Continuation of Chapter 13. 

Gilbert's POV

" Bro! Una na kami." Banggit sa akin ni Vincent. Finally Periodical Exam was done! Tamang titig lang muna rito sa room. I don't know if I'm hallucinating kasi nakikita kong nakaupo si Natasha sa table, nakangiti sa akin. I rubbed my eyes and yes! It's just an hallucination. I gotta admit that I miss her. Badtrip! Bakit ko pa ba kasi binigay yung poem!?

After that I decided na umalis na ako rito at baka hinihintay pa ako sa bahay. I'm walking in the STE hall until a body bumped me.

" Vincent! Kingina!" I shouted. Pero the person wasn't Vincent.

" King and apple! Yung selection sa exam namin sa English!" Palusot ko kay Natasha.

Kanina pa tapos yung exam niya, huh? Bakit pa siya nandito? I finally talked to her and nalaman ko nga na hindi pa pala siya ready pumasok sa serious relationship. I just said to her that it's fine. Hindi naman ako mawawala. I'm always here and always be.

Natatawa nga ako na first time niya pala sumakay ng tricycle! I just want to talk things sa Pares House na lagi naming tinatambayan ng mga friends ko. Buti na lang nag-iipon ako ng pera na nakalagay sa bag ko, Kaya I have the audacity to treat her. It's kinda weird, but I will do anything para bumalik siya sa akin.

Weeks passed, mas lalo ko pa siyang nakilala. I was in the practice, pero dahil naka-babadtrip yung mga groupmates ko-- I just said that let's have a water break muna. I took my phone, naghanap nang papalit sa bad mood ko. I saw her Instagram Story, hindi pala siya marunong magluto ng hotdog! I went to the kitchen. Since sa bahay naman namin nagprapractice yung mga classmates ko.  I showed to my Mom kung tama rin ba yung pag-slice ng hotdog. And I send the picture to her. HAHA!

Minutes passed. She messaged me about the hoodie she borrowed last time nung pumunta kami ng Pares house. Finally! I can meet her. I went outside to resume our practice.

" Guys! Ayos! Para mataas grade natin sa Filipino!" I ordered them. Smiling.

" Naks! Gil. Saya, ha" The first thing I heard coming from Marie. She's so silent that's why. Even tho, nasa school kami or outside the campus.

" Bro! What happened?" Lance asked.

" Masaya lang 'yan. Huwag niyo nang sirain. Parang awa niyo na." Vincent said.

School days came again, Malapit na pala Sipnayan competition namin pero I don't know the exact date kung kailan, but we need to prepare because we're representing the whole school.

" Joana! Let's go!" Banggit ni Samuel.

I saw she nodded. Joana and Samuel are my classmates. Sila rin yung mga kasama ko for the competition.

We're now in the Math Faculty. Waiting for the Math teacher na magbigay ng mga practice equations.

" Hey! Gil, nasagutan mo ba yung paper na binigay kahapon?" Joana asked wiping her glasses.

" Yeah! Pero hanggang number 4 lang. Nakakalito number 5 eh," I replied. I showed to her my paper.

She laughed " Sabi na, tama talaga yung number 4 ko"

" Huh?" I asked " Mas magaling ka nga sa akin"

I heard her laugh.

I saw the Grade 8 Representatives are walking inside the room. Oh! I see Ashley's joining. I might tease Vincent later for not joining this competition.

The Review was already done. Bumalik na kami sa room para kunin yung bag. Sht! Nandito agad mga Grade 10? Agh! Too shy to enter. Pero buti na lang may kasama ako papasok. After I got my bag. Ashley called me with Natasha's friend too. Resbak ba 'to?

I breathed heavily. Wala raw kasama si Natasha to go to the Mall. They told that she will buy a Christmas gift for her Monita. I agreed. I think my schedule was free this Saturday.

I woke up when I heard the rooster! It's already Friday and I need to prepare tomorrow because I'm joining Natasha to buy. I went downstairs nakita kong naka-school uniform na si Ezekiel, my youngest brother.

" Kuya!" He greeted me

" Hi!" I greeted back habang yung towel ko nakasabit sa aking braso.

" Kuya, Can you please be fast? It's already 5:17!" Alora complained. She's my sister. So bali ako talaga panganay, grabeng responsibilty!

" Gege! Kain muna kayo breakfast habang hinihintay niyo pa'ko." I suggested. 

After I took a bath. I wrapped the towel around my waist like I normally do. Nakita kong nanonood na naman si Ezekiel ng favorite cartoons niya ang aga-aga pa.

" Kuya! Paano nakuha 'tong sagot?" I saw Alora holding her mathematics book. Sanay naman na ako na turuan yung mga kapatid ko. God gave me this power kaya I want to share.

