The sound of Gangsa—single hand-held smooth-surfaced gong with a narrow rim, and Tongali—nose flute were heard inside the church hall of the San Jose Parish Church. Although their dance called Bendayan is an ethnic traditional folk dance in that particular area, Padre Juan allowed the practice for the folk dance presentation to be held at the hall.

He respects and supports many beliefs and traditions as as a token to pay respect, he let the people practice. Habang abala pa sa pag-eensayo ng tugtugin ang mga ibang kasama ni Bongbong ay tahimik lamang siyang nakaupo sa isang sulok.

Siya kasi ang isa sa mga sasayaw, habang abala sila sa pag-tugtog ay saglit niyang kinuha mula sa kaniyang bulsa ang kaniyang cellphone at tinignan niya kung may bago na bang mensahe si Leni.

“I wonder how it went.” Bulong niya at itinago na muli niya ang kaniyang cellphone at muli niyang pinagmasdan ang mga taong tumutugtog ng Gangsa at Tongali.

After the track meet, the whole track and field club celebrated their victory—individually and their overall. They all won a place in the meet, Sara and Leni both won the gold in their respective competitions. Kiko won the gold in the eight hundred-meter middle distance. Koko also won the gold in the boys’ four hundred-meter sprint.

While Robin, Bong, and Lito won the bronze in two hundreds, Cynthia and Pia won silver in the fifty-meter sprint. Because of this, they placed third in the overall tally—not bad from last year that they are in seventh place because Sara and Cynthia didn’t win. They are all advancing in the regionals so they are indeed happy.

Ngayon ay naririto sila sa isang fast food chain upang kumain ng hapunan, it’s already seven in the evening. The awarding ended up quite late so they got to the place late also. Ngayon ay kapwa sila nakapila upang um-order ng kanilang kakainin sa nasabing fast food chain.

“Ano kayang kakainin ko?” tanong ni Pia habang pumipili na sa menu na naka-flash sa screen sa itaas.

“Man, I’m already starving.” Koko laughted awkwardly while scratching his head.

“We all are.” Sara followed.

“I think I’m gonna order the fried chicken and the spaghetti with a float. Paniguradong puputulin na ni Tatay Digs ang allowance ko next week kaya lulubos-lubusin ko na.” Dagdag pa ni Sara sa kaniyang sinabi.

“Mine’s just a burger, not quite hungry actually.” Kiko smiled and put out money on his wallet.

“Wow, Sara. Magkano ba dala mo ngayon?” Pia was surprised.

“Isang libo, pero magtitira pa rin naman ako kasi mawawalan na nga ’ko probably next week ’di ba?” pagmamalaki nito.

“Wow, ang dami mo namang baon. Ang s’werte mo ah!” Pia chucked, nagpatuloy pa sila sa kanilang pag-uusap ngunit nakatugon lamang si Leni sa kaniyang cellphone.

“Ikaw, Leni, ano oorder-in mo?” tanong ni Kiko. Napansin niya kasing parang hindi nag-iisip si Leni ng kung ano ang kukunin niya.

“Ay, ako?” Nang marinig ni Leni na tinawag siya ay kaagad siyang sumagot.

“Oo, ano oorder-in mo?” pag-uulit ni Kiko sa kaniyang tanong.

“I’m not much hungry so... just fries, burger, and a drink.” She smiled to them.

Nang maka-order na sila ng kanilang pagkain ay umupo na sila sa mga bakanteng silya. As usual, Sara, Leni, and Pia were the ones sitting side by side. Ang iba naman ay nasa ibang mga lamesa at doon na sila kumain, habang kumakain naman ay pinag-uusapan nila ang naranasan sa magkakaibang kategoryang kanilang nilabanan sa track meet.

“Grabe ’yong kalaban ko kanina, malapit na nga akong malampasan eh. Kulang na lang mangalay ako, alam niyo ba ’yon? Pero alam pa rin nating lahat kung sino ang nanaig.” Sara boasted while eating her food.

“Oo na, kayo nang dalawa ni Leni ’yong naka-ginto ngayong taon. Pero at least naman, a-advance tayong lahat sa regionals.” Saad naman ni Pia, sumipsip naman siya sa kaniyang iniinom na soft drink.

“Pero si Leni, ang laki ng distance between her and her opponent, ’di ba Sara?” Nais lamang pagmalakihan ni Pia si Sara, she put Leni as a subject.

“Kaya nga, ang galing mo ’don, Leni.” Naburaot si Pia, Sara couldn’t get her point so she just let that one slip.

