Author's Note (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Kabanata 17

Warning: This chapter contains violence. This may be uncomfortable for some readers so please, be advised. Prioritize one's state of mind all the time. Thank you.

NASA loob sila ngayon ng library ng university. Katabi niya si Adamas Laurien. Si Noa ay nasa kaharap naman nilang upuan, nakakrus ang mga braso at hindi inaalis ang tingin sa lalaki.

Pinapagitnaan sila ng lamesa.

"Ahm . . ." Nanatiling nakayuko ang kasama niya habang pinaglalaruan ang mga daliri. Halatang kabado at nag-iisip kung anong puwedeng sabihin. "S-should we start brainstorming now? Baka may naisip ka na?"

"Ba't 'di ikaw ang mag-isip total mas magaling ka naman, mister first placer."

"Ah! My wordy Noa. You're so pretty when you're mad." Napahawak siya sa kaniyang puso dahil pakiramdam niya'y pinana ito ni kupido. Kahit hindi sa kaniya nakatingin ang babae, natutunaw pa rin siya. "Ang ganda mo bawat segundo."

Napalunok naman ang katabi niya. "W-wala naman akong sinabing mas magaling ako. Maybe I just got lucky that I won the contest."

Noa scoffed. "You won because you're lucky, huh? " Binagsak nito ang kamay sa lamesa. "Are you saying that I worked my ass off to master my craft just to be beaten by pure luck? Are you implying that you're better than me even without trying?"

"Of course not. That's not my point. You're twisting my words," kaagad na sagot ni Adamas at dali-daling umiling.

"He's right, my love. Even though I want to side with you, he got a point," patango-tango niyang sabi.

"Twisting your words? Ha." Napatawa ito. "Your point is too clear for me to get it twisted. You are clearly looking down on me."

"No, I'm not! You're getting it all wrong!" Bahagyang tumaas ang boses ni Adamas kaya nagulat siya. Sa unang pagkakataon, sinalubong nito nang buong tapang ang mga titig ni Noa. "I don't understand why you're treating me like this when we don't even know each other. What did I do to you? Are you mad at me because I won the contest?"

"Of course, it's about the contest. What else will I be mad for?" Salubong ang mga kilay ni Noa. "Just like you said, we don't know each other and the only thing that keeps us linked with each other is the damn competition."

"I wasn't the judge so why are you getting mad over me winning the contest? What's so wrong with what I did?" Kahit na bahagyang tumaas ang boses ni Adamas, nandoon pa rin ang pagpipigil nito. Malumanay pa rin at handang makinig sa sasabihin ng kabilang panig.

Nagpangalumbaba si Adamas at pinanood ang dalawang magsagutan.

"You stole my spotlight." Dinuro nito si Adamas.

Natigilan ang lalaki. "W-what? What do you mean? I didn't steal anything from you. I simply join the contest because it's open for everyone and--"

"And what? You are supposed to be doing some business thing, so why the hell are you joining a poetry contest? It was supposed to be mine, Laurien." Kaunti na lang at magtatagpi na ang mga kilay nito sa sobrang salubong. "You already have a place, so why take mine? That contest was supposed to be mine. But you messed it up! What are you even doing in the creative section?"

"Bawal ba akong sumali? E ano naman kung Business Administration student ako?!"

Natigilan siya pati si Noa nang mamuo ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ng lalaki. Nagsimula itong humikbi kaya napailing na lang siya.

"Gusto ko ring magsulat!" Tuluyang tumakas ang luha sa mga mata nito. "Porket hindi Creative Writing ang course ko, bawal ko na bang tuparin ang pangarap ko? Ikaw lang ba dapat, ha? I have something I want too! I want to write!"