Kick-Start

Competitions

Note: So sorry for the delay! Alam niyo naman nakikigulo pa ako sa HT these past few days.

---

Ella and James went to the same University. The first time they met was at a competition for Buwan ng Wika.

Ella lost to James in the Poetry Recitation contest in their freshman year.

James barely paid any attention to the other contestants; he just wanted to do well and win because his grandmother would attend and the piece he chose was one of her favorite poems in Filipino. Ella wanted to win so that she would have something to take home to her parents who couldn't make it to watch her.

"Hmph. Pogi kasi kaya siya yung pinapanalo," Ella complained. It was unfair, she knew. The boy was good and delivered an impassioned performance that left most of the female audience swooning.

"Huuu! Pati ikaw kinilig dun eh. Aminin mo na. Magaling siya. Believable," her friend, Jean, said.

Before Ella could respond, a voice interrupted them. "Oo nga, Miss. Aminin mo na kinilig ka at pogi ako."

Ella and Jean turned to see James walking behind them. He overheard their exchange. Ella was embarrassed and incensed. "Excuse me. Pwede bang wag kang sumabat sa conversation namin."

James, for his part, found the girl... different. She had really big, light brown eyes that seemed to show him their different expressions, a high-bridged small nose, high cheekbones and full luscious red, red lips. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back and her skin was the color of caramel. At first, he wasn't sure if he would call her pretty, just that she had unique, alluring eyes; the more he stared though, the more he realized, she had one of those faces you never tired of looking at.

"Pwede bang..." James paused dramatically before saying, "Makasama ka habang buhay?"

"Sampalin kita gusto mo?"

"No! Huwag. Joke lang. Pinatatawa ka lang. Hi. I'm James," he extended his hand and offered it to both girls.

"Jean."

After that handshake was done, he offered it again to Ella.

Finally, she gave in and told him her name. "Sorry sa nasabi ko kanina. I just... I wanted to win."

"Lahat naman tayo. Okay lang yun. Next time, mananalo ka na tapos ako naman maiinis."

Ella laughed. "Anyway, congrats."

"Thank you."

"Uuwi na kami. Sasabay lang kasi ako kay Jean," Ella said.

"Uy! Buti naalala niyo pa na nandito ako 'no?" Jean said, making both Ella and James blush.

"Dito ka ba sa gate na ito parati dumadaan pauwi?" James asked Ella. She nodded. "Uy sige sana makita kita parati."

"Bigay mo nalang kaya cellphone number mo?" Jean said.

"Oo nga. Teka," while he was scribbling his number, an elderly woman called him.

"James! Bilisan mo na yang pagpapa-cute mo diyan! Uuwi na tayo!"

"Okay po, Lola!"

"Pa-cute ka ng pa-cute. Nagtoothbrush ka ba?"

"Lola!" His grandmother laughed. Turning back to the two girl, he bid them,"Sige una na ako. Nice meeting you, Ella, Jean."