Hatsukoi

Chapter 8:

Nang tumunog ang pito ay kaagad nagsitakbo sa track ang mga kababaihang kasali sa two hundred meter sprint, kaagad na-sentro ang atensiyon ng lahat kay Leni. Malalim itong humihinga habang tumatakbo, ang bawat galaw ng kaniyang mga biyas ay isang dipa sa bawat hakbang niya. Iwinawayway ng hangin ang kulay rosas na laso na nakatali sa kaniyang kamay.

“Leni! Lumaban ka! Lumaban ka! Bilisan mo pa!” Maririnig mula sa madla ang malakas na sigaw. This shouts encourages Leni to go further, to go faster than she can run.

It was then Bongbong focused his sight on Leni, his eyes widened as he saw how graceful she runs. Namula ang kaniyang pisngi at nag-inist ang kaniyang mukha, napanganga siya dahil sa nasaksihan.

Leni surpassed Sara and Pia who’s currently taking the lead, pinaulanan niya ng alikabok ang dalawa nang lampasan niya ang mga ito. Takbo lamang nang takbo, hindi pinapansin ang kaniyang mga kalaban—ito ang nasa isip ni Leni.

Time flew slower as she reached the finish line, nanlaki ang mga mata ni Bongbong nang makita niyang nabaling sa kaniya ang mga mata ni Leni. They are ten meters apart, but thier eyes meeting is enough proof that their strings are both attached.

“Ang galing mo, Leni!” Nagsisigawan at nagsipalakpakan ang lahat, but Bongbong was left in awe—reactionless, as he look at her with a pounding heart, blood racing through his body. He was astonished.

Saglit pa ay napatingin si Isko sa reaksiyon ng kaniyang kaibigan, hindi naman napansin ni Bongbong na nakatingin pala sa kaniya si Isko at nang mahagip ito ng kaniyang paningin ay kaagad siyang nagulat.

“Ay Apo, Susmaryosep!” he said in a shocked tone. Petrified as Isko laughed at him faintly.

“How long have you been looking?!” tanong pa niya. Muli ay narinig niyang tumawa si Isko, kaagad naman itong tumugon.

“Longer enough to see your reaction about... eherm.” Napakunot ang kaniyang noo at umuwas siya ng tingin sa kaibigan.

“I have equipment duty!” he yelled. Lumakad na siya kalaunan.

Nakasalubong niya si Ping sa daan dala ang iced coffee na binili niya para kay Bongbong, nakangiti itong lumapit sa kaniya.

“Oh, Bongbong, ito na ’yong kape mo oh. Naubusan sila nang mainit kaya iced coffee na lang ’yong binili ko. Don’t worry, ’yong three in one ’yong flavor na binili ko sa ’yo.” Ngiti ni Ping sabay abot ng kape sa kaibigan.

“Ah, thank you, Ping.” Nakangiting tugon ni Bongbong.

“Heading somewhere?” Ping asked.

“Equipment duty.” Bongbong excused.

“’Di ba may laban ka pa?” tanong muli ni Ping.

“Yeah, boys’ two hundred sprint run. Mamaya pa naman ’yon, makakahabol pa ’ko.” Kaagad siyang lumakad palayo dala ang iced coffee na binili ni Ping para sa kaniya.

Ininom na nga ni Bongbong ang iced coffee at nagpunta siya sa pupuntahan niya. He wasn’t lying about it though, he just made it as an excuse to get out of Isko’s teasing.

There, he saw the other member of his task group helping to prepare the things needed for the game of tug of war. Lumapit nga siya sa mga ito at tinulungan silang ikadkad ang lubid at sukatin ito sa kalahati. They painted a white line on the grassfield as the center of the game.

“Kapag nanalo ang yellow team ngayong taon, you awe me a drink.” Narinig ni Bongbong ang boses ng isang lalaki sa hindi kalayuan kaya naman ay napalingon siya.

“What? No way. Surely the pink team will surpass you all just like last year.” Mas lalo pang nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang marinig niya si Leni.

“Juice is fine by me, how about iced tea?” Bongbong looked at Leni and Kiko having a conversation, smiling and laughing at the same time. It looked like there was something between them that he must know.

“Ang kulit mo, Kiko. Did you honestly think that you’re going to win? What even makes you that confident? Mamaya mapahiya ka lang.” Napatawa naman ang binata, he leaned close to Leni. Their faces are just inches apart as Kiko smirked at him and he uttered once more.

“Nagbago na isip ko, kapag nanalo ako sa boys’ two hundo, ililibre mo ’ko. That’s a deal, thanks in advance.” Ngisi ni Kiko at inilayo niya ang muka niya kay Leni, nanlalaking-mata naman ang dalaga matapos ang ikinilos ni Kiko. It was then seconds later that Leni came to her senses.

“You can’t be serious! It’s already predictable, you moron!” Napatawa naman si Kiko sa isinigaw ni Leni at muli niya itong hinarap. The amount of shame Leni is feeling while Kiko is teasing him is just unmatchable. With people looking at them, kinikilig na para bang sinilihan ang mga puwetan.

Suddenly, Leni noticed something from her peripheral vision. She them gazed at what she saw and her eyes widened as she realized that it was Bongbong. Kaagad siyang napaiwas ng tingin, kalaunan ay napangisi siya.

“Sige, sasakyan ko ’yang trip mo. Kapag hindi mo nasungkit ang first place, hindi kita ililibre, pero kapag nasungkit mo... sasamahan pa kita sa canteen. How does that sound?” Leni asked Kiko bravely as she smirked, knowing Bongbong might’ve heard what she said. It’s her way of conveying that she needs someone to prove Kiko wrong.

“Madali ka naman palang kausap eh, sige ba! Kapag nanalo ako, ililibre mo ’ko ha, sasamahan mo pa ’ko sa canteen!” Kiko said once again, napangiti siya at tumalikod na nga kay Leni. He walked away with his hands on his nape, thinking that he might beat anyone among his way because he is indeed a fast runner.

Suddenly, Leni gazed at Bongbong again. Once again, their eyes met but Leni just let that slip through. Indeed, she feels nervous while looking at him, but now, he needs something to be done.

At ang bagay na iyon ay si Bongbong lang ang naiisip niyang makagagawa.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Bongbong, kaagad niyang napagtanto ang ibig-sabihin ni Leni sa kaniyang mga tingin. He then took a deep breath and nodded at her.

Leni knew it was Bongbong who’s on the red team, it’s because she accidentally viewed the list of participants earlier when she’s looking at the girls’ two hundred meter sprint participants. In here, she made her conclusion to indirectly ask Bongbong a favor—a favor she acted reckless because Bongbong wasn’t really fond of these kind of sports.

“I’ll win this, I promise.” Bulong ni Bongbong sa sarili. From an astonished face, Bongbong switched to a serious one. He continued on setting the ropes for the tug of war game before heading back to their team’s sight.

Leni then left the field because the game of tug of war will shortly began. It was then after that game, it was the boys’ two hundred meter sprint.

~Rose-Colored Ribbon.