My mouth fell upon the ground when I entered the campus. Seeing everyone dressed up made my mind blow. There are some cosplaying anime characters, cartoons in the movies, D.C and Marvel superhero characters, etcetera.
May nakikita pa akong may mga nag-cosplay ni Captain America. I think most of the marvel superhero characters we've seen in films so far are cosplayed by the other students. Wala akong nakikitang may nag-cosplay kay Scarlet Witch.
Napakagat ako sa aking ibabang labi dahil sa suot ko. I am cosplaying my favorite marvel superhero character that always blow my mind. I am wearing a bathing suit with straps, opera gloves, short boots, a leotard covering my body, a cape and Scarlet Witch's headpiece.
"You look astounding, Kai." Namula kaagad ang aking pisngi nang magsalita si Hecate sa aking tabi. "You are the male version of Scarlet Witch."
Mas lalo akong namula sa sumunod niyang sinabi. "You look marvelous as well, Hecate," balik ko sa puri niya sa akin.
She mouthed me thank you. Hecate was wearing an orange jumpsuit under her white cloak. At the bottom of her cloak have a red fire. She's also wearing a traditional Japanese hat and a sandals. Kilalang-kilala ko kung sinong character siya ngayon.
She's cosplaying as one of the popular anime characters named Uzumaki Naruto. I've watched that show since I was in junior high school. As far as I can remember, all Hokage's cloaks are white, and only Naruto and Minato have a red fire on the bottom of their cloaks.
This is a tribute to Jiraiya. It was because of Jiraiya that Minato and Naruto were able to develop so quickly and become the Hokage.
Napatingin ako kay Lupus. "Look at you as well, Lupus. You look veritably simple yet beautiful," I commented.
I saw him shyly scratched the back of his head. Sumunod naman ang matamis niyang ngiti sa labi. Lupus was wearing a plain black t-shirt, denim pants, and a black and white sneakers. Kapansin-pansin naman ang brown belt niya dahil naka-tuck in ang itim niyang t-shirt.
Tapos nanibago ako sa hitsura niya dahil itim ang buhok niya. I mean, nakasuot siya ngayon ng wig para maging kompleto ang look niya sa character na pinili niya. Si Jacob ng Twilight kasi ang napili niyang i-cosplay.
"So, saan tayo?" tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa.
They looked at each other and grab my arms on both side. Pumunta kami sa mga booth na makikita lamang sa gilid ng field. Nakahilera ito lahat. My mouth fell half-open when I realized how stupendous every booths designs.
It really feels like we are attending a cosplay media-con. May booth na exclusively for marvel fans. Mga anime booths din at saka mga films na makikita natin sa entertainment industries. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Rory was talking with Kiara.
According to what I saw Rory's face, it seem like their conversation was serious. It's as if someone's life depending on it. Si Kiara naman ay naka-poker face lang. Tila hindi interesado sa mga sinasabi ni Ry.
My eyes quickly fell upon the ground when Kiara caught me staring at them. Right before my eyes went straight upon the ground, I saw her smile teasingly.
"You guys are already here, I see." Napaangat ako ng tingin nang marinig ko ang boses ni Ry sa harapan namin. "You look marvelous, Kai." Dahil sa sumunod na sinabi niya ay bigla akong napaiwas ng tingin.
My heart skipped a beat. I gritted my teeth to resist myself from smiling. It feels really good receiving a compliment from someone like Ry.
"You even looked handsome with that outfit." I whispered.
The character he cosplayed is Dracula. And his outfit really did look good on him. His raven-black punky hair was gone. Because his hair became straight and perfectly combed backward. He was wearing a spread collar dress shir, Victorian high collar coat, black flat-front pants, and monk strap dress shoes. Lastly, a vampire cape embracing his shoulder with a little fake blood around his lips.
He really did an amazing job cosplaying Dracula.
Muli akong napatingin sa kaniya nang marinig ko siyang tumawa ng mahina. Dahil dito ay sumalubong sa akin ang mata niyang nakasuot ng pulang contact lens. Sumikdo na naman nang kasing-bilis ng kabayo ang aking puso. His red eyes were familiar. It's as if there's something behind that color.
"You think I'm handsome?" Dahil sa tinanong niya sa akin, nilamon na kaagad ako ng kahihiyan.
