2 Chapter Two

Emilee

The next day, maaga akong nagising dahil ang aga akong ginising ni Mama. I don't even know why she's so early when wala naman kaming class. It was announced yesterday that our classes will be paused until the end of this activity. But we still need to go to school dahil may sinalihan nga kaming booth. Luckily, I was able to get my name listed as a part of their member. It was hard because ang daming nag palista kahapon, I didn't even know na ang daming section na ni require na sumali ng booths.

"Ma, why did you wake me up so early?" I asked her my voice's still hoarse nang makarating ako sa dining area.

She smiled. "Wala lang. I heard it's your school's annual fair."

"Yeah. But next week pa 'yun. It'll start on Monday at ngayon, still preparing parin ang student body." I said and then took a bite on a piece of bread.

Siniko ni Mama si Papa na nasa gilid niya which made Papa looked at her.

"Naalala mo pa rin ba? It was the school fair noong una tayong nagkakilala." Mama said and then Papa smiled. A smile that he really remembered so well. A smile that you can see that he treasures that memory so much. Just like how he loves Mama.

"Yes. I clearly remembered that! Ang sungit mo nga sa akin noon!" Papa said and then nagtawanan silang dalawa leaving me so appeased with how they love each other. Mama and Papa were both from Westernville. That was one of the reasons why I entered that school kasi doon galing sina Mama. Palagi niya rin kasing kinekwento sa akin na it's a good school to enter noong highschool pa ako.

As I look at them, I can't help but think how lucky Mama is, to have met Papa. How am I going to find a man like Papa? Yung kapag tinitingnan ka, parang ikaw lang ang babae sa buong mundo. Yung hindi na titingin sa iba dahil nandiyan ka at sapat na.

Paano kaya?

But then, it's too early for me to think about having a husband. Hindi pa nga ako graduate sa college, pag aasawa na agad ang iniisip ko. For now, I should be thinking on how I will survive college.

I believe rin naman na, if para sa'yo, ibibigay 'yan sa'yo ni Lord. So, for now focus on what's needed to be focused. Kahit na minsan iniisip ko na ano kaya ang feeling na in love ka? Yung feeling na may nagmamahal sa'yo aside sa family and friend mo. What does it feel to be in love?

Maybe I am asking this dahil I can see it on my parents. That I wanted to feel what they have felt of being so in love with each other. Of course nakikita ko naman sa kanila kung ano ang feeling na in love but iba pa rin kasi kapag ako na 'yung naka experience. Kasi baka iba yung sa kanila. We all have different ways of being in love diba? All with different reasons.

After I ate my breakfast, I excused myself to my parents. Masyado na silang sweet, nilalanggam na ako doon sa kusina. Umakyat na ako sa kwarto ko and then grabbed my towel to take a bath.

After taking a bath, I wore a grid patterned pants and then a plain white shirt paired with my white sneakers. Since we'll all just have to prepare and brainstorm sa kung anong gagawin. I am really curious kung ano ang gagawin namin. I am even excited to the upcoming event. How I wish it's already monday!

Nagpaalam na ako kina Mama na nasa living room nanonood ng movie. Nag mano ako bago umalis at nagpahatid kay Kuya Ben, family driver namin.

"Late na ata kayo, Maam Emilee." Komento ni Kuya Ben habang patungo na kami sa skwelahan.

I smiled. "Wala po kaming pasok, Kuya Ben. May activity kasi doon sa skwelahan namin." I said and then natawa ng konti si Manong.

"Ah ganun ba. Mabuti naman kung ganoon. Akala ko kasi meron, e nagtaka rin ako kung bakit parang late na ata kayong pumunta pa ng eskwelahan. Parati naman kayong maaga." Sabi niya habang nasa daan parin ang tingin niya.

"Oo nga ho e. Pasensya na po kayo hindi ko po kayo agad nasabihan."

"Nako! Okay lang, Maam Emilee." Sabi niya na ikinatingin ko kay Manong.

"Kuya, diba sabi ko Emilee nalang itawag mo sa akin. Nakakatanda pakinggan kapag tinatawag nyo akong Maam." Natatawa kong sambit. Seriously, sinasabihan ko talaga ang mga kasama namin sa bahay na huwag na akong tawaging Maam dahil parang hindi naman kailangan. Sa mga magulang ko, mas justifiable pero sa akin? Hindi na kasi kailangan, I treat them as a part of my family na kasi and it's so awkward to hear them call me 'Maam'. Nakakailang. I think of them as and equal kasi. I'm not strict when it comes to their courtesy. Gusto ko, magka vibes lang kami lahat despite of the differences sa status ng pamumuhay namin.

"Hehe pasensya na, Ma—ah, Emilee. Nakasanayan lang. Hayaan niyo po, sa susunod, Emilee na itatawag ko sa'yo." Sagot ni Kuya Ben na ikinangiti ko.

"Aasahan ko 'yan, Kuya." I smiled and then leaned my body through the window of the car para panoorin ang tanawin.

* * *

I arrived at school exactly the time na mag me-meeting kami. The President's really friendly too. He accomodated us who are newly hired members. Well, at first, I was so shock na lalake ang President ng club na ito, not that I am stereotyping that girls lang ang pwedeng maging president but the mere fact na it's a book club, I wasn't really expecting na lalake ang magiging leader. I am not used to seeing boys as book lover though.

"So guys, we will be displaying books that are really catchy for other bibliophiles. Stories and books that are recommendable." President Tristan said. We all nodded as he spoke.

