Symphonic Waves (Ciudad de Escalante #6)

Phase 24

"What activities did you sign up for? Tagal mo sa loob, ah?" sabi ni Elisha na naghihintay sa akin sa labas ng headquarters ng Biology Society.

"I think six. Seven?" Hindi ko siguradong sagot. Hindi ko nabilang kanina kung ilan ba ang talagang sinalihan ko.

As long as it is within my capabilities, and doesn't overlap my other schedule, I signed up for it. Anniversary ng college namin kaya may mga events at activities na pwedeng salihan sa buong linggo.

"Seven? Ang dami naman. Gano'n ba talaga kalaki ang ang hahabulin mong grades?"

I smiled.

"Para lang sure, Shay. Paano kung hindi ako manalo? Wala ring incentives. Kaya mas madaming sinalihan, mas madaming chance."

I'm confident I'll do well in Bio-Olympics, Bio-Hackathon, and Bio-Art Exhibition. Pero hindi ko sigurado kung maipapanalo ko ba kaya sumali rin ako sa iba. Sayang din ang certificate para sa participation.

"Kahit na. You're pressuring yourself too much. Buong linggo kang sasabak sa competitions? Sana maayos ka pa after," natatawa niyang sabi at naweweirduhan pa rin akong tiningnan.

I know it's ridiculous. I joined almost everything, pero ano bang magagawa ko? Kailangan sumali. I need to do my very best.

"Don't worry, I can manage," sabi ko at sinabayan na ang kanyang lakad. We're heading now to our office. As usual, may tatapusin ulit na paperworks.

"Talaga lang, ha? Napapadalas na nga iyang pagsakit ng ulo mo dahil sa dami ng mga gawain. Saka ang bilis mo rin mapagod lately, sure ka ba na sasali sa last day?"

"Of course. Doon may pinakamalaking incentives na makukuha," walang-alinlangan kong sabi dahil ang Bio-Quest ang pinaka-inaabangan ng lahat.

It will also be broadcast live on national TV. Mas madami rin ang mga sasali. It is the only activity that will last for 24 hours, and the arena will held outside the university. It is simply a scavenger hunt, but there are a lot of twists and it is biology integrated.

Players chase each other down while trying to search for clues, answer riddles, and solve equations that are scattered all over the arena. Gathering all the hints and keeping your game tag secure is the most important. At the beginning of the game, everyone will be given the name of their first target. They can only eliminate them by removing their game tag.

Elisha is worried because it doesn't only involve intelligence, it also requires physical strength— and that's where I lacked the most. I'm not an athletic type of person. But still! I'll try. I can survive, I'm sure. I can win.

"'Yung mga freebies? Bookmarks? Nacheck na ba lahat?" paninigurado ko sa assistant kong si Diane na kausap ko sa call.

Pagkatapos asikasuhin ang mga org works kanina, mga kailangan naman na tapusin sa libro ko ang pinagkakaabalahan ko. I'm now at home, just double checking all the materials, and preparing my new release book for shipping.

"Yes po, Miss Ceres. Ready to ship na po lahat tomorrow," aniya kaya ngumiti ako.

"Good. Thank you, Diane. Patapos na rin ako sa mga books na kailangan i-sign. Ilang copies na lang ito—"

"Oh! Geez!" I panicked when a red liquid dropped on the pages of the book I was signing. Binitawan ko agad ang sharpie at napahawak sa aking ilong. Mas nataranta ako nang mapagtanto na galing nga roon ang dugo na tumulo.

"Miss Ceres? Miss? What happened?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Diane sa kabilang linya. My heart pounded when I don't know what to say. My nose is bleeding right now! Am I really overworking myself? Hindi ko pa naman ramdam ang pagod, ah? Why my body is reacting like this?