Chapter 13

Two weeks had passed, our group has been doing so well. We pushed through with Archie's idea and our discussion has been productive ever since. His idea for the topic of our research needs revision, and we did collaborate more and then as we present our topic to our professor, surprisingly it was approved so we're doing the best we can to succeed on this project.

Malaki ang nakasalalay rito—at para na rin sa akin and even Tessa.

If we failed—I'm praying so hard that we won't, malaki ang chance na malaglag ako sa Latin Honor. I know it's hard for me to get all my stuff together. It's like I'm juggling everything at once. Na para bang hinahabol ko ang bawal bola na 'wag mahulog at mapabayaan because if I did, ako ang kawawa.

I'm the one who's holding the ball, if I made a mistake that could affect the other things. Para lang 'yang domino, once you get lose concentration and balance, it could fail and not only once, but moreover, until it stops or maybe if lucky, find a way to stop it.

And as to what I'm going through now, I'm still lucky that I can still handle it despite my busy schedule.

"Did you know that Bennett joined their basketball team?"

Napalingon naman ako nang magsalita si Archie sa tabi ko. We're on a break from our discussion. Nagbabasa lang ako ng notes ko to occupy my time, but here's Archie, trying to distract me with his Bennett card.

"Oh, talaga ba?"

"Oh, so you're interested to know that, huh?" He smirked. "Akala ko ba wala kang interest sa kaibigan ko?"

"May sinabi ba akong meron o wala? Ikaw 'tong nagku-kwento. Nagtatanong lang naman ako."

He chuckled. "Okay, fine. I'll take that."

"So, bakit nga? Akala ko ba may nationa pageant siya? Bakit sumali pa sa basketball team ngayon? Buang lang?"

He laughed. "Oh, if he heard that, he'll lose it out. But yeah, I know he's having a hard time juggling his schedule, but he's already part of the basketball team before, but he only played for one season and then dropped it so he could focus on his study and maybe joined his own interest of joining male pageants which he's always winning, of course."

"Okay... tapos?"

"'Di ba malapit na ang UAAP season and one of the players in the team had an injury. He had a sprain and I think it has gotten worst that's why they had to pull him out of the practice and the actual game soon. In the end, they decided to bring Bennett back in the team and he gladly accepted it because it'll be his last year in the university."

"Oh... I see... iyon lang pala, e. Kala ko naman big deal na."

"That's big deal for Bennett, actually," Archie said. Nakinig naman muli ako. "Naikwento niya 'yon sa amin. He doesn't actually want to join back the team and only focus on his national pageant which he has been anticipating since, after college, he'll take everything professionally. As in trabaho lang... walang ibang bagay na gagawin. He joined for the sake of the team. To let their team win the game."

"Ay, so payag kang manalo ang university nila kaysa sa atin?"

"Of course, I wanted that to happen, but I've got my friend there, so I'll support him."

"Buti na lang talaga magaling ang cheerdance squad natin..."

He chuckled and squinted his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"Did you know how many times our men's basketball team win the UAAP basketball championship?"

"Seven?" he answered, shrugging off his shoulder.

"No! Wrong! Our university only won once and that was back in the seventeenth season. That was 1954 to 1955 pa. Jurassic era pa."

"Oh, wow! I just found out that now. Thanks for the trivia though... but, they've got strong players and I bet Ateneo would win the championship again."

"Let's just hope na matalo natin FEU sa cheerdance competition na lang."

He chuckled. "Ha! Why do I feel like you have something else to say with that, huh?" he questioned me with a look as if I'm hiding something. Inirapan ko na lamang siya pero hindi niya ako tinigilan hangga't tumang-tango na lang ito. "I knew it! Bennett's girlfriend is in their cheerdance squad, are you jealous of her?"

I looked at him, raising a brow. "At bakit naman ako magseselos? Sino ba siya para pagselosan ko?"

"Yeah, you're right. Nandito naman ako so you don't have to be jealous of her."

