Chapter 28-I
"Nahulihan daw ng drugs si Lionel..."
I tried not to react as I overhear that conversation, but really there's just so much I can if that's the topic of the whole class---may nahulihan na naman.
It's a waste----he's talented
Kaso may attitude problem, bully at mahilig sa mga bisyo. Ginugulo niya ako mula pa nung pasukan. Just this morning before class, he was caught with party drugs in his bag, and the news spread just this lunchtime, putting everyone in a tense mood again. Just like Nabi, who is hunched on her desk, fearing she'd be next.
Then there goes Ricos, happily doodling.
"Ate what does this look like to you? Is it cool?" Turo ni Ricos sa mga doodles niya habang nasa nakapwesto siya sa tapat ng study desk ko. He was pointing at the caricatured cat and dogs on his sketchbook, those little animals he play with." Drawing din kita dito, tapos mga kaklase natin?"
"Ibang-iba ang mga doodles mo sa paintings mo..."
"I'll make doodle painting next time! Pero focus kasi ako sa human anatomy."
"Ano na raw mangyayari kay Lionel ngayon? Kaninang umaga lang nangyari diba?" Muling nagpatuloy ang usapan tungkol kay Lionel sa room. I tried to bear it in and focus on my own bussinesss but they keep babbling." Ma-e-expell ba siya? Saka nga pala anong nangyari nung mga nahulihan din nung isa?"
"Huling-huli ka naman sa balita, wala na yung mga students nay un dito."
"Sabagay... Yung mga nag-cheat ngang students last year naexpel, sila pa kaya? Illegal talaga yung ginawa nila." My classmates' conversation painstakingly in my earshot."Pero kawawa naman, paano kung misunderstanding lang naman pala? Naset-up yung iba sa kanila?"
"Ate Sheena idrawing mo po 'to..." Ricos request brought me back to my sense, tinuturo niya sa mga anime doodles niya katabi ng isang classroom." Flowerrs po."
"Wait, sure. Any flowers is alright? Dito ko na lang ilagay?" I force myself to smile as I take his pencil from him, this distraction is good enough. So I pressed, the lead of the pencil on the paper and started doodling sunflowers and roses."I'll try but, si Nabi ang mahilig sa flowers eh, hindi ako. I like drawing people."
"Could I say the same, Ate? I like drawing people." Ricos giggled, despite knowing he sometimes makes paintings." I like reimagining them into something else!"
"Such as abstract humans?"
"Like somethings completely different."
My phone suddenly beep---breaking our conversation.
Lumapas ang notication na may nagchat sa group chat naming tatlo nila Ralph and Ellie. I didn't open it yet, it's just Ralph wanting to meet up. And anyway he's my date for the business party this evening we can talk by then. Kaya ibinababa ko muna ang cellphone ko at nagpatuloy mag-doodle sa sketchbook ni Ricos, online naman si El. Sila na muna ang mag-usap.
But then they unsent their chats--- hindi ko nabasa yung mga bago.
"Nagsisikreto ba si Ralph at si Ellie sa akin?"