Chapter 31: Intelligence Quotient

First day ng school festival at abala ang bawat isa sa kanya-kanyang gawain. It's also the opening of the sports events and double elimination process need to be done kaya abala ang buong Bridle.  There were different booths from each club and sections. Katatapos lamang ng opening ceremony.

On the first day of the festival ay puro sports event ang magaganap. Our section has been boosting our players para sa kani-kanilang event. The basketball players were already on their respective uniforms.

The first game was basketball at marami ang nanonuod since the gates were open for the outsiders to visit Bridle High on its school festival. The temperature in the gym was increasing. It was a close fight and Grade 11 has only 3 point advantage against the Grade 12. I heard a sigh on my side at nang lingunin ko iyon ay nakita ko ang bored na mukha ni Gray.

He's slouching on his seat at hindi man lamang tinitingnan ang mga naglalaro sa court. It was a good game, why is he sighing? Inilagay niya ang mukha sa kanyang palad at muling bumuntong-hininga. Uh, now I remembered that he's not into basketball. At bakit naman siya nanunuod dito? He could just leave if he wants.

Mahinang siniko ko siya, causing his face to fall from his palm. He gave me dagger looks. “Ano?

Itinuro ko ang scoreboard. “It's a good game, why do you have to project a bored face like that?” I saw him pouted ngunit ganoon pa rin ang reaksyon nito. He doesn't even budge when the crowd screams nang maka-shoot ng three points ang isang players mula sa Grade 11.

“I'm not interested in basketball”, wika niya sa akin. Sumandal siya at inilagay ang dalawang kamay sa ulo.

“Why are you even here in the first place?”, tanong ko sa kanya.

“I'm bored”, he said.

“Fourth quarter is almost over. I'm amazed how you survived watching the game even if you don't like it”, wika ko sa kanya. “Are you going to watch the second game?”

Umiling ito. “Nope, I'll be dead due to boredom if I do”, wika niya. He's exaggerating eh?

“Hey, why don't we have a deal? Kapag nanalo ang Grade 11 ay mamunuod tayo ng second game, kapag hindi naman punta tayo sa horror booth."

Is he serious? The horror booth? He's making a bet out of it? Tiningnan ko ang nalalabing oras sa electric scoreboard. There were only 34 seconds left and Grade 11 has a two point advantage against the Grade 12. Imposible nang manalo ng Gade 12 base sa nalalabing oras.

“Hey, why are you betting against the Grade 11? Nasaan ba ang loyalty mo?”, tanong ko sa kanya and he chuckled.

“Of course I want the Grade 11 to win but gusto ko ring pumunta sa horror booth”, wika niya. “So? Deal?”

Horror booth huh? I'm not into those things dahil matatakutin ako, but I believe that Grade 11 will win the game kaya pumayag ako.

“Deal!

The timeout resumes at bumalik na sa court ang mga players. Excited ang lahat and they hardly breathe dahil sa init ng laban. Grade 11 has the ball, looks like they keep on passing it to kill time at para maiwasang makascore ulit ang Grade 12.

Nagulat na lang ang lahat nang maagaw ng isang player ang bola at ipinasa sa kasama nito. The Grade 12 three-pointer ran towards their ring and positioned himself to the three point lane and shoot the ball.

Halos hindi makahinga ang lahat when the ball reached the ring and it went in kasabay ng buzz. A buzzer beater!

Napasigaw sa tuwa ang mga Grade 12. It was indeed a good game. I also heard a Yes beside me and it was Gray. Looks like he won.

“So, shall we go? I'm dying to get my ass out of here”, wika niya at tumayo. I took a deep sigh at sumunod sa kanya. Horror booth, here we come.

Palabas na kami ng gym nang biglang may tumawag sa amin. Nang lingunin namin ito, it was Marion and she was with that devil Ryu.

Huminto kami ni Gray at hinintay na makalapit sila. “Hey, who's that guy with Marion?”, Gray whispered in my ears.

