1 CHAPTER 1: Work Work Work

It's hot. I grumble in my head as I make my way to the photography club room. I keep on brushing beads of sweats from my forehead as I cross the huge lawn between the F campus building and the G campus building where the club room is.

"Yo!" I hear a shout right at the same time as something hard, most likely a notebook, smacking the back of my head.

"What the hell, man?" I stop to rub my head and glare at the jerk that did that. He's holding the suspected notebook.

"Where ya headin'?" Chuck follows my footsteps when I start walking again.

He looks like he's not bothered by the heat at all. Well, probably because he has far less hair than me. Mine is jet black with long bangs combed to my left while the right side of my head is basically bald. Just an inch of hair covering it.

Chuck has this boyish buzz-cut going on. It suits him though, with his slightly tanned and muscular body (which I'm so jealous over since though I'm slightly taller than most boys, I'm much leaner), the buzz cut just reveals his ever so charming smile and boyish grin which exposes a perfectly lined white teeth.

"Photography club. I left my lens cleaner there and I also want to submit the application for the photography competition." I tell him. "What about you? Aren't you supposed to be heading home soon?" I ask back.

Summer break has just started a few days ago and a lot of people have gone back to their hometown or vacationing somewhere cooler. Chuck usually went back home for the first two weeks of it but returned to practice football with his team. While I don't usually go back at all because I'm usually busy helping preparing the events that's happened during summer break. This year too, we will be having lots of events so I am not sure if I'm gonna be able to go back home at all this year.

"Nah..." Chuck says, "I'm gonna stay here and help you out. I also have practice for Winter Championship. I can go back later."

Oh, that's right. The Football Winter Championship. Last year our team was crushed during the semi-final and had been raging to get revenge. No wonder almost everyone from the football team is still here when usually there will only be the starting players.

I nod and keep on walking while talking about the shameful match last year. Just then, a 2nd year kid runs towards us, waving and calling my name.

"Lee!" he shouts happily as he runs.

"'Sup?" I greet him when he stops in front of us and pants. His name is Jason, 2nd year Social Study Major.

"Do you have time? The drama club needs your help." Jason asks after he regains a steady breathing.

"You need more photographers?" I ask.

"No," he says, "we need an understudy for the female lead." He says and I squints my eyes at him wondering whether I heard him correctly or not.

"You kidding," I state, hoping that he was.

"No." he says and quickly explains. "The drama club decided that this year we want to do something different for the summer festival. Guys plays the female role and vice versa."

I am frowning.

"Please Lee..." Jason pleads. "We're short on people, talented and dedicated people, and you're the only one good enough, more than good enough to do this... we'll pay you double!" he ends the pleads with an offer that I normally wouldn't turn down. Also, he's really good at throwing praises, isn't he?

But acting as a female?

Jason puts his palms together in front of his face and stares at me with pleading eyes. I'm starting to feel nervous. I normally can never turn people down when they are asking me for help. Hence the go-to-guy status I currently have attached to my name.

"Does he get to wear dresses and make up?" Chuck asks and I immediately turn to look at him. He has straight face. But the glint in his eyes...

I gulp nervously.

"Well... yeah..." Jason hesitantly says, looking back and forth from me who stares at my best friend, feeling nervous, and to Chuck who stares at him with a strangely unexpressive face.

"I'll give you 50 if you accept and let me take your picture." Chuck turns to me. Still with face as straight as an arrow.

I feel a nerve pops.

"Yo! Why am I that cheap?" I smack his head.

No reaction.

"Fine. 100." He adds the number. I roll my eyes at him.

"500," I say, hands on my hips, eyes glaring.

If I'm going to embarrass myself, might as well get something out of it.

"250." Chuck bargains.

"300 and a meal at Royal Korean Buffet." I say to him with a final tone, "You can take as many pictures as you like." I add slowly.

"Deal!" that jerk's grinning now. I kick his shin and he groans, still with a grin. I roll my eyes more at him.

"You'll do it?" Jason, who's still standing there beams happily as I turn and nod. "Thank you so much! We owe you big time!" he says and flees, probably to report back to his packs, most definitely to spread the news of the future-female-clothed-me.

The first job I get this summer. I don't feel good at all about today.

The day rolls on, entering the evening. Just like last year, by 3 p.m. I already have a handful of jobs that I have accepted. All are much less embarrassing than the first job I got that day. I didn't just accept every job that comes my way, mind you. I am not that stupid. Or over-confident of my abilities. Or that desperate for money. I only accept the ones that I can actually do or confident enough to be able to learn how to do it in a short amount of time.

So far, I have accepted a job as a photographer for the basketball's team calendar shooting. This one's offer was from Marsha, a member of the photography club and also my best friend whom some people also titled as my wife.

Quin, Fashion Major, also offered me a job as one of her models for the Charity Fashion Show. This one's a little bit nerve wrecking. I have never been a model before and I sure as hell don't know how to walk the runway, but Quin is very intimidating and so much persuasive, so I accepted (plus she offers me a voucher to stay in one of the best seaside resort in the country, all expenses paid, so...).

Naomi from the Performing Arts Major asks me to be one of the committee members of the Charity Concert (mostly as decoration crew, part-timing as a mechanic and freelancing as a photographer).

And, of course, the drama club. I don't know how that one will go. I have previous experience with acting before, so I'm confident in that area, but the other part...

I'm not exactly comfortable in dressing as a female. Not that I have anything against them. It's just the fact that even though I'm tall, taller than average guy, somehow I still look slightly girlish. Not that I appear weak, or cute, or anything like that. I don't get it myself, it's just that people have been telling me stuffs regarding that matter.

But, whatever. At least they're paying me double for that. Yep. I'm that cheap.

And well, I also have to admit that it's a good thing. To have that many jobs (yes, even the one from the drama club). I am not the type to be able to just sit and read and chill under the tree one gloriously bright afternoon. I'd get cranky. I have to do things. Lots of things. To run around and get myself busy with anything to be able to relax (if that even makes sense to you) and spend the overwhelming energy I seem to possess. I love doing all sorts of things. Trying out new things and perfecting whatever skills I have accumulated over the years. That was probably why I don't belong to any clubs or organization.

It also hella fun. I get to meet lots of people. To learn so many things. And most importantly, to help people. And even more importantly, I get paid. Sometimes a lot. Sometimes only with vouchers. But I'll take anything they can give me. I am that cheap, and apparently, shameless. Heh heh heh.

I chuckle to myself over my shamelessness as I head up to the football field with my camera. Chuck is in the middle of practice right now, even though it's almost dark. I guess they meant it when they say they won't rest before getting their revenge.

I am meeting Marsha there so the three of us can go to dinner later after Chuck's practice that looks like it won't finish some time in this century. I also need to go down to the city to buy some painting supply. Even though I'm a Digital Art student, I still like to paint old school style. It takes my mind off of things. Not that I have that much stuffs to think about, though.