RIVALRY [ heesun ]

twenty one.

I don't have any love interest but why do I feel like I'm getting mixed signals?

Not in a relationship but to my enemy.

The one and only, Keilo Aracosa..

Why the freak are you confusing me!?

"Nakakapagtaka nga. Why did he suddenly wants to back out? Kung kailan na-finalize na ang list of candidates." Simone responded to my rants.

Habang naglalakad ay kinwento ko sa kanya ang confusion ko. Kasi naman, if he didn't choose to file a candidacy in the first place, hindi sana ako nag aalala ngayon. All I have to do is to convince other students to vote for me, and if the votes were higher than abstain, then I'll be the SSC President.

But the problem is there's no backing out!

Simone saw me looking distress so he made me stop walking and nudge me to look at him.

I faced him, pouting.

"What do we always say? Giving your best is much better than losing without even trying. Remember, I'm always here for you. You got this, okay?" He said and I find myself nodding at his assurance.

We spend the night at his condo planning for our campaign. Naging mas madali ito para sa amin dahil independent ang lahat ng hahabol. Meaning, we don't have to form a group or an organization.

"How about we go like this.."

I showed Simone the paper where I wrote the introduction we'll do in the campaign. Few seconds pa ang itinagal niya sa paper na kanyang binabasa before he turned to me.

"Oh, sorry. Let me see.." He faced the paper and read it out loud. Nang matunugan niya ito, he nodded as an approval.

"It's good. We should go for it."

"Uh.. Sim?"

He hummed, still looking at the papers he is currently holding.

"Are you really sure about this? You are already busy with your company's business. I don't want to add.."

"Look, we already talked about this, hannie. It's really fine. In fact, this will actually help me kill some time. I don't want to live like a programmed robot. At least in student council activities, I will have my freedom, right?"

It saddens me to witness my friend go through something that he didn't choose to do in the first place. He doesn't have a choice. It's his mom..

I saw him smile but it didn't reach his eyes.

"You know what, I'll do the planning of draft. Mag rest ka na lang muna. All you have to do for the next week is to read the script that I'll make." I gently tapped the papers on the table to align them.

"Are you sure? May energy pa naman ako to do other things.." He said, but his body says otherwise. Kitang-kita sa kanya ang pagod.

"No, I insist. I'll do our campaign script right now..." I said, maingat na tinuturan ang bawat salita, "Or better yet, manood muna tayo ng movie! Let's give ourselves some rest because we worked hard this week!"

I finally saw a genuine smile on his face. Tumango siya sa idea ko at pumili na kami ng movie na panonoorin, setting aside the school and company activities we have to finish.

Napahinto ako nang may ma-realize. "Hindi kaya magtatampo si Wayne na we watched movies without him?" I asked. Hindi namin siya nasabihan na mag sleep over tonight. I wonder if he will get mad.

"Hindi 'yon. Hindi naman siya ikaw." I heard him chuckled after saying that. Gulat naman akong bumaling sa kanya. Anong hindi ako siya?

"Huh? What do you mean by that, Carl!?" Nagtatampong sabi ko.