Sumapit ang araw ng Linggo, ito na ang araw na pinakahihintay ng mga miyembro ng track and field club dahil ito na ang kanilang laban sa divisional track meet. Maaga pa lamang ay nakarating na sila Leni at ang ibang miyembro ng club na lalaban sa meet sa Benguet Sports Complex. Kalaban nila ang iba’t ibang paaralan sa dibisyon nila sa La Trinidad at mga kalapit na bayan.

Iba’t ibang mga mag-aaral sa magkakaibang eskuwelahan ang naroroon, sa bawat puwesto nila sa stadium ay may mga tarpulin na nakasabit at nagsasabing “break a leg” o kaya naman ay “full speed ahead.” Maaraw din ang panahon, medyo mainit din ang temperatura dahil malapit na ang tanghaling tapat.

Leni is wearing her pink track suit as she looks downward the tracks where she would run, hawak niya ang kaniyang teddy bear stuffed toy at kasalukuyan niya itong pinipisil-pisil dahil sa nararamdaman niyang kaba. Malalim ang kaniyang paghinga at pilit niyang inirerehistro sa kaniyang utak, pinagmamasdan niya ang mga paaralang kaniyang makakalaban at totoo ngang mabibilis ang mga kalahok nilang isasalang sa karera ngayong taon.

Saglit pa ay sumulpot si Kiko sa gilid ilang metro ang layo kay Leni, napangiti siya nang makita niya ang dalaga habang seryoso itong nakatingin sa tracks. He walked to her and greeted her as soon as he reached Leni.

“Malapit ka nang tumakbo ’di ba?” he smiled. Napatingin naman si Leni sa kaniya at nang mapagtanto niyang si Kiko ang kumausap sa kaniya at napangiti rin siya, she nodded and she responded immediately.

“Oo, malapit na nga ’ko.” Ngiti niya rin. Saglit pa ay naging seryoso ang mukha ni Kiko at tumingin rin siya sa tracks, humawak siya sa bakal na railings sa harapan ng kanilang kinatatayuan at huminga siya nang malalim.

“I hope you beat your personal best and win the gold again this year.” Saad niya. When he looked at Leni, she’s hardly squeezing her stuffed toy.

“Hindi ko alam, Kiko. The opponents are just... petrifying.” Leni took a deep breath, napangisi naman si Kiko at dito ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Leni na nakahawak sa stuffed toy. Because of this, Leni’s eyes widened and she blushed as she tilted her head to look at Kiko.

“Kaya mo ’yan, I’ve seen how hard you worked for this event.” Saglit pa ay binitawan ni Kiko ang kaniyang kamay dahil maging siya ay naiilang na rin sa situwasyon, hindi niya alam kung bakit bigla na lamang siyang humawak sa kaniyang mga kamay.

Dahil noon pa man siguro...

“Gawin na lang natin ang makakaya natin, Leni.” Kiko rephrased the situation as he changed the mood by encouraging Leni for the race.

“K-kaya nga, let’s just d-do our best.” Nauutal na ang dalaga dahil sa nangyari. She squeezed her bear stuffed toy again.

“Leni, I wanted to tell you something.” Kiko looked at her in the eye. When thier eyes met, Leni could feel that it was something she wasn’t prepared to hear. Just by Kiko looking at her, she gradually feels that her heart is racing. It’s just like when Bongbong is around, but not like what she feels towards the boy.

“Ano ’yon?” Confused by the situation she’s in, she asked what was it.

“I’ve been longing to tell you this, Leni.” Napaiwas ng tingin si Kiko, huminga muna siya ng malalim bago magsalita. He mustered the courage to say what he wanted to say.

“Leni, I lik—”

“Calling the attention of the participants of the girls’ one hundred-meter sprint, please proceed to the tracks as soon as possible for the race is about to start.” Kapuwa sila napalingon sa tracks nang marinig nila ang announcer.

“That’s my queue, aalis na ’ko. Baka ma-late pa ’ko sa karera!” Leni panicked, kaagad siyang nagpaalam siya kay Kiko nang marinig niya ang anunsiyo.

“What was that you wanted to say?” ulit niyang muli habang paalis na siya.

