"Shy! How are you?" Tanong ni Ssanah sa akin pagkadating ko sa classroom.
"I'm fine, " I smiled at her. Hinanap ko si Neo pero hindi ko pa siya nakita.
"Wala pa si Neo. Akala ko andito na pagkadating ko, baka late lang." Umupo na kami sa upuan namin.
"By the way, pwede ka ba mamaya? I need help kase." She faced me.
"For what?"
"It's for the competition." She said at nagtaka ako.
"Huh? Wala kang sinalihan diba?" Nag-ayos ako ng bag para sa unang subject.
"Kuya mo kasi eh." Mukhang naiiyak siya kaya natawa ako. "Wag kang tumawa! Ano ba kase gagawin ko?"
"Eh ano bang gagawin niyo? Tsaka sinong Kuya?" Tanong ko.
"Si Wayne." Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya.
"Ano? Si Kuya Wayne?" Tumango siya. "Anong gagawin niyo?"
"May pinost kasi sa bulletin board last week dun sa main hall. Singing competition daw 'tas yung grand prize, shopping spree. Sayang naman yun." Sabi niya kaya tumango ako. "Kaso yung prize na yun, kailangan may kapartner. So, duet. Tinanong ako ng kuya mo kung gusto kong sumali, sabi ko oo kaya ayun nag sign-up kami. First time kong sumali sa ganung competition." Iiyak na yan.
"Kaya mo yan. Shopping spree yung grand prize oh, gusto mo yon diba?" Tumango siya. "Ano bang kakantahin niyo?" Sinearch niya sa phone niya yung kanta nila.
"Eto oh." Pinakinggan ko ito at unang verse pa lang, nagulat ako. "Wait, eto? Sure kayo?"
"English version naman daw eh, sabi niya." Sinearch ko yung English version ng kanta at pinakinggan ko ito.
"Maganda naman ah. Kaya niyo yan" Binalik ko sa kanya yung phone niya.
"So, are you free later? I need to practice."
"Bawal ako eh. Sa bahay, baka pwede ka naman dun. Magpapractice din kami para sa performance namin next week." Napatingin siya sa sinabi ko.
"Oh my gosh, next week na pala! Huhu, ano gagawin ko?" Natawa ako dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Kaya niyo yan." Pag eencourage ko sa kanya.
Maya-maya ay dumating si Neo.
"Hi." Binati kami ni Neo kaya nag-hi na rin kami. "Kamusta ka na?" He asked.
"Okay lang." Nginitian ko siya. Naging close kaming tatlo nila Ssanah at Neo kaya laging kami ang magkakasama. Naging komportable ako tuwing sila ang kasama ko.
"Hoy Neo, cheer mo kami next week ah." Sabi ni Ssanah kaya tumango si Neo. "Wala ka bang sinalihan?" Tanong niya.
"Meron."
"Ano?" Tanong ko.
"Quiz bee." Nagulat kami ni Ssanah.
"Weh?" Sabay naming sabi. Tumango lang siya.
"What time?" Tanong ko.
"After lunch, mga 1:30 daw. Sa auditorium din."
"Kaya natin to lahat!" I said at dumating ang professor.
Mabilis na lumipas ang mga araw, at today's Monday which means ngayon ang simula ng festival.
Nandito kami sa school at naghahanda. Maaga kaming pumasok para sa opening.
"Kuya, where are we going?" Tanong ko sa kanila.
"Sa school grounds. Duon mago-opening." Naglakad kami papunta duon. Pagdating namin, marami na ring mga estudyante ang nandun.
Natawag ang pansin naming lahat ng may nag-tap ng microphone. We saw the principal of our school. He started to open the program with a long speech.
"-For a while, let's forget all those school works we have. We hope all of you will have fun in our one-week festival. Thank you so much!" He closed his speech and we clapped.
"Thank you so much Mr. Mercado for your wonderful speech. And now, it's the moment we've been all waiting for. Let us start our one-week festival!" The emcee said. Behind her, the schedule for today was flashed in a big screen. The first event is for soccer, we weren't interested kaya nagikot-ikot kami sa school.
"Kuya, bilhan mo ako neto!" I saw a stall wherein they are selling Japanese foods. Tinuro ko yung onigiri. Naglabas si Kuya Raye ng pera at binilhan niya kaming lahat ng onigiri.
"I feel like I'll gain weight because of this festival." Kuya Kyle said kaya tumawa kaming lahat. I also feel the same too.
