Bad Times at Sunrise (La Fortuna Series #3)

Kabanata 9

Kabanata 9

Rodeo

"Com'on Milly, you can do it," I whispered to my horse as I maneuvered her to turn at the first red barrel.

Umalingawngaw sa buong paligid ang nakakabinging sigawan mula sa mga manonood pero mas rinig ko pa rin ang sariling pagtibok ng puso ko. Biyernes at nasa rancho ako dahil sa taon-taong Benavidos Rodeo Cup. I wasn't planning on joining this year but the prize money got higher so fuck it, I was going to win.

Nagba-barrel racing na ako simula pa noong kinse anyos ako pero kailanma'y 'di ako gumamit ng spurs. Nakakatulong 'yon sa karera pero ayaw ko kasing masaktan ang kabayo ko. I didn't wear it this time too which was why Milly couldn't feel my kicks that well. It was fine because I could still manage. Besides, I would rather have a hard time with the race than risk hurting her.

Kinabig ko ang lubid ni Milly nang nasa panghuli at pangatlo na akong barrel. She was aggressive because of the adrenaline, causing me to bounce while mounted on top of her. Napangiti ako dahil sa malinis at matulin na pagkakaikot niya sa nasabing barrel. After turning, she precisely went back to the starting point.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Sunny Vega with her horse Milly completed the race within twenty seconds! That puts her to the top!"

Abot-langit na ang ngisi ko nang makababa kay Milly. I let a staff take care of her as I went back to the audience. Kalalabas ko palang sa arena ay agad na akong sinalubong ng yakap ni Sextus Paraiso. Tapos na ang contest niya at tulad ng inaasaha'y siya ulit ang nag-champion.

"I missed you, baby girl!" he teased and lifted me up while hugging me.

Sinapak ko ang braso niya. "Punyeta. Ibaba mo nga 'ko!"

"Ouch!" He withdrew from the hug after I hit his shoulder again. Sinimangutan niya ako. "Ang bayolente mong babae ka!"

Ngumiwi ako. "E alam mo naman kasing ayaw kong niyayakap! That's too intimate!"

"So you think that hugging is intimate and French kissing isn't?" He shot up a brow.

"Hugs are wholesome. Kaya mas intimate 'yon para sa 'kin."

He made a face. "You'll never get a boyfriend with that attitude, woman!"

"Ha!" Ngumisi ako't mayabang siyang tinaasan ng kilay. "Jokes on you because I have a boyfriend now!"

"Really? Where is he, then?"

"Wala!"

Bumaliktad ang ngisi ko dahil natandaan ko na naman ang hindi pagsipot ngayon ni Ico. I told him about this important race but he said that this was too spontaneous for him to attend to. Ayaw niya raw dagdagan ang day off niya sa ospital dahil bukod sa nakakatulong na siya sa pasyente at sa mga doktor doon, marami rin daw siyang natututunan.

Can you believe it? He chose to learn medicine than to attend his girlfriend's race! Ayaw ko nalang ngang isipin at nababanas lang ako! I mean, okay, I understood but I couldn't help but still feel bad because this was in my rule! Kailangan ko rin dito ng moral support, 'no!

"Wala?" 'Di makapaniwala akong tinignan ni Sextus. "Bakit wala?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Nasa ospital siya ngayon, e. May duty."

"Nakabingwit ka ng doktor? Hanep ah!"

"Tss." Dahil inis pa rin talaga ako kay Ico'y 'di ko na napigilang i-bash siya kay Sextus. "Ewan ko nga roon kay Ico at mas pinili pa talagang huwag pumunta ngayon sa karera ko! 'Tsaka 'di pa naman siya doktor! Nagvo-volunteer lang siya! E ba't 'di pwedeng magvolunteer din siya dito bilang audience ko, 'di ba?"