lilies.

40

Kabanata 40

"Ang pogi ni Ian kapag galit. More, more," rinig kong bulong ng mga kaklase. Nagtatawanan sila matapos.

"Palit na tayo, Lily," Nakipagpalit na ng upuan sa akin si Wendy. Tumayo ako habang nakayuko, nahihiya pa rin.

"You're so cute, Lily," Komento ni Kobe nang maupo na ako sa pagitan nila ni Wendy.

I don't want to be rude but I don't like to answer either. I just laugh fakely, not even trying to make it sound genuine.

Dahil magsisimula na, natahimik na silang lahat. Doon ako nagkaroon ng confidence to check the arena. Hinanap ng mata ko si Rai at nang mahanap ay nakatuon na lang doon ang titig ko. He looked pissed. Nakatingin siya sa malayo. Tinapik ni Ian ang balikat nito pero inalis niya lang at tahimik siya naupo. Bakit? Anong nangyari?

I checked my phone. Hindi siya nagreply sa text ko. I looked on his way again. Malapit nang magsimula dahil nagsasalita na ang mga commentator. Galit pa rin siya, wala na ang aura niya nang makita niya ako kanina. Hindi kaya...

"Do you already know the rules?" tanong ng katabi kong si Kobe.

Hindi ko pa alam kaya umiling ako. Ipinaliwanag niya sa akin na may mga obstacle na kailangan lampasan. Tinuro niya ang mga pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga obstacles at pinaliwanag kung ano ang mahirap sa hindi.

I don't really look at him but I feel his gaze as he explained. Nakatingin lang ako sa mga tinuturo niya. Never to him.

Nang marami pa siyang pinapaliwanag ay nahahati ang pandinig ko. Narinig ko kasing pinag-uusapan ng mga kaklase ko si Rai.

"Rai is really my type."

"Kai and Ian have softer features. Rai has strong features like those European guys. Kai and Ian looked Asian."

"Si Rai parang wawasakin ka ganon!" They shrieked after that.

"Rowan is fine too. He's gwapo but if we're comparing him to the three? God, tabon. He can't come close."

"Jack Tuason can compete though."

"Sige pero pang-fourth lang siya para sa akin," nagtawanan silang lahat, "Rai, Ian, at Kai sa akin."

"Ako! Ian, Rai, Jack, Kai."

"Mas type ko si Jack! Jack, Rai, Ian, Kai."

"Hey, still listening?" Kobe asked. Hinawakan niya rin ang balikat ko para makuha ang atensyon ko. I flinched. He didn't look apologetic though like it is normal for him to hold someone even though you are not close.

"No, sorry. What were you saying?"

Ibinaling ko ang tingin sa harap. Nagtagpo ang mata namin ni Rai at bumagsak ito sa katabi ko. Nagtaas siya ng kilay. Matapos ay nag-iwas na ng tingin sa akin.

"Who are you rooting for?" Kobe asked.

"Wala," I lied. Why would I let him know that? We're not even close.

"None of them is your type, huh? Even you said your goodluck to Rowan? I thought he's the reason you are here. Are you dating him?"

"No." I simply answered.

"Who are you dating then?"

"No one," I answered coldly. Kailan ba ako titigilan nito?

He chuckled. "Good."

Hindi ko naman naiintindihan kung paano may mananalo rito. I just know that some obstacles looked really difficult, especially that they should be able to man the horse well or else they would fail or worse be injured.