Parallel Intersection

Chapter 1

"I can see how the crowd goes wild for candidate number eight!" Pabiro niya akong kinindatan.

Oh, Jess! Maliit na bagay!

"Anyway, please pick your hashtag from our golden bowl!"

I silently bite my tongue while playing with the rolled papers...as if my future depends on here.

Sana nga ganito na lang kadali ang buhay. Iyong tipong bubunutin mo na lang kung ano ang magiging kapalaran mo.

Mas madali iyon. Mas stress free. Less pressure.

I sighed before opening the rolled paper. Jess gave me the mic. He even whispered 'goodluck, ate Jam'.

Mas matanda kasi ako sa kanya ng isang taon.

"Hashtag leadership." I trailed off and smiled. Awra muna. "Leadership will never be defined by the position itself. We cannot deny the fact that not all leaders seated on their claimed seats deserved the spot. I believe that we all have embody what leadership is all about. We are all capable of leading. May I use this platform to encourage everyone to choose your leaders wisely. More so, be the leader you want to be - one that makes the unseen product of change, visible. Thank you."

Accent wise. Thought wise. Itinatak ko iyon sa aking isipan nang sa ganon ay hindi na ako mag-isip pa kung may mali o kulang ba sa aking sinabi.

My hands are silently shaking. Maganda rin kasi ang naging sagot ng taga-COED. Halatang hindi basta-basta magpapatalo.

We were called for the announcement of the final four. Pagkatapos ay panibagong question and answer portion ulit.

I flashed my smile when in fact, I can almost hear my loud heartbeat.

"For our top four!" Ngayon ko lang ata hindi nagustuhan ang boses ni Jess.

His voice was laced with suspense - something that would made me puked anytime.

"In no particular order, our top four Mr. Intrams are..."

Hindi ko na masundan ang kanyang sinasabi. Basta't alam ko ay nakapasok ang aking kapares! Wow! That means more pressure for me ha!

"And for our Ms. Intrams..." Halos mabingi ako sa sigaw ng mga nanonood.

They were all screaming for me. Somehow, it makes me feel comfortable. Naniniwala sila sa akin.

"Again, in no particular order, our top four Ms. Intrams are...candidate number...eight!"

I felt so relieved after hearing my number being called first. Bawas kaba na iyon para sa akin.

Nakapasok ang dalawang taga education at isang taga-arts and sciences.

This would be a tough fight. I smiled at my co-candidates. Matira matibay pa rin talaga.

The question and answer portion will be held in order. Kami pa rin ng aking kapares ang huling tatanungin.

This time, the queries will came from the judges. It would be a random question.

"Good evening, candidate number eight! Wow! You have a lot of fans!" Pabirong saad ni Jess dahil halos lamunin ng hiyawan ang kanyang malalim na boses.

I shrugged my shoulders. Marunong lang talagang pumili ang mga tao. They knew who deserved the crown, I guess?

"How are you feeling right now?"

"I am very confident that I'll bring home the crown for CEA." Again, the crowd went wild.

Ngumisi sa akin si Jess bago ako muling pinabunot para malaman kung sinong judge ang magtatanong sa akin.

"Judge number three! Our dear school President, Sir Romeo Tuazon!"

"Good evening candidate number eight!" Malalim niyang pagbati sa akin.

Tumango ako sa kanya. Tila dumoble ang kaba na aking nararamdaman. Last year, the candidate she asked wasn't able to answer his query.

"My question for you is, what is your stand about same sex relationship slash marriage?"

Jess gave me the mic. Heto na, susuong na ako sa gyera.

"Love limits no boundary. I believe that we have the right to love who we want regardless of who they really are. Love sees no gender. We are all living with such imperfections where love tends to concealed. People, situations, or any other hindrances must never stop us in choosing who we want to love. As I pay my huge respect to the LGBT community, I am into their sides, acknowledging their feelings toward the people they want because what we all feel can never be invalidated by someone. Thank you."

My body is shaking. I'm afraid my answer won't satisfied the judges but the loud cheer from the crowd overwhelmed me.

Para na rin nilang sinabi na 'I did great'.

There will only be two winners. Isang first runner-up and the title holder.

Magkatabi kami ng aking kapartner habang hinihintay ang anunsyo ng host.

When the girl from College of Education was called and crowned first runner-up, mabilis kong naramdaman ang kaba.

Mabigat talaga silang kalaban. Iyong lalaki naman mula sa Arts and Sciences ang tinanghal na first runner-up.

"For this year, Mr. and Ms. Intrams... Who's your bet?" Pabitin na anunsyo ni Jess.

I don't know if it's a good thing that the crowd were screaming for us. Baka kasi hindi naman pala kami ang manalo at ---

Nabitin sa ere ang aking iniisip ng maramdaman ang mahigpit na yakap ng aking partner.

"Our Mr. and Ms. Intrams are from College of Engineering and Architecture!"

My lips parted upon having the crown above my head. Is this a sign?

Panay ang kuha ng litrato sa amin. Mabilis akong hinila ng aking mga kaibigan.

"Congrats!" Hagikhik ni Carly habang sinisiko ako.

"Hi, Jam!" Bahagyang kumunot ang aking noo ng makita kung sino ang lumapit sa akin.

"Uy, Jigs!" Tawag ni John dito, kaibigan ko rin.

"Nangangamoy comeback ah!" Bulong ni Carly sa akin. Tumikhim na lang ako.

Lakas din ng loob nito. "Picture?" He asked.

Nagsitilian ang mga tao sa paligid namin. Mabilis akong nakaramdam ng hiya.

Well, siya lang naman ang naka-MU ko. Sa sobrang labo ng ugnayan namin, parang gusto ko na lang mag walk out. Kaso, ang aking munting pride.

In the end, I posed beside him and flashed my smile. Mabilis akong lumayo ng maramdaman ang kanyang kamay sa aking beywang.

Hi, ako nga pala 'yung iniwan mo sa ere!

Mabuti na lang dahil dumating na sina Mama. Nanood pala talaga sila. We had our family picture.

Panay pa rin ang pagbati nila sa akin. Mahigpit akong niyakap ng aking talent scout.

"Miss Bicolandia na next?" Tinawanan ko na lang ito.

Hindi ko rin naman kasi alam kung kaya ko ba ang malaking pageant.

"Hindi ka ba sasabay sa amin?" Usisa sa akin ni Mama.

Umiling ako sa kanya. May mini-celebration kasi kami ng mga ka-org ko.

"Uuwi rin naman po ako mamaya."

Okay lang naman kasi kay Mama kung gabi slash umaga na ako makauwi. Basta raw umuwi.

My orgmates were waiting for me. They all greeted me. Malapit na mag-ala una ng madaling araw.

Ayoko rin naman maging killjoy. Ngunit naisip ko...sana pala...sumama na lang ako kina Mama.