Hatsukoi

Chapter 11:

“Aray, ah!” Bongbong dipped his wounded arms to the flowing water from the faucet. He endured the pain as his hands sat beneath the flowing water, he washed it with soap afterwards. After he cleaned his hands, he dried it using a while towel and he also washed his face before leaving the restroom where he’s in.

Matapos niyang hugasan ang kaniyang mga kamay ay nagtungo na nga siya sa aid station kung nasaan si Sara. Sara was the one responsible for the injured and wounded students. After she ran earlier, she did her part for the aid station afterwards.

“There you go, pagbutihan niyo sa pagkakaro.” Sara smiled to those she helped. It was Lito, he fell in the game of patintero earlier at the laro ng lahi.

“Maybe he’ll just go home and rest already, bukod kasi sa nasugatan eh na-sprain pa siya.” Saad naman ni Robin habang inaalalayan ito niya si Lito. 

“Oh, sige pakisulat na lang ang pangalan niyo rito sa logbook, dito ko nililista ’yong mga pangalan ng mga umuwi dahil sa injury.” Sara handed the logbook to them, Robin soon wrote Lito’s names on it.

“Alright, be sure to tell your teacher that you’ll go home.” Ngiti niya at pinakawalan na nga ang dalawa, matapos nilang makalabas sa aid station ay sakto namang pagpasok dito ni Bongbong.

“Ah, excuse me, is there a girl named Sara here?” Bongbong asked genuinely, nilingon naman siya ng dalaga at nakangiti itong tumugon.

“Ah ako, I’m Sara, Sara Duterte.” She presumed, napatango na lamang si Bongbong at nakangiti siyang tumugon.

“You might have known Koko Pimentel, he said that you’re currently in charge here so I went here.” He replied, lumapit naman si Sara sa kaniya at dito na nito tinanong kung anong kondisyon niya.

“Ah yes, I know him, he’s a clubmate. By the way, what happened to you at bakit ka napadpad dito sa aid station?” Sara asked again, inilahad naman ni Bongbong ang kaniyang braso at kamay upang ipakita ang kaniyang mga galos at sugat.

“I fell on the tracks earlier, I wounded myself.” Bongbong laughed awkwardly.

“Aha! Could you be Ferdinand, from my friend, Leonor’s class?!” Bongbong stepped back as he heard Sara uttered his name, napahagikgik naman ang dalaga dahil sa kaniyang reaksiyon.

“My friend told me that you don’t actually run, everybody in the stadium—including your groupmates, underestimated you earlier. Nanood ako ng boys’ two hundred sprint, ang galing mo nga eh! Kung ’di ka lang nadapa baka nasungkit mo ’yong first prize!” humahangang kuwento ni Sara. Napaiwas naman ng tingin si Bongbotong.

“I was just lucky.” Tawa naman ni Bongbong.

“Lucky, my butt. You really smacked them off their chairs, I’m just a bit disappointed that you fell though. But you’re really fast! You should join the track team!” Sara suggested, dahan-dahan namang umiling si Bongbong.

“I’ll pass for that offer, I’m already at the literature club.” Bongbong smiled.

“Oh, if that’s the case, then fine.” Tugon naman ni Sara.

Sandali pa ay dumating ang isang lalaki dala ang isang box na puno ng mga medical supplies, mga band aid, gasa, gamot, at mga kailangan para i-trato ang mga sugat at injury. Napangiti naman si Sara at kumaway siya sa lalaki, she then helped him afterwards.

“Oy, Willie! Tulungan na kita riyan!” Lumapit si Sara kay Willie Ong—ang siyang naatasan sa aid station kasama ni Sara at Riza, Riza was currently in a game so she wasn’t around when Bongbong came.

“Ay, salamat naman, Sara. Kanina pa ’ko pabalik-balik sa front gate, ’di sabay-sabay ang delivery ng mga kailangan dito sa aid station.” Pinunas ni Willie ang kaniyang pawis, nahagip naman ng kaniyang paningin si Bongbong.

“I’ll take this, go help him out. He’s severely wounded because he fell.” Sara took the box and proceeded to do her thing on the counter, naiwan naman sila Willie at Bongbong. Tumango si Willie at kumuha na ng gasa at tape.

Willie cleansed Bongbong’s wounds by putting some alcohol and anticeptic to his wound. Kinuha niya ang gasa at tape at ibinalot niya ito sa mga sugat at galos ni Bongbong sa braso. He then sticked some band aids on Bongbong’s hands.

“All done, don’t injure yourself next time.” Willie adviced to Bongbong, he then nodded and replied.

“Yeah, I will not. Thank’s for the aid.” He thanked Willie.

“If you need anything related to wounds and injuries, please don’t hesitate to call us!” Sara waved goodbye. Tumango naman si Bongbong at nagpaalam na nga sa kanila.

Lunch came and Leni’s parents came along to watch her and to have lunch with her at the school grassfield surrounded by trees. The was refreshing, not a cloud in the sky yet the breeze is calming—a bit cold but it’s just fine.

Leni took a bite of the moriyeko—a type of dessert which is like suman but consisting of coconut oil and smashed peanuts. Leni closed her eyes as she feels and savor the taste of her mother’s cooking.

“Kanina pa ’ko gutom na gutom. Mabuti na lang po at nagpunta kayo dito’t nagdala ng pananghalian.” Leni smiled to her parents which is also smiling at her, natutuwa silang pagmasdan ang kanilang anak na ngayon ay masayang-masaya sa kaniyang pagkain.

“Mami-miss ko ’tong gan’to, Leni. Since kolehiyana ka na sa susunod na taon, baka madalang na rin ang mga gan’tong events.” Salvacion chattered while also eating her food.

“I thought this this might be the last one so I put some effort into preparing this food for all of us.” Dagdag pa nito.

“You shouldn’t eat too much though, hindi ka makakatakbo nang mabilis kapag ’di ka natunawan kaagad.” Napahagikgik naman si Leni sa sinabi ng kaniyang amang si Antonio.

“’Pa, isa na lang naman ’yong running event kaya kakain na ’ko nang marami, ’yong relay na lang naman po eh. Kaya dadamihan ko na ang kain kasi magugutom nanaman po ako mamaya.” Hagikgik naman ni Leni at kumuha sa baon nilang pansit malabon.

“Oh, okay lang naman palang kumain ka nang marami, a relay is easier than a track meet though. Siguruhin mo lang na mauubos mo ’yan ah.” Antonio chuckled and took a bite of his puto—steamed rice cake.

“Ay siya, dinala ko ’yong cellphone ko para i-video ka! I’ll film every moment of your relay.” Inilabas ni Salvacion ang kaniyang cellphone,

“Stop it, ’Ma, you’re embarrassing me.” Giit ni Leni at ipinatago niya ang cellphone, dahil nga mahiyain siya ay hindi siya sanay na may kumukuha ng video o litrato niya—maski ang mga magulang at kaibigan niya pa ang kumukuha niyon.

“Come on, the relay is the main highlight of the intramurals so why not capture it? And this is your last intramurals in here also, kaya pumayag ka na.” Pamimilit naman ni Salvacion, dito na sumabad si Antonio.

“Pabayaan mo na, Salvacion. Don’t pressure her or else she’ll be distracted.” Saway nito.

“Sige na nga.” Salvacion replied. They then ate their food and enjoyed their lunch.

~Fortunate and Intimidated.