My Nation (Completed)

The Tradition

Chapter 19

Tradition? Ano na naman ito?

"We overlooked it. We are already one week late," sabi ni Prince Eaux.

"Yeah. We haven't planned a single detail," sabi naman ni Prince Zoltar.

"Maybe now is the time since all of us are already here," sabi ni Prince Eaux. Okay so ano ito?

"Psst Eaux," bulong ni Prince Feesy sabay turo sa akin kaya napatingin siya sa akin.

"Oh right. Yani I'm sorry. Uhm do you have any idea about the tradition? Did Dad mentioned to you anything about it?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Uhm no. I mean none," sagot ko.

"Oh, well you see it's been a tradition of Eullenuum Nation that every year at March 26, we celebrate a certain event and that is to have a tournament of the cabins. Each cabin is going to present a certain game and we, the princes, will take care of it."

"Uhm a competition?" paglilinaw ko.

"Oui. ("Yes" in French) And whatever cabin wins, will get a price that lasts until April 1."

"So it's a one week price?"

"Yes. We will also discuss about that uhm right now."

"Okay," sabi ko habang tumatango.

There was just silence after I said that at nagtinginan lang sila sa isa't isa. O bakit hindi pa sila magsimulang mag-usap? Tumingin lahat sa akin. Oh okay. Mukhang na-gets ko na.

"And uhm I'm not a part of it?" na-realize kong tanong.

"Yes..." sagot ni Prince Eaux. "I mean no." What? Ano ba talaga Prince Eaux?

"Well yes and no. Yes because you're not part of this meeting about the tradition but no because you're still part of the tradition. Of course since this is your first time then you have to participate with us," paglilinaw ni Prince Eaux.

Hindi na ako umimik at tinignan lamang siya.

"But we're going to have a problem since you're part of the Main Cabin and we cannot think of which cabin or should we say team we will put you into so maybe we'll also talk about it right now and one of us will inform you later," dagdag niya.

Ah okay. Tumango na lang ako... pero may gusto rin kasi akong sabihin pero hindi ko masabi kaya I looked away from them. Napansin ito ni Prince Eaux.

"Uhm is there anything wrong Yani? Are you confused about what I said?" tanong niya.

I smiled weakly. "No. I understood it but..."

"But what?"

"Uhm..." I started playing with my fingers. "I was thinking about something that maybe you can also talk about."

"Oh sure. What is that?"

Tinignan ko muna ang bawat prinsipe na nakatingin lang sa amin at binaling din ang tingin sa mesa.

"Uhm I don't know if you guys should really talk about it and since you mentioned about that tradition I've got this idea that maybe... uhm you know... uuhh... uhm..." nauutal kong sabi. Ang hirap kasing sabihin talaga.

Humugot ako ng hininga. "Go ahead Yani say it. Don't worry we will—"

"I think I should leave this nation after that tradition you are all talking about," diretso kong saad.

Napatigil si Prince Eaux at nagulat ang lahat sa sinabi ko.

"What?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Prince Turuki.