Achilles Acosta
Video calling on Messenger

The call went dead before I can answer.

Achilles: Sorry about that. Napindot lang.

Napataas ang kilay ko nang matanaw ko silang papalapit mula sa dalampasigan ilang sandali pa.

"Ilang rooms ba, Lee? Puwede na siguro kahit dalawa, then we can divide ourselves into two groups?"

Umiling agad si Lee, nakasimangot naman ang ibang members sa likod niya.

"Achi has another idea. Literal na outing kasi sa labas tayo matutulog." He chuckled before asking their caretaker for tents.

Nikki cheered behind me. Napatigil siya nang mapansin ang tingin ko.

"Okay, guys. Democracy! Sino may gusto sa labas matulog?" Tanong ko nang marinig ang reklamo nila sa lamok at sa lamig.

4 out of eight members raised their hands. That means the remaining votes will lead to a tie.

"Kung hiwalay na lang kaya, Achi? I mean hindi tayo mag-eenjoy kung ayaw naman nang iba tapos ipipilit natin."

"We can't all bond if we do that. Come on, guys. Last na namin 'to."

I want to disagree but Nikki poked my arm.

"Diyan nagsimula Lolo't Lola ko." She snickered.

"Sundin si President!" Inabot ni Lee ang isang malaking bag sa mga juniors saka sila bumalik sa tabing-dagat.

After eating in the beach house and setting up the tent under the sky, we gathered logs for the bonfire.

The sparks are like fireflies dancing without patterns. The coals became embers before becoming ash.

"Settle down, everyone. We are going to play a game." Lee requested a drum roll for suspense. Sinunod naman siya ng mga junior members. They are laughing while tapping their hands to their legs.

"Spin the bottle." Everyone groaned.

"Wait lang, may twist! This is the debate club, right?" Everyone roared remembering our recent win.

"We will spin the bottle and whoever it points will choose any topic he wants..."

"..or she" I interrupt him. Bumaling siya sa akin bago tumango.

"He/she can also choose what is his/her stand about the topic. We will spin the bottle again and guess what?" He gestured for another drum roll.

"Kiss!"

"Nooo!"

"Whoever it points next will counter the first player. The third one will counter the second and so on."

"So, the bottle will also choose who's gonna be on who's team?" He nodded to my question.

"Anong prize?" Tanong ni Achilles.
Magpapadrum roll sana ulit si Lee kaso ay binato na siya ni Achi ng tsinelas. He laughed.

"The winner will keep the trophy." Inilabas niya mula sa bag ang matangkad na trophy na napanalunan namin kahapon sa Regionals Debate Meet.

"Akala ko sa school 'yan?" Tanong ko. He grins evilly.

"Let's begin!"

Si Lee at ang isa pang junior ang facilitator kaya six lang kaming players.

The first spin points to Nikki.

"Long VS Short processes. I'll stand for long. Short processes are good only for short-lived things. Long processes requires more time and effort to mold the inputs for our ideal outputs. Hindi ka makakagawa ng diamond from simply dipping coal in peanut butter and freezing it. Worthy things take time." Namangha kami sa kaniya.

Lyla's next.
"Long processes requires more time and effort, you said it yourself. Ang karagdagang dalawang taon sa highschool ay para daw maging handa tayo sa kolehiyo. Pero tignan mo naman tayo ngayon, walang kaide-ideya kung anong kukunin natin." We all laughed at that.

The bottle points at Ken in the third spin.

"K-12 doesn't help but what if K-13 or K-14 does?" Binatukan siya ng katabi niya kaya wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ipaikot ulit ang baso.

"Short process." Kinamot ni Sid ang ulo bago pinaikot ang bote. Umangal si Lyla dahil hindi man lang daw ito nag-isip.

The next one points to Achi. That means I'll be the last one making a stand for short processes.

"I want to ask Aree a question since siya ang magka-counter sa akin." Umayos ako ng upo sa buhangin saka seryosong tumingin sa kaniya.

"Why do you hate the long process?" That's a foul!

"Why would you want to prolong the process if you are already sure what you want to do. Let's say in courtship, bakit mo pa papatagalin kung alam mo na ang sagot sa simula pa lang?" Tumingin sila akin.

"And the answer?" Si Achi.

"Yes/No. Kung gusto mo, yes. Kung ayaw mo naman, bakit mo pa papaasahin kung puwede ka namang huminde?"

"Paano kung ako ang nagtanong?"

"What?"

"Will it be a short process?"

I was confused when Nikki screamed at my face while tickling me. Sumabay na din sa pangangantyaw ang iba. I finally get it. I smiled.

"Not this one."

"Can I start courting you now, then?"

He gave me the trophy.

"This is for you. I already won." He whispered.