LORENZO ELRIC GARCHITORENA

IT'S THE last Friday of the month and at the same time, it's also the time for our meeting at YoLO. Sa sobrang dalas kong um-attend sa mga meeting, ang dami ko tuloy natututunan sa lessons na itinuturo sa amin. It's like they're really shaping us to become leaders on our own.

Katatapos lang ng klase ko for today kaya deretso na akong pumunta sa may third floor ng SLB habang dala-dala ang bag na may lamang laptop. Nakapapagod na nga ang quiz namin sa last period (but thank goodness that I survived), nakakapagod pa ang paglalakad mula sa school building namin at pag-akyat papuntang third floor na malayo pa ang distance sa isa't isa. It's like I'm having a mental gymnastics.

But my struggle is not yet over. Mapapasabak naman ako ulit sa madugong reporting mamaya.
Overnight ko pa namang tinrabaho ang ipe-present ko para sa meeting na ginawan ko pa ng PowerPoint presentation. Hopefully, I can give justice on my report or else, it would also end like God-knows-what-happened-then. And sad to say, it's a bit frustrating especially that it's an individual reporting. Ibig sabihin, walang sasalo sa akin; ako mismo ang magbubuhat sa sarili ko throughout the reporting. If I screwed up, it's the end of the world.

We are tasked to report what our aspirations in life--what are our goals in life--and how we are eager to achieve that goal. From what we have discussed last meeting, a leader must be visionary with the goals he want to achieve. How ironic that I procrastinated too much about my reporting kaya naging rushed na noong ginawa ko ito.

Onemig even helped me without me asking. But it's still help, kaya sino pa ba ako para tumanggi roon, 'di ba? And somehow, na-modify ang sasabihin ko. At sana, masabi ko ito nang maayos sa harapan ng maraming tao.

"Naks! Prepared na prepared, ah?" Onemig commented while I bring out my laptop onto the desk I'm sitting. Out of the blue ko lang naman naisipang gumamit ng PowerPoint presentation sa pagre-report. Nasa tabi ko lang siya habang sina Malcolm ay nasa likod ko. Hindi pa kasi nag-i-i-start ang meeting namin.

He also helped me for my reporting kaya sana ay maayos ko ang ipe-present ko mamaya. I hope this will not jinx.

"Mukhang ready ka na, ah?" Malcolm then commented after he poked my back. I was slightly pissed because I'm too serious checking at my presentation. Pero hinayaan ko na lang na humupa Ang inis ko.

"I don't think so. Bahala na," I answered with a budget. Sa totoo lang ay hindi pa ako totally confident sa gagawin ko mamaya.

"Sus, kakayanin niya iyan. We believe in you, Lorenzo." Onemig cheered me up which made me smiled a bit. Okay... This is getting real already.

My heart is pumping dahil kanina pa ako rehearse nang rehearse sa utak ko sa kung anong sasabihin ko. Kanina pa nga, I even mumbled some words and trying to deliver them.

Denise and Josiah had a brief introduction before the presentation started. Nagkaroon na rin kasi ng bunutan beforehand ng mga kung sino ang magre-report. And good thing na pang-lima ako sa nabunot. Hindi sobrang aga at hindi rin sobrang late akong magre-report. It's kinda bad na wala akong projector na maikakabit. But it's okay; ang mahalaga ay mairaos ko ito.

When it's my turn, I stood up and prepped myself in front. All I can see are eyes that are like following me. Para tuloy akong sinusundan ng mga CCTV camera at tinitingnan ang bawat galaw ko. And I'm starting to get frustrated--my heart stammered--and my sweat started to flow onto my face while starting the slideshow on my laptop.

Napatingin ako kina Denise at Josiah na nasa gilid habang kinakabahan pa. On the other hand, confident naman akong pinanonood nina Onemig.

"Okay, Lorenzo, mag-start ka na," Josiah gave the go signal and as I open my mouth, the game begins.

"W-What are my aspirations?" And I begin my report stuttering while standing still in front of my clubmates. What a nice start indeed. Doon ko naman pinindot ang left button para ilipat ang title sa next slide. Okay, let's get serious this time.

I smiled awkwardly before I begin.

"It's just simple--I see myself as a computer or video game developer." I then shifted onto the next slide. There appeared a GIF of a cat typing on a laptop. I saw some of my clubmates "aww"-ed after seeing the cute creature in front of them.

"I'm envisioning myself being part of a team that develops video games that are being sold to the market. Maybe someday, I can see myself working at huge gaming companies like Nintendo, Sony, Square Enix, or even Ubisoft. Why not?" I shrugged. "Ever since I'm just a young boy, I'm already fascinated on how those miniscule 8-bit creatures are being maneuvered inside the small brick-like devices."

Hindi tulad noon, mas relaxed ako ngayon habang nag-e-explain sa harap. Napatingin ako ulit kina Onemig na napa-thumbs up pa sa akin, kaya itinuloy ko pa ang reporting. Naubo pa nga ako bago magpatuloy.

