Chapter 38
MC's POV
In life, there are times that we will meet people.. and there are also times that the people we met will be gone into our lives as if they never existed.
Pero hindi lahat ng umaalis hindi ba bumabalik, someone will come and go, and someone will also go but then comeback.
"Axel.. long time no see." Wayden stated while looking at this guy in front of me named Axel, according to Wayden as he said.
Nakita ko ang pag ngisi ng lalaking nasa harapan namin, displaying the same intesity of the grin Wayden has on his face, hindi ko alam kung ano ang meron sakanilang dalawa but it seemed like they don't have a beautiful history together.
Axel the guy, laughed, it's more like a teasing laugh dahil wala namang nakakatawa pero tumatawa siya. "Sorry.. haha! I just find it funny you know?" he stated and stared back at Wayden. "It's such a long time yet you're still the same.. you are still hanging with the losers?"
I kept still, I kept my cool dahil ayoko namang maging masamang tao sa harapan ng iba dahil nakikisingit ako sa business ng iba, usapan nila 'yan and I know Wayden, hindi naman siya basta basta papatulan ang isang 'to.
Wayden let out a small chukcle. "Really? Hindi na nga ako nakabarkada sa'yo so why are you saying that I am hanging out with the losers?" Wayden stated, nonchalantly.
He's so straightforward that even this guy Axel didn't expect that he'd say that, narinig ko pa ang mahinang cheer ng iba at ang iba ay nag dedemand na ng dance battle, so it's basically a dance group battle, pero hindi naman nakapaghanda ang Twilight hindi ba?
Axel took a step backward and Wayden faced Robie, he just gave him a nod before Robie nod back and he vanished from my sight, anong ibig sabihin nu'n?
Confused, but I still watched on what was happening. People started to gather up more, causing everyone to caught their attention kaya halos lahat ay nanonood na dito, mukhang natigil pa ang battle ng iba dahil nandito na rin sila at nanonood.
Hindi pa sila nag sisimulang sumayaw but then everyone's making their bet and giving out moneys, nakitabi lang ako kay Maverick dahil hawak hawak niya ang braso ko at sinabing 'wag akong lalayo sakaniya.
I didn't argue more dahil hindi pa rin ako masyadong familiarize sa lugar and also ang daming tao at baka hindi ko na sila makita, madali pa naman akong maligaw kapag hindi ko alam ang lugar na pinupuntahan ko.
I am watching Wayden, he looked at us.. at Twilight rather then Shaun and James started to move forward, they are smiling as if they were kids doing some intermission number on their school's event. Akala ko si Daniel ang isasama nila pero si James ang pumunta sa harapan.
The music started playing, nang marinig nila ito ay nag simulang mag hiyawan ang mga tao, "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish started playing and everyone cheered for them, hindi ko kilala ang dalawang kasama ni Axel but then according to John's facial expression when he saw them, he looked shock so I guess he knows them too.
"WOHOOOOOO!"
"YEAAAAAH!"
"OWWWWW!"
Series of cheers can be heard throughout their dance, I can say that they are also good, they aren't bad but then I believe in the power of these trio, hindi naman sa biased ako pero parang gano'n na nga, syempre! Kaibigan ko sila! Ako ang number 1 supporter nila!
When the dance ended everyone clapped their hands, sumunod naman na sina Wayden at nasa gitna ito, he looked at Axel intently before started dancing, the music was "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson at nag hiyawan na ang mga tao, syempre nangunguna ako!
They switched places at nasa gitna na ngayon si Shaun and girls are now cheering, of course what do I expect? He really have the visual every girls love, add the fact that he winked and gave flying kiss, halos mahimatay na ata ang ibang babae dito, napaka playful niyang sumayaw but he's great in doing the popping dace... I think?
The dance went smoothly at napa cheer pa rin ako, halos mawalan na nga ako ng boses pero okay lang 'yon dahil hindi naman ako kakanta mamaya, sayaw naman ang laban kaya hindi ko kailangan ng boses hihi!
