Faking Delays

11. Want

Kristeena Abegaile

  

I WASN'T able to hear Sandy's answer, pero tiwala naman ako na maganda 'yun.

"What's her question?" bulong ko sa katabi ko habang may nag i intermission sa harap dahil kino compute pa ang total score ng mga kalahok.

"Hmm?" Lumingon si Fella. "Ah, you mean, Sandy's? 'Di ko na siya maalala as in, but I think it goes like this... 'If you were given a chance to be the next Miss TeenBeauty, what would you do with the position?'. Something like that."

"And her answer?"

"Nakalimutan ko na e," aniya. "But it was super cool and model-material. She should really be the next Miss TeenBeauty!"

I shrugged. "I'll just ask her later, then."

"Okay, ladies and gentlemen! Let's give our performers a big around of applause!" Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao. "Thank you, guys. Now, going back to our competition... I now have the result." Itinaas niya ang hawak na card. "This card holds the name of our next Miss TeenBeauty, and I want you guys to guess who it could be."

Nagsigawan ang mga tao sa paligid. Shouting their supported candidates. Hindi ko na kailangan pang sumigaw. Boses pa lang ng fans club ni Sandy, solve na.

"Okay, okay, I've heard a lot of numbers and names but it could only be one of them. Hindi ko na patatagalin pa ang pag aantay ninyo. I'll first call our third runner up, then the second, then the first, and finally, our Miss TeenBeauty. Okay, if you heard your name, please step forward." Binuksan niya ang card. "Okay, miss Robles, candidate number 13! Congratulation!"

Hindi makapaniwala ang babae at napa hagulgol. "Oh my god! Thank you!" saad nito.

"Next is... Miss Lopeñia, candidate number 6, please take a step forward!" Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao habang kirokoronahan ang mga nanalo.

"And our first runner up... Miss Valdes, candidate number 10, congratulation!" Mangiyak-ngiyak ang mga tao na hindi pa rin natatawag. Tinignan ko si Sandy at nakita kong kalmado lang siya. It's as if she's saying that, 'I know it'd be me, bitches. Just you wait.'

And never in her life, has she been so right. "Miss Rosario, candidate number 8, congratulation, you are our next Miss TeenBeauty! Come here and get your crown!" Sandy just smirked and gave us a knowing look. 'I knew it,' she muttered.

Nagpalakpakan kami with matching standing ovation pa! Syempre, proud friends e! Naghiyawan din ang mga fans niya.

Kumaway-kaway ito sa amin wearing her dashing smile. "Thank you! Thank you all!" aniya pa. Drama queen talaga.

Naglakad siya sa gitna at lumapit sa kan'ya ang dating Miss TeenBeauty para iturn-over ang crown. She smiled and whispered something to Sandy. Ngumiti naman ang bruha at nagpasalamat.

"Okay, thank you everyone. Sa lahat ng sumali at nag participate, thank you and still, congrats. You all did your best," sabi ng emcee. Nagkaroon ng kaunting celebration ang mga nanalo at nag picture-picture pa.

Napa titig ako kay Fella nang tumili ito. "I'm so happy for her! Oh my god! I knew that it's gonna be her, I knew it!" Tumalon-talon ito at niyakap ako.

"Oo na." Inalis ko ang pagkakayakap niya sa akin. "Just stop hugging me," saad ko dito.

She pouted. "Arte naman neto. Let's go to Sandy na nga lang. Let's congratulate her."

Hinila niya ang braso ko at lumapit kami sa stage. "Hey, Sands! Are you done?" tanong ni Fella kay Sandy na busy makipag usap sa mga judges.

Sandali akong nabuhayan ng loob nang hindi makita ng mata ko si Harris. I heaved a sigh. Baka naguilty. Psh.

Sandy excused herself and came closer to us. "We all need to talk. Pero later na lang sa bahay pag tapos natin mag celebrate."

"Saan ba tayo magce celebrate?" tanong ko.

"I know!" masayang singit ni Fella. "Let's go to the Clu--"

"And please don't say, 'club'. I've had enough of that shit and I won't go back there anymore." Nagpamulsa ako. "Ayoko na." And his face were coming back again. Umiling ako at mariing pumikit. 'Forget about him, Kris!' paalala ko sa sarili.

"Fine. Kain na lang tayo sa labas." Sumang-ayon ako sa suhestiyon ni Sandy. "But before that," lumapit sa akin si Sandy, "you need to talk to that guy." May nginuso si Sandy sa likuran ko at awtomatiko akong napa lingon.

Natahimik na naman ako nang makita ko siyang naka tayo habang nagce cellphone. Damn. "Uh... why?" tanong ko.

"He said that he needs to tell you something important."

Bigla akong kinabahan at na pressure sa sinabi niyang iyon. "But I... I don't know him!" pag kakaila ko. "Bakit niyo 'ko ipapakausap sa hindi ko kilala?!"

Bahagya akong tinulak ni Fella. "Yieee! Just go, Kris! Dito lang kami," pang aasar niya.

I gave her a bored look. Magsasalita na sana ako nang...

"Sandeiya." Lumingon ako at nakita siyang nasa harap ko na. "I can manage now, thank you."

"No problem. Thanks for the tip," naka ngiti nitong sabi at hinila niya palayo si Fella. "Let's go. Those lovebirds need to talk."

"Alam ba ni Sandy ang tungkol sa nangyari?" tanong ko sa sarili. "The fuck, did he tell her?!"

"Kristeena." At isa pa 'tong ugok na 'to. Bwiset! Kanina pa!

"Ano ba?" singhal ko sa kan'ya. "Ano bang gusto mo?! Ba't ang kulit-kulit mo?" tanong ko dito.

Tinitigan niya lang ako ng diretso sa mata bago sumagot. "I want you."

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Author's Note:

Naks, sana all want. Hays.

Anyway, what can you say about Harris so far? He got that don't-mess-with-me-or-I'll-kill-your-whole-family vibe but he's actually a very friendly guy if you get to know him. Hehe.

Happy reading, loves, and stay hydrated, okay! Drink a lot of water!

Love,
RM