They say your first love will feel like your last, but your last love will feel like your first. When Serena Devon Vergara hears the phrase "first love," there's only one name that comes to mind: Oliver Niel Lim Maniego.
But Onli is nothing but a di...
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Chapter 04
I doodled cute cats on my notes and crashed out almost anything that I'd written. Unlike other times ay maraming nanunuod ng debate ngayong araw, despite it only a subject requirement at hindi school event.
Panay ang tapon ko ng masasamang tingin kay Onli at sa tuwing nagtatama ang aming mga mata ay sumisilay ang nakakainis na ngiti sa kanyang labi.
I couldn't hear the adjudicator right now because my mind was consumed with how Onli laid out all their rebuttals perfectly. Their house, the government, started weak as their prime minister failed to open their case properly, but things took a turn when Onli, the government whip, began to speak. Kanina ay confident ako na kami ang mananalo and now I'm having doubts.
"The best speaker is government whip," anunsyo ng adjudicator, referring to Onli. Nanlilisik ang mga matang napatingin ako sa kanya but he only smiled at me. Mas lalo pa akong nainis dahil umugong ang palakpakan. Bakit ba may mga babae rito? Wala ba silang klase at dito sa AVR sila nakatambay?
Hindi ko na narinig pa ang ibang sinabi ng adjudicator hanggang sa inanunsyo na sila rin ang nanalo. Hanggang sa nakabalik na ako sa upuan ay naiinis pa rin ako. I had so many regrets. Dapat ba naging opposition whip na lang din ako? But I believe being the first speaker is a good move. Having a strong leader of the opposition would bring our team to victory. Kung ibang pagkakataon ay baka ganoon nga ang mangyayari, but then here come's Onli. Panira talaga.
Nang makabalik si Onli sa upuan niya ay panay pa rin ang tapon ko ng masasamang tingin sa kanya. He moved his chair closer to mine at nginitian ako.
"What?" tanong ko. "Stop grinning at me."
"Mukhang hindi ka satisfied sa resulta ng debate," sabi niya.
I rolled my eyes. Hindi naman sa hindi ako satisfied, I have to admit that Onli has actually properly supported their house. Their arguments and rebuttals were so good kaya nakakainis at nakapanghihinayang. Surely, we were the underdog kanina but I won't admit that to him! Huh, never! Over my dead body.
"It was rigged," sabi ko sabay iwas ng tingin. "Tingin ko unfair ang adjudicator."
Nakangiti pa rin siya. "Really?"
"Without strict government oversight, we could unleash uncontrollable and potentially harmful AI systems upon the world. You cannot change my mind," mahinang sabi ko sa kanya dahil nagsisimula na ang sunod na teams na nagdedebate.
Umayos siya ng upo matapos iharap ang upuan sa akin. "By imposing strict regulations, we risk hindering progress and losing our competitive edge on the global stage."
Pinanlisikan ko siya ng mata at gusto ko na siyang ratratin ng kung anu-anong argumento, but of course that would make me the loser kaya nagkunwari na lamang akong abala.
"I don't have time to argue with your...your nonsense arguments." I motioned my hand as if binubugaw ko siya. "Shoo, dun ka na sa mga bebegirls mong for sure ay nagka-cutting classes."
