Connect 27 Athletics Week

Ellin’s POV

Nasa auditorium kami ngayon para sa complete announcement at briefing sa nalalapit na CAW (Coachella Athletics Week). Napailing nalang din ako habang pinapanuod ang kambal habang nagpapaka-fansite noona sa pagkuha ng pictures kina Suga, Rap Mon at Jungkook kasama ang iba pang Team Leaders sa stage. Nabanggit ko na dati na silang tatlo ang napili to be the Team Leaders for their respective grade levels.

“Gwapo talaga ni Rapmon, bes! Kahit siguro naka turban na siya at naka tuck-in yung jersey niya, gwapo pa rin ang kolokoy na to’!” sabi ni Chowa habang nakatingin sa mala-bazooka niyang DLSR.

“Kumpara mo naman sa baby face nating maknae!” Wowa shoved her own camera at her sister’s face, showing a shot of Jungkook.

“Aish! Ano ba!” tulak ni Chowa na nakakuha naman agad ng atensyon sa row ng aming upuan.

I immediately threw death glares of warning just to stop them. Mukhang nagets naman nila and decided to put down their cameras and listen to the other announcements.

“Goodluck to all grade levels!” panapos na sentence ni Principal Bang sa lahat. Inalalayan siya ng mga teachers namin at umalis na rin sa stage ang mga Leaders. Sinundan ko naman ng tingin ang tatlo. Aish, I felt like a proud mom seeing them participate in our Atheletics Week this year. Biruin mo, they will lead their respective grade levels?
Busy na rin ang lahat after ng briefing dahil nakapost na ang schedule ng games at mga participants. Dinumog na naman ang mga bulletin boards habang ako? I will take advantage of this Sports Week para mag advance reading.

Yes.

You guys are right.

I am not a sports person. I’m actually scared of balls. Natrauma yata ako noong bata ako natamaan ako sa mukha ng bola. I can’t remember that well.

“Ellin,” nagulat ako na may tumawag sa akin at paglingon ko, si Jhope lang naman ang kaharap ko.

“Uy, Jhope!”

He smiled pero agad ding tumaas ang kilay niya habang nakatingin sa mga librong hawak ko.

“Ah! This?!” sabay taas ko ng libro.

“Don’t tell me mag-aaral ka pa rin kahit Athletics Week, Ellin?”

“Why not? I am not physically inclined with sports.”

He sighed and got my books. Aalma pa sana ako pero pinigilan na niya ako. “Let me just help you in carrying them.”

Tahimik lang kaming naglakad papunta sa rooms namin. He would occasionally stop and say hi to our schoolmates na binabati siya and would catch up with me after. Naiilang pa rin talaga ako after ng mga sinabi niya doon sa party ng stepmom ni Sevanne.

“You know what, try to enjoy CAW this year, Ellin.” Sabi nito habang papalapit na kami sa room ko.

“A--Ano? Of course, I’ll enjoy it.”

“Feeling ko kasi plano mong mag-aral next week eh. Ang lame kasi eh.”

Humarap ako sa kanya at sumimangot. He chuckled before handing the books to me. Nasa tapat na kasi kami ng room ko.

“Aish, Ellinanya Valdez, you are so irresistable. I don’t know what to do!” he said and sighed.

“Ano?” natameme ako bigla.

Ako? Irresistable?

“Wala! I just want you to enjoy the CAW next week. Take a break from studying. Enjoy the events. Maybe spend some time with me--I mean us.”

“I--I’ll try.”

He smiled and gently pat my head before walking to his room. My heart was about to leap out my chest. Did he just--

“Ellin!!!!!” nagulat naman ako ng sumigaw ng sabay yung kambal. They were running towards me, holding a phone.

“LOOK!” Wowa made me look at her phone at pinabasa sa akin ang isang news article.

LORENZO CONGLOMERATE’S ONLY HEIR TO BE WED SOON

“V IS GETTING MARRIED?” the twins yelled. Nagreact din yung iba kong classmates.