He's a devil who's after my life. Iyon ang gusto kong isagot ngunit pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. “His name is Ryu, Marion's suitor” sagot ko sa kanya. Hindi na ito sumagot pa dahil nakalapit na sina Marion.

“You're not watching the second game?”, Marion asked at umiling kaming dalawa ni Gray.

“Nope, we're going ghost hunting at the horror booth”, nakangiting wika ni Gray. I gave him a dagger look, ghost hunting?

I saw Ryu smirked at me. Kailan ba siya hindi nag-smirk sa akin? Mukhang sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos, nakatadhana na talaga na ganoon si Ryu. You would be wondering if he's not smirking at you.

“Why don't we join them? A witch will go ghost hunting huh? Interesting”, Ryu said at hindi ako iniiwan ng tingin.

Tiningnan naman ako ni Gray at mahinang siniko. “You know him?”

Nagulat na lang ako nang humakbang si Ryu palapit sa amin at inilahad ang kamay kay Gray. “I believe you're Gray. I'm Ryu”, wika ni Ryu at tinanggap ni Gray ang nakalahad nitong palad.

He knows Gray? How? Naikwento ba ito ni Marion? Tinanggap ni Gray ang palad nito at hindi man lamang tinanong kung bakit kilala ito ni Ryu. 

“So, shall we join them?”, baling ni Ryu kay Marion. Lumawak naman ang ngiti ni Marion at tiningnan si Gray bago tumango. Lumapit ito kay Gray at kumapit sa braso niya.

I saw Gray frowned ngunit nagpatuloy lang kami sa paglalakad papunta sa horror booth. Uh, with this devil around, the horror booth would seem realistic!

Lumapit sa akin si Ryu at bumulong. “Hey, is it fine with you that that Barbie is clinging to your boyfriend?”, tanong niya sa akin. Barbie? He's calling Marion as Barbie? And who is he calling my boyfriend? Si Gray?

“Hindi ko siya boyfriend!”

Dumating na kami sa harap ng horror booth and Gray bought four passes for us. I took a deep sigh. Am I really going in? Sana hindi na lang ako pumayag sa pustahan namin ni Gray. Sa labas pa lamang ng booth ay nakakapangilabot na. There were creepy mannequins hanged on the sides.

Pagpasok din sa loob ay may klase-klaseng nakalambitin! There were mummies around at may mga ataul! Shit! How do they come up with such ideas? I felt a cold hand touch my arm at paglingon ko ay lalaking walang ulo ang nakahawak sa akin.

“Graaaaaaaaaayyy!”, I shrieked and kick the headless guy. Natumba ito at natanggal ang tila leeg na costume.

“Aray!”, the headless guy said nang matumba. “Ano ba!”, galit nitong wika at iniwan ako. I've been that hard. Kahit alam kong mga estudyante lang ang mga ito, nakakatakot pa rin. That's his fault for scaring me! I don't care if this is a horror booth! Ayaw kong matakot at ayaw kong takutin!

Naglakad pa ako papasok. It's too dark and creepy here. I saw a coffin at ng dumaan ako ay bigla nalang itong bumangon! Shocks, alam ba nila na ayaw ko ang ginugulat ako? I can't stop myself from punching the guys' face kay nawalan ito ng malay at muling nahiga sa kabaong!

Uh, that's the second for today. This is all Gray's fault! Tapos iniwan pa niya ako! If I can't find someone to cling on ay baka lahat ng nakacostume na multo dito ay masapak ko. Nagulat na lang ako ng may humila sa akin at nang tingnan ko iyon, it was Gray. Thank goodness!

“You'll end up beating the entire crew here”, wika niya. I saw amusement in his face sa kabila ng malamlam na ilaw. What is he amused about? I hit him in the stomach at napangiwi ito sa sakit habang hawak hawak ang tiyan.

"Para yan sa pagdala sa akin dito!" Isa pang suntok sa sikmura niya ang pinakawalan ko. "And that's for leaving me behind! Walang hiya ka!”, I hissed at him at mahinang tumawa ito. Nabubuwesit ako sa paraan ng pagtawa niya! He's laughing at me? Kulang pa siguro ang dalawanh suntok! I motioned my fist to hit him in the face ngunit nauna niyang hawakan ang kamay ko.

