Rainy Season in Manila

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

"How are you feeling, Isel?" Cinema asked me. Hinatak niya ako sa mya lounge area sa backyard ng mga Rochon and I'm trying to be comfortable kahit hindi ako sanay kaharap siya. This would be the first time we'll talk to each other face to face and I think she's nice.

May mga sinasabi rin kasi sina Serron at Dolly patungkol kay Cinema, but I tried not to believe when I met her. Siguro may pagkamataray lang talaga siya. Halata naman 'yon dahil sa pagkaaahit ng kilay niya. But she was so pretty with it, bagay na bagay sa kanya 'yon.

Ngumiti naman ako ng bahagya sa tanong niya. "Okay naman... medyo nakagugulat. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na na-invite ako rito, e. Ate Mallory is so kind, nakatutuwa siya."

"She does... sometimes," pahabol nitong bulong, but enough for me to hear it. "Anyway, yeah, she's cool. No'ng first time ko rin dito, I was astonished how big this place. Funny thing is, I was expecting a pool here pero 'yon pala they won much bigger! Isang private resort! I am so lucky with Bear-bear Bennett."

I smiled to show that I'm interested in whatever she said to me. She's pretty comfortable on where she is now. Nakapatong pa ang paa niya sa may babasagin na maliit na mesa, while I'm being so modest dahil natatakot akong makabasag, but I guess it's okay lang for her.

Pinagmamalaki niyang boyfriend niya si Bennett, so I believe she has nothing to worry about kahit milyon pa ang mabasag niya.

"From N.U. ka, 'di ba?" tanong ni Cinema, inilihis niya rin ang topic.

Tumango naman ako. "Yes, 4th-year student na rin."

"Ahhh, so graduating ka na rin pala. Same-same. Anong course mo ro'n?"

"Mass communication, ikaw ba?"

"Ah, marketing ako. Kasali ka rin ba sa cheer squad ng school niyo?"

Umiling naman ako. "Hindi... pero nag-try out ko no'ng freshman ako pero hindi nakapasa dahil hindi raw ako masyadong flexible. At saka madali akong hingalin, but at least I tried."

"Ah, I see... So wala kang alam kung ano nangyayari sa training ng mga cheersquad sa inyo?"

Umiling naman ako. "Wala akong masyadong alam, but since malapit na rin naman ang competition madalas sila gymnasium at nagpa-practice. Nakasilip lang ako one time pero hindi rin naman ako nagtagal. Good luck nga pala sa competition niyo, malapit-lapit na talaga."

She smirked. "I know, for the past few years, palagi na lang kami second place or worst, mababa pa ang ranking. You guys always win even though we tried our best. Ang last championship ng FEU ay last 2009 pa and we were sure na this year, 2021 ay kami ang magcha-champion."

"Oh... good luck!" Hindi ko na alam kung pa'no dudugtungan iyong sasabihin ko.

"I'm sure we're gonna make it to the top this time."

"Yes, galingan niyo."

"We really hope so." Pag-ikot pa ng mata nito. "Pati kasi group stunts competition, kayo pa rin ang nananalo."

"Uhm... I guess, they were just putting all their efforts para makamit nila 'yon," sagot ko at tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "I mean, lahat naman ng teams during that competition ay ibinibigay nila ang best nila. It's just that sa mga judges pa rin nakasalalay kung sino 'yong mga mananalo. Sa tingin ko, hindi dahil nakailang-streak na nang championship ang school namin it doesn't mean may pinapanigan sila. Siguro nakita lang nila ang effort—"

"Geez, stop. We're all putting our efforts and dying just to win."

Hindi na naman ako nagsalita pa baka sabunutan na ako nito nang wala sa oras.