Wala pang isang oras, nalaman na ng lahat ang balita kaya naman yun at yun nalang ang topic buong araw. I was itching to get out of our room and run to the boy’s practice room pero ang tagal magpadismiss ng teacher.
When the bell rang, I kid you not, I rushed out of the room like a maniac. I leaped on the stairs like a mad man. Inabutan ko doon ang Bangtan Boys na busy sa pagrerehearse.

“What gives? Ginulat mo naman kami, Ellin!” reklamo ni Jin habang nakahawak sa dibdib niya.

“You guys… haven’t you heard… about V’s engagement?” tanong ko habang naghahabol ng hininga.

Nagkatinginan sila at after ng ilang segundo, sabay sabay silang tumawa. Like, for reals?! Hindi naman nakakatawa yung sinabi ko diba? Ano ba talagang nangyayari?

“What’s funny?” I said.

“Ellin, stop worrying so much! As if V will really get himself to that arrangement. We’ve heard that countless times already. Some of us even have fiancees too.” Jimin said.

“But--“

“Jimin is right, Ellin. His stepmom uses this tactic to make him stop doing what he likes to do. I’m sure V will not let himself get married.” Namjoon assured.

“Fine. Sige. Sorry if I barged in here and interrupted your practice.”

Agad din akong umuwi after noon but somehow I am still bothered by this news. His stepmom is quite a handful to V’s dreams. I wish I can do something about it.

Pagdating ko sa apartment, sobrang tahimik na naman. Dumiretso ako kaagad sa kwarto but I noticed a box just beside my door. May card sa taas.

Anya,
This inanimate object that you named “Dream” needs a place to stay at for the meantime. I thought you could take care of him while I’m busy. Feed that piece of shit and clean it up for me. Don’t have time to do that for now.
Thanks.
P.S. Binutasan ko yung box para makahinga siya and so it will not die.
V

Nang buksan ko yung box, nandoon yung stuff toy na penguin na nakuha namin noong nagdate sila Jungkook at Junghwa. I don’t know but I suddenly felt sad. Mukhang magtatagal nga ang pagkawala ni V dito, and it makes me sad.

Buong weekend, nagbasa lang ako at natulog. Gumawa na rin ako ng homeworks since tinambakan kami ng sangkaterbang homeworks ng mga teacher dahil nga CAW at walang klase. At this week na nga ang start ng CAW, nagmamadali akong pumasok sa school dahil late na ako nagising. Hindi ako ginaganahang pumasok kapag may event sa school. Mas gusto ko pa yung may klase nalang!

Naka-P.E. uniform kami the whole week. White tshirt with brown neckline at brown stripes sa sleeves tapos brown knee length jersey shorts na may white stripes sa gilid. High black socks tapos white sneakers.

“Ellin!!!” masayang bati saken ng kambal nang makarating ako sa grounds. Dito magsisimula ang torch lighting ceremony to signal the start of the CAW.

Hinawakan naman ni Chowa yung pisngi ko tapos sinulatan ni Wowa yung pisngi ko ng 1 at 0. Ah! Great. Grade 10 represent. Woo. Ugh!

“Ayan na! Ceremonial torch run na! Ah! Bangtan!” biglang sigaw ng mga classmates ko.

Nakita kong nakapalibot sa buong grounds ang mga team leaders. Nagsimula sa Grade 7 team leader ang torch at pinasa ito sa magkakasunod na leader. Once the torch was held by Jungkook, the crowd went cray.

“Woo!!! Jungkook! The light of my life!!!”
“The light at the end of this dark tunnel!!! Ahhhh!!! Kookie!!!”

Minsan talaga OA na yung ibang fans ng mga ‘to eh.  Rapmon held the torch next and his fans started to yell as well.

“OUR LEADER-NIM!!! GO GRADE 10!!!!”
“MAY LIWANAG ANG BUHAY SAYO NAMJOON!”

Ayun. Talagang hindi nagpatalo ang Rapmon stans. And as soon as the torch was passed to Yoongi, they all clapped their hands. Such small limbs, so much honor to be lighting up the ceremonial torch.

