The Leading Scorer

Chapter 16: SAE something not KKK

“Okay, everyone. We got this.” Sabi ko, a few minutes bago magsimula ang Miting De Avance. Nasa backstage na kami ng auditorium. Sinusubukan ko silang i-peptalk dahil mukhang kabado ang lahat.

“Yun na yun? Yun na yung peptalk mo?” Tanong ni Alodia. Siya ang nauna magbigay ng peptalk pero sobrang haba nung sinabi niya na hindi ko na ginustong dagdagan pa yun. And...hindi ako magaling sa peptalk peptalk na yan.

“Naintindihan nila at to the point yun. So, okay na.” Naupo muna ko at binasa yung speech ko. I got this.

“Okay, good afternoon St. Michael College! Are you ready to see and listen to your schoolmates?” Rining kong sabi nung host sa stage. Sumilip ako sa kurtina at marami ng tao. Paglingon ko, dumating na sina Drew at...him.

There he is. Brown eyes, brown wavy hair and fake angst. Jay freaking Cordova.

“So, welcome, this year’s student council’s candidates!”

That’s our cue. Lumabas na kami papunta sa stage at nagpalakpakan ang lahat.

“Give it up for the Student Alliance for Education or SAE and Kabalikat ng mga Kabataan ng Kasalukuyan or KKK!” Nagpalakpakan ang lahat. “Okay guys. please take your seats and be ready to give your speech.”

Nauna magbigay si Alodia ng speech and I was too busy thinking about PJ at kung nasundo ba siya ni Bianca. I can’t see him in the audience. Napag-usapan kasi namin na mag cap naman siya. At mag-shades na rin pag nasa labas ng auditorium. Mahirap na eh.

“Thank you, Alodia Costelo for that...um, very detailed speech. Now, for KKK’s president, please welcome, Andrew Villanueva!” Nagpalakpakan rin.

“Good afternoon, everyone.” bati ni Drew. “You might be wondering why I suddenly decided to run for president. Well, cliche man pero I wanted change. Gusto kong baguhin ang sobrang uptight at robotic na pamamalakad ng Student Council. No offense, Ms. Costelo” he looked at Alodia and she just expressed a polite smile. Pero deep inside, I’m sure gusto na niyang sabunutan si Drew.

“I think it was only last year when I started to notice things or activities done by the SC. Sa tagal ko na sa school na ‘to and as I have interviewed others, hindi pa natin or hindi nila naramdaman ang presence ng SC. It was only last year when things started happening FOR the students. It was when Cassandra Astrid Aviles worked for the SC. It was her presence that things changed. At wala man ako sa SC last year, I want that to continue. Gusto kong magpatuloy ang involvement ng SC sa buhay ng mga estudyante ng kolehiyo natin. And I can only do that, if you’re with me and Cassandra Aviles. Thank you, good day.”

I was shocked. Pero kung shocked ako, lalo na si Jay.

“Uh...well, that was Andrew Villanueva, KKK’s president. Now, for our vice-presidents. Please welcome, KKK’s VP, Jay Cordova!”

Cordova stood up. Is he shaking? Good. I winked at Drew and he just laughed. Boy, did I owe this guy for that suppport.

He gave his speech. I didn’t even listen. Tingin ako ng tingin sa audience kung andun na si PJ at kung asan si Bianca pero masiyadong madilim hindi ko sila makitang dalawa.

Okay, I did listen to his speech. A bit. It sounded like someone wrote his speech. Okay, bitter. Pero too naman, I know that he’s bad at writing essays. And asking for apologies.

“Alright! Give it up for Jay Cordova, KKK’s vice-president. Now for SAE’s VP, please give a round of applause to Cassandra Aviles!”

You got this. Before I went to the podium, may nakita akong apat na kamay na kumakaway. Sina Bianca at mga kaibigan namin. Si Bianca naman may tinuro sa likod. There he was, leaning against the back wall of the auditorium. PJ made it.