The Leading Scorer

Chapter 17 - Sweet nothings

“This is not right!”

We all looked at Alodia.

Uh-oh.

Nagsimula siyang maglakad papunta kay Drew. Taking deep breaths one after another.

“Hindi ikaw ang dapat nanalo, Andrew!” sigaw niya.
“Alodia…” simula ko.
“No, don’t even start, Cassandra! Listen to me people!” She turned around and beckoned everyone to listen to her. “These two....these two didn’t even want to run! Ako ang nag-udyok kay Cassandra na tumakbo at alam niyo ba kung anong sinabi niya? Ayaw niya! Yup. Your VP was not interested up until she learned that Jay Cordova will be running for the same spot!”

She glared at me.

“Alodia please…” si Drew naman ang nag-try magsalita.
“And you, Andrew.” Her stare could kill, nasabi ko na ba iyon? “This guy will not lead the student council to greater heights! I am telling you this! Binoto niyo siya dahil ano? Popular, talented? You don’t need that in a leader! Sinasabi ko sa inyo, nagkamali kayong lahat!”

She looked at both of us and quietly said,

“Both of you....you planned this didn’t you?”
“Alodia, hindi. Ano bang--”
“No, Cassandra. Sa speech pa lang ni Andrew parang pinagtulungan niyo kami ni Jay.”
“Alodia, ano ba. Binoto kami ng mga tao dahil pagod na sila sa pamamalakad mo. It’s time you take a rest and enjoy school without the responsibilities that SC brings.” sagot ni Drew.
“You see? Sobrang negative ng tingin mo sa SC! Wala akong pakialam sa pressure, ang gusto ko mag-lead, makatulong. Hindi gaya mo! I am not stupid and blind like your best friend here, pero I know what you’re up to.”

Then she walked away from us. What does she mean by that?

Konti lang ang taong nakitang kong broken-hearted pero ramdam na ramdam ko yun kay Alodia. Hindi siya greedy at gusto lang ng power. She really wanted to lead. Oo, hindi tama at hindi sigurado si Drew kung bakit siya tumakbo. He’s not interested in things like this pero alam kong hindi rin niya basta lang pababayaan ang schoolmates namin.

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To: PJS
I won! Ikaw, ano nangyari sa game niyo? Nasa labas pa ko eh. Kasama ko sina Bianca, nagse-celebrate kami.

From: PJS
Congrats!!! Sabi ko sa’yo eh. :) 

To: PJS
Di mo sinagot tanong ko.

From: PJS
Talo kami eh...tambak.

I can sense the frustration from his text kahit apat na salita lang yun. Nandun siya nung times na stressed ako. How can I repay that?

To: PJS
Hey, barbeque tayo? Nag-crave ako eh.

From: PJS
Sure! Sunduin kita? Asan ka ba?

To: PJS
Sa may Wicked Kitchen dito sa Maginhawa St, Teacher's Village. Alam mo ba kung saan yun?

From: PJS
Oo. Na-google ko na. Hahaha. See you in 30 minutes.

I put down my phone and looked at my barkada. Hindi namin kasama si Drew dahil nag-celebrate din sila ng mga KKK members na nanalo. Dalawa lang kaming taga SAE na nanalo and she also wanted to celebrate with her friends. Mukhang tapos naman na ang lahat kumain except kay Ian na nag-order ng dessert. Nagpaalam na ako.

"Hey guys...." I started.

"Aalis ka no?" tanong agad ni Josh and they all looked at me.

"Uh..."

"Oh, billl out na tayo. Tatakasan pa tayo ni Cassandra eh." Ian joked.

"Don't worry, I'll let you finish your dessert, Ian. Ako magbabayad, like I said."