Pacifica West Has Fallen (Beauty Queen Series #1)

XXII: Ominous

XXII: Ominous

It's the first day of the one-week-long celebration of Inter-Katalina sports competition. I didn't want to go kasi madaming tao doon. However, may obligasyon ako bilang sports journalist. Isa pa, mahal ang fines.

I wrapped my naked self around my pink cotton towel and set foot outside the bathroom of my room. It's 8 o'clock and it's still early. The opening ceremony starts at 9.

No one's rushing me. No one--

"Bakit ang tagal mo d'yan gumalaw? Late na tayo! My practice ako ng 7:30!" walang preno at halatang naiinip na wika ng lalaki sa aking kama.

Napatalon ako nang marinig ang boses ni Khio dito sa loob ng kuwarto ko, prenteng nakaupo sa aking kama. He's wearing his green and yellow uniform for soccer, as well as his prominent furrowed brows which looks more furrowed this morning.

But wait, I'm naked! I mean on a towel!

"What are you doing here!" malakas na sigaw ko and gripped my towel tightly.

"Just shut up and do your thing fast," masungit na wika nito at bumalik ang tingin sa phone. Tila wala lang sa kanya na nakasuot lang ako ng towel. At least man lang sana mahiya s'ya.

"Anong do your thing fast? Gusto mo magbihis ako habang nandito ka sa loob?" bulyaw ko. Natauhan ito nang mapatingin sa towel ko na parang ngayon lang ito napansin.

"Fine, I'll wait outside."

"Hoy, teka!"

Napalingon ito sa akin looking a bit red. Wow ha! Ngayon ka pa nahiya. Napaka-late reaction.

"What?"

"Uuhh..." I felt a little embarrassed to say the words. "Ano kasi..."

"What? Just tell me already!"

"Kay Nein na ako sasabay mula ngayon," I bit my lower lip to show how embarrassed I am. Dapat sinabi ko sa kanya kagabi para hindi na s'ya naghintay.

I saw his expression turn from irritated into indifferent. "Sige," tumalikod ito. "Whatever you want."

A sudden lump on my throat emerged dahil sa hiya ko... or was it because of something else?

Nawala ito sa aking paningin nang isara nito ang pinto, mas malumanay sa dating halos pabalibag na pagsasara nito ng pinto ko noon. Is he somehow... sad?

I shove the thought away. Bahala s'ya sa buhay n'ya. Bumalik ito sa pagiging masungit sa akin simula noong Thursday.

I tried to act as if that just didn't happen.

I pulled off my mom jeans and a white shirt printed with the word Thrasher which I got from a thrift store. I'm pretty sure this day is going to be hassle-some, kaya I tied my hair in a high bun and left some curly baby hair hanging.

As for the makeup, I don't need any.

Bumaba ako sa kusina para magpaalam kay tita Minerva at tito Roel. Khio left his two bottles of Blue dahil sa pagmamadali kaya ibinigay nila ito sa akin para iabot sa kanya. Great! Just great.

Palabas na ako nang makita ang text ni Nein.

From: Pagpag, Syam na buhay

I'm outside. Take your time, my pie.

Paglabas ko ng gate ng bahay nila tita Minerva, naabutan ko si Nein na prenteng nakasandal sa kanyang Aston. Kagaya ni Khio, suot na kaagad nito ang yellow and green varsity uniform n'ya.

He looks cool but...

Why is he wearing sun glasses?

Varsity uniform and glasses? Uuuuh no.