THE DAY HE BECAME RUTHLESS: The Metaphorical Series #2

FIFTEEN

Mabilis ang takbo ng mga araw lalo na't hindi ko ito masyadong iniisip. Badminton and Dean have been feeding any distraction na wala itong pinipiling sugpuin. Nababatid kong nagsimula ito noong gabing hinalikan niya ako sa ilong.

That was just a kiss in the nose. Nose! Yet it already molded itself to be a burning issue on my part. At dahil iyon sa namamalayan kong lumalambot na ako. That's quite alarming! I welcomed the change. My fierce level has toned down into one bar. Sinusunog mismo ng apoy ni Dean ang tapang ko.

But when he's being out of line, hindi ko naman kinukunsinti iyon. I still want to argue with him somehow.

Hindi kami ang nag-Champion sa Intramurals this year. Leading ang red team ng limang puntos sa team naming nakuha ang first place. Ito pa ang naging paksa ng maliit na pagtatalo namin ni Dean.

"Ang galing ng team namin noh?"

Ang pagmamayabang niya ay hindi ko kayang kaibiganin at pakisamahan. Kanina pa ang ngisi na iyan na kailangan pa yatang gamitan ng itak upang matanggal. It's the palpable truth that they've won. Yeah, so? He doesn't have to remind me through his roars of victory.

Niluwa ko ang confetti na dumapo sa bibig ko. Maingay pa rin ang buong gym sa resulta ng championship. Nasa likod si Erika kausap ang bagong manliligaw niya na lumitaw lang noong tinanghal siya na Ms. Intrams.

"Sinong nagsuot ng Orange team shirt noong first day ng Intramurals?" pangangahas ko.

"Ikaw."

Hiniwa ko siya ng pang-iirap ko. May malaking bahagi na humimok sa akin na awayin siya. I hate that he keeps on bragging about it! Pero noong parade ay akala mo classmates kami kung makasuot siya ng team color shirt namin. Orange team all the way my ass! Balimbing ka, Dean!

Siguro kung kami iyong nag-champion ay ide-deny niyang sa red team siya. I can already imagine.

"At least ako, naipanalo ko ang girl's badminton. Nanalo kami sa Cheerdance at Ms. Intrams! Ikaw? Wala kang game ni isa!" ganti ko sa kanya.

Tatlong patak ang idinagdag ng inis ko nang tinawanan niya lang ang pang-aaway ko sa kanya. Inalis ko ang kamay niyang pinaglalaruan ang aking buhok.

Lalo siyang natuwa. "I-congrats mo na lang ako, Ruth."

Yumukod siya at nilagay ang mga braso sa kanyang hita. His head is the only thing facing me. That amused mocking expression he's wearing is a humored warning that he's up for more bragging games. And he wants me as his competitor.

Pairap akong kumalas ng tingin. I'm taking in the sight of the sea of colorful students. Ang panoorin sila ay mas nakakaginhawa sa loob kesa ang isipin pa lang na magsusumiksik kami sa kanila.

"You only won because you belong to the class where the varsity players are who made your team the champion. So you did not really win individually, Dean. Unless may naipanalo kang game, which obviously you didn't. Kahit parlor games hindi mo sinalihan."

Marahang umawang ang bibig niya na mukhang hindi niya inasahan na masasabi ko iyon.

"That hurts..." But he didn't look any less in pain.

"You wouldn't have been that hurt if you have only won a single game. Because had you were, maco-congratulate pa kita."

I boosted my own esteem after hearing myself saying that like I could win this. Ayaw kong makipag kompetensiya pero gusto ko talagang tinatalo siya. It's fun actually, lalo na't ikaw ang lamang. I think this has become our version of bonding. And I find delight in seeing him speechless.