Chapter 22

Decathlon

I was still not sure how Lathomia gave me those words. Wala naman kasi akong against sa kanya, I really don't know her—to judge the way she is pero ang hindi ko lang maintindihan ngayon. She was trying to put off limits between me and Korg. With all the reasons, siya naman ang nilalayuan ni Korg and she was saying that she was still his girlfriend, nagkakalokohan na tayo dito.

Mag-isa naman ako ngayon sa library, iniwan ako ni Pee shooter para makapag-practice siya mamaya sa audition. Nagpapalipas ako ng oras habang sinasagutan ko ang homeworks namin. Masyadong occupied ang pag-iisip ko kaya napunta na lang sa ganitong gawain and another thing, wala pa rin akong piece para sa audition mamaya.

I was told to prepare, paulit-ulit na sinabi nila Bella at Pee shooter iyon. It could be a song of my choice, o kaya naman isang act from a movie scene. Those options were practiceable at kung tutuusin ay magagawan naman talaga ng paraan but the problem is, I don't have any song choice and an act scene.

After answering all my homeworks, I used the library's computer to search some song piece I can use for the auditon and if that didn't go well, I also searched some scenes and watched it para ma-familiarize ako but while watching it, hindi maipinta ang mukha ko at nakangiwi lang ako habang pinapanood ko iyon.

Maybe I should stick to singing. Baka doon, malaki ang chance ko.

While listening, someone grabbed my shoulder behind my back, in result, dahil naka-headset ako, napasigaw ako nang malakas sa library and to notice that was loud, lahat nang mga estudyante ay sa akin nakatingin. Even the librarian held her glare on my direction at hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagsisigaw ko.

And when I turned to shift my attention sa taong nanggulat sa akin. The only thing I could do was to roll my eyes on him. Saka ko siya muling tinalikuran at bumalik ang mga mata sa harap ng screen.

But then he move me and face me with him. Tiningnan ko lang siya, I was still embarrassed by the thing he did. He removed my headset and placed it back on the shelf.

His lips were slightly curved that hinted he enjoyed the scene earlier.

"Hindi ka ba magso-sorry?" I said in low tone but in very anger one.

Instead he laugh and ignore my question.

Iikot ko na sana muli ang sarili ko but then he stopped me.

I crossed my arms and raised a brow on him.

"What do you want, Alec?"

He smirked, "sorry to make you surprised," he said but still, I wasn't satisfied. "I just need to see you..."

Napakunot-noo naman ako sa sinabi niya, "why? Why would you need to see me?"

He shrugged off his shoulder, unsure of his response, "to see if it was really you, masyado ka kasing tutok na tutok sa screen, ano bang ginagawa mo?"

Agad naman akong umiling sa kanya, "it is not your business."

"Why wouldn't it be my business?"

"We're not that close." I hastily said at natihimik naman siya bigla but I need to save the moment dahil nakita ko sa reaction na medyo na-offend siya doon, "hey, it doesn't mean like that..."

He nodded, but all his smiles were gone. Hindi naman ako harsh sa pagsasalita but he's joy mood had gone somewhere. "That's okay, I know that, I'm just trying to be friend with you."

But I didn't say any response, baka kung ano pang masabi ko.

"What do you see in Korg?" he asked, I got curious by the way he speaks up about it.

"Why would you ask?"

"Don't know, I just wanna know..." he said, "I know you like him, that's no wonder."

My eyes widened by his words, napa-uwang ang bibig ko sa sinabi niya, halos wala ring preno kung magsalita. "Pa'no mo nasabi 'yan? H-Hindi ko gusto si Korg 'no."

He smirked, "don't deny it, Alex. By the way you look at him, it says all in your head."

Brain.

"But you're wrong, Alec."

"I hope I am." Aniya, "'Cause I'm hoping it is."

Tumayos si Alec sa kinauupuan niya at tumalikod sa akin saka tuluyang umalis. Napaisip naman ako sa nangyari at sinabi niya sa akin. Does it say any hidden message? Kasi kung tutuusin, medyo naiintindihan ko naman ang sinabi niya, but he was hoping for what?

