XXII: Ominous

It's the first day of the one-week-long celebration of Inter-Katalina sports competition. I didn't want to go kasi madaming tao doon. However, may obligasyon ako bilang sports journalist. Isa pa, mahal ang fines.

I wrapped my naked self around my pink cotton towel and set foot outside the bathroom of my room. It's 8 o'clock and it's still early. The opening ceremony starts at 9.

No one's rushing me. No one--

"Bakit ang tagal mo d'yan gumalaw? Late na tayo! My practice ako ng 7:30!" walang preno at halatang naiinip na wika ng lalaki sa aking kama.

Napatalon ako nang marinig ang boses ni Khio dito sa loob ng kuwarto ko, prenteng nakaupo sa aking kama. He's wearing his green and yellow uniform for soccer, as well as his prominent furrowed brows which looks more furrowed this morning.

But wait, I'm naked! I mean on a towel!

"What are you doing here!" malakas na sigaw ko and gripped my towel tightly.

"Just shut up and do your thing fast," masungit na wika nito at bumalik ang tingin sa phone. Tila wala lang sa kanya na nakasuot lang ako ng towel. At least man lang sana mahiya s'ya.

"Anong do your thing fast? Gusto mo magbihis ako habang nandito ka sa loob?" bulyaw ko. Natauhan ito nang mapatingin sa towel ko na parang ngayon lang ito napansin.

"Fine, I'll wait outside."

"Hoy, teka!"

Napalingon ito sa akin looking a bit red. Wow ha! Ngayon ka pa nahiya. Napaka-late reaction.

"What?"

"Uuhh..." I felt a little embarrassed to say the words. "Ano kasi..."

"What? Just tell me already!"

"Kay Nein na ako sasabay mula ngayon," I bit my lower lip to show how embarrassed I am. Dapat sinabi ko sa kanya kagabi para hindi na s'ya naghintay.

I saw his expression turn from irritated into indifferent. "Sige," tumalikod ito. "Whatever you want."

A sudden lump on my throat emerged dahil sa hiya ko... or was it because of something else?

Nawala ito sa aking paningin nang isara nito ang pinto, mas malumanay sa dating halos pabalibag na pagsasara nito ng pinto ko noon. Is he somehow... sad?

I shove the thought away. Bahala s'ya sa buhay n'ya. Bumalik ito sa pagiging masungit sa akin simula noong Thursday.

I tried to act as if that just didn't happen.

I pulled off my mom jeans and a white shirt printed with the word Thrasher which I got from a thrift store. I'm pretty sure this day is going to be hassle-some, kaya I tied my hair in a high bun and left some curly baby hair hanging.

As for the makeup, I don't need any.

Bumaba ako sa kusina para magpaalam kay tita Minerva at tito Roel. Khio left his two bottles of Blue dahil sa pagmamadali kaya ibinigay nila ito sa akin para iabot sa kanya. Great! Just great.

Palabas na ako nang makita ang text ni Nein.

From: Pagpag, Syam na buhay

I'm outside. Take your time, my pie.

Paglabas ko ng gate ng bahay nila tita Minerva, naabutan ko si Nein na prenteng nakasandal sa kanyang Aston. Kagaya ni Khio, suot na kaagad nito ang yellow and green varsity uniform n'ya.

He looks cool but...

Why is he wearing sun glasses?

Varsity uniform and glasses? Uuuuh no.

"Where's the sun?" bungad ko dito.

"In front of me." I almost laughed at his answer. Hahampasin ko na sana s'ya ng hawak ko na maliit na handbag nang pigilan na ako nito. "Joke lang! Gusto lang kitang patawanin eh!"

He even pouted but that made me do what I was about to do earlier. Inihampas ko sa tagiliran n'ya ang aking shoulder bag.

"Aray!"

"Pasalamat ka hindi sa mukha mo 'yan tumama. Tara na nga!"

I acted as if nainis ako. But really, I appreciate his effort.

Bago kami pumunta sa university, dumaan na muna kami sa McDo ni Nein para magdrive thru ng breakfast ko. Hindi na kasi ako kumain kanina sa bahay nila Khio dahil ililibre daw ako ni Nein ng miss ko nang McDo.

"Uhhhmmm... I can eat this until the end of the word," I said in between chewing the burger on my mouth. Uhhhm... heaven."

"Take it slow, pie. Mabilaukan ka. Baka magawa ko rin yung ginawa ni Jiv kay Jaime noong PE." Deretso ang tingin nito sa kalsada but he has his small smile on his face.

"Live me alone. I'm having an intimate conversation with my food." Hindi ko s'ya binalingan ng tingin, imbes ay nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagkain.

A short giggle suddenly came out of his mouth. The car stopped moving because the streetlight is on red. He looked me from head to toe while I'm drinking my coffee.

"Look at you. You look-" bago pa nito matapos ang sasabihin, inunahan ko na s'ya.

"Like a pig. Yeah, I know. Now, leave me and my food alone." Saglit ko lang s'yang tinignan at kumain ulit. I need to finish this before we arrive to school.

"No, pie," he stopped and I felt his serious stare on me, still smiling. "You're glowing."

