An Old Summer Daydream (Old Summer Trilogy #1)

14

YORI

"On the opposition, we have Estella Nataleigh V. Martinez."

Grade 7. It was my first time in a debate competition. I studied in a Science High School na sobrang competitive. Hindi naman dapat ako kasali rito, but I was the number one in the batch, kaya pinilit nila akong sumali.

Studying was something I was good at. No... I could be good at anything if I put my mind to it. Focusing on things was never hard for me. Kailangan ko lang palagi ng extra effort. Pinasok nila ako sa debate, so I made an effort to do well. 

I cannot be average. I had to be the best. Mom said I could only be with her in Japan when I finally became successful enough. Mom said I should do well. Dad also put a lot of hope in me before he died. He said I was a very smart kid and I could do anything I wanted because I was never hard to teach as a child. 

And I won. 

I held the trophy in my hand, but I could not even smile for the camera because... that kid was crying. The girl from the opposition. She was crying backstage. 

Pagkatapos ng awarding, bumaba na ako sa stage at pumunta sa likod. She was seated on a chair, covering her face. 

I never knew winning could make me feel so bad. 

Huminto ako sa harapan niya at inabot sa kanya ang trophy ko para tumigil na siya kaka-iyak niya. When she saw me, istead of stopping, she cried louder. Napakunot ang noo ko at tumingin sa paligid.

"At pinagyayabang mo pa sa akin, huh?!" galit na singhal niya sa akin. "Ang yabang-yabang mo! Tatalunin kita next year! Promise!" Tumayo siya at mabilis na naglakad paalis. 

I blinked twice, surprised. Bakit siya nagagalit? 

Grade 8. She really kept her promise. Natalo niya ako, but it was not a big deal to me... yet. She was smirking at me the whole time, and it pissed me off. I became more competitive because of her. Iyong mayabang niyang expression, wala na 'yan next year. Mapapalitan na ulit 'yan ng ngumangawa niyang mukha. 

"Pinagbigyan lang kita," sabi niya noong in-announce ang winner. Grade 9 'yon. Hindi na siya umiiyak. She just looked more determined when she lost. "Huwag kang pakampante. Aagawin ko rin 'yang trophy next year." 

I scoffed. What the heck? May ganito pala talagang tao. 

"You lost. That's it. End of story," sabi ko sa kanya. "Loser." 

"Ano'ng sabi mo, ha?!" Napatakip ako sa tainga ko dahil sa sigaw niya. Namumula na ang mukha niya sa sobrang galit. "Tingnan mo lang next year! Wala na 'yang yabang mo!" 

"Pagbigyan na lang din kita next year. Kawawa ka naman," sabi ko bago ako umalis.

Grade 10. Hindi ko siya pinagbigyan, pero natalo niya ako. Tuwang-tuwa siya noon. Parang mas natuwa pa siyang natalo niya ako kaysa sa fact na champion siya ng debate competition. 

"Luluhod ka muna sa harapan ko at magmamakaawa bago mo ako matalo."

Ang pangit ng ugali niya. 

I got a scholarship from Heinrich Senior High School. Number one ako sa batch namin kaya madali lang akong na-accept. Wala pa ang magulang ko. HUMSS ang kinuha ko kasi hindi pa ako sure kung tutuloy ako sa Electronics Engineering o kung gusto ko bang maging diplomat. Makakatulong din 'yong strand para sa debate. Kapag nanalo ako roon, automatic na pasok na ako sa first choice program ko at sa dream university ko. Magulo talaga ang isipan ko noong Grade 10. I didn't know which career to pursue, or if I would prefer studying in Japan. Hindi ko alam.