Triumphs (Book 2 of Trials End)

Chapter 44

"Aiby! Sa amusement park kayo pumunta kahapon ni Keith?" Malakas na tanong sa'kin ni Blanca pag upo ko sa upuan ko.

I'm sure they will ask, kitang kita ang malaking whale na stuff toy sa table ko.

I nodded. "Yeah," I placed the whale on my lap and glanced at Keith who's sleeping right now. He must have brought it here with him kaninang umaga.

"Dun kami nag date kahapon ni Ayer eh!" Malakas na sigaw sa'kin ni Blanca.

I know, I know.

I smiled. "Nag enjoy ka ba?"

"Oo naman!" She looked around. "May aaminin nga kami eh!" Lumapit siya kay Ayer at saglit na bumulong.

Ayer blushed and scratched his nape. Is he shy?

Sabay silang naglakad papuntang tapat ko, sa gitna ng classroom.

"May i-aanounce kami!" Blanca shouted, made everyone stop what they were doing and looked at them.

Ayer held Blanca's hand and raised it. "Kami na," Malaking ngiti niyang sabi.

I thought my girls would scream or the boys would tease Ayer, but I heard none.

"Uh, anong meron? Bakit ang tahimik niyo"Ayer asked us then a smirk flash on his lips. "Inggit kayo 'no?"

"Bakit kami maiinggit?" Suplada ni Ely.

"Maygosh, do you think we don't asahan that?" Twilla flipped her hair.

"Bro, hindi naman na kami dapat mabigla pa," Iling iling na sabi ni Claud.

"Kung sakali mang magugulat kami, magugulat kami kasi ang tagal niyo namang maging kayo." Ivo shrugged.

"Sila Keith at Aiby nga ang tagal rin," Singit ni Deborah kaya napatingin naman sa'kin lahat.

"Baka kayo na rin? Nag ferris wheel kayo diba?" Ely innocently asked.

I was a little shocked when I heard her say ferris wheel. Nang tumingin ako sa kanya ay agad nag iwasan sila ng tingin.

"You....guys..." I eyed them. "Sinundan niyo kami ni Blanca 'no!"

"So alam mong magksama talaga tayo sa amusement park Aiby?" Blanca asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, I saw how you kiss-" I stopped when I saw Blanca with red cheeks in front of me.

Sabay sabay kaming tumahimik sa loob ng classroom at nag ubuhan sila Graig at Aldo. Wait, I knew it, they really knew something!

Nadistract lang ako sa pag iisip nang biglang tumawa si Keith sa tabi ko.

"Why?" Tanong ko, baka kasi nasisiraan na naman siya.

"Sorry, I should have told you that the Echos are watching us," Keith looked at me. "I know you must have sensed them but thankfully they hid very well kaya hindi mo sila nakita."

"Kailan pa?" Yeah, it's true na may nararamdaman akong sumusunod. Lagi kasing nakabuntot ang mga tao sa'min.

"Since we rode the.... carousel," Pabulong niyang sabi at agad tumawa ang mga boys sa likuran. "I also invited you to ride the ferris wheel so I can find them and I really saw them." He eyed everyone.

"W-Wait, wait! Bakit wala akong naramdaman?" Sigaw ni Blanca.

"Ako rin, ang daya naman! Hindi ko kayo napansin don ha!" Ayer also looked at the boys.

"At ikaw Aiby, kailan mo naman kami nakita?" Blanca looked at me, she's really dead serious right now.

I averted my gaze. "Before you kiss Ayer, before fireworks." I whispered, too shy to admit. Kagabi pa umuulit ulit ang scene na nakita ko.

Yes, they are the couple na nag kiss before fireworks. The one with the girl na may hawak ng balloon and snaked her arms in the boy's neck. Yes, it's Blanca and Ayer.

"Oh God, nakakahiya!" Blanca covered her face with her hands habang nasa tabi lang niya si Ayer na tumatawa.

"So," I looked at everyone. "Bakit niyo kami sinundan?" Tanong ko sa kanilang lahat at sabay sabay silang nag iwas tingin at umubo.

Someone cleared his throat, it's Brice.

"Sorry, I can't stop them alone."

Claud snorted. "Kasi naman! Nakakatamad mag isa!"

Ely nodded. "Saka nakakainggit rin,"

"Kung pwede nga na kami kami na lang eh," Aldo added. "Kaso yung aayain ko naman tatanggihan lang ako."

"Mas masaya 'pag magkakasama," Ani ni Deborah. "Saka ang hirap kaya pilitin ni Brice!"

"Oo nga, paano niyo napilit?" Tanong ko.

Rave shrugged. "Nagpa-cute si Iris at Twilla, kinantahan nila Graig at Fabian, tapos sumayaw kaming lahat."

Asra laughed beside her. "Wala siyang nagawa kasi nakakalat kami sa kalsada, ayun pumayag." Tumawa lang kami habang si Brice ay umiiling sa harap.

"At least we saw how Blanca kissed Ayer," Iris teases Blanca. Sumunod rin ang iba kaya sina Blanca at Ayer ay parehas na namumula ang mukha.

When I tried to recall what happened last night, my face also felt hot. How could I forget how Keith whispered his love to me!

"Si Aiby namumula na rin, ano yang iniisip mo ha!" Biglang sumigaw si Claud kaya nalipat naman sa'kin ang mga mata nila.

Lalong uminit ang mukha ko ng marining ang mahinang tawa ni Keith sa tabi ko. It's his fault!

We spent the remaining time teasing each other. They also re-enact some scenes in how they followed us. Tawang tawa kami dahil talagang nagkagulo sila kahapon.

Miss Corpuz and Sir Tanner gave us extra takeaways at binigay ang extra time for self study. I really really appreciate their effort. Kaya ngayon, todo aral kami kahit mamaya lang ay sigurado na kong mag rereklamo sila.

"Good thing I remembered," We all looked at Brice that stood up in front. "Tomorrow is the 5th day and we gathered 22 men from our enemy. Still, no signs from the leader."

"Para ngang hindi nila hinahanap yung kasamahan nila eh," Kumento ni Aldo.

I nodded, parang sanay na talaga silang nalalagasan.

"Ano na gagawin natin?" Ely wondered.

"What if, let's all go there tomorrow, in the morning." Graig suggested. "Habang sinusundan sila Aiby,"

I glared at him. "Delikado 'yan.'

"If those men are armed, then we're dead." Rave added at tumango rito si Ella.

"What if we're also armed?" We all looked at Fabian who's smirking right now.

"And with my men?" Confident na dagdag ni Earl.

"Kayo!" Tinuro turo sila ni Asra. "Bakit hindi niyo sinuggest kaagad 'yan?"

I glanced at Keith with worry in my eyes.

I also agree with them. Nakasunod sa'min ni Keith ang mga tauhan nila kaya magandang kami na mismo ang magdala sa kanila sa storehouse but... it's dangerous for the us.

Kahit sabihin na natin na they're boys and strong, we're nothing against guns.

And I know they're willing to protect us, girls, even with their bodies.

"What's your decision, Brice?" Keith asked Brice, seriously. Tumahimik kaming lahat at tinignan sila.

Brice just stared at us then breathed deeply. I thought he'd stood in front of our class but he walked towards us, joining our circle.

Inayos niya ang salamin gamit na naman ang kanyang gitnang daliri. "It's risky, but I think, this is just an enjoyment for you guys."

"Very well said, Brice." Rave said, with a smirk on her lips. I'm dead sure na gusto niya ang gagawin natin.

I surrendered inside my mind. No need to hesitate Aiby.

I leaned closer to them. "Then, let's start planning for our play tomorrow..."