Becoming The Man (COMPLETED)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"Ate Debbie!"

I squinted to see kung sino 'yung tumawag sa pangalan ko. I saw Yeshua na kuma-kaway sa likod ng mga nagkakandarapa sakin pag-pasok ko sa school. He's super tangkad kasi!

"You need anything, Yeshua?" I asked nung maka-lapit siya.

"Ano kasi, ate... Uhm, about sa nangyari kagabi?"

"Hey, sorry nga pala you had to witness that pa," I said. "Upon reflecting, it's just so rude of me lang din talaga to storm off."

"Yun na nga, ate," sabi niya, scratching his nape. "Sorry kay mama. Nalimutan niya lang siguro na hindi si kuya ang nagsabi na tatakbo ka and that she shouldn't have brought that up yet."

My forehead creased. "Ha? Then, sino?"

Oo nga... We haven't announced it yet pa naman bukod sa mga ni-tap na interested to run.

"I did," he said with a nervous smile. "Inalok rin po kasi ako ni Ate Claudia na tumakbo sa partido nila, e. Pero nung nalaman ko kay Bree na tatakbo kayo, umayaw na agad ako."

"But why?" I asked. "I mean, sure. Hindi katiwa-tiwala si Claudia pero wala namang hard feelings if you join her partylist, e."

"E kasi naniniwala ako sa inyo, ate."

My lips parted. Akala ko he's gonna hate me for how I acted like last night but turns out, he's a believer too.

That I can do this...

"Sorry ulit, Ate Debbie, ah? Sabi ko naman kay mama 'wag na ipag-kalat, e. Na-hotseat ka tuloy," he said. "Pero... may pwesto pa po kaya akong pwedeng takbuhan sa partido niyo?"

"Okay lang 'yun. No worries," I said before guluhin 'yung hair niya. I explained lang na I have to tell Nate and Val muna and that I'll keep him posted nalang sa position na he can run for.

"Salamat talaga, Ate Debbie! See you around!"

I was running late na rin pala kaya nag-madali na ako to get to my classroom sa fourth floor. I quietly dropped my bag and sat. Unfortunately, nandun na pala si Bailey.

"Uy, galit pa ba sakin si Valerie?"

I faced Nate instead. "Nate, may open pa ba tayong position sa partido?"

He nodded. "Open pa tayo sa PO at representatives," he replied after looking at the lineup namin sa notes niya.

"You know Yeshua naman, right?" tanong ko. "Nagtanong kasi siya if may open positions pa satin kasi he wanted to run daw."

"Wait—ba't nasa inyo na si Yeshua?"

Napa-tingin ako kay Bailey. I rolled my eyes at him bago tumango.

"Eavesdrop much?" I said. "Let's just say... he trusted us better."

Bumalik ako kay Nate and waited for a response. "Uhm... uh... s-sure," he said. "Sa'n pala natin siya ilalagay?"

"Grade 11 rep? Kasi may dalawa na tayong executive from juniors, right?"

Nate nodded. "Alright, i-note ko nalang."

"Okay. Thank you, Nate!" I said before pinching his cheeks. Nakita kong namula pa siya pero dumating na rin si Ma'am shortly after kaya tumayo na kaming lahat.

"Pa'no siya napunta sa partido niyo?" Bailey asked. When I didn't reply kasi Ma'am was discussing na, he poked my side. "'Kala ko ba 'di daw siya interesado tumakbo sa SSG?"

"Maybe he changed his mind."

"Tapos sa kabilang partido na lumapit nung nag-bago isip?"

"Why not? Choice niya 'yun."