CHAPTER 1: WORK WORK WORK

It was hot. I grumbled in my head as I made my way to the photography club room. I kept on brushing beads of sweat from my forehead as I crossed the huge lawn between the F campus building and the G campus building where the club room was.

“Yo!” I heard a shout right at the same time as something hard, most likely a notebook, smacked the back of my head.

“What the hell, man?” I stopped walking to rub my head and glare at the jerk that did that. He was holding the suspected notebook, looking awfully guilt-less even after I shot daggers at him with my eyes.

“Where ya headin’?” Chuck followed my footsteps when I started walking again after I was done glaring and huffing and puffing at him.

He looked like he was not bothered by the heat at all. Well, probably because he had far less hair than me. Mine was jet black with long bangs combed to my left while the right side of my head is basically bald. Just an inch of hair covering it.

Chuck had this boyish buzz-cut going on. It suited him though, with his slightly tanned and muscular body (which I’m so jealous of since though I was slightly taller than most boys, I was much leaner), the buzz cut just revealed his ever so charming smile and boyish grin which exposed his perfectly lined white teeth.

What a blessed specimen my dear friend was.

If only he wasn’t such an ass.

I huffed and chuckled and shook my head, scolding myself for my straying thoughts.

“Photography club. I left my lens cleaner there and I also want to submit the application for the photography competition,” I told him. “What about you? Aren’t you supposed to be heading home soon?” I asked back.

Summer break had just started a few days before and a lot of people have gone back to their hometown or vacationing somewhere cooler. Chuck usually went back home for the first two weeks of it but returned to practice football with his team. While I didn’t usually go back at all because I was usually busy helping prepare the events that happened during summer break. 

Which was a lot. 

This year we will also be having lots of events so I was not sure if I’m gonna be able to go back home at all.

“Nah…” Chuck said, “I’m gonna stay here. I have practice for the Winter Championship. I can go back later.”

Oh, that’s right. 

The Football Winter Championship. 

The year before our team was crushed during the semi-final and had been raging to get revenge. No wonder almost everyone from the football team was still here when usually they will only start practicing from the end of Summer Break.

I nodded and kept on walking while talking about the shameful match last year. Just then, a second year kid ran towards us, waving and calling my name.

His enthusiasm showed even from afar.

“Lee!” he shouted happily as he ran.

“‘Sup?” I greeted him when he stopped in front of us and pants. His name was Jason, a second year Social Study Major.

“Do you have time? The drama club needs your help,” Jason asked after he regained a steady breathing.

“You need more photographers?” I asked in anticipation.

Nice. First job of the break.

“No,” he said, “we need an understudy for the female lead.” He said and I squinted my eyes at him.

“You kidding,” I stated, hoping that he was.

“No,” he said and quickly explained. “The drama club decided that this year we want to do something different for the summer festival. Guys play the female role and vice versa.”

I was frowning.

“Please Lee…” Jason pleaded. “We’re short on people. Talented and dedicated people, and you’re the only one good enough, more than good enough to do this… We’ll pay you double!” He ended the plea with an offer that I normally wouldn’t turn down. Also, he was really good at throwing praises, wasn’t he?

But acting as a female?

Jason put his palms together in front of his face and stared at me with pleading eyes. I was starting to feel nervous. I normally could never turn people down when they are asking me for help. Hence the go-to-guy status I have attached to my name.

“Does he get to wear dresses and make up?” Chuck asked and I immediately turned to look at him. He had a straight face. But the glint in his eyes…

I gulped nervously.

“Well… yeah…” Jason hesitantly said, looking back and forth from me who stared at my best friend, feeling nervous, and to Chuck who stared at him with a strangely inexpressive face.

“I’ll give you 50 if you accept and let me take your picture,” Chuck turned to me. Still with a face as straight as an arrow.

I feel a nerve popping.

“Yo! Why am I that cheap?” I smacked his head.

No reaction.

He was silent. Probably calculating in that dumb head of his.

“Fine. 100,” He added the number. 

I rolled my eyes at him.

“500,” I told him, hands on my hips, eyes glaring, hoping I looked intimidating and serious enough.

If I was going to embarrass myself, might as well get something out of it.

“250,” Chuck bargained.

“300 and a meal at Royal Korean Buffet,” I said to him, not giving room for any more discussion. “You can take as many pictures as you like,” I added slowly when he went silent again. Looking far too dejected to my liking.

Damn my soft heart.

“Deal!” that jerk was grinning now. I kicked his shin and he groaned, still with a grin. I rolled my eyes more at him.

“You’ll do it?” Jason, who was still standing there, beamed happily as I turned and gave him my answer. “Thank you so much! We owe you big time!” he said and fled, probably to report back to his packs, most definitely to spread the news of the future-female-clothed-me.

The first job I got this summer. I didn’t feel good at all about this day.

The day rolled on, entering the evening. Just like last year, by 3 p.m. I already had a handful of jobs that I have accepted. All were much less embarrassing than the first job I got that day. I didn’t just accept every job that comes my way, mind you. I was not that stupid. Or over-confident of my abilities. Or that desperate for money. I only accept the ones that I can actually do or was confident enough to be able to learn how to do in a short amount of time.

So far, I have accepted a job as a photographer for the basketball team’s calendar shooting. This one’s offer was from Marsha, a member of the photography club and also my best friend whom some people also called my wife.

Quin, Fashion Major, also offered me a job as one of her models for the Charity Fashion Show. This one’s a little bit nerve wracking. I have never been a model before and I sure as hell didn’t know how to walk the runway, but Quin was very intimidating and so very persuasive, so I accepted.

Naomi from the Performing Arts Major asked me to be one of the committee members of the Charity Concert (mostly as decoration crew, part-timing as a mechanic and freelancing as a photographer).

And, of course, the drama club. I didn’t know how that one would go. I had previous experience with acting before, so I was confident in that area, but the other part…

I was not exactly comfortable dressing as a female. Not that I had anything against them. It’s just the fact that even though I’m tall, taller than the average guy, somehow I still looked slightly girlish. Not that I appeared weak, or cute, or anything like that. I didn’t get it myself, it’s just that people have been telling me stuff regarding that matter.

But, whatever. At least they were paying me double for that. 

Yep. I’m that cheap.

And well, I also had to admit that it’s a good thing. To have that many jobs (yes, even the one from the drama club). I was not the type to be able to just sit and read and chill under the tree one gloriously bright afternoon. 

I’d get cranky. 

I have to do things. Lots of things. 

To run around and get myself busy with anything to be able to relax (if that even makes sense to you) and spend the overwhelming energy I seem to possess. 

I love doing all sorts of things. Trying out new things and perfecting whatever skills I have accumulated over the years. That was probably why I didn’t belong to any clubs or organizations.

It was also hella fun. I got to meet lots of people. To learn so many things. And most importantly, to help people. And even more importantly, I got paid. Sometimes a lot. Sometimes only with vouchers. But I’ll take anything they can give me. 

I am that cheap, and apparently, shameless. Heh heh heh.

I chuckled to myself over my shamelessness as I headed up to the football field with my camera. Chuck was in the middle of practice, even though it’s almost dark. I guessed they meant it when they said they won’t rest before getting their revenge.

I was meeting Marsha there so the three of us could go to dinner later after Chuck’s practice that looked like it won’t be finished some time in this century. I also needed to go down to the city to buy some painting supplies. Even though I was a Digital Art student, I still liked to paint old school style. It took my mind off of things. 

Not that I had that much stuff to think about, though.