status: it's COMPLICATED! (COMPLETED)

Chapter 39

“ACCHHOOOO!”

*sniffs. .

‘Ano ba naman ‘tong kasama ko. Kanina pa bahing ng bahing.’

Naglalakad na kami ngayon papuntang Quadrangle. Doon kasi ia-announce ang awards and winners, pero mag-mula nung bumaba kami sa parking lot, every minute ata kung maka-bahing si Batman.

“Tyler, punta muna ako sa Group namin. Papa-sign muna ako ng attendance ko. Texan nalang tayo mamaya kung saan tayo magkikita.”

“Sige. Achoo!” saka na siya naglakad papunta din sa group ng Department nila.

“ANNA!” nilingon ko ‘yong pinang-galingan ng boses. Si Nicole, katabi si Kevin at naka-upo sila sa bleachers. “Halika na dito! May ni-reserve kami na upuan mo!”

Agad naman akong lumapit sakanila at na-upo.

“Ba’t antagal mo?” tanong ni Kevin.

“Huh? Ah. . eh. . Si Tyler kasi, ambagal mag-drive kanina.” Mag-mula kasi nung nag-usap sila ni Tito sa phone, parang lutang na siya mag-drive. Ewan ko ba. Parang may iniisip.

MC: “GOOODMMOOOORNING GUYS!!! Sana naging masarap ang tulog niyo kagabi. Excited na ba kayong malaman kung sino ang nanalo? Kung Oo, parehas tayo! Pero bago yan, ia-award muna namin ang mga nanalo sa minor games kahapon. So wag na nating patagalin ang suspense, let’s start!”

Isa-isa nang in-enumerate ng MC ang winners. From Sports games then to Parlor games and lastly the Ultimate Challenge Obstacle Course.

MC: “Bago ko sabihin kung sinong Department ang ating “OVERALL CHAMPION”, mayroon muna ako’ng isang award na ipre-present. Usually, hindi tayo nag-aaward nito, pero today is an exception. This next award is “Best Buddies Award”. Yesterday, we had a lot of games that requires a partner, and regarding that, meron tayong Partners na nag-excel in all the games they’ve played together. They proved that differences are not a reason for a team to fail, and that a petty quarrel among themselves should be set aside for the good of their Department. May I call on Mrs. Morales to award this plaque to the winners.”

Lumapit naman si Mrs. Morales sa stage atsaka siya nag-salita sa mic.

“Yesterday, this two persons never wanted to be paired together. They insist that they are different, that they don’t work together. But I didn’t believe them. I took my chance and paired them nonetheless. Now, this will be the first and I guess the last time that I am proud to say, “THEY ARE WRONG.” They just proved that sometimes, the person whom you think you won’t get along with, is actually the person who will push you to do your best. May they serve as a model for all of you. So, let’s not keep it long, Our Best Buddies Award goes to Mr. Christian Beltran of the Medicine Department and Ms. Nicole Marcelane Villa of the Nursing Department.” Nag-palakpakan naman kaming lahat. Abay siyempre, proud bestfriend ata to!

"Unfortunately, Mr. Beltran won’t be able to come today because his Grandmother died last night at 9:00pm because of Heart Attack. Let us all offer a minute of silence and prayer for the soul of the departed.” Lahat kami ay natahimik, hindi lang dahil sinabi ni Ma’am Morales kundi dahil alam naming lahat ang pakiramdam ng namatayan.

That is the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone.

After a minute. . .

MC: “Can I call on Ms. Nicole Marcelane Villa to accept this award in behalf of Mr. Christian Beltran. Let us give them a round of applause.” Nag-palakpakan ang lahat. “So Ms. Nicole, meron ka bang message para sa mga team mates mo o para kay Christian?”