CHAPTER 7: SPORTS

Isang linggo na ang lumipas nang mangyari ang insidenteng iyon. Inihanda ko ang sarili sa pagpasok. Baka sakaling marinig ko sa hallway ang lahat na sumisigaw ng pangalan ko bilang isa sa mga suspek. But to my surprise, this day was just a normal day.

Bert greeted me casually. Pinalayas ni Carol si Henry na nasa left side ko at lumipat siya roon para magkatabi na kaming tatlo. Nasa front seat naman namin sina Bert at Kale na kasalukuyang iniinis si Carol dahil ang maldita. Kawawa naman si Henry. He has no choice but to sit at the broken desk.

"Doncha worry, Camster. Friend ko naman si Henry. Uy, subscribe ka sa account ko pala."

They acted like nothing happened but I know deep inside, they are still thinking how my name appeared on the list. Akala ko iiwasan nila ako pero hindi, they still stayed.

"Nasaan si Jade?"

Kale checked the time. "Sa Spanish Class lang natin siya magiging kaklase. Archi.  iyon."

I formed an 'oh' in my lips. Bahagyang lumaki ang mata ko sa nalaman. They chuckled at my reaction. Akala ko kasi english major din. "Ang cool naman."

Leslie groaned. "Sige na, kain na tayo. Alam niyo bang may Food Park na itinayo sa tapat ng Engineering Department? Tara na! Cammy? Bert?"

Napataas ako ng kamay at umiling. Ubos agad ang pera ko kapag kasama si Angeline. Kahit hindi gutom ay natatakam pa rin ako palaging nahahawa na bumili. Siya 'yong tipo na kailangan kong iwasan dahil lugi ang bulsa ko–

"May matcha sila, Camster!"

My ears rang at what Carol said. Gago, I'm sold. I really want a drink and the scorching heat of the sun has been killing me.

"Heh ka riyan. Pagkain ba talaga, Lee?" asar ni Bert.

"Oo nga, sus ginawa pang rason ang Food Park. Ang takaw takaw pa ta's naghu-hunt lang pala ng engi–"

Leslie smiled sweetly and raised her hand to choke the hell out of these two but Carol suddenly gasped and screamed. Napalunok si Bert at Kale at umatras. Saved by the scream.

"May away sa field!"

Ngumiwi ako. Para naman silang mga bata. Halos lahat ng classmates ko ay dali-daling pumunta sa labas para tingnan.

"Sino?" seryosong tanong ni Leslie.

"OMG! Si David at Mourish! Tara!"

Leslie and Carol suddenly ran off and left the three of us.

"Kale, sino 'yong David at Mourish?"

Pamilyar sila sa akin pero hindi ko na maalala.

He laughed and I unconsciously stared at his charming dimples. "Iyong dalawang heartthrob. Si Mourish, Captain ng basketball team ta's si David naman ang Captain sa soccer team. Saan ka interesado?"

I shivered. "Wala. 'Di ako mahilig sa sports."

Napahalakhak naman si Bert. Problema nito? He suddenly pointed at the door. "Incoming."

Ilang segundo ay may humahangos na babae na sumulpot sa classroom namin. Nagulat ako nang hinila ni Jade 'yong kamay ko. "Let's go! Ang layo ng tinakbo ko para rito."

"But Jade!"

I can't stop her! She's like a raging bull aiming for the red flag! Ang lakas nang loob dahil naka-trousers samantalang hirap na hirap akong tumakbo sa skirt. I just found myself standing in the soccer field with Jade still gripping my arm. Teka, ba't nasa unahan kami? VIP lang? Nagpumiglas ako at nag-panic dahil may trauma ako sa bola. Hala, baka matamaan ako!

Natanaw ko sina Carol at Leslie na may kausap na babae at lalaki. Pero base sa reaksyon nila ay hindi ko alam kung usap ba talaga iyon o nagbabardagulan na sila. Knowing them, it would probably be the latter. Gago! What the heck is going on? Beside them, Mourish and David are facing each other,

Ang sama ng tingin ni Mourish habang naka-poker face lamang si David.

"What are you doing here?" David asks coldly.

Pinaglaruan ni David ang bola sa kanyang paa habang galit na galit si Mourish. "You bastard!"

I clutched my chest and looked around. Nakatuon silang lahat sa eksena ng nagaganap sa field. Jade was eyeing them carefully and I took that moment to separate her hand from my arm.

"Anong ginawa mo kay Orly?! He quitted basketball and joined your shitty game!"

David grins. "Oh, him. As a Team Captain, I can't help but to admire his skills. Your boy has been itching to kick some balls rather than throwing them. It'll be a waste if he's stuck with you playing basketball." David's jaw tightened. "A small piece of advice, Mourish. You're trapping him, let him decide–"

I can clearly see the veins of Mourish in his senses. He's furious. "You fucker!"

Akmang lalapit na sana si Mourish na may yukom na kamao nang sinipa ni David 'yong bola pataas. Napunta roon ang atensyon nila at walang humpay akong sumigaw. I screamed so hard and ditched Jade there while running as fast as I could.

Napahinto ako sa kakapusan ng hininga at napasandal sa pader. Damn, I better work on my cardio. I was still panting while leaning against the pillar when I heard a noise. Such footsteps scream danger.

Witches...

"Oh em gee, ang mala-ugat na kamay ni Mourish. Siguro palagi siyang– Huy!"

