"Kyle, wag ka munang mag-review. Malapit na rin naman tayo sa cafeteria, doon mo nalang 'yan basahin." Ezra suggested while looking at Kyle, who was reading his reviewer papers while we were walking.
"I agree with Ezra, and don't feel very pressured. We know you're a straight-A student, so let's just enjoy the upcoming quiz bee." I praised him while looking down our way.
Napabuntong hininga si Kyle nung mabunggo siya ng isang estudyante dahilan para kumalat sa daan ang mga papel na hawak niya. The male student with a bossy face smirked before he picked up the papers on the ground. Ezra and I were just looking at Kyle, who was now throwing death glares at the guy.
"S-sorry," I saw him swallow the lump in his throat when he saw the face of Kyle, while handing the papers back.
This guy is wearing a different uniform, and he must be a student from the Forthhill Academy for Boys, beside our school. He's around the height of Gellian, and I find him unpleasant since his polo shirt is slightly buttoned.
Padabog na kinuha ni Kyle ang kanyang reviewer mula sa lalaki. "Sorry? Alam mo namang dadaan kami, hindi ka pa tumabi! Ang lawak-lawak ng daan tapos sa amin ka pa sumalubong!"
The guy bit his lower lip, trying to calm himself down. "Nag-sorry na nga ako 'di ba? Ano pa bang gusto mo?"
Hindi kami makapagsalita ni Ezra sa sobrang pagkabigla. I didn't know that Kyle had a strong personality like Levi, because of his innocent face.
Even this guy was stunned by how Kyle acted towards him.
Another boy came into the scene and tapped the shoulder of the guy Kyle was talking to. "Bro, what's the problem right here-"
The boy who just came in didn't finish his sentence when he saw the face of Ezra. This guy is much shorter than his brother and looks younger too. He was wearing the same uniform as his brother, so I could easily tell that they were studying at the same school.
"Nothing, Carlos. I'm not going to fight someone who looks... feminine." He teased Kyle with a grin on his face.
Akmang susuntukin siya ni Kyle kaya pinigilan na namin siya ni Ezra. Mapang-asar ang mga titig ng lalaking nasa harapan namin kaya mas lalong nagalit si Kyle. I couldn't imagine my friend being in a fight, and I know Kyle would lose if he ended up brawling with this guy.
"Feminine? Akala mo ang gwapo mo? Mukha ka namang... p-pangit!" Sigaw ni Kyle bago tuluyang lampasan ang mga lalaki kaya mabilis namin siyang sinundan ni Ezra.
Mabilis ang kanyang mga hakbang hanggang makarating kami sa cafeteria. Agad na tumayo si Levi sa upuan para salubungin si Kyle. Bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito.
"Ghorl, what happened?" Levi asked Kyle when we all sat at our table for lunch.
Kyle let out a deep breath. "Wala, hindi lang maganda yung mood ko."
Umorder nalang kami ng dessert bago nagsimulang mag-review. We only had three days left before the quiz bee, so all of us were together most of the time. Levi will also be at the same event to take some pictures for the school newspaper.
This is not the first time that I've joined a quiz bee, so I'm not feeling anxious. When I was in primary school, I competed in Science, Math, and Spelling Quiz Bees and won a slew of awards. I remembered that Kyle and Ezra became my competitors in some of those competitions.
"Zein, ito ba?" Bulong ni Gellian habang hawak ang Biology book.
Nandito kami ngayon sa library at sinamahan kaming tatlo ni Gellian na mag-review habang oras ng recess. Ezra had his earbuds on while reading his notes. On the other hand, Kyle was feeling drowsy while murmuring some science vocabulary. The pressure is evident to the three of us.
I chuckled in my mind while looking at Gellian losing his sanity. "No, that's not it. I told you that it's the book on the third section from the right." I murmured.
Hindi ko naman talaga kailangan ng libro dahil kontento na ako sa lahat ng napag-aralan ko. Gusto ko lang talagang makaganti kay Gellian sa paglilihim sa 'kin noong nakaraang linggo. His face still looks calm, but I know he's already mocking me in his mind. He's been looking for a book that doesn't even exist for ten minutes straight.
