AL's POV
" 'No na, pre. Ano sasalihan mo this year? Last school year nasa swim team ka. Last-last school year nasa archery team ka. Anong ipagmamalaki mo this year?" bungad na tanong sakin ni Ethan, one of my best friends.
"What do you mean ipagmamalaki? Hindi ko na kailangang magmalaki pa 'no! Expected mo na dapat na talagang talented ako when it comes to sports," nakataas ang kilay na sabi ko. "Gusto ko nang i-try talaga na sumali sa LRC Team. Kaso makakapasok kaya 'ko?"
"Luh, talented daw tapos 'di sigurado kung makakapasok sya." pabulong kunwari na ani Ethan.
Ang aga-aga nang aasar 'tong unggoy na 'to. "Manahimik ka nga! Ikaw ba, kaya mo bang makapasok don? Ha? 1km distance pa nga lang halos habulin ka na ni satanas sa hingal mo!" banat ko pabalik. Nginiwian nya lang ako.
Nandito kami ngayon sa parking lot ng LRIS. First day of school, which means first and last day ng mga gustong pumasok o sumali sa mga clubs and teams ng mga estudyante. One week prior to first day of school usually ay finalize na kung sino-sino ang mga nasa kung anong team at club. Pero dahil sa ibang mga transferees, merong last call every first day of school. Advantage na din sa mga kagaya kong student na dito pero hindi pa din alam kung saan sasali.
"Wait, where's Ren? We've been waiting here for 10 minutes. He's usually early." takang tanong ni Ethan.
"Right. This is a first." sang-ayon ko. Sakto naman ay biglang dumating si Ren na naghahabol ng hininga.
"Sorry...I'm late."
"Halata naman, pre...Ano't hingal na hingal ka? 'Wag kang mag-alala, masyado ka naming mahal para magtampo sayo dahil late ka." pang-aasar ni Ethan kay Ren.
Ren hates being late. And when I say he hates it, he really does. One time na nag-agree kaming magkita-kita sa park at one minute akong late, inis na inis sya sakin, kesyo—
"Being on time also means respecting people and the meeting time you agreed with," panggagaya ko sa sinabi nya sa akin non.
Tapos ngayon ikaw 'tong late. Daming alam.
"I know. Thank you for still waiting." ani Ren.
"Sige na, sige na. I have to sign up for LRC Team. Baka maunahan ako ng ibang students." ani ko at nagsimula nang maglakad.
"LRC Team? You're joining the cycling team? It's a new sport that they included, right? Are you sure about this? A lot of students might join, but I'm sure all they know is how to ride a bike. With that, paniguradong matinding training ang gagawin ng team nyo kung magkataon." kahaba-habang sabi ni Ren. Even my mom didn't asked me this much.
"Pre, kalma. I don't think they'll accept people who knows nothing about cycling. Tyaka ako pa ba? Ako? Arc Luis Del Pino 'tong kaharap mo pre! I've been training the whole summer and to be exact, I've been cycling for 2 years! I don't wanna show up looking stupid and weak when I sign up you know? Trust me." dire-diretsong sabi ko nang makumbinsi ko sya. Effective naman at wala na syang sinabi pa at napabuntong hininga nalang.
Ren is always like that. He cares for both me and Ethan. Akala mong nanay kung magtanong tuwing may bago kaming gagawin. It's like he's scared to try new things kaya laging inaalala nya yung mga bagay na hindi pa nangyayari. I understand him. In fact, ang pagiging maaalahanin nya ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit feeling ko ay maswerte akong maging kaibigan sya. He's the one who makes sure that everything is safe before me and Ethan goes in the new things.
