MY HOPE
“GATHER UP EVERYONE.” malakas na sambit ni Adrian pagkarating niya rito sa studio. Magkasunod lang kami ni Adrian na dumating dito.
“Anong tsismis mo, Adi?” pangunguna nitong si Jonas. Hyping up his own mood.
“Wala.” Adrian replied. Heʼs such a kill joy.
“Anyways. Mag-register na tayo. Marami na akong naisip na steps for our performance, and the outfits arw already pre-planned kaya weʼre good to go.” Adrian announced.
Naging kampante na kaming lahat dahil malaki ang tiwala namin kay Adrian.
“Oh edi tara na, mag-register na tayo ngayon.” saad ni Primo.
Lumabas na kaming sabay-sabay sa studio at pumunta sa main hall.
Lahat ng atensyon ng mga studyante rito ay napunta sa amin. Feeling like a superstar na naman ang tatlong payaso ng Aces. They were probably talking about us joining the competition.
Lumapit si Adrian sa harapan, wala namang nakapila e kaya sinulit na namin ang pagkakataon. Nanatili lang kami sa likod. Adrian does all the talking and everything else.
“Magpapalista kayo as a group?” tanong ng Miss.
Kumunot ang noo ni Adrian. “Yes.” nag-aalangan niyang sagot.
“Sorry to say that we only allow competitors to be by partner.”
By pair? Hindi naman yata ganiyan ang competition noʼng February last year. Bakit biglang naging ganiyan?
“Okay, thank you miss.” tugon ni Adrian saka humarap sa amin. Sinenyasan niya kami para bumalik na ulit sa studio para mag-usap-usap.
Nang makabalik kami, unang bumungad ay ang malakas na boses ni Jonas. “Paano na tayo magpe-perform niyan?” tanong niya.
“Oo nga.” Seven followed up. “Kung kailan naman handa na ang lahat.”
Ang lakas ng pagkalumo naming lahat. Hindi namin inaasahang may mga pagbabago na pala. Possible kaya noong nakaraang taon ay ganoon din at hindi lang namin alam?
“We have no choice. Marami pa namang event e.” Adrian was the one who consoled us.
Heʼs right. Halos lahat na ng contests. sa isang taon ay nasalihan na namin at halos lahat ng iyon ay kami ang nanalo.
“Sus. Palibhasa ikaw, pwede kang sumali.” Primo snapped as he role his eyes at Adrian.
Ngayon ko lang naalala. Dahil by partner nga ang kompetisyon, malamang sasali ʼyan si Adrian. At siyempre, si Liana agad ang ka-partner niya.
Lahat kami ay bumaling kay Andy nang akbayan niya itong si Primo habang nakanguso pa. “Pati yan si Marcus, for sure partner pa sila ni Frankie niyan.”
Lagi talaga silang nagkakasundo. Tapos, parehong pareho pa sila mag-isip. Kung by partner naman pala at gusto nilang sumali, pwede namang silang dalawa na lang e. Pero sumagi sa isip ko na Valentineʼs day nga pala ang event. By partner means like a couple.
…
MGA ILANG MINUTO ANG LUMIPAS Bumalik si Adrian at Marcus sa room. Tinawagan nila saglit ang mga gusto nilang maka-partner para sa event para tanungin kung sila ba ay papayag o hindi.
Nagtatawanan na kaming lahat dito dahil pinagdadasal na namin na hindi pumayag sila Liana at Frankie. Hindi naman kami papayag na sila lang ang sasaya sa araw ng mga puso.
“Calia and I already talked about it. Weʼll be participating in the dance competition.” balita ni Adrian.
“Weʼll be competing then.” Marcus smirked at him.
One thing about Marcus, he always want to compete with Adrian. He doesnʼt hate him or what. He just likes the idea that heʼs better than Adrian. Well... in a good way.
“Ang yayabang ninyo!!!” sabay-sabay na sabi namin.
Sino ba namang hindi maasar sa ganiyan. Nung nakaraan pa kami sobrang sabik na makasali at makapag-practice na e. We were really looking forward to compete with other students. Tapos bigla na lang namin malalaman na si Adrian at Marcus lang ang makakasali sa aming pito.
“Manlibre kayo!” demand nitong si Seven. Nakakainggit talaga sila.
“Why?” Marcus asked, as if he was ready to land his fist on Sevenʼs face. Well, that got Seven terrified.
“Ay hindi na pala hehe.” bumungisngis si Seven at umatras na.
Hays. Ang lalakas maghamon, ang bibilis namang umatras.
“ʼPag nanalo kayo manlibre kayo ha!” Andy repeated the context but wrote in a different font.
…
HABANG NAGLALAKAD AKO PAPUNTA SA ROOM, inalala ko si Haze. I want to compete with them but I donʼt have a partner yet. Si Haze ang unang tao na pumasok sa isip ko nang mabanggit ang salitang partner. Papayag kaya siya?
I dialed her number on my phone. I just hope that my timing is right.
“Yes, Cyrus?” She answered!
“Nagpalista kasi kami ng Aces kanina para sa competition.” I tried to keep it calm with my almost stuttering voice and my shaking hands.
“Thatʼs good to hear.” sheʼs calm unlike me.
“But we werenʼt qualified.” I remembered all the faces of my friends lately. They were also sad to hear that.
“Huh? Bakit naman?” Now, I confused her.
“By pair lang ang pwede. I badly want to compete.” sabi ko. Hindi siya umimik. “Would you be my partner?”
“Cyrus...” With her voice softening, I know what her answer would be. “You know I canʼt join at the moment.”
“I knew you would say that. Iʼm sorry that I asked.”
“Donʼt be sorry, please. I should be the one apologizing for not being able to keep up with you. I know you really wanted this, but Iʼm only slowing you down. Iʼm sorry, Cyrus...” Her soft voice makes me feel more mad at myself.
“Youʼre not slowing me down. Donʼt be sad... May next events pa naman. Maybe in one of those, you can finally dance with me. I will wait for those things to happen. Donʼt feel bad. Mahalaga rin sa akin ang nararamdaman mo kaya sinubukan kong kausapin ka.” My heartʼs already soft for her but talking to her makes me talk more gentle than ever.
I feel bad for bringing her pain back again. I shouldnʼt have asked her in the first place. Sadyang gusto ko lang talaga siyang makasama. Iniisip ko kasi na kaya hindi niya pa kaya sa ngayon ay dahil baka kailangan niya ng isang tao na makakatulong sa kaniya. What I meant was that I think that she might feel better with someone accompanying her on her passion and facing her fears.
I thought sheʼll feel better just by doing those. But now, I should give all the time she needed. Thatʼs a lot but Iʼll be more willing to do it just so she can mend all her pain.
“Cyrus... Thank you for being my hope.”
