Dying Embers

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three: Babawi

It's Monday.

Kagagaling ko lang sa first class kaninang umaga, pero parang wala rin akong napala. Both teachers were absent, leaving us with nothing but worksheets to answer — parang busy work lang para masabing may ginawa kami. The room felt dull without the usual noise from the boys' side; Chance and the other players from our section were missing, probably stuck in training for the upcoming City Meet.

According to Jilliana, last year daw, CSU hosted the event. This time, another school from a different town will. She even joked that at least we'll get a day off to "support" them, though we both know that means teachers will take it as another excuse to drown us in assignments.

I let out a frustrated sigh, resting my chin on my palm. Only three weeks left until the City Meet.

Dad asked me last night kung saan daw gaganapin. He said he wanted to come, pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin kaming official update. I didn't have the heart to tell him na baka hindi rin ako makasama sa mismong event kung ganito pa rin ka-busy sa school.

After class, I gathered my things and walked over to Jilliana. "I'll head to the faculty office muna," sabi ko. "I need to submit the report."

As the Grade 11 representative, it's my job to give the teachers an overview of our projects and updates — especially 'yong tungkol sa City Meet funding for our players. I had to make sure everything was accounted for.

Honestly, hindi ko rin alam kung paano ako napunta sa posisyon na 'to. I never planned to run for any officer role. Pero nung election, walang gustong mag-volunteer, so our adviser suggested my name. Wala rin namang tumutol, so ayun, automatic representative na ako.

Pagdating ko sa faculty office, the hallway was unusually quiet, the hum of the ceiling fan blending with the faint shuffle of papers inside. I tightened my grip on the folders I was carrying, careful not to drop any. Then, from inside my pocket, I felt my phone buzz — once, then twice.

I ignored it for now.

Whatever it was could wait.

For now, I just needed to breathe, straighten the folders in my arms, and step inside.

Paglapit ko sa faculty room, agad kong binati ang mga teachers na nandoon, sabay sabing maayos ang pakay ko. Isa-isa kong iniabot ang mga reports, maingat na parang baka magulo ko ang pagkakasunod. Pagdating ko sa desk ni Ms. Agoncillo, napansin kong may kausap pa siyang estudyante. Tahimik akong tumabi muna, saka magalang na nagsabi, "Excuse me po, Ma'am," sabay abot ng folder.

Hindi pa man ako nakakaalis, narinig ko na ang boses niya, may halong awtoridad at lambing. "Uh, Rain? Are you busy right now?"

Napalingon ako, medyo nagulat. "Po? Hindi naman po, Ma'am. Wala po kaming class ngayon."

"Good," she said, smiling a little. "Ikaw muna ang magiging tour guide niya. His name is Dylan, first day niya kasi, and he's still not familiar with the place. Okay lang ba?"

"Ah, sige po." Tumango ako, medyo nag-aalangan pero ngumiti rin.

Pagharap ko sa lalaki, ngumiti siya pabalik. May lalim 'yong ngiti, 'yong tipong simple pero nakakailang. May dimple siya sa kaliwang pisngi. His eyes met mine, and there was a hint of playfulness there, like he knew the effect he had on people.

"So... you're new here?" tanong ko nang makalabas kami ng faculty, sabay ayos ng sling bag ko, hoping to break the silence, but also genuinely curious.

He nodded, his smile growing just a little. "Yeah. First day. Thought I'd get to know the place a bit."