“Enough violence please”, he said at bahagya pa ring tumatawa. “Ang cute mo kapag naiinis ka.”

Binawi ko ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya. I am blushing eh? So not me!

“I hate you”, wika ko and he pouted. Gosh, why does he look so cute when he's pouting?

“I'm sorry for leaving you, okay? Marion has been clinging to me all this time. God, she's creepier than the ghosts here. Nakakahiya naman kay Ryu”, Gray said at hinawakan ang kamay ko. “Let's just walk together till the end of the booth at aalis na agad tayo.”

I stared at our hands. I remembered the Acronym that Andi used to say.

HHWW.

Holding Hands While Walking and that's what we are doing now.

Well, yuck. The meaning is gross. Napakacorny!

There were so many types of ghosts along the way but hindi na ako natakot. Is it because Gray is holding my hand? Uh, I don't know. Maybe. Paglabas namin sa exit ay naroon na sina Ryu at Marion. I saw Marion glanced at our intertwined hands and she frowned. Agad ko namang binawi ang kamay ko.

“How's inside?”, tanong ni Ryu kay Gray. Uh, they're already close?

“No fun at all. Amber keeps on punching every ghost”, wika ni Gray at natawa.

“What? You want to be hit too?”, I asked him.

“Why don't we eat together? My treat!”, wika ni Marion at hinila si Gray, leaving Ryu to me.

Pagkakataon ko naman na kausapin si Ryu. I raised one brow to him. “Hey devil, how do you know Gray?”, tanong ko sa kanya. Nakakapagtaka kasi na kilala nito si Gray. I doubt Marion talked about Gray with him.

“I have my ways, I'm the great Apollo, remember?”, he said. Uh yeah, he's Apollo! Paano ko ba iyon makakalimutan?  Behind his handsome face is a dangerous man. Ayoko ng isipin kung ilang tao na ba ang pinatay nito.

“Can you please pretend that you're not around? Your presence irks me”, wika ko sa kanya at mas lalong dumikit pa ito!

“Too bad, you'll be seeing me for this whole week since the old man orders me to stick around with that Barbie over there”, he pointed Marion who was currently clinging to Gray. “Look, she's clinging with your guy, why don't you —”

I cut him off. “Shut up! He's not my boyfriend!” Napalakas yata ang boses ko dahil napatigil sina Gray at nilingon kami. Napalingon din sa gawi namin ni Ryu ang mga tao sa paligid.

Ryu smirked at me. “Be nice to me.” He said at hinila na ako palapit kina Marion. Close ba kami? He's holding my wrist as if I allowed him!

“Hey Gray. I'm getting jealous, we have to trade partners. Here's this witch Amber at akin na yan si Marie”, Ryu said.

Nalukot naman ang mukha ni Marion. “Marion, Ryu! It's Marion!”, she hissed. Ano bang klaseng IQ ang meron si Ryu at simpleng pangalan lang ay hindi nito matandaan?!

Ryu smiled sweetly. “It's my unique endearment for you. Everyone's calling you Marion, so I'm making a sweet and unique nickname for you.”

Yuck. Hindi pala bagay dito ang magsweet-sweetan. Nakakadiri.

“You owe me one. Now go and fight for your love”, he whispered bago hinila si Marion palayo sa amin. Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Gray doon. Did he say fight for your love? Tsk, he's really annoying. I gave him dagger stares on his back. Sayang nga eh, he can't be dead with such stares.

“It seems like you get along with Ryu that much”, wika ni Gray at nagsimula na rin kaming maglakad. We get along that much? Nakaka-amaze nga na hindi kami nagpapatayan kapag nagkikita kami.

“He's annoying and I can't stand him.”

Pumasok sina Marion at Ryu sa cafeteria kaya sumunod kami doon. Umorder si Marion ng napakaraming pagkain para sa aming apat. Nang nasa mesa na ang lahat ng order namin ay kumuha si Marion at nilagyan ang plato ni Gray. “Here Gray, you eat this. This is delicious.”