"YOW YOW YOW! SINONG NANALO?" excited na sabi ng MC at nag simulang isigaw ng mga tao ang mga bet nila, nakisigaw na rin ako ng 2 dahil 'yun lang ang tawag sakanila, I raised my hand and showed number 2, medyo maliit ako kaya kailangan ko pang tumalon to give all I can to support them.
I heard someone chuckled on my side kaya napa tingin ako at nakita ko si Maverick, nakatingin siya saakin habang nakatapat ang kaniyang kamay sakaniyang bibig at tinatakpan nito, tumatawa na siya ngayon kaya napasimangot ako at bahagyang napanguso sakaniya.
"Mag cheer ka kaya? Hindi 'yung tawa ka nang tawa d'yan wala kang ka support support sa kaibgan mo." sambit ko na sinamahan pa ng irap.
He just continued laughing at nag salita na ang mc and announced that no one win and it's a tie, napanguso naman ako and I saw how Wayden flicked his tongue and shook his head a little, I can feel that he's disappointed with the decision, of course everyone want to know who won!
Pero sure naman akong sina Wayden na 'yun! They just can't admit na natalo sila kaya siguro nag tie nalang. Haist.
After that battle, nag tungo na kami sa isang kuwarto kung saan nag papahinga si Jacob, nag tungo naman ako sakaniya at saka naupo sa tabi nito.
"Kamusta ka na?"
He smiled. "Ayos lang, hindi naman na masakit, ang kulit nitong si Samuel e." he let out a small laugh then Samuel hissed at him.
"Dapat kasi hindi na tayo sumama, baka mamaya lumala pa 'yang paa mo, binantayan nalang sana kita." paliwanag nito.
"Gusto ko kasama ako at makita ko lahat ng achievements natin." Jacob stated, at bahagya naman akong napangiti, he's just being himslef this time, he is really this kind Jacob I know.
Dumating naman si Maverick at saka ginulo ang buhok ni Jacob nang bahagya. "Ang drama mo naman, mag pahinga ka nalang d'yan." saad niya kaya bahagyang natawa ang iba.
After few minutes of talking to each other bigla kong naalala si Axel na nakalaban nila kanina kaya hinarap ko ang Twilight. "Sino nga pala si Axel?"
Natigilan ang lahat sa tinanong ko, Samuel eyes grew bigger. "What? Nandito ang lokong 'yon?" sambit niya at bakas ang inis dito.
Tumango naman si Joshua. "Yeah, still can't believe how he got here." napatango naman ang iba bilang pag sang-ayon.
"Axel is our old friend-"
"Acquaintance." putol sakaniya ni Wayden kaya napatango nalang si Joshua,
"Yeah, mas bagay nga sakaniya ang acquaintance, so he's an old acquaintance of ours and we used to dance together, but then unfortunate tyranny happened so.. boom." Joshua explained in the most summarize version he could.
Napatango nalang ako, maybe they really don't want to talk about him but they don't want to sound rude to me so they answered my question trying to tell everything happened without even telling the whole story.
Napatango nalang ako sakanila at hindi na rin nag tanong pa, hindi rin naman nag tagal ay nag palit na rin ako ng damit dahil malapit na rin daw ang main event, akala ko hahapunin pa kammi pero mabuti nalang at hindi, baka makaabot pa kami sa afternoon classes namin.
After I finished wearing my white cargo pants, white tub at isang white crop top jacket. Tinali ko nalang rin ang buhok ko into pony tail at nag iwan lang ng ilang strands ng buhok na nakahulog, hindi ako sanay na ganito ang ayos ko but then it's for the sake of the contest, thankful nalang rin ako at ito ang mga binili nina Nice saakin at least I could use them when in times of need.
I got out of the restroom at sinuot ko na ang white sneakers na kanina ko pa suot. They all looked at me at napahawak naman ako sa batok ko.
"Okay lang ba? Wala na kasi akong makitang ibang damit duon sa mga pinamili saakin nina-"
"That's.... fine.." saad ni John at napatango pa. "You just looked different."
