One Shot Stories

23. Paano mo nasabi?

PANO MO NASABI?

Nakangiting kinakabahan si Legacy habang nakatayo sa malawak na entablablado ng kanilang paaralan. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso niyang parang tumatahip-tahip. Inaanunsiyo ngayon ang mga minor awards ng sinalihan niyang pageant. Hindi naman talaga niya ginusto na sumali ngunit walang choice ang kanyang mga kagrupo. Hindi rin sang-ayon ang nakararami sa school based camp na sumali siya dahil sa malaki niyang katawan ngunit pinush parin nila na sumali siya. Mga hangal.

Ngumiti siya ng nakita ang walang buhay na mga mata ng kanyang longtime crush na si Justice na nakatingin sa stage. Sa kanya.

'Assuming' sinampal niya ang kanyang sarili mentally at nagfocus ulit. Ngunit hindi talaga siya maka-focus at hindi na alam ang nangyayari.

"MISS BODY BEAUTIFUL IS CANDIDATE NUMBER 5!" bigla siyang naglakad papunta sa gitna ng stage. Many people we're shouting. Not because they're cheering but because they are complaining.

'What award is this again?'

'What candidate number am i?'

'Why did i put ny foot forward?'

Numerous questions came crashing through her mind. Nasapak siya ng katotohanan ng makita niya ang mga tao na inatin ang mga kamay nila at inilabas ang limang daliri. Candidate number 5. She stared at the left side of the stage and she saw Lexie, candidate number 5 glaring at her. She felt nervous. Reality slapped her.

'I'M CANDIDATE NUMBER 15! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK LEGACY!' she's internally crying and cursing at herself as she glanced at Justice. He was grinning like he was so happy that she got embarrassed. It makes her heart ache.

She felt like her whole dignity was crashed like a glass that cannot be replace anymore. She felt embarrassed of herself that's why she ran. She ran without noticing a slight hump on the ground that made her fall. Everybody laughed. Everybody was making fun of her.

"BABOOOY OINK OINK! HAHAHA!"

"GINAGAWAMUEE?!"

"SALI SALI PA KASI SA PAGEANT. PARANG ANG SEXY NAMAN."

A lone tear escaped from her eye. Nanghina ang loob niya at gusto niyang humagulgol ngunit mas lalo siyang pagtatawanan ng nakararami. Kaya kahit na masakit ang tuhod ay tumayo siya, paika-ika dahil sa heels na nasira. She glance at the audience once again to see if Justice was there but he was nowhere to be found. She continued walking to get herself out of the mess and embarrassment she did.

"ANG TANGA TANGA KO! ANG TANGA TANGA KO!" sigaw niya at pinagpupukpok ang sarili. She shouted curses to express her emotions. She cried and hurt herself for a few minutes. Her team wasn't the only one ruined but also, her. She's ruined.

"WHY DO I HAVE TO JOIN THAT PAGEANT? WHY DO THEY HAVE TO FORCE ME IF THEY KNEW THAT I WON'T EVEN RECEIVE A SINGLE DAMN AWARD? GUSTO NIYO LANG TALAGA AKONG MAPAHIYA?! WHY?! MGA GAGO ANI BANG NALING GINAWA KO?! FVCK THIS LIFE! FVCK YOU AAAAALLLL!"

Nakarinig si Legacy ng kaluskos kaya napatigil siya sa kasisigaw.

"Because they're insecure that you're much prettier than them, you're just chubby. They want to drag you down." napalingon siya sa likuran niya ng marinig ang isang napakapamilyar na boses. Her heart went hastily beating and her breathing became heavy. He smiled. Her heart fell.

"Am i supposed to take that as a compliment or an insult?" kumunot ang noo ni Legacy habang nagtatanong. He's her crush! Justice is her crush! But that doesn't mean pwede niyang itake for granted niya ito para insultuhin siya. Hustiya naman sa lahat ng nanglait sa kanya oh.

"Compliment" he took a seat beside her. Beside her means BESIDE HER. She's freaking out. Her heart won't stop saying lub-dub fast.

"You just called me fat!" she reasoned out. She heard a soft chuckle.

"Miss Legacy, i thought you're smart? I said chubby, not fat. You should know the difference." he stated.

'He fvcking knows me. He knows my name. My crush knows me'' She's freaking out on her mind but decided to stay quite for some time but she eventually can't help to ask.

"Why are you here? With me? You're gonna laugh at me, too? Kainsu-insulto ba talaga ako?" she ask seriously not minding her heartbeat. She's so serious at the moment but he offered her something to eat. Patata. Her favorite chips. Natutukso siya pero yung pride niya. She did not look at the food instead, she looked at his supposed to be cold eyes. His cold eyes that was covered with ice and cannot be melt. But right now it was like between spring and summer. She felt warm while he's staring at her eyes directly.

Ibinaba ni Justice ang chichirya at seryosong nagsalita.

"Every person, living or dead doesn't deserve to be humiliated and bullied. And that includes you. The only problem with you is, instead of cheering yourself up and boosting your confidence, you're believing in what other people say to you and you're just dragging yourself down more than them." Legacy's eyebrows was furrowed as Justice speak.

"Legacy. I am telling that you are beautiful—"

"If you're just saying that to make me feel good, then better get out—"

"I am not. I am saying this because this is my real opinion about you. You are smart. You are chubby. You are beautiful. You are Legacy and that's what makes you beautiful. You are Legacy that's why i like you."

The way he spat those words in front of her made her heart jump with joy. She can't believe that her melancholia was suddenly replaced by euphoria. But she composed herself.

"You don't like a person like me." she stated as she syared at his dreamy eyes. He smiled that made her more gullible. Shit.

"Pano mo nasabi? Are you me? Are you Justice?" he smiled once again as Legacy shyly shook her head. He's genuinely happy.

"I like you Legacy. Don't drag yourself down anymore. Aaand—" he stopped which made Legacy stared at him in confusion. He offered the potato chips.

"Take a bite if you want to find Justice in your Heart."

She stopped before laughing but she, is also happy. After all the humiliation she received a while ago.

"Korni" she said before getting a piece in the plastic and taking a bite. Justice smiled in pure bliss. He tried to stop himslef but he can't resist her now. He kissed her with sincerity and love under the bright moonlight.

"I love you" he stated. Legacy stayed quite but she giggled when she thought of something that made Justice have his blank face.

"Pano mo nasabi?" -Legacy