Courting Him (Guillermo Series #1)

Chapter 24

Words

"Carly, kinakabahan ako baka magkamali ako mamaya."

Nilingon ko 'yung ibang teammates ko at pati sila hindi mapakali. I'm the same. It's been so long since I last entered competitions. 'Yung confidence ko dati, wala na ngayon.

We're already inside the colosseum. Compared to the other games, SDC doesn't have too many viewers. But the fact that there are other schools and this is aired, it's making all of us nervous.

"Guys, 3 more schools before us. Kung mag-CR, gawin niyo na ngayon," Coach told us.

"Masusuka yata ako sa sobrang nerbyos," Ate Irene, one of the juniors, said.

"Ayos lang kabahan basta may presence of mind. Maganda naman 'yung choreo and remix natin. Ilang linggo rin tayong binugbog ni Coach," sabi ko sa team.

"Ang importante, synchronization. Gumaganda 'yung performance pag sabay sabay. Pati facial expression. Also protip, sa judges kayo tumingin. Madalas they keep a poker face so you won't get distracted. Pag sa audience, maraming distractions kaya tingin lang sa harap." dagdag ko.

"True. Pag nairaos natin 'to ng maayos, mag-outing tayo," sabay sabi ni Coach. "Kaya ayusin niyo, ha. At kalma lang."

The team hooted. Humupa yata ng konti ang kaba nila.

I wonder how's the other athletes are doing. Nagsimula ang laro ng seniors basketball kaninang 12 PM. Since bawal ang electronics sa amin, wala akong mapagtanungan kung kamusta na sina Levi. Mamaya na lang siguro ako makikibalita pag tapos na kami.

As we wait for our turns, si Kai at Lay 'yung nagju-joke. They're the only seniors in our team kaya siguro pakiramdam nila ay responsable sila sa pagpapakalma ng team. They are doing a good job though since I see a lot of my teammates' faces lit up.

Sa sobrang kulit nung dalawa, hindi namin napansin na Lindell na ang nasa gitna. After them, kami na.

I try to watch their dance company. If I remember it correctly, last year they almost won first place. Kaso they had a violation kaya nabawasan ang puntos. Ang ending, De Valle ang nanalo.

May lumapit na naka-headphones kay Coach. I think it's one of the staff. Nang matapos silang mag-usap, tinawag na kami ni Coach. Kailangan na daw namin pumwesto.

"Carly, naiihi ako!" sabay kurot ni Lia sa akin.

"Jusko, Lia. Kailangan mong pigilan 'yan kahit 3 minutes lang!" I whisper-shouted. Baka mahimatay si Coach pagka bigla kaming magpaalam na magc-CR.

From the back, we can hear the cheers of the audience. Meaning, tapos na ang Lindell. So it's our turn now.

"Guys, presence of mind! Smile! Kung magkamali kayo, 'wag niyo na isipin. Focus sa choreo, okay?"

"... let's give it up for Hillpointe Dance Company Street!"

My ears started ringing as soon as we walk towards the stage. I tried not to make any eye contact with the audience and only focused on our judges.

Upon reaching the middle, we went to our positions and waited for the song to start.

Let's get this over with.

I was concentrating hard on not making any mistakes and to remind myself to keep my facial expression good. My goodness, why is it so hard to smile?!

I can hear some people hooted and I recognized Tate's voice. Hindi talaga kailangan ni Tate ng megaphone sa sobrang lakas ng boses niya.

Ramdam ko na ang tagaktak ng pawis sa mukha ko at hinihingal na rin ako. Just a few more dips and grinds and we'll finish the entire choreo.

I started moving to the front for the final steps and I almost - ALMOST - made a mistake when I saw Hera on the bleachers with Zach - watching me, with a smirk on their faces.