Tila nabunutan ako ng tinik sa aking lalamunan nang marinig kong tumikhim si Hecate sa aking tabi. She looked at me teasingly, but surprisingly behind those kind of stares, there's a fragment of worries. Dahil sa pinakita niya ay kumunot ang aking noo sa pagtataka.
"Respeto naman sana 'no?" naiiritang komento niya. She then crossed her arms. Lupus, on the other hand, looked at Ry intensely. It's as if they are having a war by simply staring each other's eyes. "Kung maglandian ba naman parang wala kami rito Kai, ah," hindi makapaniwalang dagdag niyang sabi.
Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. I was about to protest, but she grab Lupus by the arm and excused themselves. Si Lupus naman ay tila hindi gustong umalis kasama siya. When they finally lost my sight, humarap ako kay Rory.
My heart leaped out of my chest when I realized how close his face was. I gritted my teeth. For goodness sake, we almost kissed each other! Ilang pulgada na lang talaga. Ano bang trip ng lalaking 'to? I screamed internally.
"Jesus, Ry. What's your point?" naiinis kong tanong sa kaniya.
I tried to turn my back on him, pero hindi ko nagawa nang hilahin niya ako pabalik. Dumiretso ako sa mga bisig niya. My cheek greeted his hard chest generously. He then embraced me. My eyes grew wider when I heard his heart beat rapidly.
Ang sumunod na nangyari ay natataranta siyang kumawala sa pagkakayakap sa akin. His eyes couldn't fix on me. I saw his jaw moved. He even gulped twice. Kinakamot-kamot din niya ang kaniyang ulo.
Because of how stupid he looked, I couldn't resist myself from laughing. Halos mawalan pa ako ng balanse dahil hawak-hawak ko ang aking tiyan sa katatawa. Napag-desisyunan ko namang tumigil nang marinig ko siyang tumikhim.
"If only you realized how cute you are right now, Kai. I should've kissed you." My eyes grew thrice wider when I heard him whisper those words.
Saan nanggaling 'yong mga salita niya? I saw his ears were as red as tomato. Therefore, I pretended to not hear those words. Alam kong pinapahiya na namin ang isa't isa kaya mas pinili ko na lamang na manahimik.
"You really look astounding." He then looked at me from head to toe. A sweet smile formed upon his lips, "my little witch."
✢
Napakagat ako ng aking ibabang labi nang lumabas si Ry suot-suot ang kulay asul niyang undergarment. The audience cheered for him. Majority of them are girls. Napalunok ako nang mapatitig ako sa eight pack niyang abs. Kapansin-pansin naman ang V-shape pababa sa pagitan ng kaniyang hita.
Sa hindi malamang dahilan, gusto kong tumakbo papalapit sa kaniya upang takpan ang katawan niya. Iniling ko ang aking ulo dahil sa mga naisip. Marami ring mga sipol galing sa mga kalalakihan para sa partner ni Ry. Sobrang ganda rin niya.
They were perfect for each other. My forehead quickly furrowed. Nang sabihin kong perfect silang dalawa para sa isa't isa, bigla-bigla na lamang kumirot ang puso ko.
"May ipagmamayabang din pala 'tong si Rory, 'no?" biglang wika ni Hecate sa aking tabi. Napatingin uli ako kay Ry. "For sure, sisigaw sa haba ang mga babaeng matitira niyan." Kasing-bilis pa sa kabayo kong natakpan ang bibig niya.
"Bastos ng bunganga mo, bruha ka," bulong ko sa kaniya.
Muli akong tumingin sa stage. Ry and his partner were now posing to impress the judges. Habang si Ry naman ay umiiling tila ba'y parang narinig niya ang mga pinagsasabi ni Hecate. Sobrang lapad din ng kaniyang mga ngiti.
Si Lupus naman sa aking tabi ay kanina pa tahimik. Nanalo ang department namin sa soccer. Most of the sports, kami ang panalo. Therefore, we are the frontrunner for today's event. Sumunod naman ang engineering department at ang college of arts and sciences.
Dumaan ang isang oras ay hindi pa rin tapos ang second to the last event ng acquaintance party namin. Walang iba kundi ang Mr. and Ms. Acquaintance 2022. Kampante ako kanina na makapasok si Ry sa top 3 kasi alam kung matalino siya.
At hindi nga ako nabigo. 'Yong babaeng representative sa department namin ay nakapasok din. Pero hindi ko alam kung mananalo ba siya dahil medyo nawala siya sa sagot niya kanina. The second and first runner up was already been announced.
