Chapter 17

Tupperware

Before going home, pumunta muna kami sa meeting ng drama club for Bella's announcement sa gaganapin naming play. Everyone were giddy about knowing it, may idea na rin naman kaming dalawa ni Pee shooter sa pagpipiliang play and I was really rooting for Romeo and Juliet because I think, it doesn't have to be the tragic ending that should be pointed out—it is the story but the way they take what's coming between whatevers it takes—so, they have my vote for that.

Bella announced the play, Romeo and Juliet and the Chinese Cinderella, Ye Xian. Some of the people in the room murmur around when they heard the second option, no one really knows it but when I tried to watch the animated video on social media, it really goes in some way if it was acted by people.

"We're going to list down in a piece of paper ang pinipili nating play, understood everyone?"

"Yes, Bella." We said in chorus, well, she handle the group very well pero syempre she had help from our adviser na siyang coordinator ng Drama Club.

From a small piece of paper ay sinulat namin ang play na gusto namin, Pee shooter intently looking at mine pero nilalayo ko sa kanya dahil gusto niyang Ye Xian ang manalong play because he has the possibility na maging Romeo—though the Drama Club has few boys but I don't think they could possessed the characteristics of a Romeo Montague.

Nilagay naman namin sa isang bowl ang papel at hinintay na matapos ang lahat. Almost five minutes lang ang itinagal ng pagsulat ng karamihan at sinimulan na ni Bella ang pagbabasa ng mga papel mula sa bowl.

"Romeo and Juliet," she said picking the first paper, humarap naman ito sa board at nagsulat ng isang linya sa tabi ng pangalan nang nabunot niya, and she read the second one, "Ye Xian... woah, lumalaban ah."

Pansin ko naman ang pagluwag ng hininga ni Pee shooter dahil for sure ay pinagdadasal niya talagang makarami ang Ye Xian—though it still has two main characters pero mas bagay pa rin sa kanya ang role ni Romeo.

It lasts fifteen minutes para lang matimbang ang mga bumoto from two plays and Romeo and Juliet wins with twenty-three votes and two votes for Chinese Cinderella, and who guess where did the oen point came from, none other than Pee Shooter.

"So, guys, next meeting, we will discuss and you should all be ready and prepare a song or an act for you to land in a role—alam niyo na naman ang drill dito diba? See you next meeting! Dismissed!" she announced.

Umalis na naman ang ibang students, some prepares to leave.

Lumapit naman kaagad si Pee shooter kay Bella at hinila ang buhok nito.

"I won't audition for Romeo." He said, glaring at him.

Napangisi na lang din naman si Bella, "then don't, sino ba kasi nagsabi sayo na mapupunta talaga sayo ang role ni Romeo? Yes, I saw you for the role pero babagay ba sa ibang tao? You should know better."

He rolled his eyes, "whatever, kung maging extra lang ako, it is fine for me atleast hindi matrabaho."

"Ewan ko sayo, Pee shooter. I'm also planning to ask to our coordinator kung pwede magpasok ng gay scene—and I'm pointing at you pero 'wag na lang."

Mabilis namang kumapit si Pee shooter sa balikat ni Bella, "Hindi na, sige na, go na ako diyan."

Napangiti na lang din naman ako sa kanilang dalawa. Nag-aasaran silang dalawa but they don't take it seriously. Okay talagang makasama silang dalawa but you wont found peace dahil hindi ka nila kukulitin.

"Guys!" I intrude to their moment, sabay naman nila akong nilingon, "sorry but have to go, remember, I need to find Korg at baka ma-late na naman ako sa bus ko."

Pee shooter sighed, "go, find him."

I nodded, "thank you, see you tomorrow!"

I ran heading out. Wala akong idea kung saan ko hahanapin si Korg but there's only one place kung saan ko siya matatagpuan and that's the football field—nalalapit na ang game nila kaya puspusan na rin ang pagpratice nila.

When I reach the field, naabutan ko naman na nagpa-practice ang mga players doon, sinubukan ko namang hanapin si Korg with his jersey number; 16.

Pero hindi ko naman makita ang number nito. Naghintay naman ako sa bleachers dahil baka nagbreak lang ito. Pinapanood ko naman sila and they were good at mukhang ready na naman sila for game pero parang kulang talaga kapag hindi nadadala ni Korg ang grupo niya. Nasaan na kaya siya?

"Desperate Blonde!" napatingin naman ako sa tumawag sa akin, kinawayan pa ako nito pero hindi ko na lang din ito pinansin. Nagkumpulan naman sila at tinuro-turo pa nila ako sa direksyon ko sabay tatawa. Mga adik pala 'to eh. Ano bang ginawa ko sa kanila.

And while they're playing, the football ball comes right into my face.

Mabilis akong lumagapak sa kinauupuan ko. Dinaluhan naman kaagad ako ng mga players at inalalayan saka nataranta nang makitang nagdudugo ang ilong ko. They called medic pero hindi ko na sila pinatuloy dahil hindi naman siguro malala iyong nangyari.

"Sorry for hitting you," he said, and his jersey number is 2. "That was not intended of course."