“I’m gonna train much harder everyday, siyempre ’di ko na rin pababayaan ’yong exams ko.” Ngiti pa ni Sara.

“Too bad you’re not probably gonna begin with that right now. Remember, the school trip is coming up.” Saad muli ni Pia.

“Oo nga eh, maybe after the trip ko na lang gagawin ’yon.” Pasimpleng ngumiti si Sara.

Walang kakibo-kibo si Leni dahil abala pa rin talaga ito sa kaniyang cellphone, kanina pa niya iniisip kung ano ang sasabihin kay Bongbong. Usually, Bongbong was the one who starts a conversation between them in the past few weeks, she’s currently typing a message on her phone when it suddenly died.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang mamatay ito, saka niya na lang din naisip na wala pala siyang dalang powebank. She took a deep breath and she just hid her phone inside her bag, nagpatuloy na lamang siya sa pagkain ng kaniyang french fries at burger.

“Siya nga pala, alam mo na ba ang latest? Si Robin at Riza, mag-on na!” Pabulong na nagwika si Sara sa kanila, napabuga na lamang ng hangin si Pia at dumukdok sa lamesa.

“Jeez, we’re the ones who’s getting left out. Sino ba naman kasing magkakagusto sa ’tin? Gusto ko nang magka-jowa.” Pia complained.

“Ako rin, Pia, I feel you.” Sara agreed with Pia. Sandali pa ay may narinig silang nagsalita sa kanilang likuran.

“Handa naman akong maging kasintahan mo, Pia.” Saglit pa ay napalingon ang dalaga sa nagsabi noon.

“Shut up, Lito, ’di ka pasok sa standards ko. As in walang-wala talaga.” Pia rolled her eyes, Sara just stayed quiet and so as Leni.

“Kung magbabago ang isip mo, ’wag kang mahiyang magsabi sa ’kin, alam mo namang gusto kita eh.” Pasimpleng ngumiti si Lito at nagtungo sa kaniyang mesa dala ang kinuha nitong dalawang basong tubig. Pagkaraan ng ilang segundo ay napatingin sila Leni at Sara kay Pia na para bang nakapatay ito ng tao.

“What the actual hell was that? Pa’no nagkagusto sa ’yo ’yon eh no’n lang pinipikon ka ng tatlong hukluban?” nabibiglang saad ni Sara.

“Fate was playful for some reasons, he ended up liking me because I helped him with some stuffs at the part intramurals.” Pia ate her food stressed while Sara and Leni was still astonished by the things she said.

***

“Salamat po sa pagpayag na magamit namin ’tong church hall sa practice, Parde Juan.” Ramon thanked the priest for his consideration, ngumiti naman si Padre Juan at tumugon kay Ramon.

“Walang anuman ’yon, ’wag kayong mahihiyang mag-practice sa church hall ng folk dance niyo. Napakaganda nga rin ng tugtugin niyo eh, ang galing mo pang tumugtog ng Tongali.” Padre Juan complemented Ramon, Ramon just smiled and nodded and he prepared himself to leave.

“Sa susunod po ulit, Kuya Ramon.” Narinig ni Ramon si Bongbong na nagsalita mula sa kaniyang gilid, napangiti naman ito at kumaway na lamang bilang simbolo ng pagpapaalam.

Bongbong then checked his phone to see if Leni replied to his messeges, but there’s still none. He’s been trying to message Leni after their practice, but she haven’t replied. Pinatay niya ang kaniyang cellphone at ibinulsa ito, when he looked at the path he’s walking, he saw Leni walking towards his way.

Nang mapansin rin ni Leni na nasa harap niya na si Bongbong ay kapuwa nanlaki ang kanilang mga mata at pareho silang napahinto sa paglalakad. Leni clenched her hand and hid it on her pocket, napaiwas siya ng tingin kay Bongbong.

“Leonor...” Bongbong uttered her name.

“Ano... uhm...” Even Leni can’t utter a word also.

Pasimpleng lumingon si Bongbong sa pinanggalingan niya, there, he saw some people staring at them including Ramon, they are quite intrigued. Kaagad na lumapit si Bongbong kay Leni at mahina siyang nagsalita upang hindi marinig ng mga taong ngayon ay nakatingin sa kanila.

“Come with me, there’s many people here.” He whispered, tumango naman si Leni at sumunod na nga sa binata.

The moon is shining so elegantly above the sky filled with twinkling stars, Bongbong and Leni are sitting on the stairway where the transept and the candle area is divided from the inside to the out. Paupod na ang mga kandila sa candle area dahil wala na rin namang gaanong nagtutungo sa simbahan ng ganoong oras.

