Chapter 37: Come If Convenient

It's already Wednesday and I survived my past two days. Mabuti na lang at huling araw na ng period ko kahapon dahil may PE activity kami ngayon. I already apologized to Gray by the means of the most effortful way — by texting him.

Yeah, I just texted him SORRY in uppercase followed by a pleading emoticon. His reply was very much effortful too, he sent me a smiley. Just a smiley, nothing more, nothing less.

We're all gathered together at the gym. May mga nakahanda na mga standing target which looks like a human figure. Today's PE class is amazing. Archery. My cup of coffee. Hindi pa dumarating si Ma'am Saderna kaya kumuha ako ng isang bow at arrow. I positioned my arm properly at the target which was really far but when I released my arrow; it hit the red spot. Bull's eye!

I heard a clap beside me at nang lingunin ko iyon ay naroon si Ryu. Ano na namang ginagawa nito sa Bridle? School Festival is over, diba?! Why does he keep on hanging out here? And I still didn't forget that I hate him! I hate their mafia!

"Your legs look so weak, but that shoot isn't. Why Amber, mapanlinlang ka. Now I know why the mafia want you alive, other than Cooler protecting you," wika niya as he looked at me.

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?" I asked him. Hindi ko kasi siya masyadong naiintindihan. The mafia is protecting me too, aside from Cooler?

"Yeah. You've got their eye as a potential reaper," simpleng wika niya. What the hell did he just say? Did he say reaper? I mean potential reaper? The hell! Gusto pa yatang itulad ako sa kanila. Cruel and ruthless! Killers and the likes. No way. I will never be like them.

Nagulat ako nang may humila sa akin palayo kay Ryu. "Don't talk to him Amber," wika ni Gray na siya palang humila sa akin.

"Hi dear cousin," Ryu said and smirked. "Maybe we should get along some other time, like we should have a boy's night out and we go drinking all night," kwelang wika ni Ryu.

"Shut up, okay?" Gray said. "I'm dying to land my fist in that face of yours but I can't," he said and look around the gym kung saan abala ang mga estudyante.

He stepped towards us. "I can't wait," wika niya kay Gray bago bumaling sa akin. "Think of the mafia's possible proposal as early as now."

"Reaper huh? Sounds cool. I want to start reaping right now," wika ko at kumuha ng isang arrow. Inayos ko iyon sa bow and positioned to hit Ryu who was in front of us. Umatras ako palayo upang mas accurate ang pagtama ko.

"Hey, hey! Are you serious?" he asked nang makitang seryosong-seryoso ang mukha ko.

"I've never been serious in my whole life, ngayon lang," wika ko and I released my arrow. Napasigaw naman ang mga nakakita.

The arrow passed Ryu at tumama sa likuran niya which landed on the target. Sinadya kong hindi siya tamaan but I want to see his colorless face when the arrow passed just right beside his ears. It touched his left ear causing it to bleed a little. I'm going to congratulate myself later for being amazing.

"Ryu!" Marion shouted at tumakbo palapit kay Ryu. "What was that for?" she asked at takang tiningnan kaming tatlo.

"We just played Marion." I answered her. Yeah, we're playing. I'm playing as the reaper and Ryu is my target. Perfect game huh? I saw amusement in Gray's face at annoyance naman ang nakikita ko sa mukha ni Ryu. Lumapit siya sa akin at bumulong.

"Consider yourself lucky today because I don't have gun with me," he whispered at agad na inakbayan ako. "You're amazing!" he said full sarcasm at hinarap ako kay Marion. "She's amazing, uuuh—"

Siniko ko siya at nabitawan naman niya ako. "Don't touch me moron!"

"You're really something Amber," he said bago tuluyang umalis.

Dumating naman si Ma'am Saderna and instructed us for our PE activity today.

"I'm sorry to inform you class but Archery is not our activity for today. That was used by the Grade 12 students kanina at hindi pa 'yan naliligpit."

Sighs of frustration echoed around the gym. Uh! It's not for us? Yeah, paasa ka Ma'am. Of all student, I'm the most disappointed here.

"What we will be playing is Dodge ball," Ma'am Saderna said and I frowned. I just thought she's the most awesome PE teacher Bridle could ever have but she's not. I hate dodge ball as much as I hate volleyball.

Ano naman kasi ang dapat kong gustuhin sa dodge ball? They'll be throwing you and you have to dodge it. No challenge at all. Pakiramdam ko ay walang mae-enhance na skill sa akin.

"You can enhance your speed, agility and your sensitivity to your surroundings," wika ni Gray na nakatayo sa gilid ko. Wait. Am I thinking out loud?

"You're not a mind reader, right?"

"Yeah. Your face says it all," he said and I made a face. So that's it? Basta ayaw ko pa ring maglaro ng dodge ball.

