It was Wednesday.
The fashion icon had just begun. Wild na wild ang crowd habang nakatayo sa field at inaabangan ang mga contestants. Busy sila sa kaka-picture at kaka-chant ng mga pangalan ng mga pambato nila. Kami rin. Nababaliw na kaming magkakaibigan kakasigaw ng name ni Hiro.
Kuya Onyx and his friends were with us. Yung buong blocks nila at ni Hiromi, kasama namin para sumuporta. The other boys, probably nasa klase. Yung iba nakakalat lang sa mga stalls na nakapaligid sa university.
"Pst. Pinopormahan ba no'n si H?" bulong sa 'kin ni Anjo.
Pagtingin ko sa gilid, isang matikas na lalaki ang sumalubong sa 'kin. This tall boy was talking to Hiromi's dad na kasama din namin, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.
"I can't say. 'Di ko siya kilala."
He looked Japanese. Hindi rin siya naka-uniform at pamilyar sa 'kin so baka kakilala nila. He didn't look like he was from here.
"Baka naman pinsan," Lhyle suggested.
"Pinsan, may flowers? Ano 'yan?" Maxxie said.
"Just saying. Malay n'yo. Akala ko ba si Onyx ang type n'yan?"
Napabungisngis ako sabay baling kina Kuya Onyx na nakatayo sa 'di kalayuan.
"Sabi niya 'di niya raw crush. Mas okay nang hindi. Kuya will hurt her lang."
"Sayang din, a. Bagay pa naman sila. Ayiie," Anjo squealed.
Napailing lang si Ahron. She knew firsthand how bad Kuya Onyx was with girls. Front seat siya dati sa mga 'yon dahil nagkasama sila sa isang commercial a year ago. It's safe to say she hates his guts.
But then again, gano'n talaga. Players hate fellow players. Kaya 'di ko masyadong sineseryoso 'yon.
'Di nagtagal, tumunog na ang signal na magsisimula na ang pageant. Tinawag na ako ng troupe dahil kailangan na naming magbihis para sa sayaw. Humiwalay ako sa mga kaibigan ko at sumama kina Janella papunta sa isang vacant classroom, bitbit ang mga paper bags ko. Doon kami nagpalit ng damit habang ang boys nasa kabila.
Tapos no'n, we met the boys in the backstage. Kuya Jim gave us brief reminders bago kami sumalang sa stage.
Malakas na sigaw at cheers ang bumungad sa 'min. On fire na ang lahat dahil katatapos lang ng bikini segment. Pagkatapos ng sayaw namin, question and answer portion naman.
We executed the dance as perfectly as we could. Natatanaw ko ang mga kapatid at pinsan ko sa harap kasama ang mga kaibigan nila. The basketball team was here, also watching. Kasama ni Kuya Andrei naman ang mga outsider niyang barkada.
I grinned when I made eye-contact with Angelo. That boy's also here. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga girls, lalo na si Anjo, dahil sa presence niya.
He grinned when he noticed my attention.
Humiyaw siya at narinig ko ang malakas na "Go, Jaaaaamie V!" mula sa audience.
That boosted me up and so I gave my everything to this dance.
***
The dance was great. Perfect. Flawless.
Nagustuhan ng mga tao ang ginawa namin. Pagbaba ng stage, agad na lumapit ang mga kaibigan ko para magpa-picture. Nagpakuha na rin ako kasama ang mga kapatid at pinsan ko. No'ng nagkaron ng chance, pati na rin kay Hiro.
The question and answer portion started immediately after the dance.
I was half running toward the field. Gusto ko nang mapanood si H, at gusto ko rin kamustahin sina Angelo. Kuya didn't tell me he invited him! Daya!
It was Hiro's turn in the Q&A when I joined my friends. Binati ko muna ang mga kasama nina Kuya Jacob at Kuya Andrei before I focused on her. And as expected, maganda at may dating ang naging sagot ng babe namin. Oh ha. Pang-Miss Universe. Matalino naman kasi talaga si Hiro. Talented pa. She's a great woman. Natatakpan lang talaga 'yon ng pagiging mahiyain niya.
