Psalm's Law

XII

Madali akong nakarating sa school dahil halos tumakbo na rin ako para makaabot. Pagdating ay nag-aabang na sina Raeli at Dawn sa may gate pa lang. Hindi na 'ko nakapagsalita ng hinatak nila ako, at sabay-sabay kaming tumakbo papunta sa pwesto ng section namin.

"Dun 'ka na!" Tinulak niya 'ko sa direksyon ng backstage. Dahil malapit lang talaga kami sa stage ay hindi halatang medyo nagkakagulo kami. Bago ako pumasok ay tiningala 'ko ang stage at nakita si Alden na may suot suot na ilang medal at isang trophy. Sinusundan niya 'ko ng tingin habang nakangiti, kaya nginitian 'ko rin siya kahit nanlilimahid na ata ako sa pawis.

Pumasok ako sa parang makeshift na tent na nilagay sa likod ng tent, nakita 'ko agad ang banner ng academic awardees sa kanan kaya dire-diretso na ang lakad 'ko roon. Sobrang daming estudyante at guro ang nasa loob, peor buti na lang tatlong tent ito na magkakadikit. Wala na 'kong panahon ilibot ang tingin dahil bago pa man ako makaabot ay nanlaki na ang mata ng isang teacher na nagsusupervise ng essay competition noong nakaraang araw.

"Miss Vasquez!" Bulyaw niya na nagpaigtad sa ibang estudyante roon maliban sa 'kin. Nakita 'ko pa ang ilang kaklase 'kong parte ng basketball team na napatingin sa direksyon 'ko pati ang iba. Namula ang mukha 'ko sa kahihiyan kaya dinalian 'ko na sa paglalakad.

The petite instructor who had her hair braided from the top of her head till the back, immediately looked intimidating with her red lipstick and the look she's giving me. "Bakit ngayon ka lang?! English department dapat mauuna! Did you not read the announcement yesterday?"

Umiling ako, "Sorry po ma'am." She just sighed and put me behind two other students. One's a girl from my year, and the other's a boy from Grade 9. I smiled awkwardly at them because they kept looking at us since earlier.

"Patapos na ang math department at kayo ang unang-una sa department natin." Kinawayan niya kaming tatlo, "Again, congratulations to all of you. You've both provided exceptional pieces all throughout the preliminaries and finals."

We finally gave her a genuine smile, before saying our thank yous. Nagsimula na ang introduction ng award for the essay competition. Pumasok na sa kabilang parte ng tent ang mga nanalo sa math department kanina. Nakita 'ko agad si Alden na agad luminga-linga sa paligid, bago tumigil nang makita akong nakatingin sa kaniya. He smiled and waved.

I waved back and pointed to his medals and trophy, then mouthed "Naks, libre ah?"

He laughed and nodded, "Congratulations." he mouthed back, which I replied with a smile before saying goodbye because the girl in front of our line walked towards the entrance of the stage, then a minute after the guy infront of me was called next.

I don't know if it was from the adrenaline earlier, but now that I'm waiting for my name to be called, the beating of my heart seems to resonate loudly in my ears. I feel restless and my hands are sweating too!

It's always like this whenever I'm about to be presented in the eye of the public, kaya ayoko ng impromptu speech eh,o kahit anong nagrerequire ng atensyon sa maraming tao, tapos matagal pa. I think I'm sometimes unconsciously thankful that I won the consolation place rather than acing it. Kasi mas maraming titingin at papalapak sa nanalo, kaysa sa runner up. I can handle being the backdrop rather than the main role in it.

And in cases like this, I wish Silas we're here. I bet he'd immediately joke how dare I get so nervous when I'm just a runner up. Tapos sasapakin 'ko siya dahil nakakabwisit siya. Pero pag nasa stage na 'ko, siya pa ang malakas ang palapak at hiyaw. Minsan sisigaw pa siyang, "Anak 'ko 'yan!"

Naiiling na lang ako sa naalala. Ano na, champion na 'ko tsaka ka naman wala! I sighed, I missed the brute. But this is no time to mope. I have to keep moving forward, and face things head on with or without him.