Inilapit ni Ryu ang upuan niya palapit sa akin. “Hey, I thought you’re fighting for your love, you're so slow”, he whispered. Ano bang problema niya? Nilalason niya ang utak ko! At isa pa, who told him to whisper in my ears, as if we're friends! I pictured him out as Satan, tempting Jesus! Panay ang bulong niya sa akin.

I stepped hard on his foot under the table. Napangiwi naman ito at napamura.

“Shit!”, he cussed at binigyan ako ng masamang tingin.

“What's wrong Ryu?”, Marion asked. Mukhang ngayon lang nito napansin na narito si Ryu.

He shook his head at ngumiti ng pilit. “Nothing, just a big ant”, wika niya at muli akong tiningnan ng masama. I saw him smirked and a naughty smile emerged from his face, as if he got some bright idea. "A big crazy ant."

Kumuha siya ng pagkain at nilagay sa plato ko. “Here, eat Amber. It's good for you, you know”, wika niya at kumindat sa akin.

Ew! Kung ibang babae lang siguro ay baka kinilig na ang kung sino mang kindatan ni Ryu, not me! Lalo na at alam kong halang ang kaluluwa nito. Mas inilapit pa niya ang upuan sa akin, making his elbow touched mine. God, he's annoying! What is he up to?

“What are you doing devil?”, I asked him in a low voice. Bigla na lang kasi itong nagsweet-sweetan. Hinawakan niya ang mahabang buhok ko at inamoy-amoy iyon! Kahit alam kong hindi amoy araw ang buhok ko, na-conscious pa rin ako! I prevented my elbow to land on his face kahit kating-kati na ako na gawin iyon!

“Your hair smells like strawberry, it's so sweet”, wika nito. What now? He sounded like a poet and it's so pathetic.

Hinila ko ang buhok ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya and fixed it on my left side. Pumulot ako ng isang slice ng pizza at isinalampak iyon sa bibig ni Ryu. I know he's mad ngunit ngumiti pa rin ito habang nginunguya ang pizza!

I saw his ears reddened, yeah! It was stuffed with super spicy ketchup!

“Uh, isn't that sweet?”, wika ni Marion habang nakatingin sa amin ni Ryu. “You two look good together”, wika niya at nabitawan ko ang kubyertos samantalang napaubo naman si Ryu. Gray dropped a glass at nabasag iyon!

“Are you okay?”, tanong ni Marion. What? Is she crazy? Ako at si Ryu? Uh, para na rin nitong sinabi na nakakapagsalita ang isda! Impossible!

“Never. He's not my type and will never be my type”, wika ko at pinasadahan ng tingin si Ryu. He's smirking again. Yeah, the usual, Ryu-way.

“Really? What's your type then?”

“Ako, I like smart guys”, masiglang wika ni Marion. Oh, sana sinabi na lang nitong she likes Gray. Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Ryu kaya napatahimik kaming lahat nang sinagot niya iyon.

“Yes?”, tanong nito. His face seemed irritated.

Isang babae mula sa likuran ni Ryu ang lumapit sa mesa namin, and when I looked up halos mapatda ako nang makita ko kung sino iyon. She's the one whom I saw shot the guy dead in the Olympus Campsite. It was Artemis.

“Hi couz!”, masiglang bati nito mula sa likuran ni Ryu at gulat na napatayo naman ang huli. Oh, she's talking to Artemis in the phone right? “Sabi ko na nga ba na ikaw iyon. I was suspecting it's you that I saw but I'm not really sure kaya I called you and it was confirmed”, she said at ngumiti ng malawak.

Napakaamo ng mukha nito, you wouldn't thought that she'd shot someone fearlessly. Her gaze went down on me at mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti nito. “Hi Amber”, she said at bumeso pa sa akin. Damn, I'm shaking here already samantalang nagawa pa nitong bumeso sa akin. “So, who are these people here, especially this handsome one here?”, wika ito at tiningnan si Gray at Marion.

