Call of the Battlefield Online (TAGLISH)

Level 11:\Estelle

Level 11:\Estelle Conejo\Disconnect -Just Spill It!-

Estelle's eyes widened as the screens showed Derek's team blasted Ren and his teammates in their base. The crowd on her right screamed at every gunshot. Yet some of the gamers at her left shouted curses at the Valenzuela Valiants.

Rivas screamed at the crowd, “The Valenzuela Valiants pinned the Triggers for real! Can the Tejeros Triggers at least strike again?”

Walang hiya ang Derek na iyan! Walang hiya! Estelle clenched her fists, as she saw Derek blasted Ren's and Chesa's in-game characters. Without at least three seconds to fight back.She put her hands together, then prayed to God that everything will be all right outside the games. Her prayer remained unfinished, as the crowd howled at Derek's bloody moves.

  

Kasabwat yata ni Derek yung lalakeng naka-hood kanina! She clenched her right fist, as if she wanted to punch somebody right now!

  

She gazed at the crowd for another second, as if she wanted to set them ablaze. A second after, she walked away with a frown. Sa oras na makita ko pagmumukha nu'n, sasapaki—

  

“Tabi nga!” Franzen bumped into her, then she fell to the floor. “Pahara-hara ka!”

Estelle got up in a flash, then she slowly followed Franzen to a nearby sari-sari store. Siya yung nanigaw sa'kin kanina!

  

She took a picture of him with her smartphone. Kung makipag-usap siya kanina, parang kanya na ang lugar!

  

Estelle clenched her left fist, as Franzen walked away, with snacks, from the food stall. Buti na lang, hindi niya ako napansin! Kung hindi, masasapak ko na siya!

  

“Based from the team deathmatch scores, Valenzuela Valiants win the Grand Finals!” Rivas announced.

  

She noticed the blue-lighted gaming booth's lights flickered fast. The convention hall's speakers blared loud music. The crowd cheered as loud as they could, until she ran toward the stage screaming, "Mandaraya si Derek! May kasabwat siya!"

  

The crowd stared at her, then three of Hagibis' fangirls splashed their drinks at her. "Insekyorang palaka!"

  

Whilst soaked in sticky soft drinks, she continued running to the stage, until Henry grabbed her. "Hey! Calm down!"

  

Estelle gazed beyond his round eyeglasses, and a fluttering feeling took over her stomach. Aba, Inglesero naman ito.

  

“Do you think people will believe in you, right now?” Henry clothed her with his black winter uniform. “You're embarrassing yourself.”

  

She hugged him, then cried at his smooth shoulder. “Mandaraya yung nanalo sa game na'yan. Mandaraya!”

  

He held her hand, then brought her away from the stage, “Let's talk about that outside, okay?”

  

As Henry walked her out from the crowd, she saw Ren and Derek out from their gaming booths.

At a nearby maid cafe, they sat at a table good for two persons. The smell of brewed coffee behind the counter calmed her down. Henry told the nearby cat-eared maid cosplayer to serve them cheesecakes, while she twiddled her thumbs in front of him.

  

Henry looked at her, “Totoo ba ang sinabi mo?”

  

She looked down at the table, and her heart raced faster. “Hmmmm... Oo, may nagtuturo kay Derek mula sa labas kanina...”

“Sino yun? Baka natatandaan mo pa mukha niya...”

  

Ayan, nag-Tagalog ka rin sa wakas! Pero ang cute mo pala kapag naka-short na school shorts ka! Estelle smiled at him, as she showed Franzen's picture to Henry from her smartphone, “Kitang-kita ko 'tong walang hiya na'to, na gumagamit siya ng radar sa cellphone niya! Naka-bluetooth pa man din!”

“Hey, don't yell at me like that...” Henry tried to calm her down.

  

As Henry's warm hands held her arms, her face blushed. Weird. Adoration without knowing names? What's supposed to be a complaint, instead led to this?

“Tanda mo rin ba kung anu-ano ang mga pinagsasabi niya?” Henry dialed a number on his smartphone, “Mahirap rin minsan na picture lang ang basis.”

  

Estelle told Henry what she heard during the alleged cheating incident, including the way Franzen treated her. Henry nodded at every sentence she spoke of, until they heard a man's voice on the other line.