Dying Embers

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen: Bahala Na

Days passed in a blur on campus, filled with a mix of busyness and monotony. Teachers and coaches were preoccupied, debating whether the upcoming Intramural Sports Day should take place on school grounds or at the stadium. They held a lengthy meeting with parents that dragged on for hours before finally deciding on the stadium. Meanwhile, students and trainers were busy practicing for the cheerleading competition, while athletes immersed themselves in their own rigorous training sessions. The air was thick with anticipation, as everyone prepared for the events that would soon bring a much-needed spark to the school year.

Natapos naman ang pageant kagabi pero hindi na ako nag-abalang pumunta. Sinabi lang sa akin ni Jilliana kung sino ang mga nanalo. As the excitement of Intramurals 2020 buzzed in the air, the winners of Mr. and Ms. Intramurals had been announced: the titles went to representatives from Grade 10 and Grade 11, while the Grade 12 contender claimed first runner-up.

Now, the real fun was just beginning. I woke up early, eager to prepare for the busy day ahead. Our P.E. teacher, Mr. Agullana, had given us an important task: we were required to write an essay on each sports game during the outdoor activities. I let out a sigh as I packed my notebook and pen into my sling bag, mentally preparing for the observations I would need to jot down.

I slipped into a pair of high-waisted faded jeans and a black spaghetti strap top, tucking it in for a neat look. Over that, I layered a Wildcats baseball jersey, leaving the buttons casually open. My white Vans completed the outfit, giving it a laid-back vibe. I let my hair fall freely, brushing it back a bit, and added a simple headband with a small ribbon to keep it from getting messy.

As I finished getting ready, I heard my phone beep from the bed. I quickly grabbed it to see who had texted me. My serious expression transformed into a wide smile when I saw his name pop up on the screen, and a wave of excitement washed over me.

Chance:

Good morning, Nieve 😘 How's the tee shirt?

Isinabay na pinagawa 'to ni Chance nang nagpagawa sila ng kanilang jersey baseball uniforms para sa Grade 11 Wildcats baseball team. Siya na rin ang nagbayad nito. Ayaw ko noong una pero pinilit niya ako para raw pareho kami. Hinayaan ko na lang din siya sa gusto niya at hindi na rin nag-reklamo.

On the back of the jersey, my name was printed in bold letters: Nieve. Beneath it was the number eight, a reminder of the day we first met. He remembered that detail, which made my heart skip a beat. We even had matching numbers on our jerseys, just like he said we would. It felt special, a little connection between us that no one else knew about.

To Chance:

Morning, too. Tee shirt's fine. Thanks, though ☺️

Chance:

Geez, you really need to do something about that emoji. I can't help but picture you smiling like that at this very moment. It's just too cute 😍

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya at napailing na lang tsaka nag-type ng reply para sa kaniya.

To Chance:

Stop joking. That was lame.

Chance:

😄 Where's my good luck, though? May laro kami mamaya mga 9:30. Wildcats versus Panthers.