Beneath Those Glasses

Chapter 23

Khiane Courtney's POV

"Ang galing mo kanina! Why did you look so nervous earlier? Tama nga ang answer mo, e!" Miley asked me while opening the bottle of water for me.

May break kami before mag-start ng difficulty round. Somehow, it gave me hope that Miss Aly would see me compete the quiz bee dahil hindi pa naman ito tapos... pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin siya.

Wala pa ring kahit anong bakas ni Miss Aly.

I was quietly waiting for her, looking around, hoping that I'll see her running towards me. She should be here... iyon ang sabi niya.

Pero bakit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siya?

Did she forget about the quiz bee? But that's imposible! Sabi ni Miss Lia ay na-traffic daw siya!

"Here she is, Ma'am! Ang galing niya kanina, 'no?" Ngumiti si Addy sa camera ng phone niya habang ipinapakita ako kay Miss Amaranth.

I smiled a little and waved, walang ganang makipagusap kahit kanino.

"KC, ayos ka lang?" Mukhang napansin ni Addy ang pagiging matamlay ko kaya hindi niya na napigilang itanong.

Hindi ako sumagot at nilaro na lang ang kamay ko.

"Don't ask if the answer's obvious, Adelaida." Rinig kong sabi ni Miss Amaranth galing sa kabilang linya.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang tanong niya at uminom na lang ng tubig.

Hindi dapat ako nag-iisip ng kung ano-ano! She told me she'll come, she's a woman of her words, she won't break that promise.

"The competition's getting close. You should prepare yourself, okay?" Paalala ng Propesora habang paakyat kami ng condo niya.

Kauuwi lang namin galing sa University. Hindi pa kumakagat ang dilim pero naka-uwi na agad kami. Pasalamat na lang talaga na walang traffic kanina.

"Kinakabahan tuloy ako," I pouted. I tried my best to distract myself these days! Alam ko sa sarili kong kinakabahan ako kaya naman nililibang ko ang sarili ko sa ibang bagay.

"You'll be okay," she looked at me. "I'll be there to watch and clap for you. What more if you win, right? I could put the medal on you."

"You'd do that for me?" Gulat na tanong ko.

"Why not?" She tilted her head, she looked at me without her knowing that she looks cute and exquisite at the same time. "Still. No pressure, though. Just enjoy the quiz bee, I would be there for you."

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling pero hindi ko na napigilan iyon. Miss Aly and her sweet mouth!

"Promise?"

"I oath to be there, Your Honor." Sagot niya na ikinatawa naming dalawa.

I flinched when Ash suddenly held my arm, bringing me back to reality. Ah! Sa kahit anong event talaga, siya ang laman ng utak ko!

"Earth to KC, KC to Earth!" Ani Ash na ikinagulat ko. "Grabe, 'Te. Balisang-balisa?"

Tumingin ako kay Ash at ngumiti ng pilit. "Wala pa rin ba si Miss Aly? The difficulty round would start any time soon."

Tumingin ito sa orasan ng phone niya. Tinanong pa niya ang tanong ko kay Miss Lia habang hawak pa rin ang kamay ko.

"Dadating din 'yon," with that, I smiled. "Hala, ayan na. Start na!"

Sa sinabi niyang iyon ay nakuha ang atensyon nina Rae na nagkekwentuhan pala sa likod ko. Miley was smiling while looking around, I looked around too and suddenly, I felt overwhelmed.