"So, who do you have in mind?"
As if we had so much choice. I coudn't afford choosing Dos again, Cole might think we are coward. The only ones available were Cinco, Siyete, Otso and Diyes.
Oo, apat na lang sila, pera ang hirap pumili. I knew they were all capable, but that was not the only matter to be thought of.
No cooperation between the two contenders will result to defeat. That's for sure.
But what do I expect? Class A contained members who are lonesome. Hindi sila basta-basta nakikipag-usap sa iba maging sa kagrupo nila.
Kami yata ang pinakainiiwasang pangkat ng lahat.
"Where are we heading again?" I remembered to ask. Patuloy lang ako sa paglalakad sa tabi niya na hindi man lang alam kung saan tutungo. Nakalimutan ko rin kung bakit wala kaming pagsasanay ngayon.
"You serious? Sa Building 5, first floor, room number 3. May meeting ngayon tungkol sa patimpalak. Wala ka yata sa katinuan nang sabihin iyon e," maktol niya. Kahit papaano ay may silbi rin ang pagiging mabunganga niya.
"Ah, the phases will be announced?" I asked.
She nodded and replied, "Yeah, I heard class E was finally joining. That's why we have exhibition, to celebrate as well."
"Matalino talaga si Dr. Cole. Don't you agree?" I asked. He had been monitoring me and Tres for a while now. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa buong Class A, kami lang ang palagi niyang nakikita.
"Yeah, gusto niya talaga sigurong malaman kung sino ang mas magaling sa inyo ni Onse. Paborito niya 'yon e," wika nito na sinundan pa niya ng halakhak. Tsk, I also don't like the man he mentioned. Sabagay, hawak naman talaga ni Dr. Cole ang Class B at mukhang hindi niya hahayaang may mas lalakas pa sa klase niya.
"If that's what he wants. I'm gonna give it to him. Don't ruin the match," I stated. Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at tinitigan siya.
She stopped as well and swallowed a couple of times.
"Ah,eh, male-late na tayo," aniya at kumaripas ng takbo patunhong silid. Napangiti na lang ako sa inasta niya. Childish.
Nahuli akong pumasok at nakitang nakaupo na siya sa unag hilera ng upuan. It was actually a steel seat, rectangular in shape and long enough to accommodate fifteen people. Mahaba rin ang bakal na lamesa sa harap niya.
There are atleast five tables that extends up to the leftside of the room. At ang tanging daanan lang ay ang maliit na espasyo sa kanan banda.
I sauntered with eyes fixed on Tres. Nakaharap siya sa malaking white board at tila sinasadyang hindi pansinin ang pagdating ko.
There were some students here already.
Class C na nakaupo sa ikatlong lamesa, kompleto sila. Those students were the most friendly compared to others. Hindi na ako nagtaka kung bakit sabay-sabay silang dumating.
Tatlo palang mula sa Class B ang naririto at wala pa ang D at E.
Naupo na ako sa tabi ni Tres.
"Mayroon ka nang napili, Beinte-uno?"
"Wala pa, tingnan muna natin ang mga phases ng laro."
"Are you hearing something?" I asked. Tres diverted her gaze to me and mouthed what.
Hindi na ako nag-abalang sumagot pero patuloy ko pa ring naririnig ang usapan na nagmumula sa Class C. What confound me most was, I can hear them clearly.
Mabilis akong napalingon sa kanila at nakitang nagbubulungan ang mga ito. They are even covering their mouths. The heck? That's weird.
Sinulyapan ko si Tres, mukhang wala naman siyang naririnig. Is this a side of effect of the session? Pero bakit ako lang?
