Chapter 38: The Game
Victoria Abbel's Point of View
I've been tossing a lot to my seat. Para bang hindi ako mapakali habang pinapagmasdan ko si Trevor kasama ng kanya pang ibang mga kaibigan. They are all talking to each other with full of laughters. I blew out my red-streaked hair out of my face.
"If only looks can melt a people, Victoria. Malamang ay kanina pa natutunaw si Trevor."
"Elizabeth! Of course I'm not looking at him." Pilit na tanggi ko, kahit hindi na mabilang sa kamay ko ang pag sulyap sa kanya. Siguro dahil naninibago lang ako sa new hairstyle ni Trevor na bumabagay naman talaga sa histura ng binata.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Parang sinabi mo na rin na lumilipad ang baboy." I tried not to roll my eyes at my cousin's remark. A freezing wind blew off the ocean. The sun is also ready to set. The gentlemen are all sitting on the white sand, they're in a circle position while drinking beer in a can. While I'm with Elizabeth, Reeve, and Marsh in the cottage eating canapés.
"Bakit mo iniiwasan si Trevor, Tori? I'm so sorry for asking, I don't mean no harm." Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Marsh. I heard Elizabeth sneered. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Pati si Marsh napapansin ang pagiwas mo." Elizabeth said. Napasimangot tuloy ako at napasalampak sa aking inuupuan.
"It's not like I'm avoiding him." I blew off some air. I gave Trevor a quick glance and bring back my attention to the three of them.
"It's just that I'm so done with him. And all of you know that." It's not a secret to everyone that I used to have feelings for Trevor. Hindi ko naman tinatanggi. Actually, baliw na baliw talaga ako sa kanya... dati. Ngunit, ngayon na maraming nangyari sa akin sa nakaraang buwan, matagal ko nang tinanggap ang aming tadhana. The moment when he told me that he would never like me when I was a kid, I should have stopped back then. When someone said no, you shouldn't keep on trying. Even though I'm aware that our feelings are not mutual, I was engrossed in a fairytale-like situation where I convinced myself that there is hope. Maybe because I was afraid of rejection. My mind was consumed by my irrationality. And because of this, I got cognitive dissonance. I sigh. I also got this dopamine chase where I love the thrill of chasing Trevor. I used to think that uncertainty is sexy. Uncertainty is Trevor. So, Trevor is sexy.
Another sigh came from me. And because of this obsession for reciprocation, I developed a limerence towards Trevor.
But, you shouldn't really chase a person. Either you'll make them uncomfortable or you'll suffer. That was what I learned throughout my hospitalization journey. It was hard at first. My time in the hospital wasn't easy. I got a lot of episodes during my stay, I felt sad and hopeless, and getting through the day was almost impossible. Thank God, I'm fine now.
"Anyway, where is our room here? I feel really sticky. I want to change my clothes, too." Napapikit na lang ako nang inaalala na hindi pala ako binigyan ni Nikos ng pagkakataon na magempake ng mga damit.
"Actually... we still don't have a room in the hotel." Namilog ang mata ko dahil sa sagot ni Elizabeth.
"And the clothes?" Elizabeth bit her lower lips, trying not to get annoyed.
"We have to earn it."
"What? What do you mean?" Hindi na nakasagot sa akin si Elizabeth nang tumayo si Nikos mula sa pagkaupo sa buhangin. I watched him wipe the remaining sand on his summer shorts. Tinaas niya ang dalawang kamay niya habang ang isa ay may dalang beer.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen, gather up. We're going to play a game! Wooh." He was the only one who looked excited. Nagkatinginan naman ang mga kalalakihan habang nakakunot ang mga noo. Mukhang kahit sila ay walang kaide-ideya sa gustong gawin ni Nikos.
"Nikos, what the fuck are you taking about?" Raven asked. Naglakad naman kaming apat papunta sa kanilang pwesto.
"Kung gusto niyong matulog dito sa labas, then you don't have to participate." Kibit balikat na sabi ng pinsan ko na parang hindi big deal ang sinasabi niya. Everyone groan including me.
"Only six individuals will sleep inside the hotel and another six here outside, bahala na kayong lamigin." Nikos said while laughing.
"No," we all said. I didn't travel here for almost five hours just to sleep outside. Ngayon pa naman ay ineexpect ko na makakapagpahinga ako sa loob, comfortably.
"Yes. So stop complaining, this is your fault for letting me arrange this vacation for all of us." Nikos looked smug, taking pride in his ideas.
"This so-called vacation of yours Nikos is getting out of hand." Kalev said. Na parang pati siya ay ayaw sa iniisip ni Nikos.
