Rainy Season in Manila

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Two weeks had passed, our group has been doing so well. We pushed through with Archie's idea and our discussion has been productive ever since. His idea for the topic of our research needs revision, and we did collaborate more and then as we present our topic to our professor, surprisingly it was approved so we're doing the best we can to succeed on this project.

Malaki ang nakasalalay rito—at para na rin sa akin and even Tessa.

If we failed—I'm praying so hard that we won't, malaki ang chance na malaglag ako sa Latin Honor. I know it's hard for me to get all my stuff together. It's like I'm juggling everything at once. Na para bang hinahabol ko ang bawal bola na 'wag mahulog at mapabayaan because if I did, ako ang kawawa.

I'm the one who's holding the ball, if I made a mistake that could affect the other things. Para lang 'yang domino, once you get lose concentration and balance, it could fail and not only once, but moreover, until it stops or maybe if lucky, find a way to stop it.

And as to what I'm going through now, I'm still lucky that I can still handle it despite my busy schedule.

"Did you know that Bennett joined their basketball team?"

Napalingon naman ako nang magsalita si Archie sa tabi ko. We're on a break from our discussion. Nagbabasa lang ako ng notes ko to occupy my time, but here's Archie, trying to distract me with his Bennett card.

"Oh, talaga ba?"

"Oh, so you're interested to know that, huh?" He smirked. "Akala ko ba wala kang interest sa kaibigan ko?"

"May sinabi ba akong meron o wala? Ikaw 'tong nagku-kwento. Nagtatanong lang naman ako."

He chuckled. "Okay, fine. I'll take that."

"So, bakit nga? Akala ko ba may nationa pageant siya? Bakit sumali pa sa basketball team ngayon? Buang lang?"

He laughed. "Oh, if he heard that, he'll lose it out. But yeah, I know he's having a hard time juggling his schedule, but he's already part of the basketball team before, but he only played for one season and then dropped it so he could focus on his study and maybe joined his own interest of joining male pageants which he's always winning, of course."

"Okay... tapos?"

"'Di ba malapit na ang UAAP season and one of the players in the team had an injury. He had a sprain and I think it has gotten worst that's why they had to pull him out of the practice and the actual game soon. In the end, they decided to bring Bennett back in the team and he gladly accepted it because it'll be his last year in the university."

"Oh... I see... iyon lang pala, e. Kala ko naman big deal na."

"That's big deal for Bennett, actually," Archie said. Nakinig naman muli ako. "Naikwento niya 'yon sa amin. He doesn't actually want to join back the team and only focus on his national pageant which he has been anticipating since, after college, he'll take everything professionally. As in trabaho lang... walang ibang bagay na gagawin. He joined for the sake of the team. To let their team win the game."

"Ay, so payag kang manalo ang university nila kaysa sa atin?"

"Of course, I wanted that to happen, but I've got my friend there, so I'll support him."

"Buti na lang talaga magaling ang cheerdance squad natin..."

He chuckled and squinted his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"Did you know how many times our men's basketball team win the UAAP basketball championship?"

"Seven?" he answered, shrugging off his shoulder.