Reverse Romance:The Past

Chapter Five

Karen

     “Ok! Tapos Mr. Intal diyan ka pupwesto kasama ang iyong partner, si Ms. Matsuo! Ms. Matsuo please hold his arm!” Sigaw nung isang coordinator. Since elimination round pa lang to, kukuha sila ng dalawang representative per year. One male and one female. It doesn’t matter kung magkaibang section, basta, syempre, magaling. Rehearsals pa lang pero nakakakaba na talaga!

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     Everyone did good sa talent at modeling portion nila. Surprisingly ang dami pala naming supporters ni Louisse. Eliminations pa lang pero may Q&A portion agad. Kami pa naman ni Louisse ang una at pangalawang sasabak. Buti una si Louisse.
     “Good luck!” I told her bago siya umakyat ng stage.
     “Ikaw rin. Break a leg.” She winked at me. At pumunta na siya on-stage.
     “Ok! So Ms. Louissa Chitose Matsuo, I heard na ikaw ay isang hard to get girl, am I right?” Pang-uusisa nung emcee.
     “Eheh, yeah.” Medyo natatawang sagot niya.
     “Pero, that’s not yet my question… The question is… But before that I’ll just call you by how everyone knows you ok?  If you were to choose between your best friend and the love of your life, who would you choose?” Wow! That’s a hard question for someone who doesn’t have any romance bone inside of her.
     “It’s either I choose both of them or I choose no one at all.” Mahinhin niyang sagot. Halatang she’s trying hard para maging mahinhin.
     “Why?” Tanong nung emcee.
     “If your best friend was a true friend, and if the love of your life truly loves you, they’d be willing to adjust for you, to settle things with you.” Tipid niyang sagot. Her answer was amazing. Sometimes the best option is not given, it’s decided by your own principles.
     “Ok! That was a truly emotional and amazing answer galing sa lalaking maganda na si Ms. Louisse Matsuo. Talk about hashtag hugot, diba?!” Pangingialam nung emcee. Ako na sunod!
     “Next up! Contestant number 2! Mr. Robert Karen Intal!” After nun, umakyat na ako ng stage. Nagkasalubong kami ni Louisse, she gave me a ‘good luck!’ look.
     “Ok, Mr. Robert Karen Intal. Can I call you Mr. Robert Intal? Masyadong mahaba eh.” She chuckled a little. Halatang she’s experienced in flirting. Kaya siguro siya yung emcee. Magaling siyang maghandle ng contestants.
     “Sure.” Payag ko with a smile syempre.
     “Ok, so Mr. Robert Intal, how many girlfriends have you had?” She asked.
     “Twelve.” I honestly answered.
     “Wow! Twelve?! Since when?” She asked so surprised.
     “Since Grade 9 pa lang.” For someone who is not interested in having a love life, I did have a lot of fling relationships.
     “Oh my! Kaya pala! Well, here’s my question. If you were to choose, ano ang susundin mo? Yung nararamdaman mo o yung sinasabi ng mahal mo?” She asked. Wow! That’s a harder question. At tsaka bakit puro tungkol sa love life yung tanong nila? Wala ba silang ibang topic?
     “Yung nararamdaman ko. Kasi, we’re human, we make mistakes. Paano kung pagkakamali ng mahal mo yung desisyon niya? Hahayaan mo na lang bang matapos dun yung love story niyo? Syempre hindi. You have to do everything to solve your problems, not just you, not just her, but both of you together.” That’s a pretty good answer para sa isang lalaking hindi pa nagkakaroon ng isang serious relationship! Kayang-kaya ko ata ipanalo to eh!

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Louisse

     WOW! Biruin mo yun! Nanalo kami pareho ni Karen!
     “AHHHH!!! Congrats Louisse!” Tili ni Joseph pagkaaproach sa akin ni Joseph.
     “Oh! Congrats din Robert.” Biglang hinhin ni Joseph nung bumaba si Karen from the stairs galing stage.
     “Yeah.” Malamig niyang sagot. Huh? Bakit ganun siya? Kapag ako naman, iba ang response niya. Hindi naman siya ganyan kalamig.
     “Uh, yeah. Uhm, Louisse? Galit ba si Robert sa akin?” Nag-aalalang tanong ni Joseph.
     “Ha?! Hindi noh! Wala naman siyang binabanggit na may galit siya kahit kanino eh.” I assured her.
     “Ahhh…” Medyo nahurt ata siya sa ginawa ni Karen. Hmp! Makausap nga yun mamaya! Lagot talaga siya sa akin!
     “Good job! Gr. 12! Ok so, yung magiging rep. two weeks from now yung finals night. Good luck!” Paalala nung coordinator na galing ding stage. Two weeks from now… Sana walang laro nun!

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Karen

     Pagkababa ko pa lang ng stage, binati ako ni Joseph. Halata naman na may gusto siya sa akin. Hindi mo naman maiaalis sa akin magsungit sa mga babaeng ganun sa akin eh. NaBV tuloy ako dun. Dederetso na lang ako, sana, sa parking para umuwi na agad, pero biglang sinalubong ako ni Mom.
     “Mom! Anong ginagawa mo dito?” Tanong ko agad sa kanya. Hindi ko naman sinabi sa kanya na kasali ako sa ganito? Paano niya nalaman?
     “Do you mean ‘niyo’? Kung nagtataka ka, nalaman ko through your sister.” Ah! Kaya pala! Siya ang nagchismis kay Mom.
     “Kuya! Hehehe, peace lang tayo?” Nagtago pa siya sa likod ni Mom.
     “Oh! Si Louisse oh! Louisse! Hija!” Mom called out. Sakto naman na paalis na rin ata si Louisse at sa parking din siya pupunta kaya nakasalubong namin siya.
     “Ah! Hi po, Tita!” Malayo pa lang bumati na siya. Triny pa niyang tumakbo kahit nakaheels siya.
     “Wow! Ang ganda-ganda mo naman! Ang sexy pa! How do you get that kind of body?” Manghang-mangha naman si Mom.
     “Ah! By the way, si JR, kapatid ni Robert.” Inintroduce ni Mom si JR kay Louisse. Eleven months lang ang agwat namin ni JR kaya pareho kaming graduating na. She stayed at Randall high.
     “Hi, JR.” Pakilala ni JR. Nakita kong nagniningning na naman yung mga mata ni JR upon meeting Louisse. Tumingin pa siya sa akin!
     “Hi, Louisse.” Louisse shook her hand.
     “Ok! So nagkakilala na tayong lahat. That’s enough for today. We’re all very tired, kaya tara! Uwian na!” Nagmamadali kong inikot sila Mom para umuwi na agad kami.
     “Uh, Robert! Sandali! Why not invite Louisse over for dinner?” Alok niya habang pinipilit makawala sa paghatak ko palayo sa kanya. I gave Louisse that face. Yung face na nagsasabing ‘PLEASE! WAG KANG PUMAYAG!’
     “Uh, sorry, Tita pero may aasikasuhin pa po akong mga papeles para sa varsity team eh. Next time na lang po siguro.” She refused then tumingin sa akin. Mukhang sinasabi niya na ‘Ano? Ok ba?’ I just gave her a nod and she returned that with a nod.
     Hindi ko inaakala na may makakasundo akong babae sa talambuhay ko! Thank you lord at binigyan mo ako ng babaeng matatawag ko na best friend… Wait?! Best friend na nga ba kami?