"And I suggest that we should have sections with different genres. What do you think?" He said and we all agreed. It's a good thing that we will be differentiating book genres. I wonder if there will be assigned students sa specific area.

I raised my hand. "Uhm, are there any students who will be assigned sa different book genre areas? So that when students or comers will be able have assistance..." I said, a bit shy. Pero ito rin naman ang purpose kung bakit ako nandito.

He smiled and nodded. "There will be. Thank you for your suggestion..?" He asked.

"Emilee." I answered.

"Emilee, right. Thank you for that."

I just smiled and then the discussion continued. And we also continued suggesting something that would improve our booth.

After we have discussed all, we were already dismissed and sinabihan kami na bumalik bukas ng umaga dahil gagawin namin ang booth namin. I had so many suggestions regarding sa magiging design ng booth namin. I really tend to have a lot of things to offer especially when I'm doing the things that I love to do so much! Na eexcite ako ng sobra!

"How's your meeting with the bookworms?" Cristina asked and I eyed her.

"It was fine. Kamusta rin ang meeting nyong mahilig sa kape?" I snap back and then laughed at my remark towards Cristina na pinandilatan rin ako ng mata dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Syempre, nakaka energize. Caffeinated ang mga members e." She said na ikinatawa ko. One thing that I find funny about my best friend is her sarcastic attitude. It might be irritating sometimes but in the long run you'll get used to it and then would find it just funny. Though others really find it insulting pero wala naman talaga siyang pakealam.

So much for having a best friend like her.

Monday came, and it was indeed a day to be prepared and to be excited. Kahit ako, na eexcite kasi hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari. Their events is a surprise na sila lang talaga student body officers and faculties and may alam sa mangyayari.

I can't wait for the opening!

Maaga akong dumating sa school para sa final touch and arrangement ng booth namin. We were a bit lucky kasi malapit kami sa entrance ng school field, kung saan nakalatag lahat ng mga booths. It also gave us the privilege to have our booths as wide as we can, as much spaces that we needed. Halos dalawang araw namin tinarbaho ang booth namin na makapasok talaga ang mga dayo at makatingin-tingin sa vintage styled booth namin. We used a huge tent with a leather wall to have like a circus effect na if they wanted to go inside, they would just slide their hands on the light leather covering.

"Guys, remember our briefing. And last but not the least.. just enjoy the rest of the day and week!" Tristan said and we all clap our hands and nag apir kami lahat.

The event started grandiosely. With full brass band and a flash mobs that lasted for about an hour! Pati na rin ang mga outsiders ay nakisali sa flash mob. The president of Westernville also gave his speech to formally open the event.

"Grabe nakakapagod ang flash mob!" Sambit ni Jenna habang nakapamaypay. Pulang pula nga 'yung mukha niya and her sweats were falling from her forehead.

I nodded. "Yeah, indeed." Sagot ko. I wasn't really dancing that much kasi para akong tanga kapag sumasayaw. I just danced normally, for participation lang.

The people started coming in and out of our booth, most of them were really bibliophiles. They asked about the background of the story which I gladly answered and they were happy too. And one thing too, we're selling books too! If they love the book, they can purchase it. It's a good deal na rin kasi it's preloved, it's not that expensive.

I am standing her sa assigned area ko when I noticed Tristan coming inside with his loose eyeglasses, almost falling on his nose. His hair's also damped with sweat. Ang busy niya. Minsan nga naaawa na ako sa kanya. He's an officer rin kasi sa student body and then president pa siya ng club na ito. There's so much on his plate.

He smiled and headed on my direction.

"Hey, how's the booth going?" He asked and I smiled.

"So far, so good. Marami nang pumupunta at bumibili ng books dahil sa recommendations." I said and he nodded.

"Pasensya na nga pala if hindi ako nakakabisita often. Student body's really busy." He said which made me shook my head.

"No, it's fine. Hindi naman siya ganoon ka pressure, we can handle this."

"Good to hear then.."

"Wala ka bang ginagawa sa office ngayon pres?" Tanong ko sa kanya at tumango siya.

"I got a substitute. They understand naman because I have a club to handle..."

"Good then. You have time to rest."

"Oo nga e, last week pa talaga akong walang tulog.." One thing about this school is that they don't settle for less to the point of depriving their sleep and health. It's not healthy but that's what they wanted to do.

I got my water sa bag ko na nasa tabi ko lang and handed it to him.

"Drink it. You look dehydrated kasi, Pres. Baka bigla kang mag collapse diyan, hindi kita kaya buhatin." I said and he chuckled. He's really kind. In a small amount of time, I became friends with him dahil he's definitely approachable at friendly rin. He's also easy to talk to and I feel comfortable with it.

Tinanggap niya ang water bottle ko. "Wow, thanks ha." He said and I just smiled at him. Kumuha siya ng mono bloc chair at tumabi sa akin and drank the water.

After he drank the water, he faced me. He was about to say something when someone called his name. Nilingon niya ang tumawag sa kanya and smiled.

He turned to face me again and then returned my water bottle.

"Thank you for this, Em. I'll be back." He said and then I just nodded and smiled. Agad niya namang pinuntahan 'yung taong tumawag sa kanya. Hindi ko naman medyo maaninag kasi medyo madami ang tao and wala akong oras makichismis kung sino ang tumawag sa kanya. Maybe it's from the student body.

But then, my eyes darted on a familiar build of a person who's standing facing the shelves on where I am assigned. I am sitting kaya nakatingala ako sa kanya, with my eyed still fixated on him. And it added to my horror when he looked at me with his stoic face with his lips in a thin line.

I did not expect and see this coming. Why didn't I even notice na nandito siya?