Katabi ng Japanese stall, andun ang Filipino stall. Hinatak ko ang damit ni Jeoff para makita niya iyon.
"Huy, gusto ko ng lumpiang toge." Tataba talaga ako neto. Binilhan niya ako ng dalawang lumpiang toge. Inubos ko muna ang kinakain ko na onigiri saka ko kinain yung toge. We stayed beside the stall for a while. Pagkatapos kong kumain ng toge, tinuro ko naman ang okoy.
"What else do you want?" He asked me. Tumingin-tingin muna ako saka ko tinuro yung mga gusto ko. Pumunta kami sa cafeteria para kainin ung mga binili namin.
"Kuya, paabot ng isaw." Sabi ko kay Kuya Wayne. Kinuhanan niya ako ng tatlong stick ng isaw. "Kuya, yung kwek-kwek, please." Ngumiti ako sa kanila. Kumakain sila ng kikiam at squid ball.
"It's been a while since I ate these types of food. Street foods are the best." Kuya Wayne said and we all agreed.
"I want some more!" I said. Natapos na namin ang lahat ng pagkain kaya nagikot-ikot muli kami. Inisa-isa namin ang lahat ng food stalls na madadaanan namin. From Korean to Indonesian street food, we tried all of their street food. Bumalik kami sa cafeteria para ubusin ang lahat ng binili namin.
"Para na ring tayong nag out of the country dahil sa mga nakain natin." I said saka sumubo ng poh pia tod. A Thai street food na para ring lumpiang shanghai. "Today is our performance, right?" Tanong ko
"Yep. If we win, then we will play on Friday night." It was Kuya Raye who answered me. Last week, nag elimination round kami and gladly, nakapasok kami kaya mag cocompete kami for finals.
"I'm nervous. Hindi lang halata." Kuya Wayne said.
While eating, I received a text from Ssanah.
"Who was that?" Tanong ni Jeoff.
"It's Ssanah. She's asking kung nasaan tayo." I replied to her and maya-maya'y dumating siya.
"Tomorrow pa yung performance nyo diba?" Tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa ni Kuya Wayne. Tumango naman sila. "You'll do great," nag thumbs-up ako sa kanila.
"Have you seen Neo?" Ssanah asked.
"Hindi pa. Kanina ko pa nga hinahanap eh. Try messaging him and asked if he's here." I said saka kumain ulit. Hinarap ko si Kuya Kyle at sinabing "Kuya, how about your girlfriend? Where is she?" Nabulunan si Kuya dahil sa sinabi ko kaya binigyan siya ni Kuya Wayne ng tubig.
"Ano ba Shy, wag kang bigla-biglang magtatanong ng ganyan. She's busy decorating the auditorium." Natawa ako.
"Kuya Raye, galaw-galaw. Naunahan ka pa nila Kuya Kyle at Kuya Wayne oh." Pang-aasar ko sa kanya kaya tinitigan niya ako ng masama.
"Do you want to watch volleyball? Athena and Aphrodite are playing. Your Athena, right?" Ssanah asked me. Tumango ako. Tumingin ako kila kuya kung pwede ba ako manood.
"I'll go with her," Jeoff said kaya tumayo kami nila Ssanah at Jeoff.
"Contact us if tapos na ang game. Would you like to eat lunch with us?" Kuya Wayne asked Ssanah.
"Sure." She smiled sweetly at him. Napangiti na lang ako sa kanila.
Pumunta kami sa basketball court kung saan naglalaro ang mga volleyball players.
"Dami namang tao." Sabi ko pagkapasok namin sa court. Pumunta kami sa gitnang bench para duon umupo. "When's the game for basketball?" Tanong ko kay Ssanah.
"I think on Thursday?"
"Maglalaro ba kayo?" Tanong ko kay Jeoff.
"I'll play for Zeus and Raye will play for Hades." Uminom siya ng samalamig na binili namin kanina.
"So, magkalaban kayo?" Ssanah confirmed. Tumango lamang si Jeoff.
"He's a great player." Sabi ko kay Ssanah. "Kuya Raye is also good at playing. Kaya, I don't know kung sino ichecheer ko." Tumawa si Ssanah sa sinabi ko.
"Of course, me. Your Kuya have a lot of admirers here, I only have you so.." Namula ako sa sinabi niya.
"Aba, maharot ka ah."
"Shy ah. You're not telling me something." Sabi ni Ssanah habang tinutulak yung braso ko.
