Challengers

29 : Romance Newbie

(a/n: advanced chapters are available on haloreads)

It had been a while since I last had this intense drive to write several chapters in a day. Iba pala ang effect kapag nagsusulat din ang mga tao sa paligid mo. Either ma-i-inspire ka or mapipilitan ka talagang magsulat din.

"Shet, ubos na 'yung kape ko," komento ni Arin kaya napatingin din ako sa paper cup ko.

"Tara, refill tayo," I suggested.

Pareho rin kaming nag-unat dahil magdadalawang-oras na kaming nakaupo lang. Roi and Zion were still focused on their laptops, and I swear they looked quite different when they're in the zone.

"Nakailang chapters ka na?"

"Four," I replied. "Chapter ten na ako."

She audibly gasped as if she got betrayed or something. "Hoy, bakit ang bibilis n'yong magsulat?! Chapter five pa lang ako!"

"Two weeks pa lang naman ang nakakalipas."

"Kahit na!"

I was a slow writer, too, so I could understand her frustration. Mahirap naman talaga magsulat lalo na kapag short ang attention span mo. You really need to get in the zone to finish a chapter without getting distracted. Minsan, nasa 200-300 words lang ang nasusulat ko sa isang araw lalo na 'pag pagod galing university. Kaya nga medyo natuwa rin ako dahil pagsusulat lang talaga ang inaatupag namin ngayon and I was much more productive than usual.

Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa camp store ay nakita naming nakapuwesto na rin sa kani-kanilang napiling lugar ang ibang writers. May iba na sa pavilion nakatambay habang ang ilan ay sa porch ng cabins nila. I could see some excited faces, while others seemed troubled with their own manuscripts.

"Parang lalaklak ako ng ilang cups ng kape ngayong araw, ah," Arin remarked. "Pero in fairness naman, nakaka-excite pala magsulat nang hindi ko forte."

Right. Arin was writing a speculative fiction novel. Dahil romance at teen fiction ang madalas niyang isulat ay lagi siyang nagtatanong sa aming tatlo ng pointers dahil iyon naman ang genre namin.

"Uy," biglang bati ng lalaki sa harapan namin.

Napatigil kaming dalawa nang ma-realize naming si Cenon ang nasa unahan namin sa pila sa kape. Ilang beses ko pa lang siyang na-e-encounter dahil nasa dulo ang cabin ng blue team at hindi rin naman siya masyadong nakikipag-interact sa karamihan ng writers kaya nagulat ako nang siya ang unang bumati kay Arin. Besides, he looked quite intimidating to me lalo na after ng paper bracelet elimination dahil sila ni Cherry ang nakatalo sa amin ni Zion.

"Uy," she returned, quite flustered.

I narrowed my eyes at Arin who was trying to stay composed. Mukhang tama nga si Roi at naco-conscious na siya kay Cenon pagkatapos ng pairing nila sa isang challenge. And truthfully, it was quite amusing to see Arin acting like this since she was usually the one who's teasing others.

However, their conversation ended there and the mood instantly turned uncomfortable. Pati tuloy ako ay na-awkward dahil sa kanilang dalawa.

"Nagsusulat din kayo?" asked Cenon.

Tumango naman si Arin. "Kayo ba?"

"Yeah. Nandoon kami malapit sa hanging bridge. Brian and the others are also there."

"Ah, kaya pala walang tao sa labas ng cabin nila."

Pero hindi ba mainit doon? I internally remarked. Mag-10:00 a.m. na rin kasi at summer pa kaya for sure ay grabe na ang tirik ng araw sa bandang 'yon.