3 Chapter 1

FELINA

They say we meet people for a reason. Others are meant to stay for a long time; but some are only there for a short while. It's a sad thought - we can't choose who we want to be with for the long run if fate is giving you a million reasons as to why they aren't meant for you.

"Bakit laging nasa school ang first setting ng story?" I ask in frustration while holding a pile of papers in hand with my forehead resting on the other. Kanina pa kami paulit-ulit ng assistant kong si Oliver sa pagsulat ng bagong play na kailangang i-present sa Palace theater dito sa University next year. It's a big project for the Arts Department and we need to make a story that is not cliché and too common for the audience. Our batch has been chosen to select students from each year to audition for the characters' role but we cannot do that unless the script is finished.

"Kasi gano'n naman talaga, 'di ba? Characters usually have their first meet during their teenage years, and by that time studyante pa lang naman sila." Oli answers back, crossing his arms.

"Iyon na nga, Oli. Do we always have to settle with the 'usual'? I mean, look at this!" I tell him, pointing at the papers in my hand. "It always starts with first day of class! Come on, we always read this on books way back - what, 2013? We need to step up. This is not just another performance task in class, Oli. This is a big one. There are professional artists who's looking forward to watch our show, at ayokong ma-disappoint sila." I shook my head in exasperation.

He sighs and sits beside me on the bench. We had a meeting with the Director of the drama and the other selected backstage personnel at the Kintosh park inside the campus. There are a lot of greenery and benches all around the open, a perfect place for the students to study and unwind with school works. Pero mukhang perfect place din ito para maglabas ng stress ng isang studyante kagaya ko.

"I understand," he pats my shoulder. "But how can we start this? I have no idea what to do. Wala akong experience sa love - no, let me scratch that. I've never been inlove all my life kaya hindi ako makaisip ng magandang plot. My ideas are driven from stories I read. I'm sorry for being the worst assistant you can have, Fel." He says in a sad tone.

I completely understand where he's coming from. Ngumiti lang ako ng bahagya at ikinawit ang braso ko sa leeg niya.

"Nah, you're not the worst. You just need to widen your horizons and learn from real experiences of other people," I tell him and gazed up the sky. "Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ako ang pinili para magsulat ng isang love story. Why not choose other genres, right? Marami namang iba d'yan na mas madali. And besides, why me? How can they be so sure that I'll be able to write something worth the read?"

"Because they know you have something to offer," he replies, gazing up the blue sky with me. "We chose to vote for you as the playwright for a reason, Felina. I know it's been three years since we started college but your stories have never been boring. You are compassionate with what you do and you never settle for less. Besides, maybe they want to watch something new - something fresh - something they've never heard of before."

Napatawa ako ng mapakla sa kanyang sinabi. That's not all true. Never settled for less? "Something something ka pa d'yan!" Sabi ko sabay batok sa kanya. "But that's what I'm trying to tell you earlier. We need to make a story that is not what they've already heard of. Or if they did, then at least let's give them something realistic?"

"Hmm, realistic," he says with his hand placed on his chin. "You're right, Fel! I have a bright idea!"

I just stared at him with a poker face. Mukhang alam ko na ang sasabihin ng isang 'to.

"Why don't you write your own love story, then?" Sabi niya sabay taas ng dalawang kamay. Parang bigla kong gustong punitin ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. "You never really tell us about your love life - even before! Kahit yung published mong libro hindi mo man lang pinapabasa sa 'min. Yung may 18 sa title?"

"My 18th rose," I corrected him. "And excuse me, it was a self-published book excluded for myself only, ba't ko kayo pababasahin? Ikaw, ha! Why are you so curious with my love life?" I crossed my arms and arched a brow.

Bigla naman itong napakamot sa kanyang batok at napatawa ng marahan. "Well, you know me, medyo may pagka-chismoso—"

"I agree."

"And..." he trailed off.

"And?" I ask him as he quickly look away from my direction.

"There have been rumors about you with the uh, College Vice Governor in our Department?" He says, unsure of what he's talking about.

Napataas ang aking kilay sa kanyang sinabi. We had a staring contest for awhile until I gave in and laughed at his face.

"W-what? Narinig ko lang naman 'yon!" He defends himself and tries to laugh it off.

"Are you insane? Me and Reese?" I playfully slapped his shoulder and continued laughing. "Come on, Oli. Get your facts straight. We barely even talk!" I exclaim and rolled my eyes at him.

"Kaya nga, that's what I told them. Nevermind, forget about it. Alam mo naman yung mga 'yon." He sighs and sat back on the bench we're on.

After my laughter died down, I calmly rested my back on the bench with him and stared at nowhere. "Oli?" I ask.

"Yeah? Do you have any ideas how you can pull off that script?" He answers back.