Ha?

Dito na ako napatingin sa kanya. "Hindi nga ako sun! Wag ka nga bumanat sa akin. Hindi ako fan ng pick-up lines."

Pinangikotan ko s'ya ng mata pero lalo lang lumalim ang titig nito sa akin. "You really don't see it, huh?"

"See what?"

"That you're glowing. Simula noong nakita kita matapos ang dalawang buwan, kapansin-pansin na ang pinagbago mo."

"Please elaborate," I said and threw a nugget in my mouth.

Napatingin si Nein pabalik sa kalsada dahil green na ulit ang ilaw. "Let's just say that the moon isn't blocking the sun anymore so the sun can shine brighter now."

Hindi ako bobo para hindi magets ang sinabi n'ya. Yeah, I did notice the gradual change.

A solar eclipse, huh? Indeed, the sun was blocked by the moon but people find it amusing, they didn't want me to burn brighter.

I won't let that happen anymore.

"Thanks, Nein. I really appreciate you a lot."

Sakto lang ang dating namin ni Nein dito sa stadium. Kakasimula lang ng program at madali naming nahanap kung nasaan sila Jaime, Olive at Jiv. Khio is not here.

Well, 1 hour late na pero kakasimula pa rin ng program. Filipino time nga naman.

Kusang gumalaw ang aking mga mata para hanapin ang kulang. And there, at the front-most part of the benches the same row with us, I spotted his furrowed brows with that crazy Harriet holding his arm.

"Tss!"

Napatikhim na lamang ako nang marinig ang sarili kong boses. WTH! What's wrong with me?

"Pie, upo na," aya sa akin ni Nein. Katabi nito si Jiv sa kabila. Olive, being conservative, didn't want any stranger touching her skin kaya nasa gitna namin s'ya ni Jaime.

Nahati ang bawat parte ng stadium para sa mga kalahok, coach at teachers mula sa anim na unibersidad ng Santa Katalina. The distinction is easy to determine just by looking at the athlete's uniforms. Madami rin kaming nadaanang mga outsider sa labas ng stadium kanina dahil open event ito kung saan lahat ay puwedeng dumalo.

"I hate school festivals," bulong ni Jaime na ipit na ipit dahil sa magugulong katabi nito. She looks like a cute but grumpy sardines pfft!

"OMG! Excited na ako guys. I saw some Korean food stall outside and some Boba shop. Andami, naiiyak ako," Olive, being too overwhelmed seeing all the food she wants to taste, closed her eyes and placed her left hand on her chest as if imagining munching on them.

"May pera ka ba?" pambasag ni Jaime sa optimism ni Olive. Jaime's always the contrabida but in a cute way. Minsan nakaka-offend but sanay na kami sa ugali n'ya and we take it in a positive way. Minsan she's the one who brings us back to reality dahil sa kaprangkahan n'ya.

Hindi naman gaanong mapera sila Olive kaya alam na namin ang isasagot nito. Her mom's a dressmaker while her father's a tricycle driver like her kuya.

Before she could even react, Jiv interrupted us with an encouraging possibility. "Problema ba 'yon? Meron naman si Nein, ang ating future Wanjo PhilAir CEO." Pataas-taas pang nilaro ng lalaki ang kanyang kilay.

"Yeah, sure. Basta ba hayaan n'yo akong masolo ang aking pie." Ngumisi ang huli sa aming mga babae.

"Sige ba! Magdate kayo kung gusto n'yo!" Itinulak ako ni Olive palapit kay Nein and I swear muntik na dumapo sa ano ni Nein ang aking kamay, mabuti na lang napigilan ko at sa dibdib n'ya ito dumapo.

Oh my, thanks God talaga hindi dumapo. That would be awkward.

Sumalubong ang mapuputi at perpektong ngipin ni Nein sa akin nang ngitian ako nito habang nakahawak ako sa dibdib n'ya. I didn't smile back. Instead, I felt my cheeks blushed red a little and that made me push him and focus on the emcee instead.

The crowd is noisy. Sino ba naman kasing makikinig sa speech ng emcee about sa sports? We all know those things already, from sportsmanship to team building. Unity in diversity blah blah.

Paingay nang paingay ang paligid nang biglang tumunog ang musika para sa entrada ng isang importanteng tao. Pati ang emcee ay natigil sa paggawa ng speech.

Literally everyone diverted their attention to the stadium's main entrance hall. There we saw the new University President on her elegant yellow dress that matches her fair skin tone.

She was accompanied by ROTC cadets as she made her way to the pod in front. It took her a few minutes to walk her way through the vast stadium kaya naman pagdating nito sa harap ay napa-"Hoooh!" pa ito sa harap ng mic na ibinigay sa kanya.

Everyone's waiting in anticipation.

"Everyone, let us all welcome RSU's new University President, Ms. Pierre Cabeza." Umalis sa pod ang emcee looking a bit annoyed.

The new University President cleared her throat and it was amplified throughout the whole stadium. "Wow! This mic is amazing! And here I thought of replacing old equipments of this school. I guess there's no need for that," panimula ng president ng school, acting a bit naïve.