I heard a whistle from beside me after Hiromi's answer. Si Angelo.
"Ang galing ng friend mo, babe," he told me.
"Syempre," I said proudly habang todo palakpak.
Sama-sama naming tinapos ang pageant. Sad to say, Hiro didn't win the crown but she was a runner-up. With special awards pa. Hakot nga yung half ng recognitions. But oh, well. The other girl still won. Tama nga si Ahron. Cynthia was a force to reckon with.
That didn't dampen our mood dahil masayang masaya si Hiro sa nakuha niya. She's a good sport, after all. Tapos no'n, naghiwa-hiwalay na kami.
Hiro needed to go back dahil may mini party ang mga candidates. Si Anjo naman, busy sa pagtulong sa pag-aayos ng kissing booth na hawak ng org nila. Ayaw pa ngang sumama nung una. She wanted to stay around dahil kay Angelo, napilit lang ng orgmates niya. Si Lhyle, umalis din kagad dahil siya ang may cover ng events today, while Maxxie had to meet her blockmates. Which left me with only Ahron and the other boys. Umalis na sina Kuya Jacob and his team, pati sina Gian at Kuya Paul dahil sa kani-kanilang klase.
So 'yon. Sina Mathev, Kuya Andrei and his friends, Angelo at Kuya Onyx na lang ang natira.
"Sa'n tayo?" Angelo asked.
"Tara, sine," yaya ko. I wanted to bond with them pa. Gusto ko rin makilala sina Steel. From what little I heard about them kasi, they seemed like cool guys. I wanted to meet my brother's travel buds.
They all turned to me, parang hesitant.
"Maraming good movies," I persuaded, pouting.
Tumawa si Angelo. "I'm in. I'm bored, anyway."
Dahil sa pagpayag niya, isa-isa na rin pumayag ang iba.
On our way to the mall, mabilis akong inakbayan ng kumag. Tinawanan lang kami ni Ahron. Si Kuya Andrei naman, hinayaan lang kami. Sisikuhin ko na sana siya when he told me:
"Galing mo sumayaw, Jamie V."
Kuya Andrei coughed. He gave his friend an incredulous look. Sa gilid niya, nagtatawanan na sina Steel at ang dalawa pa niyang kasama. "Dude, pwede ba sa susunod, yung wala naman ako dito?"
Angelo merely chuckled, raising his hands in surrender.
Sa sasakyan ni Mathev kami sumabay ni Ahron. Babe left her car at school, babalik pa naman kami. Sina Steel, kasabay nina Angelo. Habang magkasama sina Kuya Onyx at Kuya Andrei.
Sinilip ako ni Mathev from the mirror. Sa likod kasi kami nakaupo ni Ahron.
"Nga pala, Jav. 'Di ka talaga sasama sa lakad? Ano ba talaga pinagkaka-busy-han mo?" Mathev snuck a quick glance at us.
Ahron turned to me out of curiosity.
"Mag-aaral ako. Kami ni babe. Finals na soon."
"Boring," sabi ni Mathev. "Sumama na lang kayo sa 'min."
Ahron snorted. "No thanks."
Nagkibitbalikat lang si Mathev, eyes still on the road.
I continued, "Do you even have time to go out? 'Di ba kayo mag-aaral din?"
"What's college?" sabi niya lang sabay tawa.
Bumili na kami ng movie tickets pagdating namin. Natutuwa ako na kasama ko sila dito. Pati si Angelo. Lately kasi, mas napapalapit kami lalo sa isa't isa. Napapadalas kasi ang pagkikita namin. I was growing fond of his crazy antics. He's a breathe of fresh air.