"Why would I tell something if wala namang kailangang sabihin?" Natawa lang siya sa sinabi ko. "Ikaw, isa ka pa."
"Ouch, it hurts." Kinurot ko lang naman siya sa tiyan.
Tinapos namin ang game at nanalo ang Athena.
"Ang galing maglaro nung number 7," I said.
"Number 3 is also good at spiking too." Sabi ni Jeoff. Pababa na kami ng bench ng lumingon ako sa pinakataas na parte ng mga upuan.
I saw a dark figurine hiding behind the walls.
"Harriette?" Tawag pansin sa akin ni Jeoff. Tumingin rin siya sa tinitignan ko.
"Kanina pa siya nakatingin sa atin." Bulong ko sa kanya.
"I'll ask the bodyguards to look for him." Tumango na lang ako sa sinabi niya. Kinuha niya ang phone sa bulsa niya at may tinawagan. Maya-maya'y binaba na niya ito.
"Hey, they want us to eat at a fast-food restaurant nearby." He said. Napansin kong may kausap si Ssanah sa telepono, pagkatapos ay binaba niya rin ito.
"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry but my mom wants to have lunch with me. I'll be back before your performance." Sabi niya.
"Okay lang. Kita na lang tayo mamaya. Have fun!" Umalis siya pagkatapos nun.
Naglakad kami ni Jeoff papuntang parking lot. Sumakay kami sa sasakyan niya at pumunta sa restaurant na sinasabi nila kuya.
"Yen!" Tawag pansin sa amin ni Kuya Raye. Pumunta kami sa pwesto nila at napansing nakaorder na sila ng pagkain.
"Thank you." Binigay sa akin ni Kuya Wayne ang spaghetti. Napansin siguro nilang tahimik lang ako na kumakain.
"Don't worry, your safe." Paninigurado ni Kuya Kyle. I smiled at what he said.
"I already told the bodyguards to double-check the surroundings and to roam around while we're performing." Dagdag ni Kuya Raye.
"I'm still worried. What if may madamay because of our problem?" I said.
"Everyone will be safe, promise," Jeoff said at nginitian ako. Tinapos na namin ang kinakain namin.
Hours passed and it's now time for the competition.
Nandito kami ngayon sa backstage at naghahanda. Dumating ang mga instruments namin kani-kanina lang kaya nagpractice kami saglit.
"Good afternoon everyone! Are you all excited to see the performers?" The emcee said and we heard the scream of the audience. "But first, let's meet the judges." She introduced the four judges and one of them is the principal, of course.
"I'm freaking nervous right now." My hands were shaking while holding the drum sticks.
"Let us now call the first performers!" Lumabas ang unang magperperform. After their 3-minute performance, bumalik na ulit sila sa backstage. We are still missing our hidden cards.
"Tayo na? Tayo na?" I asked them at tumango sila. "Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh." Kinakabahan ako.
"Where are they?" Kuya Raye asked Jeoff.
"They said they're in the hallway, running." He called them again and told us, "Nawala daw sila."
Good thing, the emcee bought some time. We are still waiting for them.
"Before we call our next performer, we'd like to thank everyone who is here. Just to inform you that whoever will win this competition will play at the party on Friday night. So, let's all cheer our performers!" Sabi ng emcee kaya nagsigawan ang mga manonood. "Let's now welcome our second performers!" We went outside kahit wala pa sila. We were welcomed by the screams of the students.
With the help of the bodyguards, our instruments were brought at the stage. Kasama ng mga instruments, dumating si Kuya Chris at Kuya Mich. The screams went loud by the time everyone saw them. Kuya Chris will play the keyboard while Kuya Mich will play the bass. We all tested our instruments and lahat naman ay gumagawa. Kuya Wayne glanced at us and that was our cue to start our performance.
Umaga na sa ating duyan
Wag nang mawawala
Umaga na sa ating duyan
Magmamahal, o mahiwaga
We all started to play our instruments. I hit the drums as well as the others.
Matang magkakilala
I looked around and I saw Jeoff looking at me. I glared at him kaya natawa siya. He was playing the violin.
Sa unang pagtatagpo
Paano dahan-dahang
Sinuyo ang puso
Kaytagal ko ng nag-iisa
Andyan ka lang pala
By the chorus, Kuya Kyle sang but not too loud. He supported Kuya Wayne's voice. Kuya Kyle was playing the percussions.
