Truth Doesn't Change The Way You Lie

Strings

I look at her. She's busy with her Ipad. Bukod sa akin, isa pa 'yon siguro sa mga matalik niyang kaibigan.

"Are you going to join?" Tanong nito sa akin at may ipinakitang poster ng isang contest at ang schedule nito.

"Gusto ko sana kaso pagod ako ngayong month." Pagpapaliwanag ko rito at kita naman ang kabiguan sa mukha niya. "Why? Hindi lang naman ako ang marunong sa Science dito sa campus. They should not depend on me. Graduating na tayo, ayaw ko na sumama sa mga ganyan."

"What if pilitin ka nila?"

"Then I'll say no. As if naman na wala akong choice kung pilitin nila ako." Matapang kong sinabi sa kaniya at sumipsip sa tubig ko.

"Fine." Sabi nito at tumayo. "Aalis muna ako. I'm going to register na. See you later." Malamig pa sa yelo na sabi niya kaya tumango na lamang ako. Nakatalikod na ito sa akin pero lumingon pa ito. "Good luck sa'yo."

"No. Good luck sa atin." I said and smile at her.

Hindi rin nagtagal, I decided to go to our classroom to relax my mind. People say I'm smart but not all the time. I have my own weaknesses. I stayed up all night to watch debate videos because I'm nervous about speaking in front of crowds.

Whenever I see people looking at me, my heart automatically beat so fast. So fast that I just wanted to leave and puke in the bathroom. They see me as a tough student but... I'm also weak.

After I nap for 30 minutes, I decided to go to bathroom to fix myself. Isang oras na lang bago ang program kaya maingay na ang paligid.

I'm just wearing our simple uniform. I fixed my necktie before putting my black coat as part of our uniform. Pinasadahan ko ng aking mga daliri ang buhok kong sobrang itim. Nilinis ko rin ang salamin ko at pinagpagan ang slacks ko.

I'm ready.

Am I ready?

Tell me something, boy

Aren't you tired tryin' to fill that void?

Or do you need more?

Ain't it hard keeping it so hardcore?

I almost jump when I heard a girl singing beside the cubicle where I am.

Wait?

May babae sa CR?! Pero this is boy's comfort room?!

I tried to keep calm and stop worrying about it. May mga lalaki naman sigurong boses babae, hindi ba?

The idea of me looking down to see the shoes of other cubicle sends creep out of me. For some reasons, I am curious. But, I wouldn't do that for the sake of the consequences that I see. It would be very bad. I flush the toilet at lumabas na ng cubicle. Nagmamadali at pinagpapawisan ako habang iniisip kung pipihitin ko ba ang lock ng cubicle o hindi. Nang mapatingin ako sa relo ko...