"Not yet, but," I glance sideways and looked straight in his eyes. Ngayon ko lang na-appreciate na kulay tsokolate pala ang mga mata ni Oli, his eyes almost familiar with someone I knew. He was half-Korean who grew up here in the Philippines since birth. On the other hand, I am a loud and proud pure Filipino. My hair's black and straight that stops at mid-length. I admit he's way taller than me, which makes it look like I am his younger sister every time we walk next to each other at the corridors. His lips are thinner and he has a whiter complexion than mine, but we both have a round face, though his brown hair just sticks out everywhere. Mukhang hindi uso ang pagsusuklay.

We were classmates back in freshmen and sophomore year, ngayong taon lang ata kami nagkaiba ng section ngunit dahil sa script na kailangan kong i-sulat, I chose him to be my assistant with the story since he's a smart guy when it comes to ideas and grammatical errors. Just not with this one, I think.

"But?" Tanong niya nang bigla akong mapatahimik ng ilang segundo.

"Let me tell you a story I know."

~*~

We hurriedly went to the canteen after our last class for the day. Kanina pa ako nagugutom pagkatapos ng ilang oras na pagkwento kay Oli tungkol sa isang love story na tanging alam ko.

"Felina Quero!" I roll my eyes and continued walking to a vacant seat I saw just now. Mula kanina hindi na ako tinitigilan ni Oli sa pagconvince na 'yon na lang ang i-sulat kong script para sa theater performance namin next year. Mukhang pagsisisihan ko na ini-share ko 'yon sa kanya.

"What is it now, Oliver Yi?" I spat back louder. Mabuti na lang maingay sa canteen kaya hindi mapapagkamalang nagsisigawan na kaming dalawa dito.

"You," he holds my shoulder, trying to slow me down as he catches his breath. "You should write that story!" He says and walks beside me with a tray in his hand.

"Why would I do that?" I took my seat and started placing my food on the table.

"Because it is realistic and unique! It's relatable, and at the same time it made me shed a tear. Not all stories make me that emotional." He answers with pleading eyes as he takes his seat in front of me.

"It isn't different from any other story," I tell him as I start to eat my food. Kanina pa ako pinipilit ng ugok na 'to na i-sulat ang isang love story na matagal nang tapos. I knew I shouldn't have told him about that. But somehow it felt right to tell someone that, in some way. "Nangyayari din 'yon sa iba."

"Isn't it the goal of our drama? To convey something na makaka-relate din ang audience natin. A story that will awaken a piece of their memory from an experience related to yours." He beams. Mukhang iju-justify pa niya talaga ang kanyang sinasabi para lang i-convince akong 'yon na lang ang i-sulat.

"To mine? Who told you that it was my story?" I defend myself and laughed at him. "I don't know, Oli," I took a big bite and chew my food. "I chon't like che enchding."

"Don't talk when your mouth is full," he tells me and rolls his eyes. "Anyway, stop denying it wasn't your story, naiiyak ka nga kanin—"

"I am nawt chenying! It really ishn't mine, naikchwento lang 'yon scha 'kin." I answered while chewing my food, clearly disregarding what he just scolded me earlier for.

He raised a brow and grins at me. "Talaga? Okay, sabi mo eh." I glared at him for a moment that made him wave his arms in the air. "Fine, fine! Kidding aside, what if you take a piece of that reality and put it into the story? Change some parts of the story you don't like. Yung mga moments na inimagine mong dapat mangyari in reality, gawin mong reality sa kwento. Kahit do'n na lang at least nagkatotoo, 'di ba? It's like making the story how you wanted it to be like."

I nod my head after swallowing a whole piece of chicken down my throat. "You have a point, however, as much as possible I want to give justice to the story. I don't want to change most of it, I feel like it takes away the reasons why it had to happen. The lessons that should be learned. If I change all the bad into good, it might look like the story's being too chimerical. It takes away the essence of it's authenticity."

"You must've known that someone else's story by heart for you to say that," he jokes. I opened my mouth to disagree with him but he continues with, "but you're so right! So, is that a yes, then?" He clasp his hands together and grinned at me.

"Stop looking at me like that," I pry his hands away in front of me. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako habang nakatitig sa plato. "I'm just not sure if how it'll turn out."

Napatingin ako sa kanya nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko sa mesa. "Hindi ka pa nagsisimula, sumusuko ka na. I believe in your magical powers, Felina. Believe in yourself! All will be worth it in the end, I tell you." He leans back and places both his arms on the back of his head.

All will be worth it in the end. The line's too familiar to not forget about it. Minsan na rin akong naniwala na worth it ang pagsugal ko. Though in reality, it doesn't always work that way. I just smiled and didn't say a word after that.

I'll think about it, I whisper to myself. Dahil sa gagawin kong ito, isa na namang pagsugal ang magaganap sa buhay ko.