Katabi ko si Mathev at Ahron sa kabuuan ng movie. Na-enjoy ko naman ang pinanood namin at nabitin pa nga when it ended. We ate dinner after, and then bumalik na kami ni Ahron sa university para manood ng banda. Humiwalay na ang boys para sa sarili nilang gimik. Mathev, being a gentleman, drove us to Intersci bago sumunod sa kanila.
Before meeting our other friends sa activity area, pinigil ako sa paglalakad ni Ahron.
I faced her, my brows quirked in question. But I already knew what it was going to be about.
Lumayo kami sa dami ng tao sa gitna. Maingay na kasi ang mga naghihintay sa banda.
When we stepped away from the crowd, Ahron asked me right away, "What was that?"
"I sorta lied, babe. I told them busy ako so I can't go out with them, but the truth is, I'm just blocking my sched for the Finals."
"Magkikita kayo?" came her direct response.
I paused for a moment sa tanong niya. "If they make it to the Finals and win, yes."
"You're going to the game?"
"Gusto ko sana." I bit my lip.
"Then go," Ahron said casually, as if wala siyang sinabing kakaiba. "I'll go with you. You'll have an excuse."
Ilang segundo bago nag-proseso sa 'kin ang sinabi niya. Then, my eyes widened.
"Seryoso? Oh, my god! Thank you, babe!" I beamed, and then I added, "Sorry ha. Dinamay pa kita."
She shook her head, dismissing it. "Para saan pang kaibigan mo 'ko? I'm not an accessory."
Hindi ko napigilan. I hugged her sa sobrang saya. At least, may dahilan na 'ko para pumunta.
Thank you ako nang thank you kay Ahron until we drowned in the loud music blasting from the speakers. Dumadagsa na ang tao sa field kaya dumiretso na kami papunta sa mga kaibigan namin.
Medyo 'di pa fully nagsi-sink sa 'kin ang nangyari. Ahron said I could watch. She'd go with me.
Did that mean na binigay niya ang blessings niya?
***
Semi-finals was over. Intersci ended up losing against Ignatio while Centrex won against UTA. Ignatio at Centrex ang maghaharap.
Their big fight was all I could see on social media as the week approached. Racel sent me messages, but it was few and infrequent. He'd been so busy preparing for the match. Kuya Jacob naman surprisingly took the loss well. Bawi na lang daw next season.
When Finals finally came, everyone went on fire. Tickets sold out fast. And boy were the matches insane. Kahit 'di ko napanood ang first two matches, it was as if I was there. It was all everyone could ever talk about.
Centrex won the first match. Ignatio won the second match.
Now it was the day before the final game. By tomorrow, we'd know who'd be bringing home the bacon... and kung matutuloy ba... yung date namin.
I was right to block my entire schedule, kasi sumakto nga sa last match yung gala na sinasabi nina Kuya Onyx. Even now, inaaya pa rin ako.
I had no idea why they wanted me to go so bad when I didn't even know whose birthday it was going to be. Later on, I discovered why.
Constello was going to be there. In fact, it was one of their members' party. Gets ko na. The boys were setting me up to tease me. Tss.
I like Constello, sure. I like their music and I admire Dash Lim's smooth and hot vocals pero hindi enough 'yon para bumali ako sa pangako. A promise is a promise.
Though nagui-guilty din talaga ako. Until now, I was a "yes" person to my cousins. Wala pa silang pangungulit na natanggihan ko. Ngayon pa lang.
And it was because of him pa. Shucks.
I snuck into my bed, sinking into my covers. I felt anxious and excited for the match. I was going to see him again. Bukod pa ro'n, makikita ko siya again in the field. In his domain. Doing the thing he did best. I'd get to see how good he really was.
Umaatake ang mga paru-paro sa tiyan ko dahil sa mga naiisip ko. The thought of seeing his game face was seriously making me feel giddy. Last time kasi, hindi ko siya napagtuunan ng pansin. I was too busy watching my brother play.