"Calm down, guys. It will be fun, I promise." He muttered while looking at us.
"Remind me to kick Nikos' ass later." Bulong ko kay Reeve na ngayon ay tumatawa sa tabi ko.
"I think he's kinda cute," Reeve said. Oh no, this girl is badly smitten with my cousin. Nikos? Cute? Give me a goddamn break. That man is so a manipulative jerk.
"Besides, you can win a lot of prizes when you join the games that I will prepare." Nikos said trying to console everyone. Kahit si Hiro at Cainn ay napapailing na rin sa binabalak ni Nikos.
"Then what's the prizes?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Napatingin naman si Nikos sa akin. He gave me a nod before speaking.
"Good question, witch." I scowled at Nikos for calling me a witch. He uses that endearment every time he wants to annoy me.
"What a little devil," I whispered.
"You have to win three games in order to get a free pass in the hotel and enjoy your stay there. Of course, whenever you win a game, the prizes will either be a game console, bag, shoes, and other items that are all limited edition. Take note that it was not easy for me to get all of these items." Nikos clasped his hands.
"Oh by the way, if you're gonna sleep outside, you're also going to make your own food." Another groan from everyone. That's such a hassle.
"Darn rich man." I heard Reeve say at my side. She's looking intently at his boyfriend.
"OMG!" Naagaw ni Elizabeth ang atensiyon ko nang bigla na lang siyang sumulpot sa tabi namin ni Reeve.
"I just saw what Nikos brought here. He was not kidding when he said that all of the prizes will be limited editions. He even has this necklace from The Trelawney." Elizabeth excitedly grips my shoulders. Bigla naman akong nabuhayan sa sinabi niya.
"What necklace? The red scarlet, you mean?" I asked.
"Yes!" She exclaimed.
"No way!" That red scarlet cost a lot. I mean a lot! It's not like I can't afford it, but I don't want to put my money on a necklace. But if I can have it for free, then I will earn it.
"Nikos really got us, cousin. He made sure that we're going to participate in this." Napailing na sabi ni Elizabeth. That's true. The fact that only half of us will sleep in the hotel made us want to participate in his silly games. Even the guys seem so invested right now. Mukhang wala sa amin ang gusto matulog sa labas. Who wants it? For sure na pagod ang lahat sa kanilang mga trabaho, we stayed here for us to relax, so we want to have a comfortable experience staying here.
I just can't imagine sleeping outside and making your own food. No way.
Nikos said we have to condition ourselves before we start. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya sinasabi kung anong gagawin namin. All I did was stretch my body in case the game will require physical strength. And when I accidentally glanced at Trevor, he is quietly sitting inside the cottage. He seems uninterested. Oh well, nothing new. Everyone knew that Trevor hates being tired. Hindi mo nga siguro mapatakbo ang isang 'yan. And I laugh at myself. We're totally opposite of each other.
While I'm here stretching my body so I can condition myself, he's just there sitting.
"Okay everyone gather up here now. You'll just have to earn three stars to have a hotel pass. And to gain stars, you have to win in the games that I prepared." Napatingin ako kay sa pwesto ni Nikos. I walked towards him with Elizabeth by my side. Marsh is with Kalev while Reeve is at Nikos' side. Hiro is with Cainn, who's also walking toward Nikos. And when we reached his side, we saw ten boxes in total that are aligned horizontally.
"Gosh. Nikos is really annoying." I heard Raven complaining to Severus. Trevor is walking beside them. Still wearing his white long-sleeves. His jeans are also folded up to his knee length. I can totally see his pale skin. But I directed my attention to Nikos, who was now explaining the first game.
I don't know how they are taking this seriously. When did we establish that Nikos' word was pretty much the law? Or maybe because of his job. Either way, I will win this game nang sabihin niya kung ano ang prize na makukuha ko dito. It's none other than the necklace from The Trelawney. So I really have to participate. Kahit matulog na ako sa labas, makuha ko lang ang necklace na iyon. There are two precious gems in the necklace with a total sum of 86 carats in small diamonds set in platinum, kaya naman hindi ko ito ipagpapalampas. Nikos told us that all we have to do is to run in the sand, wear whatever is inside the box, and run towards the flag and claim it.
Some of us wanted to try this game. I'm with Elizabeth and both of us are in a horizontal line, having the same goal: to have that necklace and a goddamn star. Nakalinya na rin ang iba pang mga kalalakihan. Why are they even interested to get that necklace? I pouted my lips.
"Okay, ready. If I blow this whistle then it means go."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Simulan na natin Nikos, kanina ko pa gustong magpahinga." Hiro said at Nikos. But all Nikos did was chuckle, showing that annoying grin again.
