Glances and Sunsets

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Lost

My lips quivered when I tried hardly to force a smile. I stopped myself from looking down so I would not appear pitiful. I was embarassed when I held the silver medal hanging round my neck. I felt a lump slowly forming in my throat as my chest heavied.

"It's fine, Eve."

I heard my coach spoke beside me. The disappointment laced in her voice told me it is not fine. Losing is not fine.

"Yes, Ma'am." I gave her a small smile.

The quiz bee ended with me placing to the second spot. It was a close fight, I could have won, but I did not. I lost. Like a frail jar, I stood in front of the crowd as they take pictures, the little courage in me crumbling down. The confidence that I wanted to build instantly faded and went out of my grasp.

"Sayang lang ano? Last year mo na 'to sa science quiz bee." Tugon niya at bahagyang napatawa.

That's what I thought. Losing was not fine. Alam kong nabigo ko sila. The reason why they could not congratulate me. Syempre hindi ito ang inaasahan nilang resulta! Ang tanging nasasabi lang nila ay 'ayos lang iyan'.

"Pasensya na po, Ma'am. Nagkamali ako sa huling tanong." Sa mababang boses ay humingi ako ng paumanhin.

Kaunting tulak na lamang ay tutulo na ang mga nagbabadyang luha. Bakit ko ba kasi nakalimutan iyong sagot sa tanong? I reviewed for two weeks, and even sacrificed attending classes to prepare for the competition. I hate losing. Ayokong natatalo ako.

Hilaw siyang ngumiti sa akin at tumango.

"Tapos na rin naman. Wala na tayong magagawa pa roon. Hayaan mo na."

Really? This is why I hate losing. Sa tuwing natatalo ako, pakiramdam ko hindi ako tanggap ng mga tao sa aking paligid. Para akong iba sa kanila.

Nang iwan ako ni Ma'am Lisa para makipag-usap sa coach ng nanalo ay pinili kong umalis na sa venue ng paligsahan. Hindi ko kayang magtagal sa lugar na ramdam ko ang pagka-awa sa akin.

It was still ten in the morning when the contest ended. Makakahabol pa ako sa last period na klase ko.

When I entered our classroom, the teacher welcomed me with a huge smile on his face. Agad akong inusisa ng mga kaklase ko tungkol sa kinalabasan ng patimpalak.

"Second place po ako, Sir." I said in low tone because I cannot find the confidence to be excited about it.

"Oh? I thought ikaw ang nanalo." Ani Sir at saglit na naglaho ang ngiti sa mukha.

Umiling lang ako at umupo sa bakanteng upuan. Nakakahiya. Our teacher continued with the discussion, but because of my overflowing frustration, I could not bring my attention to what he was saying.

"May mas matalino pala sayo, Eve." Mapang-uyam na winika ng katabi ko.

Si Kia. Matagal na siyang ganyan kung pakitunguhan ako. I don't know what exactly is her problem with me. Simula grade 1 ay hindi na siya magkamayaw sa pang-aasar sa akin. Hanggang ngayong huling taon namin sa elementarya ay para pa rin siyang spoiled brat kung umasta.

"Marami, Kia." Tamad kong sagot at hindi siya binalingan ng tingin.

Badtrip ako ngayon. Ayoko siyang patulan. Whatever comes out her mouth is nothing but the taste of her rotten attitude.