"Duh, wala siya kay David, like the way he kicks the ball! Sana nagging bola nalang ako."

I frowned at her statement and imagined Cassie being kicked by the ball. I mean, that would be satisfying.

"Girl, ang putla ng David na 'yon, parang bangkay. Isn't ironic, bilad siya sa araw ngunit ang putla pa rin."

"Stop it! Both of you. Naririndi na ako sa boses niyo!"

As if on cue, I rolled my eyes. I sighed heavily while watching them pass by while going up the stairs. I bored my eyes at Starina's back– No, my eyes locked with her from the strands of her foreign hair, down to her soles.

"I'm thinking of a plan. Ta's ang iingay niyo. You see if only I did that—"

Oh, Starina, Starina... Known for her cunning and manipulative ways, had been causing trouble for me and especially my friends for far too long.

As I stared at Starina until her shadows were gone, a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Two can play a game if she still attempts to ruin my life.

–

"Cammy dude, una na ako sa inyo ah?" Niyukom ni Kale ang kanyang kamao at nakipag-fist bump sa akin at pati na rin kay Bert.

He laughed. "Kayo na ang bahala kung saang lupalop ang dalawang iyon na napadpad."

Hilaw akong ngumiti habang napakamot sa pisngi. Maingat akong humakbang patalikod nang humarang si Bert. "Hep. Hep. Saan ka?"

I groaned. "Berto naman! Ite-text nalang natin sila na umuna na tayo."

"Malapit na iyon saka–"

Natahimik kami nang may isang instructor na papunta sa direksyon namin. I'm not sure if kami ba ang sadya nito pero huminto siya sa harapan namin. "Thank goodness, naabutan ko kayo!"

"Magandang hapon po, Miss Alice," Bert muttered.

Si Miss Alice pala ito. Ang instructor namin sa CC 126, which is Semantics. She showed us a key in hand and gave it to me. "Please, please, I really need your help. Sa Speechlab, pwede paki-arrange ng chairs at linis na rin? You just need to take a super quick sweep at iyon lang. Kumbaga parang retouch lang saka iyong chairs na make sure na naka-align. Late na kasi ako para sa Night Class schedule. Tell you what, we won't be having our Prelims and project-based na ang Finals niyo, is that okay? I know you guys are having a hard time sa ibang Major courses niyo and I'll adjust. Thank you so much!"

Napaawang ang bibig ko at hindi ko agad naintindihan ang sinabi ni Miss Alice. Hala, teka lang, paki-ulit nga? She waved her hand and thanked us again while running back downstairs. Napalunok ako at nanghihinang nakatingin sa susi na bitbit. At bago pa na tumakas si Bert ay hinila ko siya.

"Cammy ang dilim na!"

"Ayan ang napala natin! Itext mo sila na nasa Speechlab tayo. Samahan mo 'ko rito 'kundi hihilain ko iyang septum mo nang wala sa oras." Bert gasped and covered his nose with his one hand exaggeratedly.

Pagpasok namin sa Speechlab ay tumayo ang balahibo ko sa batok dahil sa lamig. Ang tahimik at tanging naririnig namin ay ang aircon at yabag ng aming mga paa. I was in the middle of arranging the chairs while Bert swept the floor. Biglang bumukas ang pinto. It created a small creaking sound as Leslie and Carol were there, looking at us.

Bert and I sighed in relief. "Uy–"

Eh? Eh? My mouth fell and couldn't believe what my treacherous friends did. Ngumiti silang dalawa bago kumaripas ng takbo at iniwan kami. Gago! I could truly see their true colors as I imagined if we were in a zombie apocalypse. Zombie na siguro kami ngayon ni Bert.

"May araw din kayo!" sigaw ni Bert.

He looked at me. "Huwag nating sabihin na wala tayong Prelims para mag-effort silang mag-aral ta's ang ending wala pala. Boom!"

"That's cruel. Anyway, we better get going."

Naghabulan kami ni Bert at nagmamadaling ni-lock ang Speechlab. Bukas ko na ibabalik kay Miss Alice ang susi. Sana 'di ko makalimutan. Tahimik kaming lumiko ni Bert sa hallway ng library at dumaan sa gitna ng oval. Pagkatapos ay dumiretso kami sa panghuling building bago matanaw ang gate.

May naramdaman akong kakaibang presensya kaya napatigil ako sa paglalakad. Natarantang tumingin sa akin si Bert at lumapit.

"Cammy? Dali na, it's getting dark and cold."

Umiling ako at tumingin sa gilid. Ito ang Gym. May tao ba? Or may nagpa-practice?

"May tao riyan?" Turo ko.

"Edi umalis na tayo! Cammy delikado, baka kung ano ang mangyari sa 'tin!"

Binatukan ko ang loko. "Walang mangyayari. Tara silipin natin kung may tao ba roon."

"Natatakot ako! Baka may multo riyan."

I grabbed his sleeves pero nagpumiglas siya. "Dito lang ako sa gilid, silipin mo lang sa loob. Tawagan mo ako pagkatapos."

Pero huminto ako. Paano kung 'yong killer ang nasa loob? Bawat hakbang ko ay ang lalim nang aking hininga.

I took a peek.

It was Mourish playing alone.

Agad kong hinila si Bert. "Walang tao. Tara na baka may multo nga."

We looked like fools running and racing to the exit.

--

BlueDisorder

revised version

inklog's note:

hello, my capsules. thoughts? /sips tea/