Unofficially Yours (On-going)

Chapter 4 - Sun Will Rise in the West

"From the top. Five, six, seven, eight."

The choreo ends with a cartwheel and split. All of us are sitting on the floor, breathing. Some are even lying down. Coach can sometimes be cruel.

"Don't forget to stretch. Where's Olivia? I'll leave this to you. Good job today, guys!" He called out before leaving.

Isa ako sa mga nakahiga sa sahig at naghahabol ng hininga.

Cheerleading was never my first choice. I wanted to be a swimmer like mama, then I wanted to join drama club because why not? Then one day habang nagrerecruit mga senior dancer sa classroom, the then caption pointed at me and ask if I wanted to try joining. So again, why not?

I'm not decisive. Usually kailangan ko ng second and third opinion. That's Marcus' part in our friendship. Hindi ako pushover but state your argument then I can be convinced. Like that one time niyaya niya akong mag try-out sa volleyball dahil doon sumasali ang mga magaganda, he said. Then another time when he pulled me to cut class with him para kumain sa labas ng school. It will be fun, he said.

We were grounded for two weeks and no cellphone.

But he was right. Maraming maganda sa volleyball team at masaya ang mag cut class.

But it was not for me.

Cheerleading was the only thing I really decided for myself. Marcus was always right. But when he asked me to quit the moment he saw how hard the training was for me kasi palagi akong may pasa at palaging masakit ang katawan ko nung bago palang ako, I stood my ground.

Minsan naiinggit ako kay Xavier dahil alam niya kung anong gusto niyang gawin at talagang gagawin niya.

He wanted to play basketball since mga bata palang kami and he really did. If he decided na ayaw niya sa isang bagay then ayaw niya talaga kahit anong sabihin mo. That's just how he is.

Now though, we have Zoe, perfect na ang circle namin.

Zoe balances everything. Palagi silang magkaiba ng opinyon ni Marcus sa mga bagay bagay.

Nakasalubong ko ang team nila Xavier kanina at nag invite si Sean this weekend sa birthday bash niya.

Marcus didn't want to go kasi hindi sila friends at hindi niya feel si Sean. Too friendly. He said.

Zoe wanted to go because, "Why not and we were invited it's not like we will crash his party."

Marcus rolled his eyes. "Are you friends? Tsaka nag-invite lang 'yun dahil nahiya. Tapos pupunta ka?"

"Well, hindi ako pupunta mag-isa. Pupunta tayo. Tayo."

"You go. I'm not going."

"Fine! At least he's friendly! Hindi katulad mo, snob." Zoe retorted.

"Guys. Okay. Wag kayong mag-away." I sighed. Hindi na first time na magtalo silang dalawa at kailangan kong pumagitna. "Pwede naman tayong pumunta then we leave pag ayaw natin 'yung ambiance. Zoe was right invited tayo so hindi naman nakakahiya."

Zoe smirked, ready to gloat when I continued, "And may point rin si Marcus. So, tignan nalang natin?"

In the end they both compromised. As always.

xx

Sean has a driver that will pick us up. Dadaanan niya muna si Xavier then kami dito sa bahay.

We had light dinner at home. All the while questioned by my parents.

"Who's this Sean?"

"Friend." Sagot ko kay dad.

"Close friend? Ngayon ko lang siya narinig." Sabi naman ni mama.

Marcus rolled his eyes. Which of course didn't escape dad's notice, so dad asked him instead.

"Basta ako hindi ko 'yun kaibigan, tito. I'm just going because they're going."

Sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Zoe. Marcus looked down at her, "Ano? Dun tayo sa totoo."

"Dad, he's Xavier's teammate. Zoe also met her a few times."

Tumatango si Zoe and gave my parents a winning smile. Doon lang sila napalagay. Looks like everytime I go out I have to mention the magic word.

"Okay, mag-iingat. Don't take drinks from strangers. Lalo na kayong dalawa." Paalala ni mama.

"Don't let them out of your sight." Sabi naman ni dad kay Marcus.

Marcus is my official chaperone since forever. Siya ang kasama ko nung first time ko sa bar, siya rin ang kasama nung una akong nalasing. Kahit na hindi ako masyadong pinapayagan sa bar nila mama pero wala silang problema sa pag-inom basta lang mag-iingat at may kasamang mapagkakatiwalaan.

"Uh-uh, no." Zoe frowned upon seeing me.

"Okay na 'yan." Marcus said.

Zoe hmp-ed. "See? That's why I'm here. As your friend, no way I'm not interfering."

In the end she chose a cami dress with slit for me.

"Hindi ba 'to too much?" I asked, looking at myself.

Zoe herself is in a shiny dress, and I can't blame Marcus if he looked at her for a bit longer earlier. Zoe of course didn't notice, she's busy fussing over me.

"Nope. Besides, nandun si Xavier so kailangan maganda ka! Para makita niya kung anong sinasayang niya." Aniya.

"Ikaw kaya sa atin ang may gusto sa kanya."

"For the record, gwapo pero not my type."

"Pareho lang naman sa kanina. Anong meron?" Kumento ni Marcus.

"That's why you need a girl friend in your life. You're lucky you have me, Liv. Walang kwentang kaibigan si Marcus."

"Hirap talaga intindihin mga babae."

"Shut up, Marcus." Sabi ko. Mag-uumpisa nanaman sila ni Zoe kung hindi siya titigil.

I see it now. Mga pang-iinis niya kay Zoe, it's his brand of flirting. I have doubts before but I'm sure of it now. The staring sealed it.

Medyo may duda rin akong aware si Zoe sa little crush ni Marcus but let's see where this goes.

"Kung hindi pa mainlove si Xavier sayo, ewan ko nalang talaga!"

"As if. He would've fell kung 'yan ang dahilan." Marcus scoffed.

"Kung lalaki ako, I would. And ang nega mo! Kaya tignan mo 'tong si Olivia nadadamay sa negativity mo sa buhay."

"Hindi ako nega. Hindi mo lang siya kilala." He shrugged.

"Hay nako, girl, wag mong pansinin si Marcus. Bitter lang 'yan kaya ganyan 'yan! Hindi ka siguro crush ng crush mo, noh?"

I kind of get Marcus' point pero hindi ko 'yun sinabi. The sun will rise in the west if that ice prince will actually show some reaction over me dressed prettily.