Multi tasker

After their classes, Patricia, who was with her friends talking about random stuff at the canteen, Patricia's friends were sometimes diligent and hardworking, rowdy, cool, and carefree and wanting to have fun; they always want to go out and have a good time, and they're always looking for new adventures to have.Patricia's friends always had her back; she knew she could count on them when she needed a helping hand. They shared many things, including their thoughts and feelings about various topics, like schoolwork, family, friends, and just everyday issues. They were always there for her, and she felt comfortable and relaxed in their presence.Patricia is usually the calm and logical one in the group, always trying to keep things on the right path and make sensible decisions. She's very perceptive and has a knack for recognizing inconsistencies or flaws in situations or plans before they can cause trouble. Patricia is often the peacemaker of the group, using her keen observational skills to maintain balance and harmony.At the well-lit space, with natural light coming from the windows, creating a cheerful, unique, nurturing space for students, the décor features light yellow walls with an ancient vibe due to their oldness.The table is neatly arranged, with matching table oilcloth that has patterns of random flowers made out of PVC where Tanya is eating alone, but Patricia is eating with her friends, talking about Patricia's worries to her student council friends."If your SGV friends are willing to cooperate so much, then why not tell you their plans or their secrets since your friends are already right? It's teamwork!"Patricia doesn't want her friends to get involved in anything in her personal life, not even the school-related stuff like being involved in the student council government team. She knew how caring her friends were for her, but she didn't want them either on possible dangers in it.So she carefully explained. "It's not that simple. Even though I consider them my friends, I also have to act in a professional capacity as a student council representative. We have rules and protocols we need to follow.""You're too serious!" Yuki huffs at Patricia's comment.Patricia chuckled a bit at her friend's remark. "I know I can be a bit serious sometimes, but it's my job to be responsible. Plus, being on the student council means I have to balance my duties with handling delicate information.""Besides," Patricia continued, "these aren't just any friends I'm dealing with. They can be quite competitive and ambitious. Sharing too much information could lead to unhealthy rivalries and power struggles within the student council. I need to tread carefully."Patricia's heart softened as her gaze shifted to Tanya, sitting at a table by herself, quietly eating her lunch. Guilt and concern filled her expression, and she couldn't help but feel a subtle pang of sadness. It was an all-too-familiar sight for her, witnessing Tanya dine alone amidst a sea of lively chatter.Patricia couldn't eat and couldn't listen to her friends; she wanted to be with Tanya at all, but she realized that it might be disrespectful to leave her friends while talking, especially since they needed her opinion on the topic, which she was related to.She sighs, her eyes darting at Tanya before focusing on her friend's conversation, slowly eating her meal."You know; I think we shouldn't jump to conclusions too quickly. Maybe they're just planning something awesome for my birthday on February 16th. We shouldn't be so quick to judge others before we know their intentions; you know?""Go TRISH, go! You da MVP! Keep gaslighting yourself; we're all here for it! We love you, b****!" Patricia's friend manages to say while devouring a mouthful of rice, her words slightly muffled by the food in her mouth.Patricia rolls her eyes playfully and responds to her friend. "Ha! Very funny. If you all are here for the show, please keep this popcorn-munching attitude of yours until I get some solid proof, alright?"Her friends burst into laughter, enjoying Patricia's ability to keep things light despite the weight of the situation. Patricia smiles at their laughter, appreciating the moments of levity.She turns her attention back to her meal, continuing the conversation. "Alright, enough about that for now. Let's change the subject and enjoy our lunch, shall we?"Her friends nodded in agreement and continued chatting about lighter topics, the conversation shifting to their plans for the upcoming weekend. Patricia tried to engage in the conversation, but her mind kept drifting to Tanya, sitting alone a few tables away.Alfred, on the