☆ 2023 Watty Award Winner ☆
☆ Wattpad Webtoon Studios Entertainment Prize Winner ☆
Cutthroat campus drama and politics with make-believe relationship mixed in!
Due to his serious attitude and intimidating aura, Priam Torres has become the most unpop...
A/N: Thank you so much for all the love sa story at sa characters! I'm sure they'd appreciate it!
TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains some words that readers may find triggering. Reader discretion is advised.
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FABIENNE
I WASN'T familiar with the USC officers kaya hindi ko na-recognize ang mukha ng nagpakilalang chief-of-staff. What's his name again? Hindi ko kasi malinaw na narinig kanina. Caspien? Castell? Ah, Castiel!
Nakipag-shake hands ako sa kanya at saka niya ako sinenyasan na umupo. Magkaharap kaming dalawa, isang mesa ang nasa pagitan namin. He looked at me from head to heels. Parang hinuhubaran niya ako sa kanyang tingin. The longer his gaze lingered on me, the more awkward and uncomfortable I felt.
Teka, hindi naman siguro 'to isang trap, 'no? Lumingon ako sa pinto at ch-in-eck kung may biglang nag-lock n'on. Wala naman, kaya kung may gagawin siyang masama sa 'kin, I could run straight to the door and slam it in his face if he pursued me.
"You look . . . confused," he said. Kumalas na ang tingin niya sa 'kin, nabaling na sa hawak niyang folder. "Is something wrong?"
"Siguro I was expecting na nandito ang iba pang USC officers," sagot ko. "Kaya akala ko nagkamali ako ng room na pinasukan kasi mag-isa ka lang dito kanina." Dapat ba akong mag-po at opo sa kanya? I wasn't sure if he's my senior or if he's older than me. Sana'y hindi siya ma-offend kung kausapin ko siya na parang kasing-edad ko.
"I'm in charge of staff recruitment." He flipped through the pages. Napansin kong hawak niya ang application form na i-s-in-ubmit ko sa OSA no'ng isang araw. "The president and vice president are busy with council work so they can't make it here. The other officers have something else to do this lunchtime. So all that's left is me."
I see. Based on his title, he must be a high-ranking officer in the council. Hindi ko matandaan ang itsura o pangalan niya last election.
"Shall we start?" Iniangat niya ang kanyang tingin sa 'kin at saka muling ngumiti.
Napalunok ako ng laway. Nanlamig ang mga kamay ko at nanginig ang aking mga tuhod. Ready na ba ako? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? Huminga muna ako nang malalim at inipon ang lahat ng lakas ng loob na meron ako.
Kalma ka lang, Fab. Hindi ka dapat kabahan. Isipin mo na nasa audition ka at ang lalaking 'to ang magdya-judge sa 'yo. Dapat best performance ang ipakita mo.
Inisip kong nagpe-play ako ng character ng isang babaeng sasalang sa job interview. I felt my confidence rising as my smile went as wide as it could. Natigil ang lahat ng panginginig at nawala ang panlalamig ko. I'm going to nail this interview!
"Yes," I answered.
Nanatili pa rin ang ngiti niya sa 'kin. "As I've mentioned in the text message, you're being considered for one of the remaining slots in the USC scholarship program. Just for the record, we got your application from OSA. Naghahanap kami ng candidates at naisipan naming bigyan ng chance ang mga hindi pinalad sa kanilang scholarship applications."
