The Virgin Lies (Published under LIB)

Chapter 9

"I'm sorry but I can't accept that." I said, apologetic to the third guy who offered me the same thing. Binigyan niya ko ng isang malungkot na ngiti.

"Would you think about it, Iara?" His eyes then gave me a hopeful look. It was fast gone how it came when I shook my head.

"No, Parker. Ibigay mo yan sa karapat dapat na babae."

"But—"

"I'm not that girl and you also know it. Find someone deserving than me. One that will accept that as well as your heart."

Oh my gosh! This is so corny and cliché. Bakit kasi hindi niya siya umalis? I'm getting tired of this. Ang kulit niya. Kanina niya pa ko kinukulit.

Napansin kong may gusto pa siyang sabihin kaya inunahan ko na. "I need to go, Parker. I'm sorry..."

Here in Estudioso la Universidad, we have this tradition when it comes to intrams. Nagsisimula ito isang linggo bago ang entrance ceremony.

Lahat ng players ay binibigyan ng isang pares ng wristband tapos ibibigay nila ang isa sa taong tinuturing nila na lucky charm at ung kanina, un ang pagbibigay ni Parker ng wristband niya sa'kin.

Of course at first, kahit kanino pwede mong ibigay yan. Basta sa taong gusto mong manood at mag-cheer sa laro mo. Lalaki man o babae. Ibigay mo kahit kanino, pag ayaw tanggapin, bigay mo sa iba.

When years passed, medyo nagbago ang tradisyon. Male players would give it to opposite gender and vise versa hanggang sa napalitan na ng kakaibang meaning.

Now, they would give it to the person they have interest on, the one they like, or the one they love. By the end of the whole intrams, champion or not, if the person gives the wristband back, that means they don't feel the same. Kapag hindi, swerte mo dahil may love life ka na at ang sabi ng iba, forever na daw 'yon.

On the other hand, kapag nabigyan ka ng wristband, you need to embroider the player's initial on it if you decided to keep it. Kung ibabalik mo lang din, wag ka nang magpagod pa.

Varsity players don't just give them to anyone because wristbands will only be given once to them and they know, if they got rejected, they'll be cursed with a loveless life.

It's like another way of offering love and the decision would make or break a heart.

Sabi nila totoo daw 'yon. Sabi naman ng iba hindi. Hindi ko lang alam pero ung coach ng basketball team ay nakatuluyan ang coach ng volleyball team na sumunod sa tradisyon.

"Ano yung si-nend mo sa email?" Napa-angat ako ng tingin mula sa laptop. Nasa office ako ngayon ng Papyrus at nag-e-edit ng mga article para sa next print out. Bigla nalang dumating si Chloe at dumiretso sa'kin. No hi or hello. Just that.

"Nabasa mo ba?" I smiled at her.

"Of course..." She rolled her eyes before sitting. "Kaya nga ako nandito eh."

I knew that her bitchy tone caught Xavier's attention. Sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay napansin kong napatingin siya sa'min.

"If you couldn't understand that, I'll explain okay." Gusto kong matawa dahil dama kong naasar siya sa tono na ginamit ko. Para akong nakikipag-usap sa bata.

"Please do dahil sa tingin ko ay okay naman siya. In fact, I know that it's perfect." She gave me a boastful smile.

Ang plastic talaga nitong babaeng 'to.

"Yup, you're right." She threw me a smug look. "Unfortunately, your whole article was a total no no."

Tumaas ang kanyang kilay. "What do you mean by that? You said it was perfect!"