Akala ko ay pito lang kaming magpaparticipate sa laro na ito. Kaya laking gulat ko na lang nang mag biglang pumwesto sa kanan ko. It was Trevor.
I was taken aback by his action. Really? Trevor will run in the sand? I thought he doesn't want to get tired and put his energy into unreasonable things.
I gave him the what-are-you-doing-here look. Pero mukhang nabasa niya agad ang gusto kong itanong kaya nakita ko siyang nagkibit balikat lang. He positioned his self as if he's ready to run.
I don't have a choice but to do the same. If I wanted that necklace badly, I'm going to beat all these gentlemen. I'm really competitive and I don't want to lose. When Nikos finally blows that freaking whistle he'd been holding for all eternity, I run with all my might. Ramdam ko rin ang paglubog ng paa ko sa mga buhangin. Raven, Severus, and Hiro are all ahead of me. Elizabeth is on my back. Severus was the first one to reach the box and opened it. He's got diving shoe flippers. All I remember is that you have to wear whatever is inside the box and I wonder how Severus will run with diving show flippers. I want to laugh but this isn't the time for me to watch Severus cursing from time to time while having a hard time putting the flippers on.
Raven on the other got socks. He's surely taking a lot of time putting the socks on. Hiro got waraji sandals, it is a tie-on sandal that is made from straw and you really have to tie it first before reaching for the flag. I heard Kalev curse when I saw what he's got. It's wooden slippers, sized approximately 10 inches. It's not going to fit his feet. And when I finally reached for my box, nabuhayan ang loob ko nang makita ko kung anong ang laman non. It's a four inches heel! And it's perfect for me. Running in the sand with heels on is not a chore. Kahit na lumubog ang takong nito sa buhangin ay ayos lang, tatakbo naman ako agad at kunin ang flag sa medyo mag kalayuan. Wala akong pinaglagpas na oras at agad tumakbo. I left all of them cursing from time to time when they finally see what they have in the box.
"Lucky," I told myself for getting heels and I'm about to reach the flag when someone just jumped and grabbed the flag within my reach. He rolled over the sand and when he was now sitting, he smirked at me.
"I think we have a winner. Damn Dmitri, you're really mean. Tori is almost the winner but you suddenly popped from behind and snatch away the victory." Nikos said, shaking his head as if he were in awe. Napaluhod tuloy ako sa buhangin at hindi makapaniwala. I thought I won. Nang tumingin ako sa suot niya, he's wearing a rubber slippers. That explains why he easily took the lead.
Trevor looked at me, amused. Napansin ko rin nag pagtulo ng kanyang pawis mula sa kanyang noo pababa sa kanyang leeg.
"The prize isn't even a game console, why are you trying so hard?" Hindi ko namalayan na kinausap ko na ang binata. And then I heard him chuckle.
"That necklace isn't bad for a prize, Tori. At least, you're talking to me now." Napaawang ang labi ko dahil sa sinabi niya. I gasped and my heart did a little weird sound. Tumayo ito at naglalad papunta kay Nikos.
"I fucking hate you Nikos Stanislaski. How am I supposed to run with goddamn flippers on?" I was back in reverie when I heard Severus cursing Nikos. Nikos is laughing so hard right now. Sino naman hindi? It's really hard running when you're wearing flippers.
"And this wooden is not my size, idiot." Sabi naman ni Kalev na magkasalubong ang kilay.
"This sock is so time-consuming," Raven said.
"How am I supposed to wear waraji sandals?" Reklamo naman ni Hiro at tsaka binato ang waraji sandals sa pwesto ni Nikos. Cainn groaned when I saw what he's got. It's a boots for raining and for sure it's not a perfect size for Cainn.
Patakbo naman pumunta sa akin si Elizabeth.
"I'm gonna kill Nikos later. How am I supposed to run with this!" Pagalit na sabi ni Elizabeth at pinakita niya sa akin ang hawak niya. I can't even make a fun of what's Elizabeth is holding. It's a nail polish. You have to put nail polish on your toe nails first before running. Even if I'm with Elizabeth's place I'm not going to put a nail polish on my nails and run in the sands. Hindi ko masyadong pinansin ang sinabi ni Elizabeth. Mas iniisip ko pa rin kasi ang sinabi ni Trevor. Sinundan ko ang paglakad ni Trevor papunta sa kanyang mga kaibigan at nakipag high five pa ito.
"Only Trevor got lucky to have a rubber slippers." Nakasimangot na sabi ni Raven sa kanyang kaibigan.
Alexander is now consoling his girlfriend saying that he will buy Elizabeth the necklace that she wants.
While I am still not in my usual self.
***
Thank you for reading!