“Suga!!! Light that torch! Make us proud!”
“GRADE 12 STRONG!!!”

Ay, aggressive ang mga seniors. Mukhang nakondisyon na yata ni Suga na hindi siya loser kaya ganyan kacompetitive.

And once the torch lit up, pinatugtog na ang hymn at sabay sabay kaming nanumpa sa oath of sportsmanship.

“GRABE!!!! EXCITING ANG CAW OMG!!!” sabay yugyog saken ni Wowa. Buti pa sila hyper. Ako medyo wala sa mood. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Parang kulang talaga.

“Uy sino ‘yon?” turo ni Chowa sa isang babae na parang foreigner yung itsura.

“Omg! No way!” gulat naman kami ni Chowa sa reaction ni Wowa. “Chocola! That’s La Lisa! Yung international dancer sa Youtube, diba? Yung gumagawa ng dance covers???!”

“Bitch, no way!? Oh my God!!!” sabay takbo nila papunta sa kanya. Naguguluhan man, lumapit na rin ako. She does look like a foreigner. Mukhang mabait naman, pumayag pang magpapicture.

“Ellin!!!! Favor!!! Picturan mo naman kami pleaseeeee!!!” the twins begged so I got their cameras and snap a few shots with her. Nung nasa last take na bigla siyang napalingon sa gilid at tila may napansin from the crowd.

“Sev!” tawag nong La Lisa sa left side. Napalingon naman kami at nakita ko na nandoon nga si V kasama ang Bangtan Boys.

“God, Sev, where have you been?” sabi nito kay V.

“Sorry. Hinanap ko lang sila Rapmon-hyung.”

“V!!! Welcome back!” bati ng kambal sa kanya. I was still stunned to see him… and HER. Both of them…actually.

“Yeah. Thanks, Chowa and Wowa.”

“They are such sweet girls. They recognized me in a snap!” pagkwento nung Lisa kay Sevanne.

Tumawa nalang si Sevanne sabay tingin sa akin. Ang cold ng titig niya saken. He’s trying to say something pero hindi ko magets.

“Babalik ka na ba sa school?” Chowa asked.

“Yeah. I re-enrolled nung weekend. We still need to win URDB.”

“Yey!”

“And guess who’s a new Coachella girl too!” La Lisa butts in. Problema ba nitong babaeng to? Anong pake namin?

“Oh my gosh! You? Enrolled? HERE?!”

“Yes! Me and my fiancee need to know more about each other so I decided to study here!” and clung unto V’s arms.

Biglang naging awkward ang paligid. The only thing that best describes this situation is Suga, na basang basa matapos maibuga ni Jimin yung iniinom niyang soda.

*****

Nandito kami ngayon sa fire exit kasama ko ang Bangtan Boys, minus V. Judging from Jimin’s reaction, mukhang hindi rin nila ineexpect ang pagdating ni Lisa.

“I thought you guys said na hindi seseryosohin ni V yung engagement?” tanong ko.

“We were shookt too, noona!” Jungkook answered.

“I’m sure may kapalit na naman to, kaya pumayag si V.” Jhope added.

“Maybe his participation with the URDB finals.” Suga concluded habang patuloy na nagpupunas ng buhok. Naligo siya at nagpalit ng damit dahil sobrang lagkit nung soda na binuga ni Jimin sa damit niya kanina.

“Aish! That brat!” Rapmon frustratedly comb his hair out using his hand.

“Lisa is a nice girl. Ang alam ko kaibigan siya ni V since they were kids.” Sabi ni Jin.

“We still need to be safe about giving her informations na pupwedeng gamitin ng stepmom ni V against sa kanya,” Jhope replied. Looks like all of us are worried about V’s sudden decisions in life once again.

