This Is Not Strange

Chapter Thirty-two

Bridgette

After the picture taking, nagpaalam na ang family ko na babalik sa resort kung saan sila magpapalipas ng gabi. They even asked me to go with them pero hindi ako pumayag dahil maaga pa bukas ang awarding. My parents asked me about Ella's whereabouts pero I just shrugged and told them na I didn't saw her. Which is partly true naman kasi hindi ko siya nakita na nanood. She's not with the team rin nang mag picture taking na. Guess she's not over her madness.

  I don't regret naman telling her those things. She's a little too much na rin kanina. She doesn't want to listen and she always wants to believe what she think is right. I don't know why naiinis siya kay Angelo, pero what she did is not acceptable. She can politely tell the guy to go and leave, but she chose to be mean so I did what I think is the best.

  I really hope she realizes her actions.

  Bumalik kami sa quarter and I saw her lying on her sleeping mat at tulog na ata. Nakaramdam ako ng kalungkutan knowing na hindi talaga siya nanood and she's here comfortably sleeping na. Nag ayos na rin ako and tinago na ang suot ko, then placed my mat on the other side of the room. Hindi agad ako nakatulog. My mind keeps on replaying the events na nangyare kanina. I'm happy na nanalo ako, it's an honor to represent our school. Pero nakakalungkot na ganito ang situation namin ngayon ni Ella. I don't even know how to approach her, she doesn't seem to care about what she did kaya galit siya sa akin. Even if my feelings for her is strong, I won't let her get away with doing or saying the wrong things naman.

  Inabot ako ng tatlong oras bago nakatulog. Pagkagising ko ay nakahanda na ang iba for the awarding. My eyes traveled to look for the girl na laman ng panaginip ko and there I saw her, on the other side of the room, fixing her hair. Nakaligo na ito at suot na ang assigned shirt namin for today. My eyes turn to look away and I decided to go and take a bath na rin.

  After two hours of waiting, nag proceed na kami sa awarding area. Puno ito at maingay ulit ang mga students na para bang hindi puyat sa event kagabi. Four contest later, isa palang ang nakatanggap ng award sa amin. It's now time for my category and lahat kami ay nakaabang. All my co-journ cheered when they heard my name being called. Nakuha ko ang third spot, which means magpapatuloy ako sa next level.

   Three more contest ang nagdaan bago ang sinalihan ni Ella. Everyone was eager to know if she got in. Pero umiling na ang mga kasama ko when they heard na hindi pa rin siya nakapasok sa 3rd place. They were about to walk away when the announcer yelled Ella's name as the first placer for her category. I almost jump into her when I heard it, pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko knowing we are not in good terms pa. She ran up to the stage with her mentor, and claim her award. My heart swelled sa sobrang proud ko sa kanya. I know na pinaghandaan niya talaga ito, and I am happy to see na nagbunga na nga.

  I caught her eyes when she came back and she quickly turn to look away. Damn, that hurt a little.

  After the awarding, maaga kaming nag empake para sa alis. This time, hindi kami nagkasama ni Ella sa iisang van. Kaya habang umaandar ang sasakyan, I can't help but get worried if she's fine sa kabila.

  Nang makarating kami sa port ay agad ko siyang tinignan para i-assure ang sarili ko na ayos lang siya. She doesn't look like she's dizzy naman so  I sigh in relief. We rode the shuttle and sinundo ulit kami ng bus pauwi. Nang makarating sa school, sinalubong kami ng banner na kung saan nakalagay ang pictures namin ng mga winners.