Found You

finding... 19.5

“Xy?”

Hindi ko napansin na narito na pala kami sa tapat ng isang gaming stall. I was holding onto my fist so hard that when I finally got back to my consciousness, it started to sting.

Eya plastered a smile and brushed my hair. “Laro muna tayo.”

I looked at her blankly.

“Babatuhin lang natin ‘yung mga niyog na ‘yon ‘tapos may prize kapag nakakuha ka ng sapat na points. Try mo!”

Napatingin ako sa harapan namin at nakita ang sinasabi niya. There were coconut shells na may design pang nakangiti. They were placed on different shelves. Each shell comes with various sizes that vary the points you get.

Eya handed me five hard-as-rock balls that will be used to knock those cocos off the shelf. Great game.

Kumuha ako ng isang bola at umamba ng maganda bago initsa iyon sa ere para patamaan ‘yung malaking coconut shell sa may bandang itaas. Agad iyong nalaglag sa sahig.

Hindi na ako naghintay pa ng ilang sandali at binato ko na uli ang isa pang malaking coconut shell na nasa tabi lang ng isang naihulog ko. Nahulog rin iyon.

I can hear Eya cheering for me but I took her for granted. My attention is focused on the coconuts. Those smiles are just pissing me off.

It reminds me of someone ruthless. A major manipulator that almost took my life without me even noticing it.

“Yaaaay!~” Eya squeaked and jumped at me when I cleared all of the largest coconut shells. “Ang galing mo, Xy!”

Hindi ko namalayang tapos na pala ang turn ko dahil naubos ko na ang bolang pantira ko.

“Congratulations po, Ma’am!” bati sa akin ni Kuya na nag-aayos sa stall. “Kayo palang po ang nakakagawa na maubos lahat ng malalaking coconut shell.”

Humihingal man ay nginitian ko pa rin siya. I got a stuffed toy, a keychain, and a free bottle of buko juice as my prize.

“Hala! Ang cute ng stuffed toy!” she pouted. “Ako rin! It-try ko rin, Kuya!” Eya paid for another round.

She wanted the stuffed toy too so she focused on the bigger ones like what I did. “Go, Eya!” I cheered for her.

Umatras siya ng kaunti at nag-stretching pa. She looks very determined to win this.

Ginawa ko rin ba ‘yon kanina?

Huminga siya ng malalim bago umamba ng malakas na tira.

When she had her first try, I was sure she’s going to clear the first one. Tama ang pukol niya sa target kaso nag-bounce lang ‘yung bola at hindi natumba ang shell.

Kahit si Eya ay nagulat na tumalbog lamang ang bola sa shell. Ang mukha niya ay parang magpo-protesta na pero huminga na lang siya ng malalim at saka tumira uli.

She did her routine and targeted the same coconut. The throw was strong but it was not straight and hit nothing.

“Ano na, Maria?”

Nang mapatingin ako sa likuran ay naroroon na si Ron kasama ang iba niyang kaibigan pati si Kuya Xylo.

Inirapan lamang sila ni Eya at saka sumubok uli pero wala pa rin. Walang tinamaan ‘yung pangatlong bola.

“Kung ako sa ‘yo, sa maliit na lang ako. Kaysa wala kang mukhang points. Kawawa ka naman,” komento ni Ron sa likod pero hindi na siya pinansin ni Eya.

The fourth ball was clearly set for the same coconut but instead, it hit the smaller one under the main target. Bumagsak iyon.

“Nice one! Sabi sa ‘yo, e!” Pumalakpak si Ron at ang iba pa niyang mga kaibigan. “Isa pa!”