Nginitian ko na lang din naman siya, "that's okay..." aniko at saka pinunasan ang ilong ko and good thing, hindi masyadong masakit iyon. Naku talaga, ayokong magkapasa sa mukha.

"What are you doing here anyway?" aniya.

"I was looking for Korg but I think he's not here."

"He isn't." he said.

"Where is he?"

"Somewhere."

"Where's the somewhere?"

"Do you need to know that? Ano bang kailangan mo?"

"Just tell, okay."

He smirked, "he's on his car..."

"All this time?"

He shrugged off his shoulder, "not sure, maybe he's gone home now.... What do you want on him?"

"It's not of your business, actually."

"Korg's my friend, and being a friend of him and everything goes on him is also my busines..."

"You're still just a friend," sagot ko naman sa kanya. "So, I gotta go..." pagtalikod ko naman sa kanya but then he caught my arms and stopped me from leaving, hinarap ko naman siyang nakataas ang kilay ko. "Won't you leave me? After hitting me?"

He shook his head and pull off his hand, "Alec."

"Alec?" bigkas ko sa pangalna niya.

He smiles, and nodded, "and you're Alex, right? I've heard it."

"And what?" aniko.

"It's good to know you... Desperate Blonde."

I scoffs, "wow, call me desperate blonde once again and you'll face your greatest fear, wait for it."

And he just laughed, "now go find Korg and let your heark tear apart."

Naningkit naman ang mata ko sa sinabi niya at padabog na umalis palayo sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung anong meron sa kanya, he's just like the other guys. Puro kabalastugan lang din naman ang alam and who knows, may pa-nice to know you pa siyang nalalaman and I wouldn't even bite it dahil alam ko kung saan na iyon tutuloy—at anong aasahan ko? Magpapa-fall naman kaagad ako?

Duh.

That would never happen.

I have my eyes on Korg and it will always be.

But thanks to Alec, alam ko na kung saan ko hahanapin si Korg. Tumuloy naman ako diretsyo papunta parking lot and luckily to found the one and only red Ferrari parked on his special lot.

Tuloy-tuloy lang ang lakad ko at dahil tinted ang salamin ay hindi ko sure kung nasa loob ba siya ng sasakyan niya pero agad din naman akong napatigil sa paglalakad ko ng makita kong bumukas ang pinto and the girl came out of it. Sunod din namang lumabas si Korg at salubong ang mga kilay nito.

Mukhang hindi maganda ang timpla ni Korg.

Nagtago naman ako sa ilang sasakyan at tinanaw silang dalawa. I have no idea what they were talking about pero mukhang hindi maganda iyon dahil hindi maganda ang mga sagot ni Korg dito—it feels like the girl is trying to convince Korg but he isn't liking it very well. Kung ako rin naman ang nasa posisyon niya, maiinis din ako at the same time of hating her, what could possibly another reason, huh?

The girl were reaching his shoulders pero inaalis naman niya ito at inilalayo ang sarili sa babae. This is not a good scene if you're in it pero mukhang kailangan ko ng popcorn but then syempre, hindi ko kayang makitang in the state of anger si Korg.

He's hot though pero ayokong lagi siyang galit.

The girl finally come to reach and hugged him.

Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdam sa ginawa niya. Seeing them totally in touch with each other, gusto kong masuka pero nanatili ang mga mata kong pinagmamasdan kung paano magmakaawa ang mga mata ng babae kay Korg.

Does she always like this? Always making a scene?

Hindi naman siguro requirement iyon sa pagiging model diba?

Mukhang bagay siya sa Drama club.

He pushed her away from him, nakayuko lamang ang babae at hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko sa kanya. Mabilis namang bumalik sa loob ng sasakyan si Korg and without any hindrances, agad niyang pinatakbo ang sasakyan niya.

Muli naman akong napatingin sa hawak kong Tupperware. You were supposed to be on Korg's hand pero anong nangyari? Hindi ka man lang niya nahawakan.

Sunod na lamang nangyari ay ang pag-alis ni girl sa kitatayuan niya at sumakay ito sa kanyang kotse. She drive, huh. I watched her drove away, susundan niya ba si Korg? Bakit ba ang drama niya at hindi na lang tanggapin na ayaw na siya ni Korg.

I don't know the story but it feels like she was trying to be with him again.

Bagsak ang balikat ko at umalis ako ng parking lot. Bago ko marating ang school bus ay nakasalubong ko naman si Gell. Inabot ko na lang din sa kanya ang Tupperware at naglakad palayo sa kanya, she also called me back kung para saan iyon saka ko siya muling hinarap.

"Pakibalik na lang din iyong Tupperware, magwawala ng mother ko kapag hindi naibalik..." aniko at tumalikod sa kanya, "bye." I waved at her and ran to the school bus.

The driver greeted me dahil hindi ako late, walang gana ko naman siyang nginitian at naupo na lang sa front seat.

Until I reach home, halos bagsak ang katawan ko...

Nakakawalang gana.

But then one text, cheer me up.

Korg:

Hey... thanks for the graham, sorry for ignoring you. See you around.

And that's save the day.