Wala naman akong nagawa nang nagsimula nang hatiin ni Ma'am Saderna ang klase sa dalawang pangkat. The game was a unique one. There will be three balls to be thrown at a time. Duh, I don't even find it unique.

I didn't volunteer to become one of the throwers nang magsimula na ang laro at kami ang taya. Naupo ako sa may bleachers at nanoud habang naglalaro ang pangkat na kinabibilangan ni Gray. After almost 30 minutes ay naubos na ang isang pangkat and it's our time to play. Marion sat beside me at gaya ko ay nakasimangot din siya. I guess we share the same sentiments.

"You're going to sunk the Philipppines with such face," komento ng kaklase namin na nakaupo sa di kalayuan. Nagkatinginan kami ni Marion as if we're saying to each other to ignore that talkative classmate of ours.

"Daig niyo pa ang intsik na nalugi," he commented again, and when I glanced at him, it was Jeremy. What the hell?! Jeremy is talking to us?! Is this some kind of miracle or a joke or what?

We still ignored him but he spoke once again. "Dodge ball is fun. Hitting and dodging. It sounds cool."

Now three sentences from Jeremy within a short period of time is too rare so it shouldn't be ignored. Sabay kaming napalingon sa kanya at binigyan siya ng nagtatakang tingin.

"Hey, you're a nerd right? You're supposed to be quiet," Marion said. Where did she get that idea that nerds supposed to be quiet?

"Jeremy are you sick?" I asked him because he's not acting as he is. He blinked many times at tiningnan kaming dalawa ni Marion.

He didn't have time to answer dahil tinawag na kaming tatlo upang maglaro. Yes! 3 Students must play at a time. When the game resumes ay panay ang sigaw ni Marion habang umiilag sa bola. Mukhang nag-eenjoy naman si Jeremy sa ginagawang pag-ilag nito sa bola while I still maintain my bored look. Gosh, kung alam ko lang sana na dodge ball ang lalaruin namin sa PE, sana hindi na lang ako pumasok.

Napatigil naman kaming tatlo sa kakatakbo at kakailag nang tumigil din ang mga ito sa pagbabato. What now? Are they planning a new strategy?

Then we heard Marcus shouted. "FIRE IN THE HALL!"

Nagulat na lang kami nang sabay nilang ibinato sa amin ang tatlong bola. We weren't prepared about it kaya nag-panic kaming tatlo causing as to bumped with each other with impact.

Marion's head hit Jeremy's head since both of them are taller than me. I felt Jeremy's elbow hit me right in the middle of my eyes causing me to pass out. Bago pa man tuluyang nawala ang paningin ko, I saw both Jeremy and Marion collapsed too.

***

I woke up with a bandage on my head. Nang tumingin ako sa paligid ay nasa loob ako ng infirmary. Nasa mga katabing kama ko naman sina Marion at Jeremy. Oh, the three of us passed out? It was already 3:45 in the afternoon, ilang oras na ba kaming walang malay? Ilang beses na ba akong nadala sa mga clinic dahil sa PE? It's not even a strenuous activity! Noong una ay nang magkaroon kami ng volleyball tournament and now dodge ball? What the hell is a ball's problem with me?

"Ouch!" I heard Marion said at hinawakan ang nakabendang ulo. Gising na rin pala ito. "My God, this is so frustrating. I hope I'm not going to have a scar for this."

"Don't worry. The three of you only got small wounds. You just lost consciousness due to the impact," wika ng school doctor.

"It was worth a wound; it was worth many wounds; to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation," Jeremy said as he sat from the bed. Hinawakan niya ang nakabendang ulo.

Wait, did he just quote Doctor Watson?

"You are really freaking me out nerd! Nakakatakot ka palang magsalita ng mas marami kaysa sa inaasahan!" Marion said to him.

"I'm just quoting Dr. Watson in the Adventure of the Three Garridebs when he jumped right in front of Sherlock Holmes to save him from being shot," wika niya.

Just as I thought. He's quoting Sherlock's comrade and biographer, Dr. John Watson. Ngayon ko lang napansin na hindi pala ito nakasuot ng salamin na marahil ay nabasag kanina nang magkabanggan kami. His hair na dating tila dinilaan ng dinosaur kapag pumapasok ito ay magulo ngayon and that messy hair looks good on him. He still has his teeth braced. He is actually handsome, I should say.

"Who cares about your Sherlock? Where's your glasses? Wear it dahil naninibago ako sayo!" Marion said to him. Yeah. Nakakapanibago si Jeremy.

"Sorry but your glasses are broken nang dalhin kayo ng mga kaklase ninyo dito kanina," Dr. Trias said.

"It's okay doctor. Maybe I'll have to wear my contact lens instead," wika nito and Marion jumps out of her bed at tumabi sa akin. She held on my arm at tiningnan si Jeremy.

