𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐃 [UNDER MAJOR REVISION]

KABANATA #9: Broken Song

Avery doesn't have a strength to get up right now. She feels so drain. She feels so weak. Kahit ayaw nyang bumangon ay pinilit nya ang sarili na tumayo. She needs to go to school. She fixed and readied herself for school. Unlike her usual routine, she didn't cook for Denver today. She left the house without bothering her husband.

Pagdating na pagdating nya sa room nila ay agad syang sinalubong ng kaibigan.

"Good morning Avery." pagbati nito sa kanya.

"Good morning Yumi." walang buhay nyang tugon.

Nangunot ang noo ni Yumi sa inakto ng kaibigan. Naningkit ang kanyang mata habang sinusuri ang mukha ni Avery.

"What happened? May sakit ka ba?" tanong nya sabay hawak sa may leeg ni Avery.

"Huh? Ah. Wala."

"Bat parang ang tamlay mo?" nag aalalang tanong ni Yumi.

"Wala. Okay lang ako. Don't worry."

"Ah. Ganon ba. Okay. By the way Avery.... Ah. Ano kasi.."

She can sense that Yumi has something to say but hesitation is written all over her eyes and face. Nagsalubong ang kilay nya dahil mukhang may ginawa na naman ito na hindi na maganda. She already has a gut feeling that she has something to do with it.

"Ano yun Yumi? Sabihin mo na."

"Pinapatawag ka kasi ni Ms. Andrada." nakayukong sambit nito.

"Bakit daw?" naguguluhang tanong nya.

"Kasi Avery, ah. Ano kasi. Pinalistakitaparasasingingcontestmamaya."

"Ano? Hindi ko maintindihan sinasabi mo. Bagalan mo lang ang pagsasalita."

"Okay. Na alala mo ba yung sinabi ni Ms. Andrada last week? Yung about sa representative ng each section sa singing contest na part ng celebration ng Foundation day ng school natin?"

"Yeah. What about that?"

"Kasi. Pinalista kita don."

"What?!"

Parang nabingi si Avery sa narinig nyang sinabi ni Yumi. She can't believe it. Alam naman ni Yumi na ayaw nya sa mga ganitong bagay. Yes. She can sing, but not in front of a crowd, not in front of judges.

"Sorry na. Sorry, sorry. Ayaw kasi ng mga kakalase natin kaya pinalista kita. Akala ko kasi okay lang sayo."

"Yumi naman eh."

"Sorry na."

"Pwede pa bang bawiin?"

"Hindi na. Last week pa kita pinalista so akala din ni Ms. okay lang sayo na ikaw na."

That shock her more. Matagal na pala sya nitong pinalista, hindi man lang sya nito sinabihan. She didn't even gave her a heads up about the contest.

"What? Last week pa pero ngayon mo lang sakin sinabi?"

"Sorry talaga."

She wants to be angry at her for putting her in an awkward and uncomfortable situation. Pero hindi nya magawa nang makita nya ang mukha at ang mata ng kaibigan. Para itong nagpapaawa. Yumi even use the "puppy eyes" technique on her and everytime she did this, it works. It really works. Nawawala ang inis nya sa kaibigan.

"Fine. Ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko? Andyan na yan."

"Yehey! Salamat sayo Ave!"

Yumakap ang kaibigan sa kanya at nagtatalon. Natawa na lang sya sa iniasta ni Yumi. At the same time, she feels anxious on what will happen on the contest.