Change of Hearts

Chapter 13

Bell Church, 12:30PM

Alyssa Caymo Valdez, you're doomed.

'Yon lang ang tumatakbo sa utak n'ya habang yakap s'ya ng mahigpit ni Kiefer. Ramdam n'ya ang mabilis na tibok ng puso n'ya, ang boluntaryong pag-angat ng mga braso n'ya para yakapin din ito pabalik, ang pag-alog ng braso nito dahil sa pagtawa.

She's not supposed to have this kind of awareness about Kiefer. They're friends. And as friends, she's not allowed to feel this way towards him. With that thought, she abruptly let him go and she took a huge step backward, laughing awkwardly habang pinagpag ang sarili. She saw Kiefer furrowed his eyebrows.

"Madumi ba ko?" natatawang naiiling na tanong nito. She laughed a little more, still forced.

"Hindi, hindi. Uhm, pasok na tayo? You wanna look around sa church?" tanong n'ya, naglalakad na palayo dito. "Or magfreshen up ka na muna? Nandoon yung restroom. Sunod ka nalang sa loob." she said hurriedly. She went away, not looking back.

She did not see Kiefer watching her, silently asking himself what the hell wrong happened between the tight hug and her walking as fast as she can away from him.

—

Tapos na s'ya magdasal sa loob and nakatulala nalang s'ya sa kawalan nang makita n'ya si Kiefer pumasok sa simbahan. She was about to tell him her rehearsed speech (she was nervous because of how awkward they parted ways earlier) when she saw him walk past her pew, dire-diretso sa mas malapit sa altar. He sat, bowed his head as if he's praying.

She watched him in silence, unexplainable feeling creeping into her. For about ten minutes, all she could hear was the total lack of noise inside the church. Then she saw him stand up, and finally, he acknowledged her by nodding.

"Tapos ka na?" tanong n'ya dito, trying her best not to show how tensed she is.

"Yeah," matipid nitong sagot. "Nagugutom na ako, may food ba? Or hihintayin muna natin dumating lahat?" pormal nitong tanong.

"Uhm, sabi ni Miss Karl sabay sabay daw tayo kakain somewhere near dito."

"Ah. Okay. Then labas muna ako, balik nalang ako." paalam nito. She stood up, almost offering her company. But he's already walking towards the exit.

"Kiefer!" lumingon ito.

"W-where are you going?" he looked at her for a few seconds before replying.

"Somewhere you want me to be at." then few seconds after, he was gone in her sight.

——

Napuno ng ingay ang buong function hall kung saan naglate lunch ng buong grupo. The organizers prepared delicious food, and a program for the participants.

"Hello guys! First of all, I want to congratulate all of you for surviving this week!" bati ni Karl sa kanila. Naghiyawan ang mga lalaking athletes habang natatawa naman dito ang mga partners nila.

"Tapos na tayo kumain ng masarap na lunch, it's time to start this pasabog afternoon, don't you think?" ngumiti ang camp master sa kanila. "First, let me announce that today is the end of this year's UAAP Amazing Race!" umugong ang bulong-bulungan sa hall.

"Yes my dear athletes, tapos na ang mga araw ng haggardness, stress, at buwis-buhay na challenges, because next week is now about theories, chill sessions, group mentoring, and sharing. Team building experts, leadership mentors, sports management professionals are going to be with you so be ready. We're going to provide kits for the whole week so better take down notes so may mashe-share kayo sa respective teams nyo pagbalik natin sa Manila." pagpapatuloy nito.