"Talaga ba?" I replied coldly. "Ang kapal talaga ng apog mo, Archie."

"I'm just stating the possibilities, you know?"

"Nye, nye. Akala mo naman talaga."

"So, let's go back to Bennett's offer to you? Would you accept it now?"

I shook my head. "Still no. And I don't have to explain myself any further. Alam mo naman kung anong isasagot ko."

"Yup, I knew that."

A moment later, Serron came back with Derby and Jayda.

"Oh, tapos na ba ang date niyong dalawa?" panunudyo ni Serron.

Binatuhan ko naman siya ng masamang tingin. "Isa ka pa, Serron. Kaya nagfe-feeling din 'to si Archie, e."

Natawa naman 'tong mokong sa tabi ko.

"Don't worry, Archie. Nagjo-joke lang 'yan. Tinatago niya lang 'yan, inis-inisan pero bet ka rin niyan."

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo."

"Is that true, Criselda—I mean love, no, I mean Isel?" Archie questioned, I looked at him and gave him a sharp look. Inirapan ko na lamang siya at binalik ko ang atensyon ko sa binabasa ko. "Oh, I guess it does."

Bumalik naman kami sa mabilisang discussion and brainstorming then we have to prepare ourselves for the quiz later. Maya-maya lamang ay nag-call sa phone ko, when I check who's calling, naitago ko kaagad kay Archie ang screen ng phone ko. I acted like nothing happened, but I had to excuse myself from them just to answer this bothering call.

Hinayaan naman nila akong umalis saka ako lumabas ng library and the answered Bennett's call.

"Wow, I didn't expect you'll answer it," panimula nito. Nabanas naman kaagad ako sa bungad nito sa akin. "Well, hello there, Criselda."

"Bwisit!" I uttered, gritting my teeth. "Ano na naman kailangan mo?"

"My offer didn't go anywhere, Criselda—"

"'Yan ka na naman! Ibababa ko na 'to, may quiz pa kami later. Bye—"

"Wait!" he tried to stop me from dropping the call. "This is different, okay, I'll be serious na."

"You're so annoying."

"I know I can be so annoying at times, but the offer still stands the same, Criselda."

"No way. Bakit kasi ang dami mong ganap sa buhay mo? Why don't you just drop your national pageant and then you can join the basketball team and focus on your remaining subjects. Or vice versa, mabilis lang naman mag-decide."

"Oh, so alam mo naman pala." Ngisi pa nito. "I might have a guess that Archie told you about it or you stalked me."

"Hoy, grabe sa stalk. I'm never stalking you."

"Oh, really, huh? Ano 'yong heart react mo sa IG story ko?"

"That was a mistake. Napindot ko lang 'yon."

"Yet you've seen my story, isn't that stalking. You're not even following me."

"Naliligaw ka na naman boy. I need to go back na para mag-review. Drop what you want to say or I'll drop this call instead."

"Okay, okay, chill Criselda."

I grunted and rolled my eyes as if he could see my reaction.

"So, just like what you said, I'll be joining back the team and I'm still going to join the pageant because why not, right? So, my professors already know about it and I have to be excused from our classes most of the time except quizzes and exams. I know you're smart, so I'm asking you if you could tutor me. You don't have to worry about your time and effort, it will be paid. So, what do you think?"

"I'm still not buying the offer," I answered and heard him sighed so deeply.

"I thought you'll say yes now that I've reasons to get you."

Napangisi naman ako. "Bakit naman kasi ako? You have your girlfriend. Maybe she can help you. At siguro naman akong marami ring matalinong student diyan sa FEU, so you can ask them. Hindi 'yong dadayo ka pa talaga sa ibang university for your own sake."

"I'm not asking this for my own sake, I really needed help and because I've known you for weeks, I guess this would work out right. And Cinema can't do the job because she's also training for the cheersquad so yeah, there you go. I know it feels like I'm asking too much, but if you think about it, please do consider it, alright?"

