CHAPTER 59
LOU
I am currently researching on my phone about our research topic. I need to overtime because the submission of this is quite near and we aren’t in the middle part of it yet. I am the one who thought about this topic. My groupmates agreed on my idea and they like it as well. As time goes by, we didn’t know that this research topic will turn our lives miserable. We don’t have any ideas that it’s such a difficult title.
So, if I were you guys who are also starting with their thesis, pick a topic that isn’t only unique. Well, frankly speaking, that’s my basis for picking a title. It’s okay to be unique but make sure that you can give justice to it and finish it. The most important thing is you know your topic very well because, in defense, the panelist will sauté your group.
Speaking of defense, I experienced it though. I know how the
CHAPTER 60GIOToday, I am in the mall to do some errands that my dad’s commandments. I’m in the middle of our research when he told me to go here and pay some bills. I don’t want to go since I am already cramming for our thesis but today is the deadline of the payments as well. If I won’t be able to settle it today, they will cut our electricity and internet.While I am in the queue, I saw Lou on my messenger app. I thought he’s busy doing their research as well but he’s active in his social media account.Because of that research, I suddenly remember that I will chat with him to seek some help. He’s good at things like this. I saw their research paper way back in 10th grade and all I can say is their topic is the most unique in our classroom. They set the bar high. I heard to Marielle that they had a hard time conducting a survey since their target is LGBT students but
CHAPTER 61GIOWe are next in the queue that made me more nervous. My face started to become hot. It feels like I can’t feel the aircon even though this store is well ventilated.“May I get your orders?” the cashier greeted us smilingly. Argh! My chest trembles aggressively. For sure if I will speak, I will stutter any time soon. I don’t have any idea what are the delicious foods here! Lou! Why I found you here?I looked at Lou and he’s smiling at me as well. I think he’s just waiting on my order.“Just order what’s delicious” I murmured to Lou and he chuckles that makes me feel embarrassed to myself. To my family, why don’t we usually eat in coffee shops so I could gain knowledge in these instances?“Double chocolate pecar bar please,” Lou said to the barista while he’s looking at my phone. I tried looking at
CHAPTER 62GIOI looked at Lou is currently eating his cake. He took a sip of his coffee and started typing again on his laptop.“Lou, may I ask you a question?” I asked him“hmm?” he responded while not looking at me.“How will you defend yourself?” and he suddenly looked at me when he heard what I have said.“What do you mean?” when he replied, I got confused by my own question. What kind of question is that, Gio? You’re such an idiot.“What I mean is how will you defend yourself in defense? Since I don’t have any ideas about it, can you please teach me?” I requested him.“Alright. Just listen carefully.” He said and he cleared his throat.“Number 1. You need to be confident first in front of the panelist. Don’t show them that you’re nervous. Once you are carried away by your
CHAPTER 63LOUSCHOOLAfter a few weeks, we polished our research. We’ve been through a lot of revisions requested by our teacher. The expenses are terrifying. Since our research adviser is meticulous and high maintenance, we need to do reprints that she will put corrections again. I somehow feel irritated because we’re wasting papers and inks at the same time. I feel pity for nature.But after a stressful and hell week, here are we, in our school preparing our research materials. We will about to present the research topic that we conducted for several months. The school year is nearing its end and we have a lot of things to comply with before we have a summer vacation. Lately, anxiety is attacking me because of what’s happening in our country. There i
CHAPTER 64GIOMALL“Thesis defended!” My classmate reacted happily, and he throws the folder that is containing our research paper. This week is defense week for the students. We also finished our defending our thesis and I am glad about this since I am the leader of our group.“Thanks to you, Gio for your guidance and not neglecting us!” Aron, one of my groupmates thank me for what happened today.“It’s my obligation. Besides, if we didn’t cooperate with each other, we could have a failing grade in this subject that is not acceptable for me.” I replied to him. Since I am a consistent achiever in this school, I want to finish the whole year being a consistent achiever.“You know what Kardenies, we were shocked by your confidence earlier. It seems like we’re facing different Gio while you’re presenting.
