Feel Special

Chapter Sixteen

(Park Jihyo as Caitlyn)

ELIZIAH'S POV

Today is the first practice para sa mga athletes na sumali sa sports week and I really hope Ari convinced Samarra to keep her place.

"Let's put our bags down there." sabi ni Ari sa'kin as soon as we entered the room.

Everyone stopped moving, as if Ari has some kind of powers to stop time.

"jeez, these people." I hear her say under her breath.

"just do whatever you're doing." she said louder this time and everyone resumed their works.

"still got the chills." Rhea said right beside Ari.

"me too." Audrey seconded and I shook my head.

Sumama sa'min sina Audrey, Rhea at Chloe dahil wala raw naman silang gagawin. Plus, they're curious to know who Samarra is.

But I think their last reason is actually the main one. If Samarra shows up though.

Nilagay na namin ang mga bag namin sa vacant bench while the trio just sat beside it.

"there you are." I heard a voice say kaya napalingon ako sa entrance ng gym.

Caitlyn, the SC President came in with a smile on her face.

"hello Eliziah, Aries." bati niya sa'min.

"no fair, notice us too.." Audrey said with a pout.

Caitlyn chuckled at her as she greeted the trio before turning to look at Ari and me again.

"so, I heard hindi kayo marunong nito?" she asked.

"unfortunately no." sagot ko and she nodded with a friendly smile.

"you're both lucky your third member knows just how." pagkasabi niya nu'n ay may pumasok sa gym ng nagtatatakbo.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" sigaw ng babaeng nakayuko at hingal na hingal.

"here she is." sabi ni Caitlyn at tinapik sa balikat ang dumating, inangat naman agad nito ang ulo.

Wow, this Samarra is really really pale and beautiful.

"guys, this is Samarra Reyes." pakilala ni Caitlyn sa babae.

"hello, I'm Audrey." sabi ni Audrey at nakipag shake hands dito.

"he-hello." bati ni Samarra.

The rest of the trio introduced their names at nakipag shake hands din.

"hi Samarra, my name's Eliziah." pakilala ko rin at nakipag shake hands.

"he-hello." bati niya ulit.

We all looked at Ari, waiting for her to introduce herself but she just shrug.

"we've been classmates for years, she knows me and I know her." sabi nito sabay aalis sana pero tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

Sighing ay humarap siya kay Samarra.

"I'm Aries, it's nice to meet you properly this time, Samarra." sabi niya at iniabot ang kamay.

Parang gulat naman ang itsura ni Samarra to the point na kinuha ni Audrey ang kamay nito para ipa shake hands kay Ari.

"she doesn't bite." naka ngiting sabi ni Audrey.

"o-okay." sagot ni Samarra.

"okay now that you all know each other, Samarra will teach you both the basics and all that's needed to know sa sport na 'to." sabi ni Caitlyn at ngumiti.

"I'll leave her guys in your care, please welcome her..okay?" sabi nito.

Sabay naman kaming umu-o sa kanya, even Ari that made me smile.

Umalis na si Caitlyn pagkatapos nu'n.

"here, let me take your bag." I heard Audrey say kaya nilingon ko siya.

Napa ngiti rin ako ng tignan ko sila ni Samarra, something is going on Audrey's mind. I can seriously feel it.

"iniisip mo ba ang iniisip ko?" biglang bulong ni Rhea sa tabi ko kaya napatalon ako sa gulat.

"yah!" saway ko sa kanya sabay hampas sa braso niya.

Tumawa naman siya sabay peace sign sa'kin.

"sorry." sabi niya kaya tumango nalang ako.

"but really, iniisip mo ba ang naiisip ko?" she asks me and sabay nguso kina Audrey at Samarra na ngayon ay nag-uusap na para bang long lost best friends.

Or more on Audrey with all smiles while trying to make Samarra talk.

"I guess so." sabi ko rin.

Hinanap ko kung nasa'n si Ari and I found her just sitting beside Chloe.

Napa ngiti ako sa dalawa, pareho kasi silang tahimik kaya siguro magkasundo sila.

Umupo naman kami ni Rhea sa bench kung sa'n naka upo ang apat.

"do you want to join us for lunch tomorrow?" rinig naming tanong ni Audrey kay Samarra.

"ahm, s-siguro 'wag na-nalang." utal-utal na sagot nito.

"hey, relax..stop stuttering..we won't do anything bad sa'yo." we heard Audrey say, nagka tinginan kami ni Rhea.

For all these weeks na magkakilala kami ni Audrey, ito lang ang time na kalmadong-kalmado ang boses niya.

"this thing is getting real girl." bulong sa'kin ni Rhea na tinanguan ko.

I turned to look at Ari and I can see her almost closing her eyes habang nakasandal kay Chloe while the latter is on the verge of sleeping as well.

I took my phone out at nag take ng stolen picture ng dalawa while Rhea just stared at the two in awe.

"let's wake them up after we set everything?" sabi ni Rhea kaya tumango ako.

Inayos namin ang mga kailangan while the quiet duo sleep and the other two still talking, well half talking coz Samarra seems like she's still adjusting.

After awhile ay ginising namin ang dalawa.

"wake up." sabi ko sa dalawa.

"Ari, Chloe.." tawag ko and they both opened their eyes at the same time.

"let's start?" tanong ko kay Ari na kinatango niya.

"you can lean on me Chloe." sabi ni Rhea dito na umupo sa tabi nito.

"practice lang muna kami saglit Chloe ah?" sabi ko na kinatango ng inaantok pa ring si Chloe.

"come on Ari." I said, pulling Ari up.

"tell Samarra first." sabi nito ng humihikab pa.

What's with these two being all so sleepy?

Nag shrug nalang ako at lumapit kina Samarra at Audrey.

"girls." sabi ko ng naka ngiti.

Naka ngiti namang tumingin sa'kin si Audrey while Samarra looked down at the floor.

"hey Samarra, relax..from now on, we're friends already." sabi ko na kina angat ng ulo nito, shocked expression on her face.

"sinabi ko nga 'yan sa kanya but she seems like ayaw niyang maniwala sa'kin." naka pout na sabi ni Audrey kaya natawa ako.

"yah! don't laugh at me." reklamo nito kaya tumigil ako sa pagtawa.

"okay, okay..sorry but yeah, believe her Samarra..magkakaibigan na tayo lahat, even that sleeping girls over there." sabi ko sabay turo kina Ari at Chloe.

Unti-unti namang ngumiti si Samarra sa'min ni Audrey kaya napa ngiti ako.

"so, let's start?" tanong ko sa kanya na kina tango niya.

"practice lang muna kami." sabi niya kay Audrey.

"okay, goodluck!" naka ngiting cheer nito kay Samarra.

Oh gosh Audrey, you're way too obvious now.