Yours to Hold (Louisiana Series #4)

Kabanata 9

09 – Choose

Almost three weeks have passed and they didn't visit anymore. Calum and I became more paranoid whenever we hear mysterious sound outside after their surprise visit. Nang pumasok sa trabaho kinabukasan ay wala namang naging kakaiba sa mga kilos nila. They treated me the same. Mabuti na lang at senyales iyon na wala silang napansin. Maybe we're good at hiding things.

Bumuntong-hininga ako matapos humikab habang hinihintay ang bus na sasakyan patungo sa isang resort sa Batangas kung saan gaganapin ang outing na nabanggit nila. More than thirty people were waiting with us. Ang iba ay sa ibang department kaya iba ang activities nila sa sumunod na tatlong araw, ngunit kasabay namin dahil isa lang naman ang pupuntahan.

Some of us were sitting down while their bags were on the floor. Sinilip ko ang relos ko at yumuko sa aking bag. I left the house earlier than Calum. He told me last night to wake him up but I didn't. Hindi ko naman pinangarap na maging personal niyang alarm clock.

"Ang tagal ng bus, ha? Sisikat na ang araw, masusunog ako!"

"Five AM ang usapan, Niña. May thirty minutes pa."

I smiled and looked at Niña. She was wearing a floral polo with her sun hat. Pati si Emma ay gayak na gayak sa suot na beach dress. Ava was sleeping beside me. Habang si Anton at Alex naman ay nag-uusap tungkol sa mga kotse.

Emma glanced at me. "This is your first time, Yoon. Are you excited?"

"Yeah."

Actually, I am not. This is my first time joining group activities like this but I am not excited. I don't even know what we're going to do there. Team building? What kind of games? May premyo ba?

"Wala pa rin bang group? Atat na ako, e!"

Humikab si Ava. "Doon na mismo sa resort ang groupings. Hindi ko alam kung random, o sina Sir Calum na ang pipili."

"Sana piliin ako! Gusto ko talagang sumama sa team ni sir. Madalas kasing manalo!" Emma exclaimed.

Kasama ba sina Calum sa laro? O sila ang magpapalaro? Maybe they're going to watch us suffer in doing the activities instead of relaxing under the palm trees.

"Do we get incentives if we win?" I asked.

"Yep. Cash price!"

Umangat ang kilay ko. "I should do my best, then. Hindi pa naman ako sanay na matalo."

Emma pressed her lips together and looked at me. Hinawi ko ang buhok ko at tumango sa kaniya. Sana ay magkakasama kami sa grupo dahil kung hindi, baka masira lang ang pagkakaibigan namin. My group has to win.

"Narito na ang bus, guys!"

Mabilis na nagsitayuan ang iba at pumasok sa bus. Ako rin ay tumayo na at pinagsama-sama ang mga gamit ko. Mayroon akong isang maleta at isang back pack. I also have one shoulder bag and a sling bag. I am still contemplating if I bought little amount of clothes for three days. Are these enough?

"Yoon, tara!"

"Susunod ako!"

Halos lahat ay sumakay na at ako ang panghuli. I was about to step on the bus when the driver's assistant stopped me.

"Puno na rito, miss. May kasunod namang van. Doon na lang po kayo."

"Aish! Ka-team namin iyan, e!" someone shouted.

"Wala pang team, Niña!"

Napalabi ako at sumilip sa loob ng bus. Wala na nga. I sighed and looked at Niña. Pilit niyang itinuturo ang pangdalawahan nilang upuan ni Ava upang sumiksik na lang ako ro'n. It would be uncomfortable the whole duration of the ride if I force myself there.