" Bawal ba munang mag-sando ako? Or patapusin mo muna ako mag-uniform?" Reklamo ko. " Kahit pasuotin mo lang naman ako ng brief, Alora."

" Yuck, Kuya! Go! Palit na!" She disgustingly replied that made me nod.

I went to my room immediately to changed in school uniform. And I directly went downstairs para ituloy yung tinatanong ng kapatid ko.

" Ah! Gano'n pala 'yon!" She proudly shouted " Bakit kapag ikaw nagtuturo, ang dali-dali lang!"

I smirked, "Ako lang 'to!"

" Aish! Let's go na!" She said

" Hey! Let's go, Ezekiel." I ordered to my younger brother. I took his strolley bag and his lunch bag.

I first dropped Ezekiel at his school, followed by Alora.

" How's the day, Kuya Guard?" I asked.

" Ayos lang!" He smiled and I went to my classroom.

We're excused for the whole day because they informed the representatives that tomorrow will be the Sipnayan Competition. I remember, how's Natasha?

It's already evening when I went home. Hindi ko na naabutan si Natasha umuwi dahil mas nauna sila makaalis.

" Gil! Paano na 'yan?" Ashley immediately replied while walking outside the campus

I shrugged " don't know."

And I heard that she's calling to someone that's why I talked to Joana, one of the Grade 9 Representatives na kasama kong lalaban bukas.

" How to backout?" I asked. Mas gusto ko pang pumunta sa Mall kasama si Natasha tomorrow kaysa sa Competition. Maiinis lang naman ako do'n sa mga competitors na palaban.

" Gago ka?" She cursed. Binatukan pa ako.

" Aray!" I held my head " May mahalaga lang akong pupuntahan bukas. As in mahalaga. 100 percent!"

" Taena mo ka ba? Bawal na bumack-out! Lagot ka kay Ma'am!" She cursed again " Atsaka wala ng mas magaling na papalit sa'yo."

" Dali na!" Pagpipilit ko sakaniya. I'm too desperate!

She just ignored me. Agh!

We're now at the gate. Some are waiting for the tricycle to come and some are walking. And I saw Vincent.

" Bro! Good luck tom!" Vincent congratulated me early.

" Bakit ka nandito, bro?" I asked " Eh! Kanina pa tapos class, huh?"

" May susunduin lang HAHA!" He looked to Ashley

" I have a plan, Gil!" Ashley mentioned

Plan for what?

" Diba hindi ka available tomorrow? And also... My Sis will buy gifts for tomorrow?" She asked. Then he had a glimpse of Vincent " Ikaw sumama"

" Ha? A-ako?" Vincent stuttered

I smirked "Nice! Ash."

I just saw Ashley was talking to Vincent that made him agreed.

" Bro, b-basta ingatan mo si Ashley, ha!" He ordered me

" Yea! Sure. Basta we have an agreement na." I crossed my arms.

" Oo na! Basta walang sugat si Natasha." He said

" Boys!" Ashley called our attention " You all are too serious... pero paki-ingatan si Natasha, Vincent. Kakaldugan kita."

" Yes, babe," he said.

" You better go na guys. It's getting cold." I ordered them.

I went home already and I saw Ezekiel playing with Alora.

" Kuya!" Ezekiel suddenly hugged me. I saw Alora crossed her arms.

" Late ka na umuwi!" She said, worried.

" Magrereview pa ako. 'Wag mo na akong sermonan." I replied to Alora. She's too serious, the freak.

" Where's mom?" I asked

" Outside!" Ezekiel suddenly replied that made nod.

I got to admit that I'm nervous as a freak about tomorrow's competition. I called Natasha para mabawasan naman pagka-kaba ko.

" Hello, Darling!" I greeted

[ Hi!!! AAAA] She screamed

" Everything's fine?"

[ Shit! SHIIIIT! I am fi--  SHIIIIT fin-- AAAAA] I heard she's screaming so loud. That simple words made me laugh.

" Take your time to scream"

[ Shot!] She replied

" Finish?" I asked

[ Thank God!]

" I think the answer is yes." I mentioned, " So what happened earlier??"

[ Flying cockroach. I hate it!]

I laughed on the phone " Ipis? Takot ka diyan? HAHA!"

[ Shut up! You psycho!]

" Open your cam, darling."

And I saw her beautiful face. She's still cheering me while I'm reviewing. I just kept it secret na si Vincent yung susundo bukas sa kaniya.

I woke up early because the school will take a private van papunta sa San Francisco Highschool, The Sipnayan Competition Venue.

We came to the court. I saw different school uniforms. And also hindi talaga mawawala yung mga palaban na contestants. I saw my elementary friend na nag-aaral na ngayon sa Batasan.