Ang second runner up ay ang parehong representative galing sa college of arts and sciences. At ang male first runner up ay galing sa education department. Habang sa female naman ay galing sa agriculture department.
"And now our Mr. Acquaintance 2022 is . . ." Nakisali ako sa sigawan ng mga estudyante. "Candidate number four!"
Napatayo ako sa sobrang tuwa nang tawagin ng emcee ang number ni Ry. I mouthed him congratulation when our eyes met. He smiled and wink at me. That made my blood race up. The first judge and our campus director went to the stage.
Ipinasuot kay Ry ang sash na dala-dala ng first judge. At pinutungan siya ng korona sa ulo niya ng campus director. Pangatlong sash na 'yon kay Ry dahil nakatanggap din siya ng dalawang special award kanina. Ito ay ang Best in Underwear Ramp at saka Audience Choice Award.
Natahimik ang lahat nang bigla naming narinig ang tikhim ng emcee. "To complete the winners, our Ms. Acquaintance 2022 is . . ." My eyes absentmindedly rolled when the majority of students scream the number three. "Candidate number three!"
Kiara placed her right palm on her chest when she was announced winner together with Ry. Nakita ko siyang kumakaway habang naglalakad. Matapos maputungan siya ng korona ay pareho silang dalawa ni Ry na kumakaway sa audience.
Natapos ang event na 'yon nang matiwasay. I am happy that Ry and Kiara won Mr. and Ms. Acquaintance 2022. But at the back of my head and at the core of my heart, it breaks me. Nakaka-stress lang isipin kung bakit ako ganito kapag nakikita kong silang dalawang magkasama.
"You look stupid, Hecate." Natatawa kong komento nang makita ko siyang sumayaw na parang baliw.
She was dancing along the rhythm of the music. Lupus and I were looking at her, laughing. The campus held a disco event. This is the last event to officially closed our university's acquaintance party. Time check, it's already seven thirty in the evening.
Nabigla kaming dalawa ni Lupus nang bigla niya kaming hilahin. Tumawa na lamang kaming tatlo. Sa sobrang lakas at ganda ng tugtog ay napasayaw na rin ako. Pero sa hindi malamang dahilan, napatingala ako sa kalangitan.
There I saw the full moon. Humanga kaagad ako sa ganda ng buwan. It's as if the moon were calling me to see her how beautiful she is. Pero nahinto lamang ako sa pagtitig sa buwan nang marinig ko ang mga ungol ng mga hayop.
Kumunot ang aking noo. According to their howling voices, I am pretty sure they are wolves. Mas lalong napantig ang aking tenga nang marinig kong palakas nang palakas ang kanilang mga ungol.
"Hecate, did you hear that?"
She looked at me in confusion. "Hear what?" pabalik niyang tanong sa akin. Pareho naming napagtanto na wala na pala sa aming tabi si Lupus. "Where's Lupus?" she asked once again.
Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako dahil hindi ko rin alam. Kanina nandito lang siya sa aming tabi. Pero ngayon bigla na lamang nawala. Nabaling na naman ang aking atensyon nang marinig ko na naman ang mga ungol ng mga hayop.
"Did you really not hear anything?" pagkukumpirma ko kay Hecate.
She shake her head. "Nope. Tanging naririnig ko lang ang tugtog ng musika sa malalaking sound system. Wala ng iba pa," she honestly responded.
Bumuntonghininga ako. Baka guni-guni ko lang 'yon. Nagpaalam ako kay Hecate na bili lang ako ng juice at makakain sa mga food stalls na makikita sa likuran ng mga booths. Baka dahil sa gutom kung ano-ano na naririnig ko.
On my way there, I felt someone following me. Pero no'ng lumingon ako, wala naman. I shrugged my shoulders. Bumili ako ng isang baguettes at isang can of soda. I am the only one here in food stalls because the rest of the students are in the field dancing and enjoying themselves.
Before I go back to where I left Hecate, inubos ko muna ang aking kinakain at iniinom. Minute later, natapos na rin ako. On my way back, someone suddenly grab my arms and put a handkerchief in my nose. Napabagsak ako sa lupa.
"Help," walang lumabas na boses sa aking bibig.
Gusto kong manlaban, pero hindi ko kaya dahil tila parang inubos ang lakas ko sa amoy na nanggaling sa panyo. I could hear the beat of my heart slowly fading. Bumigat din ang talukap ng aking mata.
A tear escaped from my eyes before everything went black.