Now, sisiguraduhin kong mapapanood ko siya. I wanted to see why so many people were revering him inside the court. I wanted to see this part of his life na hindi ko napansin before.
Pero syempre, wala siyang alam about this. Wala akong balak sabihan siya. I didn't want to distract him.
Fudge. Ang bagal ng oras.
Bakit kasi nine p.m. pa lang? Barely my sleeping hour. Ang tagaaal dumating ng weekends!
To kill boredom, bumaba ako para uminom ng gatas baka sakaling antukin na ako. Kumuha na rin ako ng cookies para may makain habang naghihintay.
Tumabi ako kay Kuya Andrei. He was watching a movie in the sofa. Kami na lang ang gising. Maagang natulog si Kuya Chris. Gano'n din si Kuya Jacob. Parehas silang pagod na pagod na umuwi sa bahay kanina.
Patay na ang ilaw at ang TV na lang ang only source of light in the house, maliban sa ilaw sa may hagdan.
I leaned into my brother's shoulder, munching on the cookies.
Ang tagal tagal talaga ng oras.
"You're giddy," sabi ni Kuya Andrei, nakatingin pa rin sa TV. "Don't move so much."
I laughed sheepishly. "Sorry."
"Waiting for something?"
"Nagpapaantok."
Kuya thankfully just chuckled and said nothing else. Masyado siyang engrossed sa pinapanood namin.
I grabbed the glass of milk, sneaking a glance at the clock. 9:25.
Ngumuso ako sa pagkainip. I drank my milk in one go.
My phone's screen suddenly lit up.
I raised a brow. Ahron messaged me?
Check his Twitter. Now!
Like a magic spell, my heart automatically skidded fast. Twitter, did she mean Racel's Twitter?
Lumayo ako kay Kuya Andrei as a safety measure. Nagmamadali akong nagbukas ng app at tiningnan ang Twitter niya.
His latest tweet made me smile proudly. Pero yung mga replies doon ang nagpatigil sa paghinga ko.
RCG @RacelCGutierez • 1hr
Acing this game tomorrow.
💬 1612 🔁 1342 🤍 24577
Justin J @JJMercedez • 1hr
↪️ Replying to @RacelCGutierez
Lets go paps.
🤍 2381
Harvey @HarveyFajardo • 1hr
↪️ Replying to @JJMercedez @RacelCGutierez
Someone's gonna watch, I bet my ass.
🤍 576
Justin J @JJMercedez • 1hr
↪️ Replying to @HarveyFajardo @RacelCGutierez
Baka may date lol
🤍 1188
Nasamid ako sa nabasa ko. Nakuha no'n ang atensyon ni Kuya Andrei kaya tumawa lang ako at winala ang atensyon niya. Tumakbo ako papanik ng kwarto, pigil na pigil sa pagngiti. Nang makapasok ako sa kwarto, do'n ko lang tinuloy ang pagbabasa.
Maraming nag-react kung sino ang babaeng tinutukoy doon. I didn't bother reading the other tweets. Baka masira lang ang gabi ko.
Feeling high in excitement, I texted him. Pinalitan ko na rin ang unregistered number niya sa cellphone ko.
Me:
Good luck sa game tom. You'll be great.
Mabilis ang dating ng reply niya. I melted at what he replied.
RCG:
Remember the deal. Your day is mine tomorrow. Don't forget.
Napapikit ako. Putchaaaa.
Me:
You haven't won yet. :p
RCG:
Game's gonna be mine.
Me:
Haha. Yabang pa more. Yeah, okay. Rest na you have a game tomorrow.
RCG:
I'll see you tomorrow?
Me:
Bahala na. Good night.
RCG:
I want to see you tomorrow. Good night.
When I saw his tweet after that text, napangiti na lang ako and hoped that he'd really win the match tomorrow. You can do it, Captain!
RCG @RacelCGutierez • 1s
Can't wait for it.
💬 12 🔁 15 🤍 35