Truth Doesn't Change The Way You Lie

Strings

"Where are they..." pabulong kong sinabi habang pabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa wrist watch ko. Late na sila ng five minutes.

Sinuyod ko ng paningin ang busy naming cafeteria. May mga nag-aaral, kwentuhan, bumibili ng art materials at kumakain obviously dahil lunch break. Ibabalik ko sana ang focus ko sa relo kong kanina ko pa tinitignan pero...

Someone caught my attention.

I've been studying here for years but I haven't seen our school having a school band. They are all wearing clothes like a rock stars. They are wearing clothes with black accents and heavy silvery make-ups. Most of them are guys but there are some girls.

Weird. Totoo ngang hindi ako palalabas ng classroom.

"Sorry po kuya! May pinagawa po kasi adviser namin kanina." Lyn said with Winwin behind her back. Thank God, they save me from staring at those people.

"No, that's okay. Nasaan na 'yong iba?" Tanong ko kay Winwin. She's a batchmate and one of the most intelligent students here.

"Most of them don't respond on my texts but, the grade seven representative said that they are having trouble with their schedule." Winwin said while looking at her Ipad.

"Pero they have excuse letters, right?"

"Yes but you know, may mga strict na subject teachers." Paliwanag nito sa akin.

We can't blame them. Katulad lang din namin ay ginagawa lamang nila ang dapat nilang gawin sa school.

"Nandito na sila." Turo ni Lyn sa paparating kapartido namin.

Isa-isa silang umupo. Nervousness is visible in their eyes. "Shall we start?" Panimula ko.

As usual, we started our meeting by a simple prayer before we go to the real agenda. I discussed the highlights of the event and our presentation later. Since they like musical play, I asked them kung nadala nila ang mga kailangang dalhin especially the backdrops, costume, props and sounds.

I remind them to be physically and mentally prepared. Also, pinaalalahanan ko silang huwag makipag-away o huwag pansinin ang kung anuman ang sabihin sa kanila ng iba. Just focus on their goals and no matter what happens, they can still lead the school.

"Kailan ka naging hindi mahiyain?" Winwin asked me out of nowhere when the others already left to do their other tasks.

I look at her with my forehead creased. "What do you mean?"

"You looked confident earlier. Hindi ka mukhang kinakabahan para mamaya."

Tumawa ako. "Kinakabahan din ako. Ayaw ko lang na mahawa pa kayo mamaya."

Silence enveloped us. Winwin and I were friends since elementary. Naging magkaibigan kami dahil parati kaming dalawa ang ipinapanlaban sa iba't-ibang competitions. Except the fact na academical contest lang ang kaya namin and not the others.