Nakakaintriga tuloy.

Bumalika ko sa harapan ng computer. My attention were out of focus, nawala ako sa concentration. I just searched a song lyrics and then printed on the librarian's desk. I almost snobbed her presence when she talked to me, I snapped out of my senses and look at her.

"You have a warning, Miss Carreon." She said.

I nod my head, "sorry Ma'am, hindi na po mauulit."

She also give me a nod at inabot sa akin ang papel na pina-print ko. "You should know better Miss Carreon, boys are boys."

Napakunot-noo naman ako sa sinabi niya, "ano pong ibigsabihin no'n?"

But instead to answer me, nginitian lang ako nito. "If you are going now, better go... and please remind yourself again that this is a library, okay?"

"Okay, Ma'am. Noted po."

I left the library at tiningnan ko ang relos at fifteen minutes na lang before the start of the audition at ito pa rin ako ngayon, hindi prepared at kung saan-saan tumatakbo ang isipan.

Patungo na ako sa kabilang building kung nasaan ang Drama Club. While walking the hallway towards the next building, I was bound to see Korg on his locker. Mag-isa lang siya at may nilalagay siya sa loob at may kinuha rin naman. Binilisan ko naman ang paglalakad ko para maabutan ko siya roon.

I stopped when I reached him, hindi naman niya ako napansing nakatayo sa tabi niya until he closed his locker and notice my presence standing beside him. Tiningnan niya naman ako, he smiled but it doesn't last for a few seconds parang dumaan lang si flash sa labi niya.

Aalis na sana siya sa harapan ko pero pinigilan ko siya, hinawakan ko ang braso niya at tiningnan naman niya ako dahil sa ginawa ko. I could smell his perfume, sobrang nakakalalaki ang amoy niya but I took my senses out of it, at tiningnan siya sa kanyang mga mata.

"What is it, Alex?" he said—also, saying my name.

I lose my hands on him, "I just wanted to ask."

His forehead creased.

"Is there a problem?"

He smirked, "is there is, Alex? Why would you ask that?"

I shrugged off, "maybe, because of Lathomia?"

"What do you know about her, really? And did Alec told you anything about us?"

Ngiwi na lang din ang nagawa ko, napakamot pa ako sa ulo ko dahil malalagot naman ako kay Alec kapag sinabi ko ang totoo, but I don't wanna lie infront of Korg kaya in the end, umamin ako sa kanya—just by nodding, and I heard him sighs.

"Whatever he tells you, just forget about it."

"Please, don't be offended but why would you keep ignoring her? Kasi, I feel the same way..." nanlaki naman ang mata ko sa sinabi ko, "don't mind iyong sinabi ko, you don't need to answer me, but thanks anyway."

I was just about to leave when he gripped his hands on my arms.

Siya naman ang pumigil sa akin this time.

"She's nothing to me now, Alex. And if you're thinking that I'm too wicked for treating her. I know she deserved it that way."

"She told me earlier to stay away from you."

"What?!" and there's a little bit of surprise ni his tone, "why would she say that?"

Napakibit balikat naman ako sa tanong niya, "she just told me and leave me with those words."

He smirked, "I'll talk to her."

"No, hindi na, Korg."

He shook his head, disagreeing, "she couldn't say that to anyone else because she can. She knows our relationship has ended long time ago..." he grunted, "I just can't take this anymore..."

"Don't do anything that would harm you, Korg..."

And he just look me in the eyes.

"Miss Carreon!" mabilis naming napunta ang atensyon namin ni Korg kay Miss Keltz na siyang papalapit sa amin, "good thing na nakita kita ngayon!" aniya at saka ito nakalapit sa amin, nginitian niya rin naman si Korg na kasama ko.

"Ano pong meron, Miss Keltz?"

"Yes, have you decided yet?" tanong nito sa akin.