CHAPTER 65LOU“Have you watched the news earlier?” I heard my sister while she’s talking to my cousin. I am in my room that is currently preparing for our classes today. Due to the high voice of my sister, I can hear her voice from the other room.“Yes, sister. The cases of the COVID 19 continue to go high every single day.” Ate Mae replied.Ate means sister in English. It was used to show respect to the older women.“Our job is suspended as of now, so I don’t have any work for tonight.” She added.“Is that paid by the company?” My sister asked her.“I guess?” Ate Mae responded. They are talking to each other on Facetime.“Oh. That would be great if so…” I continued preparing my stuff. We still have classes today. Actually, it’s Saturday and I woke up late the rea
CHAPTER 66FIRST WEEK OF LOCKDOWNLOU“Gosh. What’s happening in our country now?” My sister reacted as she is watching the news on the television. I turned my sight on it and I witness the graph that contains the cases of the COVID 19.It’s been a week now since the lockdown has been implemented. There are a lot of happenings including inflation. In the market, there is an inflation of sanitizers, alcohols, and other cleaning materials. Some people also save foods good for a month. The most irritating part is there are folks out there who buy a lot of alcohol and they will sell it double or triple from its retail price which is unfair for everyone. I don’t know what our government is doing. They don’t have concrete plans for this lockdown. They said that the duration of this lockdown is for a month. The government officials will see if the cases will
CHAPTER 67LOUMONTH OF MAY 2020It’s been weeks now since the lockdown has been implemented in our country. I thought it would last just for weeks but I am wrong. The government extended it until today, May 2020. I think, our country has the longest lockdown in the world with the strictest protocols. While the other countries had a lockdown but it last for just weeks or a month. Being stuck at home makes me more paranoid. Even though I am just staying at home, every time I am hearing the news and as we saw the cases continue to rise, it’s alarming for us too. We don’t know if this is already the end of the world. There are negative thoughts in my mind, and I can’t get rid of those. All I can do is pray and have faith in him.This year, 2020 became a ridiculous ride for everyone. There are a lot of happenings since the beginning of January. The Taal Volcano
FINAL CHAPTER – THE HIDDEN TRUTHTHE CONFESSIONLOULiezel and I went home late. Since our meetup at Caye’s house is later at 3 pm, I went home at 1 pm. I still have a lot of time to prepare today.I went directly to the comfort room to take a bath. We will be also going to celebrate the release of the music video. I am a bit nervous today but I shouldn’t waste this chance anymore.I feel bad for myself for not informing Eloisa of what will happen today. Right after this confession, everything will go back to what it used to be.Right after I take a bath, I went to my closet and get the clothes I am going to wear today. I am going to wear a plain black shirt from Uniqlo and monogram pants from Louis Vuitton.I went to the sneaker section of my closet and get the D-Connect Sneaker from Dior. I wear it and looked at myself in the mirror.
