Genius in Distress

Chapter XXII: Bodol Fight

“Guys, let’s take a break,” malakas na sigaw ng Prof nila using his mega phone. “Get your baon and bring it with you to the covered court. Doon tayo kakain.”

Isa isa ng nagsipagbalikan sa kinapaparadahan ng mga sasakyan nila ang mga estudyante. Aia, on the other hand, headed to the military truck to fetch her lunch bag. The covered court was just more than a hundred meters away from the coastline. Residential area na sa gawing iyon. As they headed off, Aia, joined the military. She didn’t have any choie. Wala siyang kaibigan doon. Eva was there but she was doing errands for Samantha. The girl was acting princessy with all her bodyguards in tow. She noticed she had her own special table in the covered court.

Aia saw the long tables prepared and mix of foods was placed on top of banana leaves in the corner of the gym. “What’s that?” she asked in curiosity.

“Bodol fight, Miss Aia.” Someone answered.

“Really? So what it’s going to be like?”

“Sabay-sabay po na kakain, nakatayo at nakakamay lang.”

Her eyes widen in excitement, “Cool. I’m in.” She felt alive all of a sudden for the new experience. “So what are you still waiting for? Bodol fight na!” She hurriedly went off to the table.

Aia passed her baon to the soldier next to her, “Please, pakilagay.”

“Nooooo!”

Nagtaka si Aia ng sabay na magprotesta si Markus at Alex, her enthusiasm suddenly cold off. “Don’t you want me to join?” she asked them in small voice.

“No, it’s not that Aia. Of course we want you to join.” Markus said. “But you can keep your baon. See, we have plenty here.”

Her mood was back. “You mean that?”

Markus nodded.

“But sayang naman ang luto ni Mang Arnulfo kung hindi makakain.”

“Mang Arnulfo?” Alex asked. Puzzled.

“Yes. He prepared this for me.”

Parang nakahinga ng maluwag ang mga ito. “Of course, we love mang Arnulfo’s cooking. “Singson pakihalo nga ang baong dala ni Miss Aia.”

“Where’s Lt. Castellejos?” tanong niya sa dalawa ng hindi makita ng mga mata niya si Lt. Castellejos.

Alex pointed to Samantha’s table. “Samantha invited us to share lunch with her. We came here to make sure na makakain ka ng lunch.”

So tama nga ang hinala niya na pati si Samantha ay makikiagaw sa atensyon ni Lt. Castellejos. Aia was disappointed. “Really? I’m fine here. Malaki na ako. Siguro naman hindi ko na kailangan ng bantay sa pagkain diba?  I’ll eat with the troops. You can go now. Don’t make Samantha wait.”

They hesitated. “Are you sure? Don’t you want to go with us?”

She shook her head. “No,” she said and turned to Singson. “Please call the others so we can have lunch.”

“Miss Aia.” Hindi niya pinansin ang mga ito kaya umalis na ang mga ito pabalik sa mesa nina Samantha.

A while later they started digging up, all of them battling for food. Aia was having so much fun. Nawala na ang konting pagdamdam niya na iniwan siya ng tatlo para doon sumama kina Samantha. This was the closest she had come to feeling like her old self since the tragic incident. She was talking, laughing – yes she was actually laughing. It was not only because of the bodol fight but mainly because she was with the troops. They were all fun to be with. Because of their loud voices they attracted the attentions of others who were eating silently.

She looked at Samantha’s table. She saw Alex, Markus and Gabriel staring at her. She smiled at them. The three smiled back at her that includes Lt. Castellejos. It was the first time she saw him smile that entirely intended for her. And it was refreshing her heart suddenly beat faster than normal. Across them were the girls. Eva waved at her while Samantha and her friends were scowling hating the attention she was getting.

----

After lunch, Aia walked back to the coast line, to have some time for herself and rest. Four military escorts followed her and were standing nearby keeping an eye on her. She was sitting on a camouflage hammock tied in coconut trees.

“Hi, Aia.” It was Eva. Lumapit ito sa kanya. “I’m sorry ngayon lang kita nalapitan, alam mo naman.”

“It’s okay, Eva. I totally understand. Come, sit beside me.” Umisod siya para magkasya silang dalawa.

“Thanks. Hindi kaya masira ito dahil sa bigat natin?” she giggled.

“Ako lang naman ang mabigat dito,” Aia said. Eva was just five feet and three inches tall and slender.

Eva gave her a sideway glance, “Parang close ka yata sa kanila?” turo nito sa mga sundalo.

Aia shook her head.

“I don’t know them,” she lied. “Ngayon ko lang sila nakilala. Sa kanila ako sumakay kanina wala na kasing space sa bus. Naging close ako sa kanila wala naman kasi akong ibang kasama. They’re funny and nice.

“Swerte mo nga eh.” Sinundot siya nito.

“Bakit naman?”

“Come, on!” Eva said rolling her eyes. “Are you blind or something? Those men in uniforms are the hottest ever. Can’t you see, girls envied you for having their attention effortlessly especially the three? Even Samantha had to invite them to lunch just to get their attention away from you. Hindi ka kasi hinihiwalayan ng tingin ng tatlo.”

“Ah that?” It’s their job! “Hindi ko napansin eh.”

“At kung hindi ka nila kilala, vice versa, bakit parang special ang treatment nila sa iyo?”

“Maybe they are just being nice to someone who is being left out?”

“I don’t know. Parang may something kasi eh.” She stared at her face. “Ang pula mo na.”

“Ang init kasi.” Balewalang wika niya. Aia stood up, “Do you want to meet them? I’ll introduce you.”

Eva’s eyes twinkled. “Really?” Pati rin pala ito walang kawala sa lethal appeal ng tatlo.

“Yep!” Hawak kamay na lumakad sila papunta sa kinaroroonan nina Lt. Castellejos. Surprisingly, wala si Samantha sa tabi ng mga ito.

Tumikhim siya. “Lt. Castellejos, Lt. La Madrid, Lt. Alcatraz, meet my friend Eva. She’s one of my classmates.”

“Hi sirs, I’m Eva Mondejar, glad to meet you.”

“Same here, Miss Eva,” it was Markus.

They shook hands and exchange pleasantries. Eva left in a few because Samantha called her.