Sincerely Yours, Eurentice

Chapter 11

Competition

Maaga akong dumating sa school dahil may journalism competition akong dadaluhan. It's still six in the morning at seven ang usapan na magtipon-tipon dito sa quadrangle kung saan naghihintay na ang school bus na sasakyan namin papunta sa pagdarausan ng paligsahan. Ako palang ang nandito. Maaga pa naman kasi talaga for the call time pero sinadya kong agahan ang pagpunta para kung may aberya man ay magagawan ko pa ng paraan.

I sat on one of the benches facing the school bus. I am wearing our school uniform which is a white blouse with a navy blue necktie. Our pleated skirt is also navy blue which is on a regular length. I am wearing a black chunky ankle boots. Kinuha ko ang MP3 at earphones then, I listened to my favorite songs.

May mangilan-ngilan na ring estudyante ang nagdatingan pero mabibilang mo lang since seven-thirty pa naman nagsisimula ang klase ng lahat.

I glanced at our classroom and it was still close.

"Eurentice!"

I momentarily glanced at Lucas who's walking towards my direction. He's wearing basketball attire while holding a duffel bag.

"Hey, good morning." bati ko sa kanya ng tuluyan ng makalapit sa aking kinaroroonan. Pasimple kong tinanggal ang nakalagay na earphone sa aking kaliwang tainga.

"Good morning!" nakangiti niyang bati sa akin. I blinked.

"Ang aga mo naman ngayon." komento ko sa kanya.

"I want to see you off." sabi niya habang nakangiti. "May practice din kami ngayong seven." tumango lang ako bilang tugon sa kanya. "Here." sabay abot niya ng paper bag. I creased my forehead in confusion. "Open it." nakangisi niyang sabi sabay upo sa tabi ko.

"Chocolates!" I exclaimed. Different types of chocolates! "Ang dami naman nito Gabriel."

"Konti lang yan. Mas marami ang nasa bahay." Natatawa niyang sabi. "Wala namang masyadong mahilig sa chocolates sa amin kaya dinalhan kita."

"Wow. Thank you." Napapantastikuhan kong sabi. One week supply ko na yata ang ibinigay niya!

"You're always welcome." nakangiti niyang sabi. Nilagay ko sa aking dalang bag ang bigay niya.

I decided to shared with him the songs I listened to. I urged him to sit near me which he gladly obliged. Tahimik lang kaming nakikinig sa aking MP3 habang sinasamyo ang malamig na hangin. I smiled quietly. I feel at ease and in peace.

We stayed like that until some of my journalism team arrived and his coach called him for a practice. We bid goodbye to each other and he said good luck to me.

"Nandito na ba ang lahat?" tanong ng isa sa aming mentor. Nagkatinginan naman kaming lahat kung sino pa ang kulang. I seated on the vacant seat near the window. Walang nagtangkang umupo sa tabi ko which I don't mind.

"Ma'am si Charles nalang po ang kulang!" sagot ng isa sa kasamahan namin. Uh, yeah. Wala pa nga ang isang iyon. He's a cartoonist. He tried the screening and fortunately passed.

"Nandito na po!" humihingal na sabi niya pagkapasok mismo sa pintuan ng bus.

"Good. Everyone, settle down."

Mabilis naman na naghanap ng bakanteng upuan si Charles. He glanced at me and he's now walking towards my direction. I only raised my eyebrow.

"Hi! Dito ka oh!" anyaya ni Chesca. She's a photojournalist in the English category.

"Excuse yourself." nakairap naman na sabi ni Michaela kay Chesca sabay hawak sa braso ni Charles. She dragged him towards the vacant seat beside her. Hindi naman pumayag si Chesca , tumayo ito at isiniksik ang sarili sa dalawa. Napapagitnaan ng dalawa si Charles ngayon. What's with these girls? I mentally rolled my eyes at them.