Caressing My Perplexed Stella [HS #3]

CHAPTER 10

National Schools Press Conference
Mactan, Cebu

It was one hour and thirty minutes flight from The New Manila International Airport, also known as the Bulacan International Airport to Mactan-Cebu International Airport. We are know six hundred kilometers away from home, and the great Mactan welcome us with its warm breeze.

Nang itapak namin ang aming mga paa sa labas ng aiport ay iba na ang pakiramdam, hindi na ito ang lugar kung saan kami nasanay. It wasn't my first time here but with my co-journalists, it is.

"Ma'am Fronda! Ah, nice to see you again!" Nakita kong sinalubong kami ng isang matandang lalaki, kalalabas lang nito mula sa isang bus. Nag-usap sila sandali, he is familiar to me. Probably from our city too.

Sa window ng bus ay nakapaskil ang isang bondpaper kung saan nakasulat ang "Delegates from Region Three: Malolos, Bulacan." Which means that this service is for us, the other delegates from our region and the other region has reserved bus too to take them into their hotels or in the schools which is prepared for them.

"Pumasok na kayo, you reserved a hotel close to the contest proper, right? Iba talaga ang mga taga-Malolos!" Natawa ako nang sabihin niya iyon, the pride of Bulacan, maybe.

"Have you heard about the Novo Ecijanos? Oh God, I can't take that. They rented the entire hotel for three days, that's just out of bounds!" Our head said, hindi namin kaya ang budget na iyon! I wonder then, kung sa Nueva Ecija siguro kami tumira ay baka kasama na rin ako sa mga journalists na tinutukoy ngayon.

Kagaya nga ng sinabi ko, minsan ay ayaw bumalik doon ni Daddy. Even though the first Hechanovas live there, they stayed in Bulacan for a very long time now.

Sumakay na nga kami sa bus, sa bandang dulo ako naupo katabi si Sea. Tinignan ko si Kale na nakangisi sa akin at bumulong pa. "Hindi kayo pwedeng magtabi ngayon, ang daming bantay..." Pang-aasar niya pa sabay tingin sa mga teachers na nasa bandang harapan.

"Damn you," I whispered back which made him laugh. Ako ang nakaupo sa aisle seat dahil si Sea ang nasa tabi ng bintana, nakapikit ito at halatang in-enjoy ang personal peace. Sa aking tapat ay si George, aisle seat din.

"What are we going to do later?" He asked.

"I don't know too, depends on what the head will say. But I think, were just going to rest for today." Sagot ko, bukas pa naman ang pagbubukas ng contest so we have a free time today.

"Hmm, alright. Magpahinga ka at magbabasa naman ako." Nakangiti niya pang wika, inilahad niya ang kamay at napatingin ako roon. "Don't worry, they won't look back." Bulong niya, napangisi ako at kaagad na tinanggap iyon. Magkahawak ang aming kamay at hindi naging sagabal ang aisle sa aming dalawa.

"I'm so fed up with Dale and George," Real said and I just rolled my eyes.

"Alam mo, hawakan mo na lang kamay ni Siarra." Bati ko kaya naman napangiwi ito.

"George, namumuro ka na sa amin..." Natatawa pang sabi ni Wade at mahina pang sinuntok ang braso ng boyfriend ko.

It was not a long road, the hotel was just was just twenty minutes travel from the airport. Nang tumigil ang aming sasakyan at tumanaw ako sa labas, alam kong nasa tutuluyan na kami. Binitawan ko na ang kamay ni George, kinuha niya ang aking bag at pinauna naming bumaba ang mga teachers bago kami tuluyang lumabas.

"Thank you so much! I'll see you there tomorrow!" Rinig kong sabi ng school head sa kaninang sumalubong sa amin.

"Enjoy your stay there, and by the way, may sasalubungin pa ako. The bus will pick you up tomorrow at seven in the morning, see you tomorrow!" Nagpasalamat kami sa sumalubong sa amin at kaagad na kaming pumasok sa lobby ng hotel.