“Inang, Tatang, Manang Imee?!” Bongbong’s eyes widened as he saw Imelda, Ferdinand, and Imee waving at Bongbong as soon as he reached the  grassfield to rest a bit before he could go on to his equipment duty.

“Bakit po kayo nandito? ’Di po ba sabi ko ’wag na po kayong—” pero bago makapagsalita si Bongbong ay naunang lumapit si Imee at sinunggaban ito ng yakap.

“Ang galing naman talaga ng kapatid ko! P’wede ka nang maging atleta!” she exclaimed. Ilang segundo pa niyang niyakap ang kaniyang kapatid bago ito pinakawalan. Bongbong was catching his breath because he suffocated on Imee’s hug.

“Y-you watched it? Na-napanood niyo ’yong g-game?” utal na saad ni Bongbong. He couldn’t believe that they would, napatawa naman si Imelda at Ferdinand Saka naupo na sa inilatag nilang banig sa grassfield.

“Hindi nga sana kami pupunta ngayon ni Lakay pero pinilit naman kami ni Imee, and to my surprise... I just can’t believe that you can run as fast as that.” Imelda praised him, inilabas na niya ang dala nilang pagkain at ihinain ito sa ibabaw banig.

“I was surprised as well, ang alam ko kasi hindi mo naman gamay ’yang mga gan’yang aktibidad. Hindi ka pala-labas, hindi ka rin naman runner. Pero kanina... nakakabigla lang.” Ferdinand smiled and invited Bongbong to sit on the banig.

“Oh siya, kumain na tayo, this might be the first and the last time we’ll be doing this. Pero sana maulit pa ’yong mga gan’to. I’m so proud of you, Bongbong, keep this up.” Napaiwas ng tingin ang binata.

“I just ran because there’s no other members that wants to participate, I wasn’t expecting that I did it too so... stop praising me.” Nahihiya niyang saad, napahagikgik naman silang tatlo.

“Alright, so kumain na tayo. Nagluto ako ng favorite mong afritada.” Just then, Bongbong sat on the banig and joined his family to eat lunch.

“Ay siya nga pala, okay ka lang ba? Nadapa ka kasi kanina eh, may I see your arm?” Ipinakita naman ni Bongbong ang kaniyang braso kay Imee na ngayon ay kinukunulta siya.

“Sayang nga eh, kung ’di ka lang talaga nadapa baka nakuha mo ’yong gold.” Napatigil si Bongbong sa sinabi ni Imee, kalaunan ay napangiti na lamang siya at tumugon.

“Oo nga po, sayang nga po eh.” Ngiti niya pabalik.

Sayang talaga, sayang dahil may pangako siya sa sarili niya.

The family ate their lunch and soon finished it, kaagad na rin namang umuwi sila Imelda, Ferdinand, at Imee dahil wala naman nang sasalihang event si Bongbong pagdating ng hapon.

Bongbong then proceeded to his duty as a member of the equipment task group.

***

“The afternoon events will begin in ten minutes. All students, please assemble to your respective areas. For those in task group duty, kindly proceed to your task groups now.” The announcer announced. Pagkatapos i-anunsiyo iyon ng announcer ay nagpatuloy na ang mga istudyante sa kanilang mga gawain.

In the current score tally, the red team is currently taking the lead on the first spot along with the yellow team at second and green team at third.

“

Our next game is the scavenger hunt, all participants in each group, kindly proceed to the field now.” Dagdag pa ng announcer.

Tumatakbo si Bongbong patungo sa kaniyang task group para gawin na nga ang mga nakaatas na gawain niya sa hapong iyon. While he’s running on the hallways, he noticed that Leni is leaning on the wall besides a classroom—squishing the bear stuffed toy while breathing intensely.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad at nagtago sa likod kalapit na pader, he’s nervous on facing her at the moment. Suddenly, another member of the task group called her in. Ngayon lang din niya naalala na magkasama pala sila sa grupo, kaya tinapangan niya na lamang ang loob niya.

“Leni, meeting na natin for this afternoon. Come in!” Koko called Leni and she immediately put the little bear stuffed toy on her pocket. Tumakbo siya kaagad patungo sa kanila sa classroom kung nasaan ang mga ihinandang equipment para sa afternoon games.

Kaagad na ring tumakbo si Bongbong patungo sa classroom, there he encountered the students from his task group meeting up to get the equipments in their respective games. Bongbong sat on a chair five chairs away from Leni, he couldn’t even look at her directly because of the apprehension he’s feeling.

“Okay, so let’s begin this afternoon as lively as possible!” Kiko enthusiastically smiled at everyone in the classroom then he gave his orders.

“The boys will prepare for the next game while the girls will help in the scavenger hunt. We don’t have much time left so let’s now move the equipments needed for both games in the stadium.” He commanded.

“So the next event will be...” Suddenly, he grabbed in his pocket but he couldn’t simply grab what he’s grabbed.

“Ay shocks, nakalimutan ko ’yong program ko! Leni, may program ka bang dala riyan?” Kiko shockingly exclaimed.

“Ay ito, saglit.” Leni replied and put her hands on her pocket. Nang kuhanin niya ang kaniyang program sa kaniyang bulsa ay napasama rito ang kaniyang stuffed toy, nahulog ito sa kalapit na basket na may lamang mga lubid.

“Okay... so after ng scavenger hunt is ’yong obstacle course, after that, the ballgames. Okay, so let’s move the ropes in the grassfield and the balls to the covered court.” He smiled as he read the program.

“Alright! Let’s get moving guys!” he said. He clapped his hands and got everyone moving, he helped to carry a bag of balls for the ballgames.

“Okay!” Tugon ng buong klase sa kaniya, everyone has don their part in moving the equipments in their respective places.

Tinakpan ni Koko ng isang bag ng sako na gagamitin naman sa sack race ang basket kung saan nahulog ang bear stuffed toy ni Leni. Binuhat niya ang basket at isinama na ito sa mga dadalhin sa obstacle course.

Bongbong helped to move the ropes and other things needed for the obstacle course and the ballgames, Leni helped her fellow girls on the scavenger hunt just like Kiko ordered.

But... Leni is unaware that something is missing on her pocket, huli na nang mapansin niyang nawawala ang kaniyang bear stuffed toy.

~Missing Comforter.