Paper Memories

Chapter 23-I

Chapter 23-I

          " I hope you can prove yourself you're a winner, Ralph." Sa wakas dumating na ang araw ng debate competition ni Ralph na matagal na niyang pinag-hahandaan. Sa open fields ng campus ang venue ng event, at nakaset-up ang naglalakihang speakers. The event is spearheaded by the debate society and the university publication." I just hate it when you lose, alam ko kaya mo naman."

"You sound scary, Hon."

"Wha---Percival? When did you got here?"

Nakangiti siya, nagbibiro lang siya. Akala ko may iba nang nakapwesto sa upuan sa tabi ko, pero siya lang pala. How did he knew I would sit here? He just showed up in my school without my permission again." Namiss lang kita. Also I want to watch Ralph's competition, don't you think today is a good excuse to be here with you?"

I glared at him." Yun lang? Kaya ka nandito?"

"What else should be my reason?"

"Are you sure you're not up to any schemes?"

He scratch his cheeks." And I can ask Ralph to be your date."

"Why the hell would you do that? Date sa business party nila ni Dad? God, no. Don't bring that up." I grunted, slumping back on my monoblock seat.Muli akong dumiretso ng tigin sa stage at podiums para sa debaters." Nainis na si Ralph nung inaaya ko siya nung isa. Ang rami niyang masasakit na sinabi. And he said you're not doing your job as my boyfriend."

"I'm sure he'll agree eventually."

"Just...Leave it to me. Ako na magtatanong."

"Okay, I won't meddle anymore then. But can I still please stay here? I want to watch." Nanglalambing na tanong ni Percival na nagpataas ng kilay ko. But I conceded in the end and just mouthed my reply." Is that yes? Thanks, Hon. Then after this you wouldn't mind if I hang out with Ellie and Ralph, right?"

"Just for a bit, may mga aasikasuhin pa kasi kami." I explained, and just on time before the event start I saw Ellie from afar. I raised my hand to catch her attention." Dadaan lang ako sa theater arts saglit para sa mga gagawin ko pang props, then we'd go home. I'd text Gregory."

"I brought your old car."

"Ah... You did? Hindi ko na nga napapamaintain yun..."

And once again Percival gave me weird look, as if he's shock that I'm even questioning him. Mula nung niregaluhan ako ng bagong kotse ng parents ko ay yun na ginagamit ko. Si Gregory ang nagmamaneho nun tuwing sinundo niya ako o si Percival naman pag lumalabas kami." Well, I made it work with what I have. At diba pinadala mo sa talyer yung bagong mong kotse para magpapalit ng carpaint?"

Napakunot ang noo ko." I-I didn't tell you that..."

Maya-maya dumating na si Ellie sa pweste namin----she's instantly on her cheering mode, yelling praises and support for our friend.

When the competition begun, Ralph did well for the first half. But I'm not sure how he'd be later. Naiinis ako sa ibang kalaban niya nililihis na nila ang arguments nila kaya kuhang-kuha nila ang triggers ni Ralph. They're from the Philosophy course. Ralph is hardworking and opinionated, that's why he made it this far but just like how he is too me---he let his emotion get the best of him.

When the teams are given a short break, I took that chance to see him. Magkasama kami ni Ellie habang naiwan naman si Percival sa upuan.

Nauna si Ellie na makaabot sa backstage." Ralph! Galingan mo pa!"

"Demanding naman ang maingay na supporter na 'to. Bingi ba ako?" Ralph chuckled as he covers his ears. Napakahyperactive na naman ni Ellie habang si Ralph nasa iba ang isip. "Oh, you're all watching? Even Perival? You should all come back in another day, I'm not doing so well."

"You'd be fine." I try to encourage him." Bawi ka.

"I think you did well! Ngiti naman jan!" Excited na sabi ni Ellie, habang kinukunan si Ralph ng pictures at videos." Mas galingan mo pa mamaya, show them the monster you are!"

Ralph chug his bottle water before crushing it with his hands. Mukhang pati siya hindi rin kontento sa performance niya."It felt frustrating to not get it right, especially when the questions are too subjective to argue about. Minsan mandidiri o maiinis na lang ako sa sagot ng kabila, kaso hindi ganun ang paniniwala ko."

Napangiti na lang si Ellie. " Come on, this is so you."

I bit my lip when I heard Ralph's mentality, napayakap ako sa sarili ko." I'm expecting a lot. So ace it when the next round came up, okay? Just let me say this, you're against Philo students, you're the Polsci student. This is a competition. Say the things that would make you win."

"What? What did you say?" Ralph's voice turned cold.

He's making the competition about him, about beliefs he wants to force. Pinakakalama siya ni Ellie, si Ellie na syempre kakampihan siya dahil hindi niya kayang maging prangka." We know you just care about other so much that's why opinions pissed you. Okay, lang yan, bumawi lang kayo mamaya sa tingin niyong tama. Magiging hero ka pa hindi ba?"

But Ralph acted like a petulant child." Is winning is all that matters to you, Shin?

Hinigit ko ang kamay ni Ralph. Maybe I need to know some sense to him. He needs to win, he needs to make his effort worth it. Kailangan kong ipaalala yung sa kanya. " I thought you know heroes aren't losers, Ralph."