decoding the boys ✔️

14 - let's talk || edited

The second day of the camp was packed with activities. Right after breakfast, we watched an inspirational film and had three individual activities. Mostly about personal and leadership development.

Now, it was merienda time, but in just a few minutes, babalik na ulit kami sa function hall for the second part-the group activities.

"May film showing ba ulit?" I heard Bea ask. "Bet ko yung last movie. Nakakaiyak yung dulo."

"Anong dulo ka d'yan? Simula pa lang yata, umiiyak ka na," natatawang sinabi ni Camille.

"Nakita mo pa 'yon?"

"Oo, girl, ang ingay mo kaya manood."

When I laughed at their conversation, Camille whipped to me.

"Maiba nga tayo," bigla niyang sinabi. "Kahapon ko pa 'to gusto itanong. Close pala kayo ni Geon? Kailan pa?"

I got confused. "Geon? Who's Geon?"

"Si Angelo. Angelo Castillo. Yung kahapon."

"Ah. Is that his nickname or something?" I said. "And no naman, we're not close. 'Di kami yung friends. Sila nina Kuya."

"Oh? How did they meet daw?"

"Sabi niya kanina, he's part of the swimming varsity team. I heard he competed with Kuya once during first year and became friends with him after."

"Oh. Kaya pala. Ang dami talagang friends ng mga kapatid mo."

Napangisi ako. She wasn't wrong on that one. Napatingin ako nang hindi sinasadya kay Angelo. Kasama niya ang mga kaibigan niya ngayon, plus new people from the other universities na dito lang din nila nakilala. They were hanging out near the grotto.

As if on cue, the guy in question suddenly turned and grinned at me. I smiled back at him.

Kaninang umaga sa film showing, siya na naman ang katabi ko. Akala ko nga sasabay pa siya sa merienda, but then he excused himself after his friends called him back.

"After nito, group activity na 'di ba?" Bea asked, changing the topic.

"Yeah," sagot ni Ahron. "Indoor and outdoor."

"Pano yung groupings?"

Tumingin sila sa 'kin.

"Sina Sheena at Christelle ang nag-ayos. I don't know din kung sinu-sino ang magkakagrupo," sabi ko. "Tara na sa loob."

I glanced at Ahron but she was looking elsewhere. Nakakunot ang noo niya at mukhang iritado. Nang lingunin ko kung kanino siya nakatingin, napangisi ako. She was looking at Justin Mercedez. I wasn't even surprised.

"Just stab him and get it over with," biro ko sa kanya.

"Malapit na," sagot niya lang, shrugging.

"Pano ba kayo nagkakilala?"

"Bars lang din. But he's so persistent, it's annoying."

"Type na type ka lang siguro."

"Nothing new, but still annoying," she muttered under her breath.

The three of us followed her back to the function hall. Not long after, Christelle began to announce the groups and their members.

Dahil masyado kaming marami, hinati kami sa dalawang batch. The first batch, sa labas muna para sa outdoor group activities habang kami, sa loob. There were ten teams in total, each having ten members.

After announcing the teams, my mouth hung open. The girls snickered at my stupefied face.

"Well, I guess magka-team tayo?" Camille told me, still laughing her lungs out at my reaction. "Pero I guess hindi lang ako ang kakilala mo."