As usual same set-up. I saw 'Tagisan sa Sipnayan Division Contest' tarpaulin in the stage. The fire inside me is now growing. Let's do this.

My Schoolmates who will compete for the Damath and Rubrics went now to their room. And first is the Individual competition.

The Grade 9 Students went inside the room. I saw their IDs. Sht! Ito na naman yung taga-Lagro na nakalaban ko last year. And I looked on the right. He's in San Bartolome.

" Good Morning!" Bati ng proctor namin "Shake it off! Don't be nervous!"

Minutes passed the exams were done. Medyo nalito lang ako sa part ng Trigonometry. Kaya tinanong ko agad si Joana to make sure.

" Joana!" I called her attention. We're now waiting for the team competition.

She glimpsed on me

" Ano sagot sa Number 21? Yung may Acute Angle?" I asked

" Details, please."

" Wait! Uh!" Remembering " Yung find the value of six... trigonometric values ng Angle B sa 5 - 12 - 13 triangle." I replied

" Ano ba yung hinahanap?" She asked

" Sht!" Thinking " what ratio will be the biggest ata 'yon."

" Naalala ko na." She said. And she got a tissue

And she showed me the whole solution.

" Pinahaba mo lang. 'Yan din sagot ko eh" I replied

" Luh! Ikaw na nga pinakitaan. I-sabotage ko team competition mamaya diyan eh." She teased

" Ge lang! Lagot ka kay Sir. HAHA!"

After we talked. I went to my phone chatting with Vincent.

Gilbert: Bro, where are you?

Vincent: Typing...

seen

Gilbert: 'Ge, bro. Tama 'yan.

Gilbert: hawak ko si Ashley.

Vincent: Oy! Joke lang amp

Vincent: papunta na nga sa bahay nila diba

Vincent: eto na po, boss

Gilbert: the agreement.

And I turned off my phone.

" Matagal pa ba?" I asked Joana.

" Maghintay ka nga diyan, jusko ka!" She replied. I scratched my head.

" Grade 8 Quiz Bee Team will be the next teachers. Kindly assist all the representatives. Thank you." The Emcee teacher spoke on the stage.

" Agh! Grade 8 pa lang." I complained. And I remember Ashley.

"Good luck!" The teachers said. I saw my Grade 8 Math adviser. She's laughing-- that's once in a blue moon.

" Hey! Ash. Goodluck daw sabi ni Vincent." I mentioned " Do your best! Sabi ko naman 'yan."

" Oo na!" She chuckled

The battle of Grade 8 was too fire! Ang gagaling nilang lahat.

" All the school got the correct answer." The Proctor mentioned " For the next question. I will repeat it only twice!"

" A straight line has slope negative 3 and y-intercept zero and four. What is its equation?"

I saw Joana answering the equation in tissue

" Y equals negative three x plus four" I whispered to her.

" Nagsasagot ako, syete ka!" She sarcastically laughed

" For the 2nd Place, We have... Ramon Magsaysay. 1st place... Novaliches. And the Champion. Wala bang drum rolls diyan?" The Proctor said to the musician.

" Medyo maarte, ha." Joana whispered.

" Quezon City Science Highschool!" The proctor mentioned.

Masyadong dikit ang laban! Pero that's fine. Not bad. That's QuSci!

We directly went to the stage after them. Same rules and same time amount per round.

"For the last question" The proctor mentioned.

" A father is three times as old as her daughter. Six years ago, the father's age was six times that of his son." The Proctor continually asked "The question is... How old are they now?"

" Madali lang age prob," I said.

" 3 x, 3x!" Samuel whispered.

" Sa father lang yan!" Joana fired back.

" Hindi pa ako tapos! HAHA!" 

" 10 years old sa son, then si father 30," I suddenly replied.

" Finish!" I saw Joana tapped the pen.

" Tama!" Joana formed a thumbs up!

" Okay! Chalks down. Raise the board." The Proctor ordered.

We got the points! And I saw they're tallying the score now.

" Panalo tayo niyan." Joana mentioned.

" 'Di tayo sure. Masyadong malapit sa Lagro. Baka mag-tie sa first. HAHA!" Samuel laughed.

" Silence!" The proctor said

" For the 2nd Place... San Francisco." I heard the drums coming from them.

" For the 1st place.." I saw the proctor placed his mike back and talked to a teacher.

He went back " We have a tie. So we are having a tiebreaker. Quezon City and Nova please come to the stage again." He ordered

" Goodluck po mga ate at kuya!" The Grade 7 mentioned.

" Galingan, mga anak!" The Mathematics head said to us.

" Taena! Mas lalo akong kinakabahan sa sinasabi nila eh!" Joana suddenly mentioned. I'm nervous too. It's either we got the 1st runner up or National.

" Fighting!" Samuel replied.