"Ewan..." sagot ko sa napakahabang explanation niya.

"Oh... okay. I understand, if you ever change your mind, I'll message you something after this. Bye and good luck on your quiz."

When he dropped the call, I could sense the disappointment on his tone. Gano'n ba siya kadesperado to get my attention and all. Hindi ko naman ine-expect 'yong unang pagkakataon na nagkita kaming dalawa. I know it was an honest mistake and then it turn out like this. Hindi ko alam kung anong iisipin ko, I feel like I'm about to feel light hearted towards him.

Bago ako bumalik sa loob ng library, I received a message from him.

Bennett: If you consider taking the offer, meet me here tonight (Location attached). 7 PM. It's okay if you're not coming, just give me some heads up so I won't be there waiting.

Hindi ako nag-reply, obviously that would only make our conversation long kaya naman sinilid ko na ang phone ko sa bulsa ko at saka pumasok sa loob ng library at sinamahan ang kagrupo ko. Naabutan ko naman silang nag-uusap-usap at si Archie pa ang pasimuno. Pagkarating ko ay nasita pa kami ng librarian officer dahil sa ingay nila.

Nang makaupo naman ako ay siniko ako ni Archie. Nilingon ko siya at parang nakapinta na sa labi niya 'yong ngiti niya.

But I don't know... I'm not sure what to do with Bennett's offer. As if 'yong salary ko sa part-time ko ay hindi nakatutulong which it helps a lot kahit na may scholarship din akong natatanggap. I think he has other intentions that's why he's pushing that idea at kung ano man iyon ay wala na akong interes.

After our group discussion, we headed back to our room. Hindi na naman namin kasama si Archie dahil irregular student din siya. As we head back, na-meet namin sina Dolly at Tessa along the way.

Bigla naman akong siniko ni Tessa nang sumabay ito sa paglalakad ko. Tiningnan ko naman siya, as usual, puno na naman nang pagtataka ang mukha ko.

"Balita ko nagkamamabutihan na kayo ni Archie? Nasa'n na ba 'yon?"

Napataas ako ng kilay sa tanong ko. "Ba't mo naman hinahanap 'yon? Saka saan mo naman nasanap 'yang balitang 'yan? Napaka-fake news naman."

"Ay, hindi ba true? Akala ko true na."

"Walang gano'n, sis." Ngisi ko pa. "Sa tingin ko, it will never happen. Archie's a good person and I won't do anything else para ikasira 'yon kahit na minsan nakakaasar din siya. I won't cross the line like people always does. Ibahin mo ako. I'm not like any others."

"Ahhh, gets. So, 'yong kaibigan na lang pala niya jojowain mo?"

"Bennett has a girlfriend at never in my life na papatulan ko 'yon."

"If you keeo saying that, wala nang chance na magka-lovelife ka. Hindi mo gayahin 'yong pinsan mong may nanliligaw na Briton. Baka makadawit ka rin."

"Study first, Tessa."

"Sus, bulok naman 'yang reason mo."

"Kahit na bulok, minsan 'yong iba kahit sinasabing study first, nabubuntis pa rin kasi walang discipline sa pagkaroroon ng jowa. Darating din naman ang time para diyan. Hindi naman kailangan madaliin."

Napakibit-balikat na lang din naman ito. "Okay, sabi mo, e."

As soon as we got into our room, pumwesto na kami sa mga kinauupuan namin t nagsimula nang magreview.

Bennett's message wouldn't slip out of my head. What if... patulan ko kaya 'yong offer niya? Ano kayang mangyayari? Parang wala namang mawawala. It sounds too good to be true, but what if? What if this also helps me?

In the end, after our quiz, and kept thinking about Bennett. I've got 48 out of 50 while Tessa followed me with 46 over 50. Ako pa rin ang highest, but it's not good for me. I need to stay on the top. Kung gusto kong makapagfocus sa study ko, I need to deal with this once and for all.

***

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