Challengers

35 : The Lost and the Lacking

I didn't know I could cry and laugh for two straight hours, but here I was, already clutching my sore jaws and stomach. Maging si Yena ay muntik nang hikain kakatawa kaya umalis muna siya para kalmahin ang sarili.

Hindi ko akalaing ma-e-enjoy ko ang challenge na 'to dahil frustration ang una kong naramdaman noong kami ang nakasalang. On the contrary, it was seriously funny watching from the sidelines. Some of the easygoing writers almost exploded in exasperation while the serious ones had shown their funny side.

"Shuta ni Ben, ang sakit na ng panga ko," halos paiyak na komento ni Arin.

Si Mari kasi ang nagpapahula at ang word nila ay watermelon. Sinigaw niya agad ang prutas at pula pero napakunot ang noo ni Ben, sabay sabing, "minumura mo ba ako?!" They went on and on for a few seconds and Mari was so frustrated that he did a kicking gesture at him.

A chorus of laughter filled the air. 'Yung iba ay halos nasa sahig na kakatawa at muntik na ring mabilaukan si Arin dahil sa kanila. Nakailang buntonghininga rin ako pagkatapos tumawa dahil kinakapos ako minsan sa hangin. Even though this challenge wasn't physically demanding, I still felt exhausted.

Fortunately, we were among the top teams since most of them only got three words on average. I guess Zion and I had great synergy when it comes to this kind of challenge.

The overall rankings also had some changes. For the first time in a while, green team was dethroned from the top, and the gold team managed to clinch the first rank. We were able to rise to third while the purple and yellow ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

"Napabagsak din kayo sa wakas!" Roi jokingly remarked at Brian.

He raised his brows and snickered in return. "Madali lang naman bawiin kung mananalo kami sa next challenge, I think."

"Pota nagiging kasingyabang mo na si Zion, ah?"

"Parang mas may karapatan naman siyang magyabang kaysa kay Zion kasi first rank sila for so many days," Arin chimed in.

Brian laughed at her snide remark and she continued talking behind Zion's back...figuratively and literally since he was just standing near her.

"Okay ka lang ba?" biglang tanong ni Yena dahil siguro nakahawak ako sa tiyan ko.

I sighed. "Ewan, parang nagka-stomach cramps ako kakapigil ng tawa kanina."

"Kaya ako umalis, eh," she said, giggling. "Baka bigla na lang akong 'di makahinga. Mapunta na naman ako sa clinic."

"Sana mawala mamaya," I murmured.

I decided to go back to our cabin to rest while the three stayed with the writers. Sa porch ako nag-stay at naglagay na rin ako ng cold compress sa tiyan ko para kahit papaano ay maibsan ang sakit.

I stayed there in silence for a few minutes, and that kind of tranquility somehow alleviated the pain in my stomach. Napaisip din ako tungkol sa story ko dahil nakita ko sina Brian at Yena na sabay naglalakad pabalik sa cabin nila.

Seriously, they looked good together. Yena looked intimidating when she's alone, but she had this light and gentle aura whenever she's with him. Ganoon din si Brian na parang tahimik at mahiyain pero 'pag kasama niya si Yena ay lumalabas ang pagka-protective niya.

I knew I sounded like a hypocrite after getting displeased with the people who kept teasing me with Zion, but at least I wasn't they type to voice it out. Kumbaga sa isip ko lang sila medyo shiniship para hindi sila maging uncomfortable sa isa't isa.

Halos mapabalikwas naman ako sa gulat nang bigla akong may maramdaman na humawak sa balikat ko.

"Daydreaming again, I see," Zion said with an annoying smile on his face. His arms were resting on top of the fence while he was leaning toward my direction.