The two couldn’t utter a word and couldn’t even look at each other because of the fact that they are alone together. Pareho silang nakatingin sa lupa, hanggang sa magkaroon na nga ang isa na putulin ang nakabibinhing katahimikan sa paligid nilang dalawa.

“Wait, is that a...” Bahagyang nahiya si Bongbong nang mahita ni Leni ang hawak niyang isang rektangulang tela na may etnikong disenyo para sa kanilang Bendayan folk dance.

“Ah, ito ba... oo.” Bongbong answered with an awkward smile.

“For the Adivay Festival?” tanong pa ni Leni. Bahagya namang napatango si Bongbong dahil doon, Leni’s eyes then widened because of excitement as she heard Bongbong’s answer.

“That’s awesome! Kasali ka ba sa parada?” Pasimpleng napangiti si Bongbong.

“Gano’n na nga, but I wasn’t very good at this though.” He stayed humble. Saglit pa ay naramdaman ng binata na nag-iinit ang kaniyang pisngi, a sign that he may be blushing. He looked away in an instance, but seconds later he went to ask her.

“Say, how was the track meet?” Bongbong asked, he saw Leni smiled while still looking at him. He can sense the happiness that she feels.

“I won the gold again yet I set a new personal best.” She giggled, saglit pa napangiti na rin si Bongbong at kahit na nararamdaman niyang nag-iinit ang kaniyang mukha ay Wala na siyang paki-alam. He faced to Leni’s side and finally managed to look at her and talk to her without stuttering.

“Congratulations! I prayed to Saint Sebastian for you earlier.” He smiled.

“Salamat sa pagbati, salamat din dahil ipinagdasal mo ’ko.” Ngiti naman ni Leni.

“Kanina pa nga ’ko nagtatanong sa ’yo sa chat kung anong nangyari, ’di mo naman ako sinasagot.” Pag-amin ng binata, malugod naman itong pinabulaanan ni Leni.

“My battery died and nakalimutan ko pala sa bahay ’yong powebank ko. Sorry ha, ’di kita nareply-an.” Napahagikgik si Leni pagkatapos, gayon din naman si Bongbong.

“Okay lang ’yon, atleast ngayon alam ko na kung bakit.” Ngiti naman ni Bongbong.

“Kabababa ko lang sa kanto malapit dito sa simbahan kanina, I think that you might be here so I strolled. Then... I found you here.” Leni felt her heart was racing and so is Bongbong, they both looked away at each other.

Once again, silence was there in between them. As Bongbong hold the fabric he’s currently holding into, and Leni with her teddy bear stuffed toy, the tension between them intensifies. Suddenly, Leni gazed at Bongbong and right after, she looked away.

“This is weird, what is this? Is this what Sara and Pia were blabbering the whole time?” she whispered to herself.

As for Bongbong, he looked at the shining moon on the sky filled with twinkling stars. The thought of saying what’s on his mind and what he feels scares him. He’s afraid of losing what he had in between Leni, he’s afraid to admit and make a move to take what he had further, he’s afraid to gamble.

But...

“The moon is beautiful tonight, right, Leni?” Bongbong and Leni’s eyes met at Bongbong slowly uttered that phrase, a phrase of saying I love you indirectly.

Napangiti naman si Leni at tumingin sa buwan, pinagmasdan niya ito at namangha sa dinudulot nitong liwanag. Habang pinagmamasdan niya ang buwan ay pinagmamasdan naman siya ni Bongbong, hinahangin nang malamig na amihan ang kaniyang maitim na bughaw niyang buhok, kumikinang din ang kaniyang mga mata habang pinagmamasdan ang maliwanag na buwan.

“You’re right, it’s very pretty tonight.” Ngiti niya kay Bongbong, tumingin rin siya rito. Their eyes met as soon as she looked at him directly.

Bongbong stayed silent for a moment but then, the situation became much more awkward. Leni couldn’t get the meaning of what he meant by saying that. So he repeated it again, but this time, with a serious face.

“The moon is beautiful tonight, right, Leni?” he asked in a serious tone with a serious face. Leni is quite confused of what he meant so she looked at the moon again, just then she thought...

Kaagad siyang napatingin kay Bongbong—nabibigla nang maisip ang ibig nitong sabihin. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin at nanatili lamang silang nakatingin sa isa’t isa, she couldn’t comprehend if it was a dream or not.

The wind blew towards them, as the two of them sat on the stairway under the shine of the bright full moon, under the sky filled with twinkling stars. Bongbong mustered the courage to say what he feels towards Leni, and it’s up for her to accept it or not.

~Oblique Divulgence.