SECTION 4 : The Hidden Section

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 22.

THE SMELL OF burned marshmallow, bonfire, cold breeze, the smoke from the grilled foods and slowfy music is one of the best way to escape from stressful life.

The cold breeze of baguio is really soothing, I can hear the ruffling of the leaves, the sound of crickets and the big moon in the night sky looking like a painting became more beautiful minute by minute.

Drenei is slowly strumming his guitar, while the others are busy feeling the calm atmosphere.

“Ah~ this is the life.” maginhawang sabi ni ares bago sinubo ang kinuhang marshmallow na hawak ni Steve na ngayon ay masama ang tingin sa kanya.

Fourth and Matthew are busy grilling, while theus and dani are busy looking at the telescope sighting the big moon. Hindi ko alam kung kailan naging close ang dalawang yan.

Kami lang na lima ang naka-upo sa harap ng bonfire at nagmumuni-muni.

“Marunong ka ba talaga tumugtug? E, puro strum ka lang ng guitara e” sambit ni christine kay drenei.

“Kumukuha ako ng bwelo. Makinig ka nalang, dami pang reklamo. Nakikinig na nga lang ng libre” tugon nito na inarapan lang ng babae.

Maya't - maya pa ay may lumapag na grilled foods sa tabi ko, napatingin ako don sa tao at nakitang si fourth iyon.

“Eat. Baka gutom kana” aniya.

I smiled at him. “Salamat”

“Oi! Bakit si miss, president lang ang binibigyan mo fourth? Pano kami?!” sigaw ni steve.

“Oo nga, gutom na rin kami. Halatang may favoritism dito ah!” segunda ni drenei.

Hindi sila pinansin ni fourth at bumalik sa ginagawa. Napasimangot naman ang dalawa sa inasta ni fourth.

“Mukhang meron ngayon si kwatro. Attitude e” bulong ni drenei kay steve.

After a minute lahat kami ay naka-upo na sa harap ng bonfire at tinitignan lang ang apoy na unting-unting tinutupok ang kahoy. Maya-maya pa'y nagsimula na magtugtug si drenei ng guitara nya at si Christine ang kumakanta. I really like her voice, it sounds like an angel.

I hug myself more feeling cozy inside my jacket. Ramdam ko ang titig ng isa sa harapan ko. I tried my best not to look at him. Baka pag tumingin ako sakanya tuluyan nakong malunod sa mga mata nya!

I don't know what's between us but I'm a liar if I say I don't like what's happening.

This feeling is not new to me. I felt this once. I know what this is. I can't say if this is deeper then the last one. I can't say. I don't know.

I heard dani giggle kaya napatingin ako sakanya, hindi sadyang nahagip ko sya ng tingin. He's still looking at me. I saw how the reflection of the fire dance in his eyes, his eyes are sparkling just like before but at this very moment, I saw something different. Tinapik sya ni Steve na nasa kanan nya kaya napa-iwas kami ng tingin sa isa't - isa.

Ares offered me a beer tinanggihan ko iyon. Hindi ako umiinom. Nagkibit balikat lang ito. He offered me some grilled hotdog instead. Tinanggap ko iyon. Mukhang masarap e.

A lot happened that night. Sa sobrang daming nangyari ay gusto ko ng ibaon sa lupa ang sarili dahil nahuhuli ako ni fourth kapag aksidente akong napapatingin sakanya! When he cought me, a teasing  smile will made its way to his lips. Feeling ko talaga lalagnatin ako!

We went home early then what we planned. Tumawag kasi ang parents ni christine at sinabing umuwi ang kuya nya kaya pinapauwi rin sya ng maaga.

Sya ang una naming hinatid at nagpasalamat ito dahil nag-enjoy daw sya at sana maulit ulit. The boys promised her that it won't be the last kaya masaya ito. After Christine, dani was next and then me.

“Thank you. I had a great time hanging out with all of you. Deretso uwi at magpahinga, wag nang gumala kung saan, ha” I said to them.

“Yes ma'am!” sabay nilang sabi.

Mahina akong napatawa. I waved at them until they're out of my sight. Marahan akong napabuga ng hangin at pumasok na ng bahay.

I slept all day dahil hindi ako masyadong nakapagpahinga kagabe. Alas dos na ata kami natulog dahil nag inoman pa sila at nagkulitan. Saka ayaw matulog ni Christine dahil natatakot daw sya. Nanood kasi sila ng horror at sobrang ingay nila. Nagsisigawan pati ang Ibang boys nagsisigaw rin.

Napailing ako at hindi mawala ang ngiti sa labi habang inaalala ang mga nangyari.

After that day, palagi ng sumasama sakin sila dani at christine sa pag punta sa classroom ng mga unggoy.

I remembered how Christine targeted drenei for being lazy dahil pagdating namin si drenei lang ang walang ginagawa habang ang iba ay naglilinis.

“Excuse me, miss. Kanina pa 'ko naglilinis, nagpahinga lang ako saglit!” naiinis na sabi nito.

“Palusot. Ang sabihin mo tamad kalang talaga. Tsk!”

“Anong tamad?! FYI, ako ang naglilinis ng bahay namin!”

At buong araw na naman nga sila nag asaran na dalawa.

I realized that time went so fast when my other SSG officers told me about the upcoming event of the school. Hindi ito sinabi sakin ni principal, siguro dahil alam nyang busy ako sa binigay nya sakin na assignment.

Remembering that, I don't think they're just my assignment anymore. . .

Pinatawag ko ang lahat ng SSG officers for us to discuss the upcoming event. It's a singing contest. Last dancing contest, ngayon naman ay singing. Mukhang may plano ata magrecruit si principal ng idol ah.

Well. . . That's the true purpose of all of this.

“I think it's best to held this event outside the gymnasium.” suggest ng secretery namin.

“Yes! I agree, so the students can move freely. Who knows who will be attending the event.”

“The prince academy will be competing too. And the viden university will be competing also.”

Napatango naman ako. Maganda nga iyon, maraming aattend ng event na ito. It's best to held this outside. Maybe at the manor of the school or at the VH square.

“Viden?” sabat ni adral. The vice president if  you forgot.

“Oo, sila nga. Sasali daw sila sa competition”

“How bold of them. After the scandal they did may mukha pa silang mag participate sa ganitong kalaking event?” anito.

Natahimik ang lahat habang ako ay nakatingin lang sa lalaking nasa kanan ko. We all know what happened between viden and vanguard last year. Syempre estudyante kami rito. I cleared my throat for I don't want to talk about it anymore.

“Past is past they say mr.adral. Kaya pwede bang wag mo ng ibring up ang nangyari last year? What happened already happens. Hayaan mo silang mag participate sa event na ito dahil para naman ito sa lahat” sabi ko.

He scoffed before looking at me. Straight to my eyes, hindi ko inurungan. Eyes to eye pala gusto nito e.

“What's gotten into you, eya? Hindi ka naman ganito noon. Why sudden change of heart?” he mocked.

I smirked at him “As I said my dear vice president. Past. Is. Past” diin na sabi ko.