Win
Naging abala na iyong mga nagoorganisa noong event gayundin kami. Nagbilin sila na magpaparade raw muna bago kami maglaban-laban. I don't know if I'll fight. This isn't my thing, I find these things boring. As thoughts keeps running my head, it started to ache. Oh no.
The parade started. Hindi ko alam kung magiging masaya ba dapat ako kasi sabi nila malapit lang daw at babalik agad kaso mainit. My head is aching, I can't risk it.
Ngumiti ako sa mga bata na tinatawag ako. Ang iba ay kilala ko ngunit sa mukha lang at hindi sa pangalan. I waved at them.
"Dinalhan kita ng tubig," I heard Papa behind me. Lumingon ako sakaniya at nakita iyong aqua flask ko na hawak niya, kinuha ko ito sakaniya. "Malamig yan, ito din na maanghang pampahid sa ulo mo." Aniya at ipinakita ang roll on na effecascent loil.
Ngumiti ako at inabot iyon, "Salamat pa." Tumango siya, I looked at his eyes. It's teary, he looked guilty. "It's okay, I got this." I smiled at him.
"Pasensya na, alam ko namang hindi mo kaya ang init. Kasalanan ko." He said guiltily. "Ang sabi kasi hindi paparada, dito lang kaya kinumbinsi kita. Sorry 'nak."
Natawa naman ako. "Okay lang Pa, naiintindihan ko. Pumayag ako kaya heto ako ngayon. Papanindigan ko to, kilala mo naman ako di ba?"
Tumango siya. I smiled to reassure him. Naglakad na nga kami sa init na mas lalong kinasakit ng ulo ko. Binalewala ko nalang iyon at ngumit nang ngumiti nalang sa mga nadadaanan namin. Hindi madaling
Nang makabalik ang Parada sa gym ay laking pasasalamat ang ibinigay ko sa Diyos dahil hindi ako nahimatay.
"Channary Navarro, 21. Representing, the homecourt team! Robo!" Pagpapakilala ko.
Palakpakan, sigawan, iyong ang aking narinig. I smiled at everyone. I looked around, my whole family who are supportive are here. I waved at them. Their cheers beamed, iyong kakapandin palang sakanila ng kanilang iniidolo.
I sighed. I used to live in fear, fear that everyone would judge me but here they are — my cousins who I treat as family never ever judged me for the way I was. Instead, they continued to show up at every event I joined in. My own supporter.
Being here infront of everyone doesn't mean that I'll win immediately. I need to prove to myself and to those who are here that I am worthy of the prize because deep inside me I know that everyone has their own bets and the winner is soon to be announced yet I still felt like I won. From the cheers I got from my introduction earlier to how the crowd gets quiet when it's my time to sing. My younger self would be scared standing infront of this crowd, she's too naive. So innocent and pure that someone can just manipulate her.
"These beautiful ladies could be our miss Leyte in the future!" The emcee started. "And hello everyone!" The crowd growls. The emcee the chuckled, "Kakaintense naman nito! Ang gagaling! Anyways, before I announce the winners may I remind everyone especially our candidate that whatever the result would be, all of you are already winners in our hearts."
The emcee sighed. "So, I will announce our winners for today!" He said enthusiastically.
I knew, from the moment I stepped in this court I won't be able to win and I accept that fact. I didn't intentionally want to join this competition, I don't want to compete. Competing with people isn't so me, I love seeing successful people above me.
The gay emcee announced the 2nd and 3rd placer and luckily, I think that the crowd loves who won. I smiled at them. How I wish to get that cheers from my mother.
