The Last Rule

Chapter 7 - Sungit

"Everyone ready?" Papa asked. It's so early in the morning pero andito kaming lahat sa bahay at naka-gayak. When I said kami, i mean my family, the players, my friends and other people from our barangay na sumusuporta sa team nila Papa.

Weeks have passed at isang buwan nalang ang bakasyon ko and today ang opening ng League sa bayan kaya pupunta kami para sumuporta sa players. Kahit wala pang game at susuportahan namin ang Escort at Muse dahil may mini pageant din.

Si Kuya Wessem ang naging Escort dahil walang nagvolunteer na player ang naisipan nila ay shooting competition. Ang pinakamababang score ay ang sasali sa pageant and it was Wes and for the muse. Maraming diskusyon ang nangyari because they want it to be me, kahit noon pa man and they never won against me so this time it was my friend Teby.

"Kumpleto na ba? Queenie check their attendance" I took my phone, yes it's my job also. May mga names na sila sa notes ko. Since it's the first day for this season I removed Kuya Kriz' name. I checked their names and presence one by one and it's all good.

Sumakay kaming lahat sa sasakyan. Dalawang L300 ang gamit namin dahil marami kami. Hiwalay ang sasakyan ng players at mga supporters except sa amin ni Mama na katabi ni Papa sa harap while Papa is driving and sinamahan ko na din si Teby dito sa sasakyan ng mga players dahil dito siya pinasakay. I need to be always beside her dahil ako ang nag-make-up sa kanya so I have to retouch her everytime.

Usually ay maingay ang sasakyan but now it's silent. Halata ang kaba nila Teby at ng mga players. Maybe because sa nangyari last league and dahil na rin sa nabawasan sila ng magaling na player.

"Parang kulang" Kuya Bry said and we felt it too. Kuya Kriz' absence is really affecting us all. Mararamdaman mo talagang may kulang dahil hindi ganito karaniwan.

"Kamiss si Kuya Kriz, hindi ba siya manonood?"

"Hindi si Kriz eh, parang may kulang talaga" si Kuya Bry parin

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

At lahat kami ay nagulat sa nang biglang i-preno ni Papa ang sasakyan. Lahat kami ay naitulak paharap.

"Pa, what happened?" It was Kuya Calli and we all looked at the door na biglang bumukas.

"Sorry coach!" Si Dos! Nagmadali siyang umupo at isinara ang pinto ng L300 at nagpatuloy si Papa sa pagda-drive.

"I thought kumpleto na kanina?" dad asked while driving and I know that the question is directed to me because I'm the who's checking the attendance. I completely forgot about him!

"I'm sorry Pa, old list ko kasi 'yung ginamit ko and hindi ko pa siya nadagdag" i explained and everyone went silent again.

I looked at him in guilt and he smiled at me like it was nothing. Did he even know about the rule? Kasali sa rule 'yon, for sure may punishment siya for being late. Is it his fault? Of course not, it's my fault! Kakausapin ko nalang si Papa mamaya.

The parade has started at sumama kami. Hindi na dapat ako sasama but I need to be with Teby and also pipicturan ko din ang mga players. Hindi naman kalayuan ang lalakarin, it was just around the oval pero napakaraming tao! Opening kasi ng 1 month celebration ng festival ng bayan namin.

The whole parade, all I did is to check on Teby and retouch her make-up at kapag maayos naman siya ay pupwesto ako sa harap for documentation, para may ma-post sila mamaya sa page nila.

After the parade ay long speeches hanggang sa pageant na. It's just a short walk, one simple question and answer then talent portion.

The pageant is what interests the crowd because of the loud cheers at lahat ng nagkalat sa mga booths kanina ay naka-tuon na sa stage. I was at the backstage the whole time of pageant waiting for Teby to go in for her retouch. I don't know what's going on the stage dahil hindi na ako muling sumilip. Actually, nang last part na ay umalis na ako at pumunta nalang sa sasakyan dahil patapos naman na ang event which means tapos narin ang role ko.