For Years, I Love You

Chapter 05

Chapter 05

Quiz Bee

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I didn't get a chance to see Jericho again. He and Kian didn't attend the second and last day of the Municipal Meet. Mukhang first day lang ang pinanood.

"Tali, ikaw daw ang lalaban sa General Mathematics Quiz Bee?" Tanong sa 'kin ni Jaya habang bitbit ang isang libro— Earth Science.

"Oo, ikaw? Earth Science ka?" Tanong ko rito na sinagot naman niya ng isang tango.

Umupo sa tabi ko si Jaya bago ito ngumiti ng malawak. Bahagyang napataas ang kilay ko dahil sa inaasta niya pero hindi n'ya 'yon pinansin at mas ngumiti pa sa 'kin.

"Balita ko, ikaw daw ang lalaban sa DSPC for News Writing - English Category, ah?" Panimula ni Jaya na naging dahilan upang itikom ko ang bibig ko, alam na kung saan patungo ang usapan na 'to. "Malapit na ang DSPC, two weeks from now. Excited ka na?"

"Medyo," sagot ko. "Kinakabahan ako. May kalaban kaming public schools— for sure, mga halimaw ang mga 'yon,"

"Ah," tumango-tango siya. "Si Kian din news writer, e. Filipino nga lang siya. Baka makita mo 'yon. BFF 'yon ni Jericho,"

"Nasabi nga rin sa 'kin ni Gino," sabi ko. "Kinakabahan ka ba para sa quiz bee, Jaya? Sa isang araw na 'yon,"

"Hindi naman, sakto lang," pagkibit-balikat nito. "Pero kasi, may kalaban tayong public schools, so ang goal ko na lang ay mag-enjoy kaysa manalo. Batak ang mga 'yon,"

I chuckled. "Sinabi mo pa,"

The differences between private schools and public schools are the students. The students in private schools are privileged which, somehow, makes them too scared to try new things. While the students at the public schools are explorers— they tend to love finding and learning new things, making them experts in competitions.

Sa lahat ng nakakalaban nila, iisa lang ang nasasabi nila— ayaw na ulit nilang labanan ang mga taga-public schools. Ang dahilan? Dinurog sila ng husto.

That's exactly what I heard from Gino when he told me he went against Jericho during DSPC back in Elementary. He said he doesn't want to be against Jericho ever again. Jericho crushed him— Gino said.

But one thing is different— others said public school students crushed them with their overflowing knowledge, but Gino said only one word about Jericho that explained his defeat— monster. Jericho is a monster in Journalism that you'll never want to be your opponent.

It explained why Gino changed his category. Instead of being a Sports Writer of English Category, he's now a Sports Writer of Filipino Category. Sa gano'n, hindi na niya muling makakalaban pa si Jericho.

He's that desperate to not meet Jericho in a competition where they're opponents again.

Knowing all that, I only have one goal in the upcoming Quiz Bee Competition amongst public and private schools— to enjoy and devour the competition, including the players.

I've been a student at a public school, too. I won several competitions as a student in public school. Even now as a student at a private school, I won competitions— I even won CPAPS Campus Journalism when I joined as a newbie. As someone who won several competitions— whether it is about academics or extracurriculars— I am confident.

Basta sa larangan ng Mathematics, magyayabang ako. 'Wag lang si Jericho ang makalaban ko.

"That's Kian," Jaya whispered with her widened eyes. "He freaking joined the Quiz Bee?! Hindi naman 'yan nasali sa mga competition, maliban na lang kung robotics or journalism! Anong ginagawa n'yan dito?!"