Meet Me at the Crossroad (Artist Series #2)

Chapter 1

I can't help but to feel frustrated while eating. We're currently having lunch at the canteen and we still have more or less 20 minutes before our first class at 12 o'clock. I was staring at my plate, cheek placed against my palm, elbow resting on the table.

"Ano'ng sabi mo sa president niyo?" asked Clary, my best friend, after hearing my rant.

I looked up while chewing my food, lips pulling into a frown. "E 'di sabi ko, hala, bakit ako? Trabaho 'yan ng membership committee."

To say that I am bothered is an understatement-I am stressing out! Paano ba naman kasi, inutusan akong mag-announce sa bawat section. It's about the upcoming audition for Campus Art League, the art club of our university. The call for new members is open to all students. But it's not my job to recruit members! I was elected as the secretary. Tagasulat lang ako, ganoon. Gosh.

"Oh, ano'ng sabi niya? Bakit daw hindi sila ang gagawa no'n?" Clary asked again and took a long swig of her juice.

"Sa college daw sila mag-a-announce. Ako na raw ang bahala sa senior high school kasi SHS din ako. Magaling naman daw akong magsalita sa harap ng mga tao, sabi ni Kuya Dave," I frowned while telling Clary everything.

Well, I am a Humanities and Social Sciences student. One hallmark of being a HUMSS student is to have the confidence to speak in public. Still, that's not a valid reason to be assigned with a task that's not my job, right?

Pero pumayag na lang din ako. Pare-pareho naman kaming may tungkulin sa club na 'to. Mga kapwa estudyante rin naman ang pagsisilbihan namin. Besides, mabilis lang naman mag-room-to-room, isang araw lang. Nakakaloka lang sa part na mag-isa lang ako. Nakakapagod iyon!

"Alam mo kung bakit sa 'yo pinagawa iyon? Kasi meron ka nang built-in megaphone kapag nagsasalita," Clary had the nerve to poke fun at me.

"Ay, wow ha!" I exclaimed in disbelief. "Alam mo kasi, lahat ng afternoon class, pupuntahan ko! Tapos iilan lang naman ang mare-recruit ko, kasi hindi naman lahat interesado sa art. Feeling ko, masasayang lang ang pagod ko."

"Uy, hindi 'yan. Malay mo, marami. Art is for everybody naman, 'di ba?"

"Art is for everybody, pero ikaw 'tong may talent, ayaw namang sumali," I gave her a side eye.

"I'm not everybody, Guia," she chuckled.

"You know what, hindi kita maintindihan. Ikaw 'tong interesado sa art tapos tatanggihan mo naman 'yung ganitong opportunity. Wala namang membership fee, Clary," sermon ko sa kanya. Noon ko pa kasi sinasabi kay Clary na sumali siya sa CAL dahil nalaman kong sumasali siya sa art contests noong junior high school. Pero ayaw naman ng gaga. Pa-shy type pa!

"Tinatamad ako eh," she pouted.

"Pipila ka lang naman, magpapasa ng portfolio para sa audition, tapos kapag qualified ka na, kailangan mo lang um-attend lagi sa meetings, events, and activities. Ang saya kaya! Ano'ng nakakatamad doon?"

"Sa dami ng sinabi mo, lahat iyon nakakatamad."

Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako at hindi na siya pinilit. Actually, when I found out that Clary is an artist too, I was excited because I knew we'll get along with each other. Isa siya sa mga pinaka-una kong naging kaibigan dito sa klase. Sabi ng iba ay masungit daw si Clary kaya wala siyang ibang nagiging kaibigan, but when I got to know her, I can prove them all wrong. Baka nga mas masungit pa ako kaysa sa kanya!

"Tara na. Marami pa akong pupuntahang rooms. Pakisabi na lang sa mga prof na excused ako ah," sabi ko at niligpit na ang tray na pinagkainan ko.

"Saan excuse letter mo?"