Sweetest Rebellion

Chapter 5

“Five laps, now!” she yelled. Though her eyes were not on us, I know for sure that what she said is intended for Gia and I

Naglalakad pa nga lang kami papasok ng gymnasium nang isigaw niya iyon. Wala naman akong violent reaction dahil late naman talaga kami ni Gia sa scheduled time.

We put our things on the bench before kami magsabay nang mag warm up and stretch bago ang five laps na pinapagawa ni Ma’am Thomas. Or should I say Coach Thomas since wala naman kami sa classroom.

“I told you not to wait for me anymore, Lia. Nadamay ka pa tuloy.” Sabi nito habang naghahanda kami para sa unang lap

I was tying my shoelaces when she said that so I had to look up at her just to meet her eyes before I gave her a warm smile to let her know that I don’t regret one thing.

“So, what? I’ll do it again if given a chance to. And, it's just five laps.” Nakangiting sabi ko bago nauna nang tumakbo

I was not running so fast as to not tire myself. Hindi naman marathon ang laps na ito kaya bakit bibilisan? Gia easily kept up with me, a displeased look displayed on her face.

Ngumisi lang ako dahil alam kong hindi nanaman niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ko pero wala siyang magagawa dahil alam niya din na hindi naman niya ako mapipigil.

“Thalia, you have to understand. Nakakahiya kaya.” Tanging nasabi niya

“What’s so embarrassing about that? You have to understand, too, that there's literally nothing to be ashamed of. It’s pretty fine, Gia.” Pagtaliwas ko dito

She thinks it’s so embarrassing that I saw their house, her family, what they do for a living. Nahihiya siyang ipaalam saakin na mahirap lang sila and the only reason she was able to afford to attend Vallejo is because of her varsity scholarship.

Hindi naman sa ikinahihiya niya but more on she was afraid that I'm going to judge her for it. Hindi niya pa kasi ako gaanong kakilala kaya ang naisip siguro nito ay mamatahin ko siya.

“Kasi ang yaman niyo, tapos pumunta ka doon saamin, ganon lang nadatnan mo. I know you’re not used to those kinda things, Lia.”

Aaminin kong malayo nga sa kinagisnan kong buhay ang kinalakihan niya, pero hindi ko naman ito nakikitang sapat na rason rason para mahiya siya or for me to be indifferent towards her. I think it’s even better, para kahit paano ay mamulat naman ako na hindi lahat ng tao sa mundo ay katulad namin ang pamumuhay.

“Whatever you say, Gia. I’ll go back to your place and try that fried sugarcoated  banana your Mom promised me.”

“It’s Banana Q, Lia.” Pagtatama niya na ikinatawa naming pareho

Hindi ko alam kung nakailang laps na kami dahil habang tumatakbo ay panay ang naging asaran at tawanan naming dalawa pagkatapos ng diskusyong iyon. Kaya naman nagulat kaming pareho nang pumito ng pagkalakas lakas ang kung sino.

When we turned to look who it was, I saw Coach Thomas on the bench. Hindi naman ito nakatingin saamin but the whistle is still on her lips, meaning siya ang lumikha ng tunog na yun. Sino pang mangangahas, diba? Kung player iyon, natural ay sinigawan na niya.

“Tara na, Lia. We’ve already made six laps.” Natatawa pa ring sabi ni Gia na nauna nang pumunta kina Coach

“I told you two to only do five laps, don’t you know how to count? Or do you want me to add more to your punishment?” malamig na sabi nito habang nakahalukipkip

“Don’t you like it, Coach? Parang Fita lang, may pasobra dahil espesyal ka.” Pagsagot ko, dahilan para sikuhin ako ng katabi ko pero hindi ko naman iyon pinansin