"Dahil ba sa suot ko? Medyo ano nga-"
"There's... nothing wrong with your outfit I guess?" saad naman ni Daniel. "Wala naman saamin, it's a normal thing for girls, 'yung buhok mo lang siguro." sambit niya at napatango nalang ako at bahagyang napangiti pa.
Nakita ko na rin si Maverick, he's wearing his white jacket, white ripped jeans and white shirt underneath together with his white shoes also, ang linis niyang tignan pero ang gulo pa rin ng buhok niya, hindi ba talaga siya marunong mag-ayos ng buhok tsk.
Napatikhom nalang ako ng bibig, dahil kahit na magulo ang buhok niya ay ang gwapo pa rin niya tignan, not that I'm praising his looks but then he look good with white.
"Tara na? Mauuna na kami." Maverick said to his friends at napatango naman sina John saamin, I just waved my hand to them, particularly kay Jacob na ngumiti saakin nang bahagya.
Nakalabas na kami at saka kami nag tungo sa part kung nasaan 'yung mga contestants at saka kami pumila, we were just standing side by side at tahimik lang kami pareho, I started playing with my fingers dahil bigla nalang ako nakaramdam ng kaba.
This is my first time joining a contest after such a long time, ang huling beses ko na sumali ng isang contest o kaya ay mag perform ay nuong grade 7 ako, hindi pa nga contest iyon dahil napilit lang naman akong mag perform tsaka may plus points daw kahit na hindi manalo kaya nag join nalang din ako.
I sighed and closed my eyes, ahhh I am having a panic attack right now, paano kung hindi sila magalingan? Paano kung hindi sila ma satisfied? Ang dami kong naiisip na "what ifs" kaya hindi na ako mapakali, kami pa naman ang pangalawa, kahit na lima lang ang mag participate nakakakaba pa rin dahil mukha silang magagaling lahat.
I was just thinking deeply while my eyes were shut when I felt a hand held mine, napamulat ang mga mata ko at napatingin ako sa tabi ko, I saw Maverick looking at me intently as if he knows what I am feeling right now.
"Are you okay? Kung kinakabahan ka sinasabi ko sa'yo, 'wag, may tiwala ako sa'yo, I know you can do better than anyone else here."
Bumagsak naman ang mga balikat ko. "Paano kung hindi enough yung trust mo? I mean, malamang sinasabi mo 'yan kasi kapartner mo ako, pero paano 'yung iba? Paano kung hindi naman gano'n ang sinasabi nila saa-"
He placed his forefinger on my lips, causing me to shut.
"Ang dami mong sinasabi, 'wag kang mag overthink, you have to give your full trust on me because I am the one who will carry and bring you around on the dance." he said at napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga at saka tumango sakaniya.
"Okay.. I trust you."
He smiled, he lifted his right hand and caressed my cheek. "That's my girl."
**
"GO MC! GO MAVI!"
"GO GO GO!"
"ANG GALING NIYO WOHOOO!"
"YOOW ANG GALING!"
"HUY GRABE ANG GALING!"
Ayan lang ang mga naririnig ko at samu't saring mga hiyaw pa mula sa iba't ibang tao ang naririnig ko while we were dancing, nakangiti tuloy ako and just focused on the dance, letting my body dance to the rhythm and fixed my eyes on my partner.
Nang mag dikit ang mga ilong namin ay tinitigan ko lang siya sa mata at napangiti ako nang malawak, he angled his head on the side kaya bahagya akong nagulat at hindi ako makagalaw, I thought he's going to kiss me but then we proceeded to the next step kaya nakahinga rin ako nang maluwag
What was that?
The song ended as well as our hands at napangiti kaming dalawa nang marinig namin ang malakas na sigawan ng mga tao, nakita ko ring napapalakpak 'yung mga judge at napakagat naman ako ng labi para mapigilan ko ang sarili kong mapangiti nang malakas.