“Ah... kalimutan mo na ’yon, good luck on your race.” Ngumiti na lamang si Kiko at kumaway siya, Leni just nodded and she ran to the tracks.

“Let’s both do our best, I’ll root for you!” Kiko shouted one again, nang maakalis si Leni ay napayuko na lamang siya. Kinuyom niya ang kaniyang mga palad at pumukit.

“Ang tanga mo, Kiko.” He whispered to himself.

***

“Humayo kayong lahat at ipakalay ang mabuting balita ng ating Panginoon.” Ngiti ni Padre Juan sa mga nasa loob ng simbahan ng San Jose, malugod naman siyang tinugunan ng mga taong nakinig sa kaniyang misa.

“Salamat sa Diyos.” After a while, umalit na ang choir ng kanilang pangwakas na awit. Nang magsilabas na ang mga tao sa simbahan ay naiwan si Bongbong sa loob at nagtungo siya sa candle area para magtulos ng kandila at magdasal pa.

There’s a row of candle wicks aligned, in the center is a wishing fountain.
Nagtungo muna siya sa sentro at kumuha ng barya upang ihulog sa fountain. Matapos iyon ay kinuha mula sa kaniyang bag ang tatlong pirasong kandila na may iba’t ibang stamp ng kanilang simbahan.

Green for health, blue for thanksgiving, and red for wishes. Kinuha niya ang kulay bughaw at pulang kandila at sinindihan ito gamit ang apoy na mula sa iba pang mga kandilang nasindihan na sa candle wick. Itinuloy niya ito kalaunan at ginawa niya ang sign of the cross.

“Glorious Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, I call your on your strength and courage to help my friend, Leni Gerona, on her difficult trial.”

“Mukang nininerbiyos si Leni.” Saad ni Antonio habang hawak niya ang kaniyang cellphone at nakatutok na ito sa posisyon nila Leni upang ivideo siya.

“Leni, kaya mo ’yan!” Salvacion cheered her.

“Go, Leni!” sigaw naman ni Antonio.

Saglit pang inunat ni Leni ang kaniyang mga kamay at pinunas ito sa kaniyang salawal dahil namamawis ito, she looked straight at the tracks. Seryoso na siyang kumilos patungo sa kaniyang posisyon sa laban nang paghandain na sila ng facilitator.

“Commander at the Roman Emperor’s court, You chose to be also a soldier of Christ and dared to spread faith in the King of Kings, for which you were condemned to die.”

“Ready, get set...” Huminga nang malalim si Leni at ihihanda ang kaniyang hiya at mga paa sa nakaambang tunog ng baril na nagbabadya sa lahat upang tumakbo.

And that gunshot was heard.

“Your body, however, proved athletically strong and the executing arrows extremely weak. So another means to kill you was chosen and you gave your life to the Lord.”

“Lane five takes the lead, Leni Gerona of Epiphany Christian Academy.” Tumakbo nang mabilis si Leni. Not minding anything, she ran like the calming wind.

“May athletes be always as strong in their faith as their Patron Saint so clearly has been. Intercess for us we pray, that our faith may imitate yours and that God may protect us as we seek to use the gifts He has given us to glorify Him this day.”

“Let Leni lead! Let Leni lead!” Kiko and the other club members shouted as they support and encourage Leni to run faster. Leni was indeed joyful of the support, she didn’t let her guard down as she ran.

“Your faith was so deep, a multitude of arrows could not finish you. I ask for your intercession that Leni would also survive that which threatens to destroy her beliefs in the mercy of Christ.”

“Amen.”

“Lane five was first to finish, from Epiphany Christian Academy. Lane eight was second, from the Saint Paul’s Academy. Lane three was third, from the Santo Tomas National High School.” The announcer announced the winners of the girls’ one hundred meter sprint.

The members of the track and field club cheered when Epiphany Christian Academy was called. Once again, Leni snatched the gold. Masayang-masaya naman si Leni dahil sa kaniyang nakamit, pagdating niya sa kinalalagyan ng iba niyang mga kasama ay pinaulalan na kaagad siya ng pagbati ng mga ito.

It was just then, Bongbong finished his prayer and he smiled as he watched the candles he lighted burn. He took a deep breath and he proceeded to his next agenda for that day—his folk dance practice.

~Spiritual Guidance.