The Last Rule

Chapter 7 - Sungit

"Everyone ready?" Papa asked. It was still so early in the morning pero andito na kaming lahat sa bahay, naka-gayak at parang may field trip. 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 had passed at isang buwan na lang ang bakasyon ko. Today was the opening of the League sa bayan, kaya pupunta kami to support the players. Kahit wala pang game, susuportahan namin ang Escort at Muse dahil may mini pageant din.

Si Kuya Wessem ang naging Escort. Since walang gustong mag-volunteer, they decided na mag-shooting competition. Ang may pinakamababang score ang sasali sa pageant and unlucky si Wes. For the Muse, matagal nang issue. They wanted it to be me since forever pero never nila akong napipilit. This time, my friend Teby was chosen and wala na silang nagawa.

"Kumpleto na ba? Queenie, check their attendance," Papa reminded me.

I opened my phone. Yes, it was my job. May listahan na ako sa notes. Since first day for this season, tinanggal ko na si Kuya Kriz. I checked their names one by one, chininek kung present, at lahat naman kumpleto.

Dalawang L300 ang sasakyan namin dahil sobrang dami namin. Hiwalay ang players sa supporters. Si Mama ang katabi ni Papa sa front seat, while Papa was driving. Pero dahil si Teby ang Muse, sinamahan ko siya sa sasakyan ng mga players para ma-retouch ko agad ang make-up niya anytime.

Usually, maingay ang sasakyan ng mga players. May kantahan, may bardagulan, may tuksuhan. But today? Silent. Halata ang kaba nila Teby at ng mga players. Maybe dahil sa nangyari last league, at lalo na ngayong kulang sila ng isang magaling na player.

"Parang kulang," Kuya Bry suddenly said.

We all felt it too. Kuya Kriz' absence was heavy. Ramdam mo talaga. Hindi ganito karaniwan.

"Kamiss si Kuya Kriz," one of them whispered. "Hindi ba siya manonood?"

"Hindi si Kriz eh. Parang may kulang talaga," si Kuya Bry pa rin.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Bigla na lang preno si Papa, causing us all to jerk forward.

"Pa, what happened?" Kuya Calli asked, concerned.

The door opened and in came a latecomer.

"Sorry coach!"

It was Dos. Nagmamadali siyang umupo at isinara ang pinto ng L300. Papa continued driving pero halata ang inis.

"I thought kumpleto na kanina?" Papa asked. I froze because the question was obviously directed to me. I was the one in charge of attendance.

"I'm sorry Pa, old list kasi yung ginamit ko. Hindi ko pa siya nadagdag," I explained, feeling guilty.

Everyone went silent again. I glanced at Dos, ready to apologize, but he just smiled at me as if nothing happened. How can he smile like that? Did he even realize may punishment siya later for being late? Rules are rules. Pero it was my fault, not his. Kakausapin ko na lang si Papa mamaya.

When we arrived, the parade had already started. Hindi ko sana balak sumama but I needed to be with Teby. Pipicturan ko din ang players. The walk wasn't that long, just around the oval, pero grabe ang daming tao! Opening kasi ng one-month celebration ng festival ng bayan.

The whole parade, I was busy checking on Teby. Retouch dito, retouch doon. Kapag okay naman siya, I positioned myself in front to take pictures for documentation. Pang-post din nila sa page mamaya.

After the parade, long speeches followed. Then finally, the pageant.

The crowd went wild. Cheer dito, sigaw doon. Kahit yung mga nasa booths kanina ay naglipatan na sa harap ng stage. The loudest cheers were for the Muse candidates.