Nagpakawala ako nang malalim na hininga bago ako tumayo sa upuan namin nila Kyle at lumakad palapit sa kanya. I rolled my eyes when Gellian turned his back to me when I reached him, probably sulking. I pressed on the side of his tummy to stop him frowning, and I'm glad it worked.
"Gellian, just... forget about the book. I'll buy your favorite ice cream." I said in a soft voice.
"Ikaw lang naman yung dahilan kung bakit ko binibili 'yon," He mumbled, making me unable to hear.
"Ano?!" Bahagyang napalakas ang boses ko, dahilan para sitahin kami ng librarian.
Gellian and I had no choice but to go out of the library. I just couldn't stay quiet when I was with him. He's immensely quiet, while I'm very vocal with my own thoughts. It's funny that we became friends for so long despite our very different personalities.
Gumuhit ang ngiti sa aking labi nung makita ko sila Mommy at Daddy na tahimik na kumakain sa lamesa pagka-uwi ko. Binigyan ko sila nang halik sa kanilang pisngi bago ako umupo sa tabi ni Dad. I felt a pang in my chest when I noticed that they were not happy. It's been a long time since we had our lunch together, so I kind of feel disappointed to see them frowning like this.
"Anak, kumusta ang pag-aaral mo?" Pagbasag ni dad sa katahimikan nung matapos siyang kumain.
I wiped my mouth before I answered. "I'm doing... just fine, dad."
Mom caressed my back. "Anak, pasensya na, baka 'di kami makasama ng dad mo bukas..."
Sanay na akong hindi sila laging nakakasama sa mga competitions ko. Masyado silang abala sa pag-aasikaso ng mga resort namin at naiintindihan ko naman 'yon. Siguro'y sabik ako sa kanilang atensyon kaya mas lalo kong ginagalingan sa pag-aaral. Iyon nalang kasi ang maisusukli ko sa kanilang paghihirap.
"That's fine, Mom. I can just bring Nanny Fe and Mang Noel to support me tomorrow." I suggested
My dad tapped my head. "Alam mo namang sobrang proud kami sa 'yo, anak. Gagawin namin ang lahat para makapagtapos ka ng p-pag-aaral."
Buong gabi akong nag-isip tungkol sa sinabi ni Dad. I can feel that there's something wrong with his statement, but I don't want to assume anything. I'd probably just wait for them to tell me what they were going through. My anxiety is making my head hurt, so I haven't had a chance to review for tomorrow's quiz bee.
"Kinakabahan ka ba, anak? Gusto mo ice cream?" May pag-aalalang tanong sa 'kin ni Manang Fe nung mapansing balisa ako habang naghihintay magsimula ang quiz bee.
I stopped biting my finger nail. "Hindi na po. Naiinggit lang po ako sa mga... kaibigan ko kasi kasama nila yung parents nila."
Kasama ni Kyle ang Mom niya na si Tita Cynthia habang nandito din ang dad ni Ezra na si Tito Christian para sumuporta. Si Levi naman ay abala sa pagkuha ng litrato ng mga kalahok sa kompetisyon. Walang akong nararamdamang kaba dahil mas namayani ang lungkot sa aking puso.
I snapped back to reality when I heard my phone ding. I opened my messenger and saw a message from Aaron. My cheeks instantly became hot after I read his message.
@Aaron.Delgado
You can do it, Zein. Win or lose, you have already won in my heart.
After we met in the mall, Aaron followed me on all of my social media accounts. Just like Gellian, he never fails to send me encouraging messages when the school announces that I will be joining a Quiz Bee. I appreciate his effort, given that we just became friends not too long ago.
"Ghorl, kilala mo ba 'yon?" Levi asked while pointing at the male student who is also a participant in this competition.
I rolled my eyes when I remembered him. "Yeah, that's Yadiel Romero. Nakalaban ko dati sa Science Quiz Bee nung elementary."
Levi's lips parted in awe. "He's cute,"
"Crush mo?" Kinikilig na tanong ni Kyle habang nakangisi kay Levi.
"H-hindi ah! Mukhang mayaman, ekis." Pagtanggi ni Levi.
"What's wrong with being rich, if he can pay all of your bills?" Ezra mumbled.
Levi secretly took a picture of Yadiel. "No, I can work hard to pay for my own needs."
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