Officially Meeting You

Chapter 6: I Am The Rules

"Main competition?"

"A debate. For the past three years, debate palagi ang main competition tuwing Foundating day. At hindi pa kami nanalo doon kahit minsan."

Bahagyang napaawang ang labi ko.

"And I want you to join in this year's debate. I saw a potential in you that can be a great asset to win that debate. You can be our advantage," sambit ni Dean.

Asset? Advantage? What made her think that way? Pero kahit ano paman din iyon, sa tingin ko ay hindi tamang basta-basta na lang akong sumali.

"Pero wala po akong experience sa mga gano'ng bagay," I said and shook my head. "Hindi din po ako magaling sa usapang politics and the likes."

"That's fine." Ngumiti siya. "Your teammates can help you with that. And besides, that's not the thing you should worry about."

I frowned. "Po?"

"This debate is a different one."

Dean Madrigal fetch a paper from the piled papers and handed it to me.

"You can read the flow and the rules of the competition there. I'm not expecting an answer right now. Pwede mo namang pag-isipan," sambit niya at ngumiti. "But I hope you'll say yes. I really want you to join."

I sighed. "Pag-iisipan ko po."

Dean dismissed me and I immediately went out of her office. I really can't believe na si Dean mismo ang kakausap sa akin para lang sumali sa debate na iyon.

It will happen two months from now pero mukhang naghahanda na si Dean. Of course, GCU is a tough enemy kaya hindi ko siya masisisi. Siguradong mahihirapan kaming manalo kung sila ang makakalaban namin.

And I wonder why she said that I can be their advantage and what exactly the potential she saw in me.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako.

Babasahin ko sana iyong papel habang bumabalik sa lecture nang makitang halos isang oras na pala ang nakalipas. Then I remembered that my things are there and Anna has a class after our Physics class.

Binilisan ko ang lakad ko at halos lakad-takbo na ang ginawa ko paakyat sa second floor ng building.

Saktong kakatapos lang nila nang makaakyat ako sa second floor. Then I saw Anna waiting outside the lecture hall.

Iniwasan ko na lang ang mga kaklase ko na naniningkit ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. I just wish what Zeus said inside the room will stay inside the room. Ayokong ma-issue sa kanya.

Lumapit ako kay Anna at kaagad siyang napatingin sa akin.

"Sorry for the wait."

"Ayos lang," sambit niya at inabot sa akin ang mga gamit ko. "In-off ko pala 'yung laptop. Alangan naman kasing hayaan kong naka-on tapos ipasok ko na lang sa bag mo."

Tumango na lang ako at ngumiti. I wore my backpack. Buti na lang at kasya dito ang laptop ko at madaling bitbitin.

"Girlfriend pala ha," she suddenly said and grinned.

I winced. "Don't get the wrong idea."

"Sabi mo eh. Kita na lang tayo sa cafeteria mamaya."

Tumango na lang ako at ngumiti. She went to her second class habang pumunta naman ako sa lecture hall kung saan ako minsan natutulog.

Umupo ako sa usual na pwesto ko sa loob, sa third row sa kaliwang bahagi. Nasa dulo ng hallway ang classroom na ito at mukhang hindi nagagamit dahil sobra na sila sa mga lecture halls.