Chapter 11
Game
The booths ended around three o'clock in the afternoon. That was the time when I could finally remove my make-up in the washroom and enjoy the rest of the festival walking around the campus. I changed into a colorful dress with dominant colors of red, orange, and yellow.
Ang kasama ko namang si Lau ay naka-itim. Baggy pants and oversized t-shirt, sinamahan pa ng bucket hat at sling bag at white shoes. Mas nakakadagdag ng angas niya ang cross silver necklace na suot. Short hair, and her rimless glasses.
Maraming tao at kadalasan ay mga taga-labas. I heard from my parents that they will also come for the opening. Even Abuela, as an alumni, is a guest speaker for the opening.
The first thing we decided was to look for Claire in their practice yard. The marching band will perform outside the school gates with a lot of spectators. Si Claire ang nasa pinaka-unahan ng banda. Iba ang band uniform niya niya dahil siya yung may hawak ng pito at pinakamakulay na feathered baton.
It was their break time at pinayagan naman kami ng instructor nila na pumasok sa mismong yard.
"Nowie, Lau!" kaway nito.
"Cosplay ba gagawin mo?" naguguluhang tanong ni Lau. Tiningnan niya ito mula ulo hanggang paa, habang sumusubo ng banana cue na binili namin bago pumunta rito.
Lau held out the stick near Claire's mouth. Claire spread her legs to shorten her height. Para maabot niya ang banana cue.
Tumambay muna kami sa cottage sa malapit.
"Nga pala, Weng," tawag ni Claire sa akin na parang may naalala. "Maglalaro si Dondon ngayong 4 pm, basketball."
"Ah..." tango ko na lang. "Kasali ba siya sa varsity?"
Tinanong ko lang, kunwari hindi ko alam. Pero nakita ko na siya kanina. Nakiusap siyang pumunta ako at manood. I'm still thinking about it. I actually want to go, but I didn't tell him I would.
"Noong nasa Cambridge pa siya, kasali daw siya sa players. So he tried out natanggap naman siya agad," she shrugged.
"Mabuti..." I smiled. Now that I remember it, nabanggit niya nga iyon noong huling pag-uusap namin noong nakaraan. Ilang linggo na ang lumipas.
"Hindi ka ba pupunta sa court? Malapit nang magsimula ah?" takang tanong niya. "Hindi ka ba niya sinabihan?"
"Hindi ako pupunta," I answered discreetly.
Napansin ko ang pabalik-balik na tingin sa amin ni Lau bago niya ibinunyag kay Claire ang balita.
"Hindi na sila nag-uusap, Claire," Lau said.
"Huh?" halata ang gulat sa mata ni Claire, "Bakit? Ang bilis naman! Kailan pa?"
A while now.
I told her why. Randam ko naman na mabait si Deo. Ibang-iba siya kay Jiro. Gusto ko rin ang ngiti niya.
But he said, 'It's not like that–'
So maybe I assumed. It wasn't clear. Kaya ako na, I made it clear for him instead.
Baka habang sa tumatagal baka mahulog ako. Tapos sa huli pagkakaibigan lang pala ang gusto niya. So It's better to end it while it's still early.
"I'll be Claire's photographer for her performance at the band. Tara na," Aya ni Lau.
The band performance will last for fifteen to twenty minutes. Gusto kong sabihin kay Lau na gusto kong manuod ng League pagkatapos para masamahan niya ako pero nahihiya ako.
BINABASA MO ANG
Cursed Kiss (Curse #1)
RomanceI have always been obedient. Morals, manners, etiquette, class, and intelligence. I've done it. I abided on it like it's a law. But you came, starting with a kiss. All of that didn't matter anymore. Then, there is this curse between us. A long hist...
