Amidst The Vying Psyches

Kabanata 9

Serenity Hiraya

"Why did you do that?" Singhal ko sa kanya nang makababa kaming dalawa sa gym.

He shrugged. "It pisses you off. Natutuwa ako."

"What?!"

He smirked. "Hindi ka ba nag-eenjoy, Añasco?"

"Bakit naman ako mag-eenjoy, Alvarez?" Inis na tanong ko.

Naging seryoso ang mukha niya. "Exactly my point. Hindi ako nag-enjoy nung mali-mali ang sinulat mo sa notes ko. It was funny for you, right?"

I rolled my eyes. "Duh! It was because you didn't let me sleep nang maayos nung nakaraan kaya nakatulog ako sa klase ni ma'am."

"I did that because you left my diorama. I asked you nicely, remember?"

"Whatever. Don't talk to me again," sabi ko bago siya tinalikuran.

Nagsimula na ring magsidatingan ang representatives sa ibang strand. Ilang minuto rin ay dumating na 'yung teacher na mag-organize sa event.

"Reminder! On Tuesday is casual wear. Please wear your casual clothes and your introduction since naka base sa performance niyo ang magiging half score ng audience impact. Then Friday will be the final walk with the question and answer..."

Bumuga ako ng malakas na hininga nang marinig ko ang instructions ng teacher na may hawak ng Ginoo at Binibining Wika Contest. Kulang na lang ay maging Miss Universe ang contest dahil may preliminaries pang nalalaman.

"That's it, guys! Thank you for attending our practice today. Good luck for Tuesday!" The instructor clapped her hands as she bowed down a little to thank us.

The moment I heard it, I immediately sat down on the bench and brought out my handkerchief. I am so tired and my feet hurt with all the walks and stands. It felt like this was the only time I sat down after two hours of practicing. Good thing tomorrow is Saturday. I don't need to leave the house.

Nagulat ako nang tumabi sa akin si Alvarez.

I avoided his gaze when I remembered what he said last time. He seemed cool with it while I nearly died of embarrassment after my classmates started calling me 'binibini.'

"Kumain ka na?" Tanong niya sa akin habang nagpupunas ng pawis.

"What do you want?" Mataray na sagot ko.

"I was just asking you kung kumain ka na. Hindi ba pwede?"

"Hindi pa, bakit?"

"Lugaw tayo?" He asked as if it was just normal for us to eat together.

"Hindi pa naman ako gutom. Tsaka, wala akong pera, nasa unit," palusot ko.

"Libre ko..." sagot niya bago tumayo at sinuot ang bag niya. "Tara na. Anong oras na, oh."

Makaaya, akala mo hindi niya ako inaasar kanina.

I sighed before getting my bag and my tumbler. Upon standing, my knees buckled weakly, which made me almost lose my balance.

I almost fell to the floor if Alvarez wasn't fast enough to grab my arm.

"Tapos sasabihin mong hindi ka pa gutom?" Natatawang tanong niya.

"Shut up. Tara na nga."

Sabay kaming naglakad palabas ng gym. Nang makarating kami sa main gte ay madilim na ang langit, probably it was because it was already 5:30 PM.

Dumiretso kami sa lugawan na madadaanan namin pauwi. I settled in one of the seats while he ordered for us. Mabilis din namang sinerve sa amin ang lugaw na may kasama pang togue.