Hatsukoi

Chapter 14:

“Nakita niyo ba ’yong teddy bear stuffed toy ko sa gawi rito?” Leni asked Sara and Pia when she saw them walking on the corridors to the room where they kept all the equipments for the games. Hindi na alam ni Leni ang gagawin kaya hindi niya na napigilang magtanong sa ibang mga kasama niya.

“Teddy bear stuffed toy? Ay ’yong palagi mong dala, ’yong maliit?” Pia then followed by asking Leni back, Leni nodded and replied.

“Oo, ’yon nga.” She exhaled.

“I didn’t even know you have one of those, makakasama ba sa ’yo kapag nawala ’yon?” Pia then asked, nilingon naman siya at tumango ito.

“Very, it’s Leni’s comforter, ’di kakalma si Leni kapag wala ’yon.” Sara uttered in complete worry, she patted Leni’s pack and smiled at her.

“You know, Leni, maybe it’s the time that you should be braver than before. You should conquer that nervousness of yours, run freely without worries.” Sara encouraged her, Pia then agreed.

“Yeah, you got what it takes so you should just conquer it.” Pagsang-ayon ni Pia, napangiti na lamang si Leni sa kanila. Napangiti na lamang ito para ipakita sa kanilang ayos na siya, pero sa totoo ay hindi talaga siya komplrtable.

She will not be calmed down unless she takes a hold of her stuffed toy, pero para ’di na magdala ng konsumisyon sa mga kaibigan niya. Deep inside, she wanted to find it but she don’t want to cause trouble to everyone again. It was also because of that matter that the scavenger hunt was almost ruined.

“Sige, mauna na kami. We got our own tasks for this group, and Sara has double task too, kasali pa kasi siya do’n sa aid station.” Pia smiled and attempted to walk away, she was then followed by Sara.

“I’m gonna head out too, see you.” They both left the room, naiwan si Leni na humihinga pa rin nang malalim at malapit nang bumugso ang nagbabadyang luha sa kaniyang mga mata. Hindi niya na alam ang gagawin, hindi na rin siya makapag-isip nang matino.

Not until...

“Le-Leonor?” Napalingon siya nang may tumawag sa kaniyang isang lalaki, he suddenly turned around and noticed Bongbong carrying four loads of heavy boxes from a certain game.

“Ah! Le-let me help with you with that, you look so tired. Rest for a bit.” She offered, umiling naman kaagad ang binata at tumugon.

“I’ve got some tasks to do also, actually... I-I overheard your conversation with Sara and your other friend earlier.” Tinulungang ibaba ni Leni ang mga dalang box ni Bongbong.

“You overheard it, well... it was nothing important. Kaya ko naman nang wala ’yong stuffed toy.” Ngiti ng dalaga, pero nakita niyang seryosong nakatingin ang binata sa kaniya.

“I-is that so... then, good.” Bongbong smiled awkwardly, ibinaba niya ang mga mga dala niyang box.

Sa totoo lang ay hindi pa rin talaga alam ni Bongbong ang gagawin dahil kaharap niya si Leni, he just mustered the courage to comfort her using his situation. But it turns out that he couldn’t also do it for himself and her.

“W-well then, I got some tasks to do so... later.” He waved goodbye, pero bago pa man siya makalabas sa room na iyon ay narinig niyang muling nagsalita si Leni.

“Listen, Ferdinand, I-I know what you’re feeling towards me when you lost that match to Kiko earlier. I know at looked at you... by that look I asked for a favor.” Dahan-dahang napatingin si Bongbong sa dalaga.

“Alam kong ’di ka kagalingan sa track and field, pero sa ’yo pa rin ako humingi ng pabor. It’s just because of that... bet with Kiko that I dragged you into that thing.” Leni looked at Bongbong straight to the eye and genuinely, she apologized.

“I-m sorr—” hindi niya na naituloy ang sasabihin niya nang marinig niyang nagsalita ang binata.

“No shouldn’t be, I’m the one who really messed that up so I should apologized. You’re the one who asked me that favor, so... I should apologize because I messed up.” Kontra ni Bongbong.

“But you didn’t.” His eyes widened when Leni whispered almost quietly.

“You didn’t messed up because you won the second prize after all, I-I’m so glad that you won.” Napaiwas ng tingin si Leni, Bongbong just smiled and nodded.

“But still, I’m sorry I failed your expectations.” He still apologized, but again, Leni just shook her head.

“No, you musn’t.” She insisted once again. Sandali pa ay narinig nilang dalawa mula sa room ang anunsiyo mula sa announcer, lumilipas ang oras at magsisimula na ang laban sa relays.

“All right, now that the game of the long jump is now over, let’s call on the participants of the team relays. This is the last event of our intramurals so let’s cheer for each of your team and make this event memorable!” they announced. Nagsihiyawan naman ang mga tao dahil doon.

“Oh crap, I’m going to be late for the relays!” Leni exclaimed, kaagad niyang niligpit ang mga gamit na nililigpit niya at kaagad na rin sanang tatakbo.

“Are you in the relays? Are you coming?” tanong ni Leni. Umiling naman si Bongbong at nakangiting tumugon.

“No, it’s Ping and Aquilino’s thing. They’re fast runners than me, that’s for sure. Even though Ping wasn’t on the track team either, he’s fast. I’m the judge of that.” Ngiti nito, tumango lamang si Leni at tuluyan na ngang tumakbo patungo sa stadium.

Bongbong was the only one left at the room, dito na siya nagdesisyong hanapin ang nawawalang stuffed toy ni Leni, habang abala ang lahat ay naroroon siya at naghahanap. He looked at some boxes including the once used on the past events, but he couldn’t seem to find it though.

Sandali pa ay nahagip ng kaniyang mga mata ang basket na may lamang mga lubid ginamit sa tug of war noong umaga, nakasilid ito sa ilang mga box at may takip ito kaya hindi nakikita ang nakalagay sa loob. May mga nakataklob sa sako sa basket, he lifted it up and saw the ropes.

Napangiti siya at kinuha ang bagay na naroroon, it was Leni’s teddy bear stuffed toy.

“Found it.” He smiled.

~Confrontation Reconciliation.