other hand, is gathering his stuff with Francheska, going to another secluded place with his other friends, changing tables just so no one could hear them, and rolling his eyes at Patricia's back every time he passes by her.One of Patricia's loudest friend raises her hand and starts calling out Tanya; "Tanya! We got some chips! wanna share?" Patricia face palms herself, feeling embarrassed on her friend being that loud at the school canteen, but at the same time appreciating her friends gesture.Still, she tried to hide her slight discomfort and watched as Tanya looked up from her lunch, clearly caught off guard by the sudden call-out."Patricia! Can we have a moment?" The principal went and asked her with her firm voice."Listen" the principal began, her tone no-nonsense, " The donation box was stolen, and I told the faculty to find the 'Senior' who stole it, if it wasn't tracked? You will have to bring the donations back" The principal slams the donation box on the table and Patricia notices the donation box's padlock was cracked open.She sighs and face palms herself, adding stress on her plate."How many times that thing got stolen anyways" Yuki chimed in, it's been years and it's not a common incident after all that the donation box was stolen, the donation box is made out of fly wood that's deteriorated and it's going brown, there's even cracks and scratches.Patricia sighed, running a hand through her hair. The box's flywood frame was chipped and faded, the once-bright paint now a dull brown. It had cracks along the edges, and the lock mechanism looked like it hadn't been replaced in years."I swear, it's like they expect this thing to last forever," Patricia muttered.Her analytical side kicked in as she examined the box, turning it over in her hands. "I might grab a drill at the janitor's office to see if I could fix this old wooden box that's wiggly now" Patricia sigh, knowing all the student council's problem will always be her plate.Patricia analyzes the box, like the school is going to change it even if it won't, she analyzes the corners and sides of the box to ensure that she knew how it was stolen like that and stuck."Drrrrrr!!!~"The drill bit spun, and Patricia focused on securing a wobbly corner of the box. "Zzzzzpppppppp!!~"Patricia squeals after lifting it up. "Ahhhh!~" her friends clapping and hyping up in awe."Waw! From student council president to a CARPENTER!" Her friends exclaimed and even Tanya was watching how Patricia drill screws from each side of the box and onto the old metal that's holding the lock."THAT'S WHOM I DATED!" Tanya wasn't done. She raised her voice again, clearly enjoying herself."Did you guys know? This is supposed to be the janitor's job. But, surprise! He's conveniently absent today, and the janitress—bless her soul—apparently doesn't know how to handle a drill. So now, the responsibility falls on none other than the best student council president. Patricia the Problem-Solver!"Patricia exhaled, adjusting her grip on the drill. "Tanya, do you have to narrate everything? It's not a Netflix special."Tanya smirked. "I'm just saying facts. You're a multitasking queen. Next thing we know, you'll be fixing the school's plumbing."Patricia tilted her head, feigning deep thought. "Plumbing, huh? Maybe I should start charging them for all the odd jobs I do around here. 'Student council president and freelance handyman.' Nice ring to it.""Freelance? you sculpt for churches too!" Tanya raised an eyebrow. "I'd call you an overqualified volunteer at this point. You're fixing a box that looks like it's from the Spanish colonial era. Pretty sure this thing belongs in a museum."Patricia paused her drilling to glance at her girlfriend, a dry chuckle escaping her. "You're not wrong. I think I just inhaled a century's worth of dust." She coughed dramatically for effect.She focused on her task, making sure the screws were securely in place before moving onto the next one. Yuki huffs, "Yeah, well, the school's been skimping on labor costs for years. You think they're gonna replace that box or hire someone to fix it? Nope."Patricia nods in agreement at Yuki's comment. "It's always about cutting costs and saving money. But sometimes, you get what you pay for."She finishes up the last screw and steps back to admire her handiwork. The donation box was now securely repaired with new screws. "There. Fixed. And no thanks to any of you."She carefully removes the welding glasses and sets them aside, feeling a sense of satisfaction at a job well done. Despite the unexpected task, she was glad she could help fix the donation box.Tanya chimed in. "What? we did moral support!"