"What a unique way of making an introduction," Jaime said, obviously dissatisfied as if implying that she can do better than the one we're watching on the stage.

Pero totoo naman. Well, so much for being classy.

"Chiks, pre," opinion ni Jiv. The later just received a glare from Jaime.

Napatingin ako kay Nein na parang may inaalala. Nakakunot ang noo nito at nakalapat ang hintuturo sa ibaba ng matangos nitong ilong, halatang nagiisip. "Nein, anong meron?"

Tila walang naring ang lalaki kaya inulit ko ang pagtawag sa kanya. "Huy!"

"Ha? Ano 'yon pie?" natauhan nitong wika.

I raised a brow on him. "I said anong meron? What are you sulking there for?"

Saglitan itong nagisip ulit at bumaling din sa akin. "I don't know. May inaalala lang. Don't mind me." He used his hands to force me to face the stage again.

Hmm... Did he forget something? His wallet, perhaps?

"Anyway," bumalik ang atensyon namin sa nagsasalita sa harap. "Enjoy the day, kids. Do your best to keep away from being injured. If so, I have free band aids here if you want," she slightly giggled. "And yeah! See you at the closing program and awarding!"

Tinignan ko sila Jaime at Olive para tignan kung pareho kami ng reaksyon. The three of us are confused- no... Everyone including coaches has the same reaction. We don't know what to do.

"Are we being dismissed already?" sambit ko. Ganon kabilis? Wala nang pa-intro, body, body, body, intro, body at end kagaya ng old university president?

Mabilis na umakto ang emcee para pigilan si Miss Cabeza sa pag-alis.

The microphone is indeed amazing dahil pati boses ng emcee ay halos rinig namin. "Ma'am, kailangan pa po ng speech n'yo at introduction ng players, also with the announcement kung saan gaganapin ang events at iba pa," halatang pagrereklamo nito.

"I did my speech already. Besides, it's already late. Kapag patatapusin natin ang program na ito, baka ala una na maglunch break ang mga athletes." Hindi alintana ng president kung naka-on pa ang kanyang mic. Bulgaran nitong binabara ang emcee.

"Pero ma'am kasi... late ka po dumating kaya hinitay ka pa namin. Noong akala namin hindi ka na darating nagstart na kami-"

"Okay, make this fast. Exclude all irrelevant parts, okay?" The president still manages to sound nice kahit na barang bara na ang emcee.

Nagsihiyawan ang ilang mga athlete dito sa stadium dahil sa mangha sa natunghayang pangyayari. Even those in the opposing university cheered.

Umupo sa upoan sa gilid ang university president at naiwan ang hindi na alam ang gagawing emcee. "Ang cool ng new president natin," manghang sambit ni Jiv.

Well, I can't argue with that. Even Jaime seems to agree with him.

"Okay then, let's quickly introduce our players in front. The designated area will just be forwarded to the coaches later on," panimula nito. Good thing quick thinker ang emcee dahil kung hindi mapapahiya ito sa harap ng madaming tao. "Let's start with the Football players. Once I call on your team, bumaba kayo sa benches, and face each team accordingly."

Tumikhim ang emcee at nagpatuloy. "Northern Katalina Academy, Rosales State University, Hanzo Academy, Saint Michael's University and John Western University.

Unti-unting nagsibabahan ang mga kalahok, kabilang na si Khio na isa sa representative ng aming university. Napatingin ako sa gawi nila ni Harriet and I saw the later glaring at me again.

Ano na naman bang nagawa ko? May saltik talaga sa ulo ang babae na 'yon.

Mabilis kong binawi ang aking tingin at tinuon ang atensyon muli sa mga kalahok.

Nasa maayos na kumpol ng linya ang bawat team. Each opposing teams are facing each other except for Hanzo Academy na walang kaharap.

"Shoot!"

Nakuha ng atensyon ko ang biglaang pagmura ni Nein.

"Bakit, Nein?"

Iginawi ng ulo n'ya ang tinitignan. A familiar-looking-guy immediately caught my attention.

"Anong gin-" hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin dahil hindi ko talaga ito inaasahan.

Finn. Yes, how can I forget the name of the one who drugged me?

More so, him and Khio are directly on the opposite direction that they seem to have an intense staring contest. Hindi ko makita ang reaksyon ni Khio dahil nakatalikod ang team nila mula sa gawi namin, but Finn, his smirk is evidently ominous.

"Kindly bow to show respect to the other teams. Remember, this is just a friendly competition," muling wika ng emcee.

I finally got a glimpse of Khio's reaction when he didn't do as the emcee says. But so did Finn. Lahat ng team ay nakayuko ang ulo maliban sa kanila kaya kitang-kita ang masamang tingin na ibinabato ng mga ito sa isa't isa.

They seem to be talking pero hindi namin marinig kung ano ang pinagsasabi nila.

Dang it! Trouble just keep on tailing.

Author's Note:

I hope you're pronouncing Nein's name right LOL. Nein's name is actually pronounced as < Nayn Wanho/w > 

Sorry I forgot to update yesterday LOL.