What's the Prize?

Part 1

"Pano ba yan? Top 1 ako this quarter. I'm pretty sure you expected it, diba? Now, where's my gift?" 

"Uh. You wish. Why did you even thought about this setup? What's the catch ba?" I said and slightly pushed him. I swear this guy is getting on my nerves. 

Hi! My name is Sophia Abigail Henderson, 16 years of age. Well, I got what every guy looks for in a girl. And I'm not even trying to brag. Ganun na talaga. Let me explain, I'm smart, beautiful and I do have a nice and polite attitude to most people EXCEPT for this guy infront of me.

SIya si Lucas Adrian Parker, yung kausap ko kanina. He's 17 at sinusumpa ko na nabuhay pa siya. I mean like seriously if every guy in the whole universe likes me, he's that one annoying prick that doesn't. Don't get me wrong, he's also perfect like me. Smart, good looking but he's just so nosy and annoying.

A few weeks ago, gumawa kami ng bet. Or rather he did. Sabi niya kung sino man ang maging top each quarter, get's a prize. Silly right? Pumayag naman ako since constant naman akong top 1 but damn ngayon lang ako natalo and the craziest thing was that hindi ko siya nakita ni isang beses mag-aral. Siguro nangopya. 

So, now I'm stuck with giving him this prize. "Ano bang gusto mong gift?" tanong ko.

"Hmm, let's see..how about a kiss?" he said as he fixes his glasses. WHAT?!?! NO WAY. 

"NO. FYI wala pa akong first kiss and I'm not planning to give it to you." I said and he smirked and whispered in my ear.

"Edi ako nalang first kiss mo. Hindi ka pa magsisisi. Ang swerte mo pa nga kasi isang Lucas Adrian Parker ang first kiss mo."

"Che. I won't give it to you." sabi ko at bumelat. Nang makita ko na nahuhulog nanaman yung eyeglasses niya, inayos ko ito. I just gave a little push. He seemed to be taken aback.

"Ano na kasi? Para makauwi na ako. Nakakatakot magjeep paggabi." well, we were currently in the canteen at medyo wala nang tao kasi uwian na rin naman kasi. 

"Hmm. Sige. Pay for my ride back home pati lunch ko tommorow." he smiled. Well, I obviously secretly melted. haha joke. Nag-agree nalang ako since mas pefer ko yun kesa sa kiss na yun.

We went to find a jeep. May dumaan naman at sumakay na kami. Magkatabi kami tapos katabi ko yung isang matanda. 

"Asan ba bahay mo?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Woah there. Easy Sophie babe. Balak mo puntahan?" 

"Gago. Baka kasi out of the way sa bahay ko."

"Malapit lang sa inyo promise. Just a street away. So, if you want to visit me malapit lang sa inyo." may gana pa tong lalaking magwink sa akin.

"Geh" yun na lang sinabi ko at tumingin nalang sa baba. Napaisip narin ako ng mga gagawin ko para mabeat siya sa next quarter. 

"Isa pa palang gift mo sa akin. Promise mo nalang sa akin na aalagaan mo yung sarili mo lagi, okay?" ang weird naman. Agad siya nagseryoso.

"Talagang matutupad yan." sabi ko. Medyo nag-iba yung mood niya. So I tried to lighten up our conversation. "Konti nalang yung taong kagaya ko." We instantly laughed.

"Ikaw talaga. Feeler mo kahit kelan." he said and pinched my nose. And for a moment, naisip ko na parang kuya ko na siya. 

"PARA NA PO MANONG." he said. Andito na pala yung bahay ko. Nagwave ang ako sa kanya at dumeretso na sa bahay namin. Pagkarating ko, nakita ko na patay na yung ilaw. Weird naman ang aga pa. Baka pagod lang sila. Dumeretso ako agad sa kwarto ko at humiga sa kama ko then slowly, nakatulog rin ako.

The following weeks came at mas naging close kami ni Luke. Months came and still the same. It was the day that I most dreaded. Itong araw na to iaanounce na nila yung top.

"Hey Sophie! Ano ready ka na matalo?" sabi ni Luke. Hay nako. I worked extra hard for this quarter. Dapat ako yung top 1.

We checked the results and BAM. "YES!!! Sabi ko sa'yo eh. Ako nga!!!!" parang wala lang naman sa kanya. I hugged him and said "Oy! Yung prize ko ha!" 

"Bukas." he said and smiled. 

Okay then. Umuwi narin ako at nakatulog after a few hours. Buti nalang weekends narin bukas. 

Pagkagising ko, may nafeel ako na papel sa ulo ko. Ano ba yun? It said:

Good morning Sophie! Yung prize mo pala nasa icecream shop na lagi nating pinupuntahan pag dismissal.

So yung prize ko, ICE CREAM LANG? Pesteng lalaki yun ah. Cheap naman. 

Nagbihis ako at saglit na kumain tapos dadaanan ko lang yung gift. Medyo malapit lang naman yun dito.

Pagkarating ko dun, nakita ko si manong na nagtitinda parin, as usual. Asan naman kaya yun?

"Iha. Hinahanap mo ba yung premyo mo? Pinapabigay niya pala." nagbigay si manong ng favorite flavor ko ng  ice cream at isang medal. Tapos may papel nanaman na nakadikit sa cone.

Hi! Haha buti nakita mo. Sorry wala pa yung prize mo dito. Andun pala sa park na lagi rin nating pinupuntahan. 

Tinignan ko yung medal at nakalagay dun. To the smartest girl I've ever known. Aww ang sweet.

Dumeretso na ako sa park at pagpunta ko dun, may mga arrows. Wow grabe yung effort niya. Habang ako yung pamasahe niya lang yung prize niya noon.

Sinundan ko lang yung mga arrows at may nakalapag dun na isang malaki at maliit na papel. Tinignan ko muna yung malaki at certificate pala siya. 

To you. Remember that you're half as special as you think you are. 

Yes. I do have a crush on him, okay? Takot lang talaga ako sa commitment because I've seen how it breaks people. 

I looked at the little paper.

Last na talaga to. Punta ka sa rooftop kung saan kita nakita na umiiyak.

I went there. Buti nalang pinayagan ako nung may-ari. Pagkadating ko dun nakita ko siya na nakangiti at may flowers sa kamay niya. Gabi narin kaya medyo di ko siya makita clearly.

"Hi. Buti nakarating ka." nagprepare rin siya ng parang picnic.

"Ah oo nga. Nakakalito rin eh" ang awkward. Binigay niya yung flowers at kinuha ko naman. Wow pizza! 

"Kain na tayo. Mamaya magstar gazing rin tayo." di na ako nagsalita at kumain nalang kami. After naming kumain humiga kami at wow. Ang ganda kasi ang daming stars. 

"Uhm. Sophia Abigail Henderson. Thank you for showing up. Uh. I just want to tell you that I really uhm like you." 

"Uh Luke ano kasi" 

"It's okay. I wasn't really expecting a response, okay? Don't worry."  

Look, I really like him. As in. Kaso takot ako na baka iwanan lang niya ako. I don't want to gt hurt. I've avoid that for the 16 years that I have lived. I saw it, okay? Kung pano masaktan ang isang tao pag nagmahal siya. 

I also know that "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived." I don't know. I 'll just think about it.

"Hatid na kita sa inyo. Sana nagustuhan mo yung prize mo." Now, I feel really bad.

Bago man ako makapasok sa bahay namin, kinausap ko muna siya. 

"Hey. I'll think about it, okay. Just hang on. Wait for me." I hugged him tapos pumasok narin. 

Sana mahintay niya yung response ko.