Nagtaka naman sina Marion at Gray kung bakit kilala ako ni Artemis. Was that really her name? Ipinakakilala naman ni Ryu sina Gray at Marion. “The girl is Marie Velmon”, wika nito.

“It’s Marion.”

An 'oh' formed on Artemis' lips. “You must be that girl that Tito keeps talking about. And you, handsome?”

Tumayo si Gray at inilahad ni Gray ang palad kay Artemis. “Gray Ivan Silvan, Ma’am”, magalang nitong bati.

“Hello, I'm Ryza Morisson, Ryu's cousin”, she said at tinanggap ang palad ni Gray. She stared at him for a while, assessing him. “IQ level, above genius right? 127, superior. Not really accurate, but approximately. Obtains fluid intelligence which includes the broad ability to reason from mere concepts and unaccustomed problems using novel procedures, can reason using previously learned procedures. Good quantitative reasoning, long-term storage and retrieval, superior visual processing and processing speed.”

Napanganga kaming tatlo. What is she talking about? She identified Gray's IQ level by mere looking at him? Unbelievable.

Hiyang napangiti si Gray. “Hmm, actually it's previously 128 but since it changes as one aged, maybe that one or lesser and those factors are somewhat true according to my recent IQ test. Hey, how do you do that?”

“Amazing!”, Marion exclaimed.

“She's just mumbling crazy things. She really can't identify your IQs, she's purely guessing”, pagbabara ni Ryu sa pagkamangha namin kay Ryza.

I saw Artemis pouted. “That's rude couz! I've got a degree in Psychology and I graduated with flying colors”, wika niya. But is it really true na nababasa niya ang IQ ng isang tao? Is that even possible?

“Oh well, I'm actually guessing but I have some psychological bases kaya ‘wag kayong maniniwala sa paninira ng batang iyan”, she said at naupo sa upuan na inihanda ni Gray sa kanya. “Want to try it again with you Amber?”

Oh, she's talking to me like nothing just happened. That event in the Olympus has been traumatic for me! And they keep on reminding that event to me since they have been having so much exposure in my daily life. Hindi man ako pumayag ay nagsimula na itong magsalita.

Naningkit ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa akin at kinagat ang ibabang labi. “IQ level, 125, superior enough. General factor, fluid, comprehensive quantitative reasoning, long term storage and retrieval, superior visual and superior processing so just like Gray, you can recall visual representations, can process and discriminate speech sounds even under distorted situation. Am I right?”, nakangiting wika nito.

“Maybe. A similar one has been the result of my previous IQ test”, wika ko. Papalakpakan ko ang sarili ko dahil nagawa ko ng pakalmahin ang sarili ko habang kasama nina Ryu at Ryza.

“Tsk, you're fooling around Ryza”, wika ni Ryu. Looks like naiirita ito sa presensya ni Ryza.

Bumaling naman si Ryza kay Marion. “You want me to assess you too?”, tanong nito at tumutol naman ang huli.

“Oh, no need. I'm not as smart as them. I've got an average IQ”, wika ni Marion at ngumiti lamang kay Ryza.

“No problem then”, wika nito at tiningnan ang mga pagkain sa mesa. “I'm hungry now! Can I eat with you?”, tanong nito at agad na sumagot si Marion na halos kapanabay lamang ni Ryu.

“No, you can't”, Ryu said.

“Sure Ate Ryza!”, wika naman ni Marion. Tuwang-tuwa naman ito at binelatan si Ryu, who just smirked at her. Mukhang kahit pinsan nito ay hindi makakaligtas sa walang hanggang smirk nito.

Matapos kumain ay nagpaalam na si Gray sa amin. Mamaya ay first game ng soccer kaya excited ito. Nagpaalam naman sina Ryu at Ryza samantalang nagpunta naman kami ni Marion sa auditorium dahil may practice para sa nalalapit na play. We've only got two days kaya subsob kami sa ensayo.  It was a long tiresome day and tomorrow will be another busy day.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs.