Challengers

28 : Rising Point

"Grabe, naubos 'yung baon kong English!" reklamo ni Roi matapos ang challenge. "Tingnan mo nga, Elix, baka may dugo na 'yung ilong ko."

"Ikaw nga muntik magpahamak sa team natin!" Arin huffed as she sat next to me. "Sana nanahimik ka na lang."

Katatapos lang ng challenge at nakabalik na rin sila sa cabin. Mukhang effective ang tactic namin dahil nakabalik kami sa rank three after ng tally. Orange and green teams were still ahead of us, but at least we were gradually getting closer to their points.

Medyo nakakatawa rin dahil ngayon ko lang nakitang stressed si Roi outside of the horror or thriller theme. Mukhang nahirapan nga talaga siyang maitawid ang role niya lalo pa't bantay-sarado sina Arin at Zion sa kanya.

"Huy, pero nakakaguwapo pala talaga kapag parehong magaling mag-Filipino at English 'yung guy," remarked Arin.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "So, sino 'yang magaling mag-English at Filipino?"

"Kinilig 'yan no'ng kinausap siya ni Cenon," Roi chimed in. He suddenly tucked his non-existent hair behind his ear as if he was mocking Arin. "Oh, I like Mitch Albom's works, too."

She scoffed in return. "Excuse me, bet ko naman talaga 'yung isa niyang book na Five People You Meet in Heaven, 'no!"

"I like his works pero isa lang pala nabasa," he retorted. "Crush mo na, 'no?"

Naalala ko bigla ang nangyari noong Race My Heart challenge dahil si Cenon din ang naging partner ni Arin that time. Tumaas 'yung heartrate niya noong sinabihan siya ni Cenon ng crush kita at mukhang na-conscious rin siya sa kanya after that.

"Sabi ko nakakaguwapo lang, 'di ko naman sinabing crush ko na siya," she returned.

"Gano'n din 'yon, eh!"

Nagsimula na namang magbangayan ang dalawa kaya napailing na lang ako at natawa. It was fascinating how they easily got close to one another to the point that they could banter without holding back. Heck, they were even talking about their crushes so casually.

My gaze shifted to the door when Zion came in. May dala siyang apat na paper cups na may lamang kape dahil siya ang natalo sa bato bato pick kanina.

He heaved a sigh as he sat right next to me. "Hindi pa ba sila pagod magsalita?"

"Mas magulat ka kung bigla silang tumahimik," I replied.

Karamihan ng kakilala kong writers bago ang show na 'to ay tahimik sa personal kaya medyo na-shock ako nang malaman na marami-rami rin pala ang madaldal at mataas ang energy.

Fortunately, it was easy to tune them out since I had gotten used to their bickering. Madalas din naman kasing walang sense ang pinag-aawayan nila.

"Here," Zion said while giving me one of the cups.

"Thanks."

I glanced at him but immediately averted my gaze as soon as I remembered Yena's words. Nakakainis kasi feeling ko ay naco-conscious na ako sa presence niya dahil ino-overthink ko ang mga usapan kahapon at kanina. Worse, I was the only one who was getting uncomfortable, and it made me feel quite stupid.

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako para subuking kalmahin ang sarili ko. Right. I should just focus on more important things instead of dwelling on this unnecessary matter.

Kinuha ko ang notebook at laptop ko sa kuwarto at nagsimulang mag-outline para sa story. Since I was a plotter, it was easier for me to plan every major plots first before writing them. Kahit na romcom ang sinusulat ko ay mas gusto ko pa ring alam ko na ang mangyayari kada chapter hanggang sa epilogue.