of friends.

It's just that... she's probably having it harder than me but she was happy. I wish I was happy.

"Come on, masyado nang cliche ang romance. We need a fresh genre," she convinced them enthusiastically. "Wala pang masyadong gumagawa ng horror dito sa school."

"Kasi mahirap siyang i-pull off. Bukod sa mahirap i-act, masyado pang magastos sa costume at props," pagkontra ni Shantelle habang tinatali ang bagong rebond na buhok. Paano nakalusot ang blonde highlights nito sa admin?

Nang mapagtanto ang ginagawa ay bigla niya ring tinapon ang ponytail.

Hindi ko sigurado kung kumokontra siya dahil gusto niya talaga ang romance o malakas ang kutob niya na sa kanya ibibigay ni Art ang role ng multo dahil siya ang pinakamaputi sa klase.

The other officers were just watching them back and forth. Sino ba namang maglalakas loob na sumingit sa debate ng top 1 at top 2?

"Eh kung mag-hire tayo ng tunay na multo para tipid?"