Napakunot noo naman ako, "saan po?"

"Decathlon Team, remember?" aniya.

Napatango naman ako sa sinabi niya, "actually, hindi pa po dahil—" hindi ko pa man natatapos ang sasabihin ko nang abutin niya ang kamay ko.

"If this can make you change your mind, Miss Carreon, sumama ka sa akin ngayon."

"Ha? Miss Keltz..." aniko dahil hindi ako pwedeng lumiban sa audition ko.

"Ano, okay lang ba?" hindi na hinintay ni Miss Keltz ang sagot ko, "So, Korg, can I borrow Miss Carreon for a bit?"

He nodded.

Hinatak na ako ni Miss Keltz pero muli akong tinawag ni Korg kaya natigil kaming dalawa ni Miss Keltz. Hinintay naman namin si Korg dahil may kinuha pa ito sa kanyang locker, saglit lang ay tumakbo ito palapit sa akin at inabot ang bagay na iyon.

"I forget to give it back," aniya at kinuha ko naman sa kanya ang Tupperware, "Gel told me to give it back because—" pinutol ko rin naman siya sa pagsasalita niya.

"Thank you for this Korg... see you around." Aniko.

Akala ko ay may sasabihin siyang importante sa akin pero ibabalik niya lang pala sa akin ang Tupperware. Though, importante rin naman ito dahil kapag hinanap na ito ni Mother ay tiyak pagbubuntungan niya ako ng sermon niya. Mas mahalaga pa ang buhay ng Tupperware kaysa sa akin, jusmiyo.

Korg also walked away, mukhang pupunta siya sa practice nila sa field. Nalalapit na rin ang kanilang game and I wouldn't miss a chance na mapanood sila.

Nababahala rin naman ako sa pagdala ni Miss Keltz sa akin sa Decathlon Team room. Hindi ko naman masabing may kailangan din akong puntahan dahil sabik na sabik naman siyang maidala niya ako doon.

We reach the room where the Decathlon teams are staying. Bumungad naman sa akin ang mga estudyante and no doubt dahil pagkakita ko pa lamang sa kanilang lahat ay naintimidate kaagad ako dahil sa mga aura nila. More likely, smart and genius students and nabibilang ditto and I find myself so timid at the moment. Karamihan sa kanila ay naka-reading glass and by determining it, mukhang subsob sila sa pag-aaral. Nito nga lang nakaraan ay hindi ako makapag-focus, dito pa kaya?

"Hi team! I want you to know Alex Carreon," Miss Keltz introduce me infront of them, they greeted me at ngiti na lang din ang naibigay ko. "I asked her if she wants to be part of the Decathlon but she hasn't got any decision yet—but as of now, she's part of the Drama Club, am I right?" nilingon niya ako sakaling pagtatama sa sinabi niya, tumango naman ako para sagutin iyon. "Good thing ay hindi pa naman nagsisimula ang Drama Club and we can still recruit her."

May isang student naman ang nagtaas ng kanyang kamay, Miss Keltz point at her. "If you're going to be with us, handa ka bang iwan ang Drama Club? You might find the Decathlon boring but when we win in every competition, we were recognize by the whole school and other campuses."

"Mebby's, right." Miss Keltz said. "There's a lot of benefits and recognition after every competition, even if the team didn't win, meron pa rin. The boring part will be the reviewing pero hindi mo naman mapapansin na iyon. So, Alex, this is your chance to made up your mind."

"Miss Keltz..." I mumbled.

"We can orient you, Alex, if you want too." Mebby said.

Wala naman akong other choice, "sige..." iyon na lang din ang nasabi ko.

Naupo naman ako at pinanood ko silang lahat. They even introduce themselves at unti-unti naman nawala kahit papaano ang intimidation but the hesitation still lingers around. Alam kong magagalit ang mga kaibigan ko kapag nalaman nilang nandito ako ngayon at wala sa audition.

Pero siguro maiintindihan naman nila ito diba?

I hope so.