" May the best school win!" I suddenly said.

We're now sitting in the chairs.

" Same rules, but you only have 5 questions to answer. And paunahan ito. Good luck both schools." The Proctor ordered us.

" Last question. Kung sino ang unang makataas, we will declared them as the Champion!" The Proctor replied. Buti na lang nakaabot kami kung hindi 3-1 ang mangyayari.

" Guys! Breathe. 'Wag kabahan, amp!" Samuel said while playing the chalk on his hands.

" Walang sisihan no matter what is the result." I said to them.

" Kapag mali nasagot ni Samuel, kakaltukin kita sa ulo!" Then Joana looked at me " Pero kapag ikaw naman Gilbert, isusumbong kita kay Ma'am na gusto mong mag-exit dahil sa.."

" A class has eleven boys and nine girls. " Joana stopped because Proctor suddenly asked the final question. " Two of the students will be selected at random to serve on a committee."

" The question is.." The Proctor looked at us and the Quezon City Sci HS Students " What is the probability that both of the selected students will be girls. Your answers must be in simplest form."

We directly answered the question when the Proctor said the go.

" 11 and 9 so let's conclude that we have 20 students," I said to them.

"The probability of choosing girls is equal to the number of girls," Joana interrupted.

"So 9 over 20," I replied.

"The probability of choosing the second girl equals to the number of remaining girls. Taena!" Joana said. Mukha na siyang natataranta.

" 8 HAHA!" May oras pang tumawa si Samuel. Pathetic.

" 8 over 19," I interrupted them.

" Multiply na, Samuel. Ikaw fast calcu sa ganiyan eh." Joana gave the paper to Samuel with the equations.

I saw the QCSHS Students raised their boards. Aww!

I looked at their boards "72/380,"

" Ay's lang guys. We have next time pa." Joana told to us.

I looked to our teachers. They look frowned except to Sir. The one who taught us. He looked at me and he nod.

I looked again to the board of another school.

" Guys. The rules must be simplest form right?" I asked.

" Shit! Oo nga," Joana cursed.

"Done!" I saw Samuel wrote the answer on board.

" It must be the simplest form, QCSHS!" The proctor replied to their answers.

Joana raised the board with pride.

" The probability of choosing 2 girls is  eighteen over ninety-five." The proctor told us.

" The Champion is Novaliches High School!" The Proctor congratulated us. I looked to Sir and I formed a thumps up!

The competition was already done and I keep texting on my phone. Napagalitan pa nga ako ng head puro raw ako cellphone. I-tretreat pa sana kami ng Faculty of Mathematics kaso nga lang Ashley and I have a plans pa.

" Congrat's Gil! My Sis would be proud!" We're now in front of the National Bookstore waiting for them.

" Yeah." I nod, "And your Vincent too."  

" Tagal nila!" She complained

" Wait! Gonna call him."

I immediately find Vincent's number.

" Bro, Where are you na ba?"

[ Parking na, bro.]

"Okay!" I said " Kumusta si Natasha?"

[ Bro! U-uh]

" Hey! What happened?" My brows furrowed. What happened?

[ Joke lang, bro! Wait coming. Saan na ba kayo?]

" National Bookstore"

[ Ge, National kitaan]

And I met them at National. I stuttered when I saw her. I had plans na I will treat because we got the championship pero in the end, she said na siya na raw. I can't force her naman. She looked beautiful.

Weeks passed and Natasha called me. Nahihirapan daw siya sa mga gawain sa Filipino. I mean sino bang hindi mahihirapan? I told to her na ako na gagawa, simple thing para matulungan ko siya. I even lied to her. Sinabi kong naka-save pa yung mga gawain dito nung grade 8 pa ako pero nope. I mean that's okay for me-- ELC lang naman yung assignment. She even told me that she wanted to overnight here.

Overnight came and I said to her na umupo na lang sa sala at huwag na akong tulungan sa mga gawaing bahay. She even cleaned the table. It's cool seeing her like that. It's already evening. We're watching a movie in the living room. I'm sleepy pero siya buhay na buhay pa rin. Until I heared her soft snored.

I looked him in the face " Such a beautiful, angel."

I brought her to my bedroom. My Mom just found me na buhat-buhat ko si Natasha. I think my mum just went from her work because she was still wearing her nurse uniform.

" Saan mo dadalhin 'yan, Berto?" My Mom whispered

" Mama! Magigising siya!" And I see she went downstairs. Yeah! I brought her upstairs. Magkakaroon na ata ako ng muscles!

"Good night. Have a sweet dream, darling." I caressed her hair. She looked beautiful even tho she's sleeping. Wishing that I could kiss her, but Nah! I can't take advantage of it.

I covered her with my blanket and whispered " I love you, darling."

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♡