THE SPORTS Fest event held for the past consecutive days was a total success. There's also a time for us to celebrate because our team ranked second place in the overall championship.

It's Saturday and I don't have nothing to do for today, kaya pagkatapos mag-breakfast ay deretso ulit ako sa kuwarto ko sa itaas.

While rubbing the chubby belly of my cat, Mr. Ginger, I'm just browsing some posts on my Facebook newsfeed when a photo posted by Jyrah appeared from the yesterday's event. It was taken during the awarding ceremony inside the school gymnasium.

It was a group photo of her teammates and classmates while they were rejoicing after receiving the awards. And out of all the people there, I noticed a guy who is standing adjacent to Jyrah, which made my eyes squinted once again.

Well, he's the guy who gave a bouquet of flowers to her after winning This guy has dark-blue denim jacket, with a tall physique, jet-black permed hair, and dark skin complexion.

I clicked the screen once more on my laptop and saw the name tagged on that picture.

With a bored-as-heck face while sitting at my bed, I clicked that name and redirected to Trent Iverson Araneta's profile. And I suddenly choked after seeing his profile picture.

Parang nanliit ako sa sarili ko sa picture niya. Kinuhanan kasi iyon sa isang beach kasi may dagat at palm trees sa background. And then, he's also wearing a floral Hawaiian polo shirt which are unbuttoned. Amd I admit that he looked cool with his shades. Plus, that post garnered over 500 likes and reactions. How I wonder he's too famous inside the campus. Except that I don't know him.

I admit, malakas talaga ang appeal niya kaysa sa... mukhang scarecrow na katulad ko. Clear skin, lean physique. Kung sigurong ipagtatabi kami, magmumukha akong patatas. I wonder why Jyrah's eyes are gleaming after receiving those flowers.

I continued browsing, searching, and scanning on Trent's Facebook posts which composed of different photos of himself. Well, most of them were in public. He really looked dashing with his looks. Sa totoo lang ay puwede siyang maging supermodel sa hitsura niya. Ano naman kaya panama ko na isang total failure?

Mukhang tino-torture ko na lang ang sarili ko habang tinitingnan pa ang posts niya. May nakita pa nga ako na na-post pa last year kung saan kasama niya si Jyrah habang kumakain sa restaurant. All I can say that they are really compatible for each other; they were the ones who will unlikely develop to each other.

"I'm indeed hopeless," I muttered to myself after seeing their photo together. Ano ba ang binatbat ko sa kaniya? Wala na rin naman akong pag-asa kay Jyrah.

I then captured a screenshot of Trent's profile and sent it to Onemig who is also online that time. Kagabi pa pagkagaling sa school ay tuloy-tuloy lang ang pag-uusap namin tungkol sa lalaking lumapit kay Jyrah at nagbigay ng flowers sa kaniya.

A few moments later, he replied.

Onemig:
Naku, kabahan ka na, Lorenzo. Nahanap mo na ang katapat mo.

I surely do. The way they look yesterday really pinched my heart.

Onemig:
Kung ako sa iyo, you need to make a move. Baka kunin ng ibang king ang queen mo kung hindi ka pa gagalaw.

Wow, thanks for that chess reference, Onemig. But how can I make a move? E, kung sa simula pa lang, ako na ang talo?

Jyrah is unreachable. She's like the sun and I am the earth--she may seem close yet she's really far to reach--like 149,597,870 kilometers away.

---

It's Monday again--my most hated day in the seven-day calendar week. But the school returned to normal as I came into the campus. Although some remnants from the event last Saturday still linger like the banners and other decorations.

Pero wala, eh. Kailangan nang pumasok and it's back to reality especially that exams are approaching once again. I still have projects to do for the following days lalo na at malapit na ang mga deadline nila.

I entered the classroom with a bored-as-heck face at saka umupo sa usual spot ko--sa may bandang likod at katabi ng bintana. As usual ay madadatnan ko na ang iba kong classmates sa mga usual nilang ginagawa. Buti nga at hindi na nagpapansinan sina Arlo at Chino na nasa magkabilaang row ng inuupuan. And for sure, if they interacted, it would be a catalyst for disaster.

Napatingin na lang ako sa bintana ng katapat na pinto ng classroom namin habang nakalumbaba nang makita kong dumaan pa si Trent. I suddenly felt ominous winds coming after that.

Based on some information coming from my sources, Trent was a Dean's lister last year and has one of the highest GWA in our department. After that, he recently joined a robotics tournament and won the first place. Balita ko ngang ilalaban din siya next year sa ibang bansa. Oh, well... siya na. Siya na talaga.

---

It was lunch break and I decided to buy food outside the campus. While waiting for my sisig rice at a food stall inside the compound, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Sa hawak na iyon, alam na alam ko na kung sino iyon.

"What's up, Mehn?" Onemig greeted with an enigmatic voice. I noticed that he's also holding a small plastic bag of shawarma that he bought from the nearby stall. Kahit kailan talaga ay hinding-hindi mawawala ang pagiging hyper nito. 

"Hey!" I greeted back with an awkward stare while hearing the sizzling sound of rice being mixed.

"Kumusta na ang binata natin? Kumusta na si Trent?" I coughed when I heard that name from him. He really loves torturing me, eh?

"I'm sorry but he cannot be reached." That were the words I've said with a tinge of bitterness. I should accept the fact that I do not belong to their social stratum.

"Naku naman, iyan na naman tayo, e." He then scratched his semi-bald head. But he just cut our conversation, "Anyway..."

"Pinapupunta ka nina Mama sa Saturday." From focusing on the satisfying scraping and mixing of food in front, I suddenly averted my gaze to Onemig.

"Para saan?" I asked with my eyebrows furrowed.

"Gusto ka raw nilang ma-meet. Alam mo bang tuwang-tuwa sila sa iyo noong bumisita ka sa amin noong birthday ko?" Wait, what? Are they inviting me?

"Hala... nakakahiya." I suddenly felt uneasy. Para saan ba? Ano'ng mayroon?

But Onemig just grabbed by shoulders and slightly shook me.

"Okay lang iyan! At saka ngayon lang kasi nagka-time."

Napag-isip-isip tuloy ako kung sasama ba ako o hindi. Pero nakakahiya naman, kasi sila pa 'yong nag-set para sa akin.

"So, ano... G?" Onemig grinned while waiting for my response.

But I just gave him an awkward and bored look before grabbing the food I ordered which was placed in a paper bowl. 

"We'll see? Tingnan ko schedule ko that day." That's what I've said to him, considering the fact na nagkalat lang ako sa kanila. Tapos natulog pa ako roon nang lasing. Goodness gracious, may mukha pa ba akong ihaharap sa kanila?

-30-