Sa minsang pagbaling ng hangin
Hinila patungo sa akin
Na tanging ika'y iibiging wagas at buo
Payapa sa yakap ng iyong hiwaga
Payapa sa yakap ng iyong...
Kuya Wayne stopped singing and focused on playing the guitar. Kuya Raye was playing the electric guitar. Maya-maya ay kumanta muli si Kuya Wayne.
Mahiwaga
Pipiliin ka
Sa araw-araw
Mahiwaga
Ang nadarama
Sayo'y malinaw
Mahiwaga
Wag nang mawala
Sa araw araw
Mahiwaga
Pipiliin ka
Sa araw araw
Sana all choice. Char, not char.
We slowly stopped playing our instruments. We paused for a while and stood up to bow.
"That was a wonderful performance! Let's thank Michael and William Flix for showing up at our festival. Give them a round of applause!" Tumingin ako sa emcee and I saw her blushed when Kuya Chris was beside her. Kuya Mich and Chris waved to their 'fans'.
We gave them another bow and left the stage.
"Thank you Kuya!" I said saka yinakap sila.
"I hope you'll win this competition. I need to go; I still have a meeting to attend. Good luck everyone!" Niyakap kaming lahat ni Kuya Mich at tumakbo papalayo. Good think he made some time for our performance.
"What time will you go home?" Kuya Chris asked us.
"Around 6 or 7," Jeoff answered him.
"Sabay na ako sa inyo. I've got nothing to do." He said. We sat at the nearest chairs.
"Bakit? You didn't bring your car?" Kuya Wayne asked him. One of the bodyguards handed us waters and chips. "Thank you po." I said.
"Uh, no."
"Then how did you arrive here? Did you take a jeep?" I asked him and drank some water.
"By a police car," he simply said. Dahil sa sinabi niya, nabuga ko ang iniinom ko.
"What?!" I exclaimed. Jeoff handed me his handkerchief so I thank him.
"Why did you ride a police car? Are you from a police station?" Kuya Kyle said habang naguguluhan.
"My friend saw me somewhere and she gave me a ride." He simply said.
"Ahh, she." Sabi ko ng nakangiti. "A policewoman." Nagsi-ayiee sila kuya.
We were talking about some stuff when I noticed someone hiding behind the chairs. He was looking at us. Our eyes met so he instantly ran away. Tumayo ako at hinabol siya.
"Shy! Where are you going?!" Kuya Chris asked me. Lahat ng nasa backstage nagulat dahil sa nangyari. Lumabas siya kaya sinundan ko siya. He ran towards the nearest building at umakyat sa stairs. I ran as fast as I could.
I was still chasing him when he met a dead end.
"You have nowhere to go." Hinihingal kong sabi. "Who are you? Who sent you here?" I walked towards him. Nakatayo lang siya. He was wearing a black hoodie so I can't see his face.
Papalapit na ako sa kanya ng bigla siya tumakbo papunta sa railings at tumalon.
"Oh my gosh!" I ran towards the railings and looked below but I can't see him.
Kinapa ko ang buksa ko para kunin ang phone ko, pero wala akong nakapang phone.
I breathed heavily out of frustration.
I was about to head back when I saw Jeoff running.
"You're so fast." Hinihingal niyang sabi. "Who was that?"
"I don't know. He jumped in the railings and I can't see him anymore." Pumunta ako sa railings at tinignan ang paligid. "Call the bodyguards and tell them to guard every exit here in our school."
"They already did," Jeoff said referring to my brothers.
"He must be that guy who was in the court earlier." I went back to the spot where that guy stood and looked everywhere.
May nakita ako hindi malayo sa kinatatayuan niya kanina. I picked it up and looked at it. It looks like a pendant.
"Who owns that?" I heard Jeoff beside me.
"I guess, that guy." This one's so weird. "I feel like I've seen this before," I mumbled.
"Maybe it isn't from that guy you were chasing. Baka nahulog lang ng ibang estudyante." Tumayo kami at bumalik sa auditorium. I kept the pendant in my pocket. Pagkapasok namin sa auditorium, kakatapos lang ng nagperform.
"Are you fine?" They asked me kaya tumango ako.
"He disappeared," I said.
Later on, Kuya Chris received a message.
"No one saw a guy wearing an all-black outfit escaping. All the guards were in the possible exits but no one saw him." He said.
Then, that means..
"He isn't an outsider. He is a student here."
~~~
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