Sinalubong kami ng Twilight at nakipag high five ako sakanila, they told me that I did a great job kaya napangiti naman ako nang malawak. I looked at Maverick and gave him a thumbs up, brushing the scene earlier, baka naman ginawa niya lang iyon to give the audience more impact to our dance,
Tsaka hindi naman natuloy! Bakit ko ba iniisip 'yon!
The contest continued at masasabi kong magagaling talaga lahat, though now na natapos na kami, I am not losing hope, sana naman ay manalo kami kahit pang third place lang para kahit papaano mag paid off 'yung hardwork namin!
Nang matapos na ang huling pares na nag sayaw ay tinawag na kaming lahat, the mc announced the price at nagulat pa ako nang malaman na halos 50k ang mapapalanunan ng first place habang ang second plaace ay 40 thousand and 'yung third ay 20 thousand.
Not that bad!
The mc started to announce the third place at napapikit naman ako habang nakasiklop ang mga kamay ko sa isa't isa.
"CONTESTANT NUMBER 3!"
Napahinga ako nang maluwag, kinakabahan ako ng kaunti pa dahil hindi pa kami tinatawag, ibig sabihin may chance pa kami sa second and first place pero baka rin naman...
Argh! Kinakabahan ako! Napatingin ako sa katabi ko na si Maverick, cool lang siyang nakatayo at nakalagay ang kaniyang mga kamay sa loob ng bulsa niya, seriously? Hindi ba siya kinakabahan?
Napansin niya atang nakatingin ako sakaniya kaya tumingin rin siya saakin at saka ko nakitang inagaw niya ang kamay ko at hinawakan niya ito, he didn't mutter anything pero nararamdaman kong sinasabi niya saakin na mag tiwala lang ako at 'wag akong masyadong kabahan.
I took a deep breath, and calmed myself down.
"AND THE SECOND PLACE IS..." a drum roll played. "CONTESTANT NUMBER 2!" everyone cheered at napatingin naman ako kay Maverick and he gave me a small smile, we claimed the trophy and the cash price before smiling, umalis na kami duon sa gitna at sinalubong naman kami ng Twiligh.
I gave the envelope to John and hugged him. "I'm so proud of you." he whispered and sllightly hugged me, ganoon rin ang ginawa ng iba at somehow I felt happy dahil mukha naman silang hindi disappointed na hindi namin nakuha ni Maverick ang first place.
We then proceeded to our the van, John was looking at his phone at nauna nang pumasok si Jacob sa loob at tinabihan ko siya. "Napagod ka ba?" tanong ko sakaniya but then he shook his head and smiled.
"I am fine." he stated and I smiled at him. "Congratulations, I knew you'd do a great job."
I tucked my hair on the back of my ear and smiled. "Thank you! Mas maganda nga sana kung ikaw 'yung kapartner ko e." I said but he just laughed.
Pumasok na rin ang iba at si John na naman daw ang mag da drive para saamin, "The head mistress said that we can just tell the students that Jacob went for a checkup in the hospital." saad niya saamin at napatango naman kaming lahat.
Nag patong na ako ng shirt kanina para hindi ko na suot ang jacket ko dahil baka mag taka pa sila na galing akong hospital pero ganito ang suot ko. Baka ma-issue na naman bigla.
We just drove to our school, napag desisyonan naming sa school nalang kami kakain since we can have lunch na rin duon dahil nadagdagan na ang kanilang allowance, though it's not enough pa rin para sa allowance nila sa contest.
**
"Dahan dahan ka lang ha." mahinahon na sabi ko kay Jacob habang inaalalayan ko siya na makalakad gamit ang kaniyang crutch,
Nabuksan na ni John ang pintuan at nandoon ang wheelchair for Jacob, naupo siya duon and I volunteered to push him kaya hinayaan na rin nila ako, we went inside at clear ang part ng malapit sa garden, we went to the hallway at duon nag simulang makita ang mga estudyante.