"And as the time progresses, gaming also evolves. Technology has been modifying our way of entertainment from time to time. For example, from the polygonal models used for the Final Fantasy VII, we now have photorealistic models for the remake." Ipinakita ko pa sa presentation kong iyon ang models nina Cloud Strife sa original version at sa remake na rin nito.

Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ang mga sinasabi kong iyon. Para tuloy akong na-possess at parang hindi si Lorenzo Elric Garchitorena ang nagsasalita sa harap. I find it really weird.

"Life is a video game. In this stage we are living in, we combat different opponents along the way--fears, anxiety and..." I paused a bit and stared again at Onemig. "...insecurities." Tuloy-tuloy lang ang flow ng pagsasalita ko habang ganoon din ang paglipat ng slides.

"We're all facing different levels in life. And as we face every level, the challenge becomes harder than before. Life is really frustrating. But the experiences we faced in the past make us stronger."

Everyone is serious while they see me in front. I may feel terrified and frustrated but I exerted my energy fighting these feelings that brew within me. Binuhusan ko ito ng panahon kaya ayaw kong masayang ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ko.

Napahaba pa ang mga pinagsasasabi ko sa harapan hanggang sa hindi ko namalayang natapos ko na pala ang nire-report ko. I took a deep breath in relief. Finally! Nakaraos din ako.

And because of that, a round of applause was given to me. I can sense that they're all satisfied after listening to my blabbers in front. Ang sarap pala sa feeling na ganito.

It's fulfilling but draining. Para tuloy akong naubusan ng energy sa pagtayo ko sa harapan. Pag-upo ko tuloy ay para akong naging gelatinous at hindi na makagalaw sa kinauupuan.

"Ang galing mo talaga, Lorenzo! Bilib na ako sa iyo!" Onemig then commented while congratulating me. Kasama ring nag-congratulate sina Malcolm at Cheena. Well, hindi ko rin naman magagawa ito kung hindi dahil sa kanila. It's really heartwarming to hear that from other people.

The presentation continued with the following students at after ng tatlo pang sumunod sa akin, si Onemig na ang tumayo at nagsimulang mag-report. All we can see in front is the walking microphone. Microphone kasi hindi lang dahil sa malakas niyang boses kung hindi dahil na rin sa gupit niya.

He started to get serious at nagpaka-teacher na siya ulit habang nag-e-explain, "Hello, mga mehn! What's up? Okay ba kayo riyan?" Parang naging vlogger at host din siya sa harapan.

"Hindi naman siguro obvious kung ano ang aspiration ko sa buhay, ano? Pero gusto ko talagang maging pulis kaya ako nag-take ng Criminology. Hindi naman sa cool maging ganoon o mataas ang suweldo pero I see it as a responsibility. Gusto kong pagsilbihan ang mga mamamayan." The way he speaks is radiating with enthusiasm. Nakikita ko na gusto talaga niya ang kaniyang ginagawa.

"At hindi rin sa magpapaka-heroic ako, pero gusto kong maiba ang tingin sa kapulisan. The police the sentinels of order and justice kaya ang responsibilidad nila ay ang paglingkuran ang mga tao at ipagtanggol sila sa lahat ng uri ng krimen.

"Ang sabi pa nga sa Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, ang fundamental duty ng mga kapulisan ay to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder."

I didn't really that I'm nodding every single time while sharing some point. All I can say that he's really an effective speaker.

"Alam kong marami sa mga tao ngayon ang nawawalan na ng tiwala sa sangkapulisan lalo na sa mga nangyayari ngayon. Nakalulungkot pa nga na sila pa ang gumagawa ng krimen. Kaya iyon ang gusto kong baguhin sa hinaharap. Gusto kong maiba ang tingin ng mga tao sa kapulisan. Na hindi naman lahat ay mandarambong, mga oppressor, at lumalabag sa sariling batas. Mas maganda na kung maging mabuting ehemplo tayo sa iba, 'di ba?"

Na-realize kong walang-wala ang ni-report ko kanina sa report niya ngayon. All what I have is 85% random blabbers and 15% na part talaga ng presentation ko. Everything that comes from his mouth are full of sense. Mas maayos niyang nade-deliver ang kaniyang sinasabi; mas confident din siya sa sarili niya.

"Nice, Onemig. Sana ay dumami pa ang mga katulad mo," Denise commended him after that speech from Onemig. And then, applause from the audience started to echo within the four corners of the classroom. I was left awed, my mouth being agape.

I started to clap, too even though I feel a sharp pang onto my chest. Like, there's a part of me na hindi matanggap ang nangyari.

Tuloy-tuloy pa ang pagpuri sa kaniya ng iba pa naming clubmates. Their praise radiated within the four corners of the classroom--and it's a bit dazzling in my eyes that made me twitch.

"Congratulations! You did well." I commented while I offered to m hands with him pagkaupo sa tabi ko.

"Thank you, Lorenzo. Proud din ako sa iyo," he then said while tapping my shoulder.

Oh well, he's always doing great as ever. Kahit naman siguro kahit anong gawin ni Onemig, iyon ang laging the best. Ganoon na rin naman siguro, walang-wala pa rin ako sa kaniya.

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