Challengers

43 : To Conquer, To Yield

I was fiddling with the thread around my hand to ease my nerves, but Zion kept on tugging it, probably because he thought I was trying to wind it further. Worse, my head was filled with the thoughts I had last night.

Isang malalim na buntonghininga na lang ang pinakawalan ko bago tuluyang huminto sa paggalaw pero halos mapatalon naman ako nang biglang nagsigawan ang mga tao.

"Ano'ng meron?" I asked, my voice drowning in the sea of cheers.

I felt something brushed against my left shoulder. "Baka patapos na 'yong challenge," Zion replied, and I stood frozen realizing his lips was just a few inches away from my left ear.

"Ahh...okay."

Lumayo ako nang kaunti sa kanya para muling pakalmahin ang sarili ko. These days, my emotions were getting the best of me, and it was seriously getting frustrating already. Gusto ko na lang matapos 'to para naman makapag-isip ako nang maayos.

As if on cue, another round of cheers erupted, along with the announcement that the challenge for the first batch had been completed.

"Puwede n'yo nang tanggalin ang blindfolds n'yo, challengers!" said Ms. Hannah.

Dahan-dahan kong tinanggal ang blindfold ko at bumungad sa akin ang mukha ni Zion. His lips curled upward as soon as our eyes met, but I averted my gaze just as quickly.

"Akalain mo 'yon, naging magkalaban agad tayo right after leaving the group?" he remarked, chuckling.

Sakto namang napatingin ako sa red string na nakapalibot sa mga kamay namin. A tiny part was painted white, probably to mark the halfway point of the string.

Itinaas ko ang kamay ko sa harapan niya. "Yeah, and mukhang ako ang nanalo," I said, gesturing at the string's midpoint coiled around my knuckles.

His face turned serious for a second before giving me his usual smirk. "Congrats. I guess sa 'yo ang first win."

Napataas naman ang kilay ko ro'n. For some reason, pakiramdam ko ay medyo sarcastic ang tono niya. "Is that mockery I hear?"

"No, it's not," he replied, his gaze surprisingly softening. "I just think we're going to be good rivals."

Muli kong iniwas ang tingin ko at pagkatapos no'n ay pinabalik na kami sa kanya-kanya naming grupo. Nalaman ko rin na kasabay ko sa challenge sina Sunny at Robert.

"Sayang, halos 2 inches lang lamang ni Wannie sa akin," sabi ni Sunny dahil natalo siya sa challenge.

"Well, at least naka-two points na tayo," dagdag naman ni Erika. Fortunately, nanalo rin si Robert laban kay Les.

"Buti na lang talaga halos ilang beses natisod si Zion kaya tumagal siya sa pag-ikot ng tali," Ben chuckled. "Ang hirap pa naman talunin ng isang 'yon 'pag seryoso siya."

Sakto namang lumapit na ang staff sa mga kasali sa second batch kaya piniringan na rin sina Ben at Erika. Tiningnan namin kung sino ang nasa dulo ng strings nila at medyo nawalan kami ng pag-asa dahil parehong top contenders ang dalawa. Erika was paired with his former teammate, Gon, while Ben had to compete with Arin.

"Good luck na lang talaga," bulong ni Sunny.

As soon as the whistle was blown, everyone cheered for their respective teammates. For sure ay may naisip nang plano ang mga nasa second batch pagkatapos nila kaming panoorin kanina at ang tactic nina Erika at Ben ay itaas ang strings nila para mas madali ang pag-ikot no'n at para maging obstacle din sa mga dumadaan.

"Pwede ba, h'wag mamatid!"

"Aray, 'yung leeg ko!"

"Excuse me, excuse me, mga teh!"