CHAPTER 122GRADE 7 FRIENDSLOUTime passes fast. One week has been passed since Jane’s birthday. I edited the music video within one week and thankfully, I finished it on time days before the confession.I already uploaded it on YouTube and set it to be published on April 24th. Two years ago, the same day, this where Gio and I talked about Saint George Academy. We had a deal that he will take the STEM strand while I’ll go with the HUMSS strand.On April 30th, it’s the two-year celebration of the sign I wished that if I will be able to get into that school, I will confess my feelings to him after two years. Now, it is real
CHAPTER 121.2LOU“Let me placed my bag there,” I told them and put it on the vacant space. Gio looked at my bag and he gets it.“Woah, this is heavy. What is the stuff inside?” he questioned and opened it. His eyes widened when he opens the bag.“It’s just a phone and wallet? Why is this heavy?”“It’s because it’s a leather bag and expensive” Eloisa replied to him.“Why leather is this? Answer it if you know” Joshua teases Eloisa that makes her silent.Gio gets my phone and as usual, he’s going to have a photo again. “Let me have a picture here huh?”“As if I can do something since you’re already holding it” I replied to him casually and everyone laughs.I get some pasta, rice cake and a pizza from the table. When I saw there is a barbeque, I get two sticks as
CHAPTER 121.1JANE’S DEBUTLOUCaye: So, when will you confess your feelings, Lou?I think for a while before responding to her message. The next chance that we will be able to see each other again will be on Jane’s birthday but I am still doubting about it since Eloisa will be there that day.Lou: I will try it on Jane’s birthday. That might be our last meetup before I leave Laguna.Lester: Make sure that you’re going to do it that day or else, I’ll be the one who will tell Gio about it. This is a challenge for you.Lou: All right. I’ll be doing it once Eloisa isn’t there.Caye: Why don’t you say it to her as well? Maybe she would support you?Lou: This doesn’t mean that I don’t trust her. I am just un
CHAPTER 120THE MUSIC VIDEO SHOOTINGLOUAPRIL 2021“Help me Pia with the green screens,” I told Pia who is assisting me today here in the studio. We are going to shoot here some green screen footage. We are also set up another green screen on the veranda for later.She helped me with the green screens. While she’s doing it, I went to the lights and plugged it on the socket to see if there’s any shadow once a subject went in front of the green screen. Gladly, it’s not.After a while, it is now finally done. I went to my room to get the clothes I’ll let Gio wear in the shoot. He already used some of it on the pageant in our previous school. Since he doesn’t have any photos of it, I’ll let him wear it again.I am also planning to make him the cover of the story. I asked his permission and he agreed with it. He even
CHAPTER 119THE LAST SHOOT IS HAPPENINGLOUWeeks after, the song was released on digital music services. We didn’t make it before the release of the song the reason I haven’t uploaded anything on that day. In the meantime, we launched several teasers and posters for it while we are preparing for the shooting.Now is April and we will shoot tomorrow. I already informed Gio about everything he needs to bring. That would be the last shoot for this music video.The target date of the music video release was any day in May. I need to do have time while I am editing the shots.Since our place has been placed again of Enhanced Community Quarantine, we aren’t allowed to went to different places if not important and necessary. We also have a curfew for each barangay here in our province.We are running out of time so I came up with other methods. The only m
CHAPTER 118DOUBTLOUA couple of weeks after. It’s now in the third week of March but we haven’t continued our shooting yet.We are now running out of time. Our destination for our shoot is Batangas and Alabang. Since I am the producer of this music video as well, I will be the one who’s in charge of the expenses.“What date is now? The music video will be released on the 30th of March. We need to do something since the editing will take a lot of time.” I told myself while looking in the mirror. I get my phone from my table and messaged Eloisa.Lou
CHAPTER 117.2THE CONTINUATION“What is our story about?” Shyra asked.“It’s a unique story for me. You will be found out that too soon!” And he smiled again devilishly.We heard a bell. We turned around and saw an ice-cream vendor passing behind us.“I want ice-cream! Shall we?” Marielle invited.“Let’s go!” Shyra replied and they ran towards the direction of the ice-cream vendor.“Wait for me guys!” Joshua shouted and he runs in their direction.“Wait, I want it too!” I said and went in its direction. Gio followed me. I look in the cart of the dirty ice-cream vendor and I was amazed at the flavors.“Gosh! Cheese, chocolate, and strawberry!” I said in amazement. I get my wallet to bring out cash. When I opened it, I frowned my face afterward. Jeez.“Why, what’s wro
CHAPTER 117.1THE MEMORIES OF THE PASTLOU“You know what, I’ve been dreaming of Gio lately. I don’t know what does it mean” I told Lester and Caye while they are here on our house. They just suddenly pass by to our house because they went to our school during Junior High. They get the necessary and remaining documents they need to pass on their present school.“Maybe it is the sign to confess?” Caye questioned while she’s drinking a juice.“I don’t know either.”“Are you ready to confess any time soon?” I think about what Lester questioned me. Am I ready to confess my feelings to him? Or I am just pressured because of the things happening around me.“I am hesitant though. I am having doubts on my mind”“Why? Are there any problems?” Caye asked worriedly. I sighed d