"Trisha, pinatatawag ka na para 'dun sa Mr. and Ms. Sportsfest." Our class president informed me after recess.
"Oh, sige. Thank you!" I stood up and excused myself. Another busy day ahead...
Noong unang araw ng rehearsals, buong akala ko ay makikilala ko na kaagad 'yung partner ko. But no.
He wasn't around. Not even on the next day. Or the next day after that!
Nakakapanlumo lang talaga. Sana naman ngayong araw ay pumasok na siya! Otherwise, he might really get disqualified. At pag nagkataon, hindi lang siya 'yung madedehado. Ako rin!
Kasi kapag natanggal naman siya sa pageant, malamang ay pagsosolohin na rina nila ko. At hindi ko 'yun kaya. Hindi talaga.
At this point, naituro na nila sa amin 'yung gagawin namin for the opening. Medyo madali lang naman at puro basic movements lang, actually. I think my partner can easily get used to it, too, if he just works hard enough. Sana lang ay mag participate siya nang maayos para wala na kaming problema.
Nagtungo na ako sa multi-purpose hall kung saan kami magpapractice. Mabuti na lang talaga at airconditioned 'yun kaya presko pa rin kahit papaano.
Upon entering, I saw the teacher-in-charge talking to a student. Nakatalikod sila sa direksyon ko. Humanap na lang muna ako ng mauupuan para hindi naman ako magmukhang tangang nakatayo sa isang sulok.
As always, I feel so out of place. Everyone else had someone to talk to except for me. Socializing has never really been my forte. Kaya ayan tuloy, wala akong makausap ni isa sa kanila. Hindi ko naman alam kung paano sila iaapproach nang hindi nagmumukhang FC. Ayoko rin namang ipagsiksikan 'yung sarili ko. So, I just chose to keep my mouth shut.
By the looks of it, masaya nang nagbobonding 'yung ibang contestants. In fact, they look like they've known each other for years! Hindi ko inakalang posible pala 'yun. It's only been what, three days? Para na silang magbabarkada kung umasta! How can they act so comfortably around people they barely know? Nakakapagtaka lang.
"Contestant no. 3! Halika nga rito!" Tinawag na ako nung teacher.
Agad akong lumapit sa kanya. "Ano po 'yun, Sir?"
"Andito na 'yung partner mo oh." He pointed at the guy standing just a few feet away from us. Siya yata 'yung kausap ni Sir kanina. Thank God, he's finally here!
His back was facing our direction, that's why I couldn't entirely see his face. If I wasn't mistaken, he's a fourth year student. Tatlo pa lang naman kasi 'yung Seniors na na-encounter ko these past few days. Supposedly, there should be four representatives per level.
As if on cue, the guy turned around. It all happened too fast. And I just had the biggest surprise of my life upon finally seeing his face. Holy shit!
"Siya nga pala si Troy Joshua Monteverde. Josh, siya 'yung magiging partner mo. What's your name again, Miss?" I could hardly concentrate while I was being introduced by the teacher. Shit lang talaga.
Who would've thought, of all people, siya pa talaga 'yung naging partner ko? Heck! I absolutely hadn't seen this coming. Nakakaloka!
They were both looking at me. Nakaabang sila sa sasabihin ko. Nakakaconscious tuloy bigla! "T-Trisha... My name is Trisha Joy Salazar." Napayuko ako sa sobrang kahihiyan.
