Law of Attraction

Film 06

Paige Maree's

I took the polaroid picture discreetly at pinasok sa loob ng bag ko nang walang nakakaalam. I know it's bad to steal pero mukha ko naman 'to. I'll just let him know some other time.

He came back after showing the other pictures to our adviser. He was wearing a smile but the kind of smile na genuine happy instead of feeling proud. He noticed that the other photos that fell earlier were already in a neat stack on his arm chair. He looked at me but I immediately averted my gaze outside the window. Ibinalik niya ang mga ito sa box na bitbit niya. Mabuti naman at hindi niya napansin na mayroong nawawalang isang piraso doon. 

Tumingin ako sa pisara at nakitang nagliligpit na ang aming adviser. I glanced at my watch and noticed that it was almost time for recess. Alissa and Kylie were already signalling me na pupunta kami ng canteen right after the buzzer. Our adviser asked us to pray. Mabuti nalang at nandito ako sa hulihan dahil doon nagsimula sa first column ang piniling prayer leader. 

Right after praying, hinila kaagad ako ng dalawa. Parang araw-araw bardagulan kasi ro'n sa canteen. Palaging nag-uunahan ang mga estudyante. 20 minutes lang yung recess namin but falling in line takes too much time kasi maraming estudyante rito. 

"Anong bibilhin mo?" Alissa asked me. Nagkibit-balikat lang ako. 

"I'm full," I said kaya bumaling siya kay Kylie na hanggang ngayon ay nahihirapang pumili ng kung anong kakainin niya kaya ayon, halos binili na lahat. 

"Gutom na gutom na gutom na gutom na talaga ako! Hindi ako nakapagbreakfast kanina," Kylie said.

I was just listening to their normal banter. Kahit saan kasi napapadpad ang usapan nila. Ngayon naman ay pinag-uusapan na namn nila yung isang ka-batch namin from other school na jowa daw yung pinsan ng ex ni Alissa. Minsan natatawa nalang ako sa kanila. 

"Anong ganap mo sa summer?" Kylie asked. Sa akin an naman napunta ang usapan.

"Wala, I stayed at home the entire summer." I said. Ate Yana's wedding was my first and last hurrah for summer. My whole family was too busy with their own work. Hindi maiwanan yung mga papers that were piling up their desks. 

Minsan naman ay sumasama ako kay Lala kapag pumupunta siya sa mga charity events. I'm normally quiet and I only go with her para mabantayan ko siya. She's getting old and her health conditions isn't that good. Na-eenjoy naman ako sa tuwing nakikita ko yung mga natutulungan. I also donate some of my clothes to the kids. May kakilala na nga akong ibang mga bata doon and they're fun to be with. I sometime envy their innocence. If only I could bring back the time where I was still naive. 

"Weh? Nothing interesting happened?" Alissa asked. Umiling ako. 

"Wala nga. Inaya ako ni Mommy na pumunta sa Dubai but I said no. Anong gagawin ko do'n?" I told them.

"Gaga ka, Baguio nga hindi ako makapunta tapos you said no to Dubai?!" Kylie was in hysterics. 

"Gusto mong pumuntang Baguio?" I asked her. I will tell Lala. Papayag naman 'yon if isasama ko sina Kylie and Alissa.

"Gusto kong magtravel sino bang ayaw?" hinarap niya ako when we're already outside our room. 

"Tara, set lang kayo ng date. I'll just ask for permission kay Lala," I told them. We've been friends for years. They never left my side kaya they deserve this kind of treatment. 

Kaya lang ay nabigla ako nang hilahin ni Alissa yung buhok ko. 

"Gaga ka talaga," she just said before entering the room. I was confused. 

"Alissa hates you whenever you're being too giving and selfless," Kylie said as she gave me a smile. 

"Hindi naman kayo kagaya nila, Ky." I rolled my eyes at her bago kami tuluyang pumasok sa room.