Azure: The Retired Assassin

Azure 18

Four weeks gone so fast and today is our trip to the North. Last year the inter-high was held at the west, the venue was decided by a draw. I have not been able to go to QC for the whole month since the training was very rigid especially for me that I passed the tryout for both gymnastics and soccer. Savannah was also included on the official roster for volleyball women's division.

"Az saan tayo sasakay?"Sav asked me, currently we are in front the main gate waiting for the other players to arrive. Naghihintay na din sa amin ang tatlong air-conditioned bus na gagamitin namin papuntang North Super Arena. The assembly time is 4:30 and Savannah being a little too excited picked me up at my unit super early.

"Kahit saan ba pwede?" She nodded tapos na din naman kaming magpa attendance actually yung iba nakapwesto na sa loob ng bus.

"Azure, Savannah!" It was Jasmine who called us, badminton naman ang sasalihan nyang event. "Morning, saan kayo sasakay na bus?"

"Yun nga ang tinatanong ko kay Az, kahit saan naman pwede diba?"

"Hmm, sa amin nalang kayo sumabay. Nandoon na din sina Justin at yung ibang classmates namin na classmate nyo din dati." I missed them, the special class is a whole lot different from our previous section. Only 5X and some of the boys on our class talked to us for the past weeks. Ini-snob lang kami doon ng mga classmates naming babae.

"Let's go." Sinukbit ko na yung duffle bag ko at nauna ng maglakad. Isang duffle bag at backpack lang yung dala ko while Sav is dragging her travelling bag towards the bus. A staff of the school helps us with our bags as we reached the bus and now I am only left with my backpack.

"Guys tingnan nyo kung sinong kasama ko." Jasmine excitedly announced as we step on the bus. And just like that naging maingay na ang loob ng bus namin puro kamustahan at kwentuhan. I never felt this kind of warmth and acceptance from my new classmates, ibang-iba talaga sila.

"Oy maghiwalay naman kayo, lage na kayong magkasama." Kathy grab Savannah's hand at pinaupo ito sa tabi nya kaya napangiti nalang ako. I found a vacant seat near the mid part of the bus. It was not really vacant since pantatluhan sya at mayroon ng isang nauna sa akin doon.

"Is this seat taken?" I asked the guy, ayuko din namang basta nalang umupo ng hindi nagpapaalam. I don't want to be regarded as someone rude. It was still dark outside at dim ang ilaw sa loob ng bus kaya hindi ko masyadong maaninag ang mukha nya but I saw him shook his head so I obliged myself to sit beside him.

"Gavin?" Sadly he did not hear me may nakapasak kasing earphone sa tenga nya but maybe he felt I was staring at him kaya napalingon sya sa akin and took off his earphone when he saw me. "Hey morning." He was our classmate before, he's the type who will just stay on the corner with his books or his music not minding how noisy his classmates were.

"Morning." I'm lucky he answered me. He has this distant aura around him kaya wala masyadong lumalapit sa kanya. He was a man of few words to be exact. I was one of those very few who were able to penetrate his barrier but still he would only answer what he was asked and nothing more. Kung ikaw yung taong mahilig magkwento at maingay siguradong mabobored ka sa kanya.

"I never thought you're into sports, anong event mo?" I asked as I settled on my seat.

"Soccer" Huh?

"Are you serious?" He stared blankly at me. Did I offend him or something? "I..I mean I am a soccer player too and I did not saw you even once during practice."