RIVALRY [ heesun ]

fifteen.

What the actual fuck?

I stared at him with both of my eyebrows raising. I don't like the tone of his voice. The way he calls me, it sounds weird.

Weird because my dad is the only one who calls me Johann! How dare he call me using my second name!

I suddenly hopped up on my seat, startled of what he said. My expression also changed from poker face to a judging look.

Found me?

What does he mean by that?

And calling me Johann?? Hindi naman kami close 'no!

But for some reason, I didn't feel any nervousness.

Tuwing tatawagin ako ni Dad na 'Johann', palagi akong kinakabahan. You know, the tone of his voice is like authorative.

But my name coming out from Aracosa's mouth..

Well, may konting kaba, but it is another type of kaba.

Hindi 'yong kaba na parang may mangyayaring masama. It's a kind of nervousness when someone, who caught your attention, calls you by your name.

Is that what they call.. kilig?

"Naknampucha! May nalalaman pang found you found you. Bakit mo ba kasi siya hinahanap, 'tol?" Joaquin tries to break the ice.

For some reason, I saw Aracosa shifted his facial expression. Kung kanina he has a faint smile visible in his face, para na itong naiirita ngayon habang nakatingin sa kaibigan niyang nanliliit ang mata dahil sa init.

May ibinulong pa ito na hindi ko narinig before he answers his friend's question. "I just wanted to return this..", he showed me his right palm and my pen is placed there. He is holding it gently, like it is something fragile. "Thanks." I replied and took it.

I put it inside my pen case at isinukbit na ang bag para makapaghanda nang umalis. Sakto naman na I spotted Simone and Wayne walking towards our direction. They are even waving at us. Sasalubungin ko na lang sila.

"Hey, I'll go ahead now. Thank you for accompanying me—" I was about to thank Joaquin for staying here with me despite of the extreme heat but when I turned sa pwesto kung nasaan siya kanina, he was gone. No wait— they were already gone. But then I noticed Aracosa's shoes sa may puno malapit sa bench where we sat. It looks like, Joaquin asked him to hide.

Bakit sila nagtatago? I thought. Weirdos.

Nakasalubong ko sila sa gitna ng field. It was so nice of Wayne to lend me his umbrella. Sa kanilang dalawa, he was the one who is holding an umbrella, pinapayungan lamang nito si Sim. He gave it to me at sinabing payungan ko na lang daw si Simone. I will be fine, said he. But I refuse to let the UV rays affect his skin so nagsiksikan kami sa isang payong.

Para kaming mga bata na nagtatawanan dahil pinipilit naming pagkasyahin ang sarili sa isang payong. After that, we stayed in an air-contioned room na walang students so that we can stay here na lang sa school while waiting for the winners of the competition. Hassle kasi if aalis pa kami ng university.

~~~

"Maybe he was genuinely wishing you good luck? There's no harm in cheering your competitors."

"Even though Keilo's looks are intimidating, I think hindi ka naman niya pag-iisipan nang masama just because you guys are magkalaban. Malay mo naman gustong makipagkaibigan sayo no'ng tao."

Those are just some of the thoughts I've heard from my friends as I shared them my weird encounter with Aracosa awhile ago. I was so confused on why is he acting that way, that is why I asked Sim and Wayne what are the possible reasons or intentions of Aracosa.