Kinailangan ng umalis nila Rapmon dahil nagsisimula na ang ibang games. I was left alone with Jhope. Jin and Jimin stayed in the classroom to finish their routines since Jin had a hard time memorizing steps. Jin is the one who cannot pick up dance steps fast in the group pero hindi mo iyon mapapansin sa performances nila dahil sobrang tiyaga ng ibang members na turuan siya. He practices 5x than the rest of them para lang maperfect niya at makasabay. Something I look up to him talaga. Ang tiyaga niya at dedicated to learn.

“You want a drink?” tanong ni Jhope sa akin habang naglalakad kami papunta sa field.

“Okay lang ako. Thanks, oppa.”
“You better stop calling me oppa. I’m getting used to it.” Pabiro nitong sabi.

“Everyone calls you that, though.”

Natawa nalang siya at pumunta sa isang shake stand. I was looking at the field na kasalukuyang pinapalibutan ng maraming tao dahil may nagaganap na 100 meter dash race doon.

“Here.” Jhope handed me a choco milk shake.

“I am still bothered about Sevanne. He’s hiding something from us.”

Jhope smiled and sipped some of his milkshake. “What I learn from Sevanne is that, you need to trust his decisions, Ellin.”

Natahimik nalang din ako habang nainom ng shake. Although, suddenly I can feel someone staring at me. Weird.

V’s POV

Kelan pa sila naging close ni Jhope hyung? Are they dating? Tangina? Nawala lang ako ng ilang linggo mukhang dumadamubs na talaga siya kay Anya!

I had to throw the can of soda I crumpled with my own hands while Lisa and I sit on this bleacher. Kitang-kita ko naman kung gaano kinikilig si Anya habang solo sila ni Jhope na nag momoment. I did not come back for this shit, okay?

“You seem so preoccupied,” sabi ni Lisa.

Lisa is my childhood friend. I met her in the US since her parents needed to migrate there from Thailand. Nalaman ko nalang, sikat na dancer na siya sa Youtube. Her family’s business became successful kaya naman my stepmom took an interest in pairing us up. Lisa knows about my URDB competition and as a fellow artists with the same passion, she agreed to be my fiancee just so I could finish the competition.

“I didn’t know that girl is Jhope’s girlfriend! Hindi ba siya rin yung kasama nila sa party? Akala ko nagbibiro lang si Jhope eh!” Lisa said. Yes, she was there too.

“No, he’s not hyung’s girlfriend,” I said as I gritted my teeth.

“Really? But they look cute together. Bagay sila, right?”

Tumayo ako at umalis sa bleachers, ignoring Lisa’s comments.

“Hey!” pagsunod niya sa akin at bigla naman akong napatigil. Aish! V! What are you doing?

“Look, Lisa…” humarap ako sa kanya at nilapitan siya. I felt that sudden guilt.

Nasa likuran kami ng bleachers, sinundan niya ako. I can’t think straight dahil sa nakikita ko kanina and I was being rude to Lisa. God damn it! What is happening to me?

“May problema ba?” this girl has always been concern about me and yet I always forgot about her.

“Wala. Sorry. I’m sorry, Lisa.”

“I know what you’re going through is hard but I’m here, okay? I know you can’t ask your friends for help but you can always count on me,” she went in and gave me a tight hug.

“Yeah, thanks,” I sighed and calmed down a bit. Once she moved away doon ko lang nakita na nakatingin na pala sa amin yung ibang tao. Some students were even taking photos.

And…

Anya.

Anya saw that.

What is she doing here? Kanina lang kasama siya si Jhope a few meters away from the bleachers?

She immediately turned around and walk away. Susundan ko na sana siya but Lisa was getting everyone’s attention. Agad kaming umalis doon at dumiretso sa parking lot. Pagkasakay namin sa kotse, sunod sunod yung tunog ng phone namin.

My notifications got bombed af.

“Tunay ba? La Lisa and V of Bangtan Boys are dating?”
“Lorenzo heir rumored to be paired with Youtube star La Lisa”
“BREAKING: Caught in love! La Lisa and BTS’ V in campus!”

SOCIAL MEDIA.

What a mess.

