"Practice doing Triple loops before doing the sit spin Clarissa" My mentor told me.
I am here now at the skating rink of Clarkson University, this is my 4th day simula ng pumasok ako. I had now my daily routines papasok sa umaga, Bridging class pagkahapon with of course my "literal" hottie mentor Jack na as usual mas madalas na akong sungitan at bugahan ng apoy and then training after. Simula ng sabihin ko sa kanyang gusto ko siya ay mas dumoble ang kaniyang pagka sungit, I always say some pick up lines na lagi naman niyang binabara. Parang sa aming dalawa ako pa iyong lalake kung maka banat!
Gaya nalang ngayon, na postpone ang session namin na dapat kanina at napag usapang after our training nalang magkita sa coffee shop malapit lang rin dito since, we're both busy training, him for their inter high and me for my semi finals that will happen 3 weeks from now. And I am really really late for our class dahil pinag extend ako ni Ms. Begaso my mentor here at school. Hindi naman ako maka hindi because I really need to practice, nalalapit narin ang semi-finals and hindi ako pwedeng pumalya, kaya naman titiisin ko nalang ang mga rants ni Jack sakin, atleast napapansin niya ako pagnapipikon siya.
"Clarissa hindi ka pa ba aalis? Akala ko ba may class ka pa?" Tanong ni Joan sa akin, she's a senior skater here at the university, Joan Marie Parcon, and it turns out she's a half sister of Joanna, the one I met days ago here at the rink.
I met Joan once ng sumali ako ng local competition. Nagkikita naman kami kaso we didn't get the chance na makapag usap since kanya kanya kami ng ginagawa na sa backstage. And that's normal because kapag ikaw na ang sasalang you will really feel the nervous you will not mind the people around you, you will just be focused on winning.
"Oo but I still need to practice more" I said while taking a break for a bit.
"Relax Clarissa you're already doing a great job actually. Go and tell coach you need to leave Jack's waiting for you right?" She said while patting my shoulders and I just nodded.
"Mamaya na siguro, I'll just text him to postpone a bit longer o baka bukas nalang namin ituloy. Maybe, he'll understand naman" I said unsurely.
He'll understand me yes pero I'm sure may kasamang bulyaw nanaman ito. Well I'm getting used to it by now.
Naiiling naman si Joan sakin tila hindi makapaniwala.
"I can't believe you Clarissa, how can you resist an Olivares? If ibang babae iyan baka mas maaga pang pumunta kesa sa pinag usapan"
"Well, I like him he's a hottie nerd" I said and we both giggled. "But, skating's my first love and priority" I added.
"No one can beat skating huh?" She said.
"Atleast nasa top 2 si Jack" Pagbibiro ko na sabay naman naming tinawanan
"Speaking of a hottie nerd" she said smiling widely.
Sinundan ko naman kung saan siya nakatingin at nanlaki naman ang aking mga mata ng nakita si Jack na papalapit sa pinaka malapit na bleachers papunta dito.
Hilaw naman akong ngumiti at kumaway sa kanya para batiin siya ngunit abot narin ng kaba and dibdib ko habang papalapit narin sa kanya. Those cold eyes staring at me, sinong hindi kakabahan right? Plus add the fact that he's not smiling and he already had a hint I planned on ditching him for today and I hadn't texted to inform him atleast.
"You do realize what time is it?" He asked me coldly. I know he's already mad and I'm a bit nervous I'm just not showing it to him.
"Can't I get atleast a hi?" Pabiro ko sa kanya to ease the tension.
"You're taking me lightly huh? Nakuha mo pang magbiro." Nawala naman ang mga ngiti ko ng mapagtantong seryoso nga siyang galit siya.
"Look, I'm sorry okay? I was just busy with my training, sana naman naiintindihan mo diba?" Sabi ko ng nakatingala sa kanya habang siya naman ay nakasandal ang dalawang kamay sa railings upang magkausap kami ng malapitan.
"Then you should have texted me. Hindi yung parang tanga akong naghihintay ng ilang oras na darating ka" He said coldly.
"I forgot-"
"Kung sanay kang lagi nasa iyo ang pabor at pinagbibigyan well, sorry to pop your bubble hindi lahat ng tao kayang mag adjust para sayo"
"Ngayon ko lang ito ginawa Jack, I have my valid reasons-"
"Valid enough to waste someone's time?" He said cutting me out again. And now I am starting to get irritated too. Dalawa na kaming mainit ang ulo.
"Stop cutting what I am about to say!!" Mariin kong sabi sa kanya. "And its not like I am doing this everyday Jack, ngayon lang ako hindi sisipot!" I added.
"And you really did planned on ditching without telling me huh?"
"Just this once Jack, don't make it a big deal!"
"You like wasting time for petty things Monette, Don't involve me in your antics" How dare him say that!? Now I am too pissed and offended.
"This is not just my past time Olivares, the petty things you are saying is my dream" emphasizing every word I said. I won't let him underestimate my dream, wala siya sa lugar para maliitin ako at ang mga ginagawa ko.
"Kung sa iyo okay lang na magsayang ng oras para sa walang kwentang bagay, ibahin mo ako. May mga kapatid akong naghihintay sa akin Monette"
"If nakakaistorbo naman pala ako then why not quit?" Panghahamon ko sa kanya.
"If skating's your priority then why study?"
"I'm not obliged to answer you that. You have no say on what I do"
"So do I Ms. Fabrigas" agap niya
"Just tell the dean Mr. Olivares na palitan ka, its not that hard"
"Kung pwede lang matagal ko ng ginawa Ms. Fabrigas" umakto naman ako na parang nagulat sa kanyang sinabi.
"Sipsip ka diba? Kayang kaya mo ng gawan ng paraan iyan"
Nagpakawala muna ako ng malalim na hininga na ginawa rin naman niya sabay sa pagpikit ng mariin ng kanyang mga mata. Nag amba na siyang aalis sa kaniyang kinatatayuan nang may iniabot siya saking notebook.
"Know your place Ms. Fabrigas. Next time, think of the people you bother. Mag aral kang mag isa mo" He said and finally walked away leaving me dumbfounded.