We just walked as if we can't see them pero napaka visible saakin ng mga tingin ko sa estudyante, they are looking at me using their judgemental eyes again.
Bahagyang napakunot ang noo ko nang mag bulung-bulungan na naman sila hanggang sa makarating kami sa dorm at sinabing nilang mag papahinga raw muna sila, napatango naman ako at saka ako nag tungo sa kuwarto ko after kong alalayan si Jacob na makapasok sa kuwarto niya.
I took a bath and changed my clothes, may afternoon classes pa kaya mas gusto kong mag attend nalang nito, para naman makahabol din ako sa mga na-miss ko this past few days kahit na sinesendan naman ako ni Nice ng mga files na kailangan ko.
I was just brushing my hair when I remebered NIce.
To Nice:
Nice! Nandito na ulit ako sa One High, aattend ako ng afternoon class natin.
Saan ka?
I waited for a minute, I expected that she will answer me right away pero wala pa rin siyang reply, nakailang chat na ako sakaniya pero wala pa rin kaya napanguso naman ako, baka naman siguro busy lang siya.
Kaya in-open ko naman ang contacts ko at saka sinearch si Amara.
To Amara:
Nandito na ako sa One High, saan ko kayo makikita?
From Amara:
Not now MC please?
My brows furrowed when I read her text, what does she mean by that? May problema kaya? I should probably check on them.
I went out of my room at nakita ko sa sala sina Samuel, nag paalam ako sakanila at kinawayan nila ako habang nakangiti at saka ako lumabas ng dorm, dala dala ang bag ko ay nakikita ko pa rin ang mga tingin ng estudyante na naman saakin.
I am starting to get curious kung ano na naman ang nangyayari, nasasanay na kasi akong palagi naman nila akong tinitignan nang ganoon, but I know when something's not right or something's different now. And now is that situation.
Parang sobra na naman ang mga tsismis na kumakalat saakin, ano na naman kaya iyon?
I was about to walk past the classrooms papunta sa classroom ko nang biglang may humawak sa braso ko, napalingon ako rito at nakita ko si Agatha, she's with her two underlings na naman.
I raised a brow on her, but then it slightly faded when I remembered that she's the sister of Nice. Should I be nice to her too? She's the sister of my friend and I can't afford to fight her now.
"Agatha, wala akong panahon sa'yo, I have to see my friend." I told her, calmly.
I somehow respects her now, maybe the reason why she's doing this is because of her situation also, I would just let her since I think this is her defend mechanism kaya niya ito ginagawa.
"Why suddenly so nice?" she said and scoffed. "Anong gagawin mo ulit? Kikitain mo ang mga kaibigan mo? Why? Are they your true friends?" she asked me at bahagyang napakunot ang mga noo ko.
"What are you saying? Of course they are my friends!" tanggi ko sa sinasabi niya. "Kung ikaw wala kang kaibigan 'wag mo akong idamay!"
Beat.
She started to close her eyes at saka niya mas hinigpitan ang hawak niya sa braso ko so I started to squint my eyes because of the pain I am feeling. I tried to fight back pero mas mahigpit ang hawak niya saakin.
"Talaga bang pinagtatanggol mo pa siya?!" she yelled. "MASASABI MO PA BANG KAIBIGAN MO SIYA KAPAG NALAMAN MO SIYA ANG DAHILA KUNG BAKIT MUNTIK KA NG MAPAHAMAK?"
Napatigil ako sa paglaban dahil sa sinabi niya saakin. HIndi ko siya maintindihan.
Napatawa siya nang makita niya ang reaksyon ko. "So hindi pa niya nasasabi?" she laughed so hard again.
"What a great sight, the great Maria Celistina Xavier is experiencing tyranny? Wow, just wow." she clapped her hands, finally freeing me from her grip.
"Ano bang sinasabi mo Agatha? Can you just get straight to the point?" inis na sabi ko sakaniya.
She smirked. "Your friend, Vernice Cancerno is the reason why Jacob was hurt and she's the one who tried to harm you."
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