“Haha! Look! Someone’s already bashing me!” Lisa laughed as she reads comments about her on her phone. Agad ko iyong kinuha at itinapon sa back seat.

“Stop reading! Toxic yan!”

“Oh come on, Sev. I can handle it. Hindi ko alam na ganito ka kasikat.”

Umiling nalang ako at pinaandar na yung sasakyan. Now it’s impossible for me to get out of this mess. And Anya have to see that too! Well, not that it matters pero, ugh! Why do I feel that guilt? Why do I feel like I need to explain something from her?

I drop off Lisa sa condo na tinutuluyan niya pansamantala. I had to go back to our house dahil pinapatawag na naman ako ng stepmom ko.

“Sorry if we have to cut the Athletics Week short, Lisa. Promise, bukas we’ll enjoy it with my friends.”

“Ano ka ba! I don’t mind, Sev. Sige na, alis na. The witch awaits you in her evil lair! Haha!” pabiro nitong sabi.

“Alright. See you tomorrow.”

Nang makarating ako sa Lorenzo Mansion, pinadiretso ako kaagad sa kwarto ni Auntie Elena. She was waiting there with my Dad.

“Oh. Okay? You’re here too, wow,” sabi ko sabay turo kay Dad. “What do we have here? Magbobonding ba tayo? Sushi night, fam?” sarcastic kong sabi.

“No, hijo. We just want to congratulate you. Hindi namin alam na totohanin mo na yung engagement ninyo ni Lisa!” lalapit pa sana si Auntie sa akin para yata bumeso pero umiwas na ako.

“Oh, that? Okay. So marunong din pala kayong mag-internet! Wow! Interesting! Tapos na ba? Yun lang ba? Kasi kung yun lang, aalis na ako. Magpapractice pa kasi ako?”

Agad sumimangot ang mukha ni Auntie at bumalik sa tabi ni Dad. I was about to open the door when I heard Dad.

“I hope you’re taking our deal seriously, Sevanne. You don’t want your friends to get involved with this, right?”

I grabbed the knob and held it tight before turning it and opening the door. “I’m true to my words,” I assured them before slamming the door close.

Dumiretso ako sa dance studio nila Jin hyung at naabutan silang lahat doon na nakaupo.

“Yo, what’s wrong? Akala ko pa naman kalahati na kayo ng routine. Nagmamadali pa naman ako.”

“We’re too tired!!!” angal ni Jungkook habang minamasahe ang talampakan niya.

I sighed and smiled. Dumiretso ako sa laptop na may nakasaksak na speaker at pinatugtog ang susunod naming routine.

Mag-isa akong nagpractice habang sila nakaupo lang. Maya-maya pa, nakita kong tumayo si Jimin at lumapit sa akin.

“Ya!” sigaw nito kaya napatigil ako sa pagsasayaw.

“What?”
“Aren’t you going to explain us what happened?” galit na tanong saken ni Jimin.

“Jimin…”

“We wanted to understand what you’re going through, V. Let us understand!”

At this point, Rapmon hyung stood up and held Jimin, asking him to stop. But Jimin was too persistent.

“No, hyung! He can’t just disappear and then barged in here like nothing happened! We are sick of this situation! Akala ko ba pamilya tayo dito, huh?”

“Ya, Jimin! Calm down!” Yoongi helped as well.

“Guys…” sa totoo lang, I don’t know how will I explain what’s going on. All I want is to keep them away from the trouble.

But the thing is… I am the trouble.

****

PUTA BES! WELCOME BACK TO ME! HOW YALL DOIN??¿? BUHAY PA BA READERS DITO? Kung buhay ka pa at nababasa mo pa itong latest update, comment down below, yo!

New character. La Lisa! Clip clap badabing badaboom yo!

$orry kung medyo awkward pa yung transitions kasi di na ako sanay magsulat! Yey! Okay. Promise you, no promises. Don’t expect regular updates! Masasaktan lang kayo! Random nga lang tong update na to so YUZ.

I love you guys! So random naman thiz update! #BTSFesta2017