"Gosh! He really creeps me out!" she said. Eh? Jeremy's acting not normal!

"Uh, Marion. I guess it's good that he's not acting nerdy," wika ko sa kanya na nasa tabi ko.

"Exactly. I've known him as nerd kaya normal lang na matakot ako. Why? Aren't you surprised?"

Oh, syempre nagulat ako. Duh, I've been with him since Grade 7 and he is really a nerd since then. We're seatmates and we haven't even talked long enough kaya mas dapat akong magulat but it's just that I should be happy for him. He's opening his isolated world.

"Of course I am but it's a good thing," wika ko and Marion just frowned. Bumaling naman ako kay Jeremy. "Why are you quoting Dr. Watson?"

Jeremy held his hurt head. "Just checking if my brain is still functional. I have memorized that line from that book because I liked it," wika niya. Malakas yata ang pagkabundol niya kay Marion causing him to shake his brain and connected it to his tongue that's why he's talking longer than expected.

"And since when are you reading books other than those containing information and shitty formula?" Marion asked. Oh yeah, now she's being a brat.

Jeremy thought for a while. He crossed his arms and pointed one finger on his temple. Yeah, weird gestures. "Ah yes. Since Amber left her book under our desk," wika niya. "It's The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, and I have researched about it and I found out that it's a first edition released! Just where on earth did you buy such awesome first edition book?"

Oh, he has my book? Kaya pala kahit anong hanap ko ay hindi ko iyon makita. I have my shelf and boxes of book poured out but it's nowhere to be found.

"Why didn't you tell me that you have my book?" I lost that book since Monday.

"Hey, if you wish to go back to your respective classes, you may. You have enough rest anyway," wika ni Dr. Trias at iniwan na kami.

"We should be going out of here," wika ni Marion at tumayo na. Sumunod naman kami ni Jeremy sa kanya. Lumabas na kami ng infirmary matapos magpaalam kay Dr. Trias.

Lumapit si Jeremy sa akin at mahinang siniko ako. "Lend me another Holmes' book. I think I'm going to be a Sherlockian. I like his line 'When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth," wika niya. He's really being talkative. Is this really Jeremy?

"Oh yeah. Kapag natapos mo na yung kinuha mo," wika ko sa kanya and he laughed heartily.

"Okay, ibabalik ko iyon ngayon na but you have to give me the other book tomorrow."

"Yeah, fine," I told him.

"There's another line I love there too. It goes like 'We must look for consistency. Where there is a want of it we must suspect deception," he said proudly.

Tumigil naman sa paglalakad si Marion at hinarap kami, specifically si Jeremy.

"Stop quoting the book. I mean stop talking like that. I'm not really used to it," she said and walked away.

"Is she mad?" tanong ni Jeremy. I nodded at him. She's pissed, I guess.

"Should I run after her?"

I nodded again. "I think you should," wika ko at nagulat na lang ako nang mawala ito sa harapan ko. Hinabol na pala nito si Marion na papasok na sa gusali kung saan naroon ang classroom namin. I stared at them for a while.

They don't really talk. Marion who greeted everyone whenever she arrives would also greet Jeremy every morning who didn't even bother to reply at her, so I'd understand how she felt now that Jeremy's talking more than the usual.

Papasok na sila sa 4-storey building. Up in the fourth floor were the piles of red bougainvillea flowers in large flower pots. Nagulat na lang ako nang biglang mahulog ang isa niyon! I can't clearly see if someone pushed the flower pot dahil nasisilaw ako sa araw.

"WATCH OUT!" I screamed at them but it was too late. The next thing I knew was someone pushed them away at walang natamaan sa kanila.

I remembered the bizarre notice that I received last Monday. It was really a serious warning! And it does not refer to the bushes of rose as I thought first but rather on the bougainvillea! Come to think of it! It has red petals too and it has thorns!

Agad akong napatakbo sa kanila na kakatayo pa lamang! Shit! That was a close one!

"Ayos lang ba kayo?" I asked them. Tumayo si Marion at lumapit kay Jeremy.

"You're a bad luck!" she said at tiningnan ang taong sumagip sa kanila. Nanginginig na tiningnan niya ang mga basag na piraso ng nalaglag na flower pot. "Thanks by the way," she said and run away.

Nagpaalam na rin sa si Jeremy na susundan si Marion. He was shaking. That was a close one. Basag ang bungo ng kung sino man ang matamaan niyon! Napatingin ako sa nagligtas sa kanila.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito Cooler?" I asked him. Yeah, it was Cooler. He was with the Devil Ryu who was on the side, playing with his mocking smirk.

Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ang mukha ko at tiningnan ang nakabenda kong ulo. I pushed away his hands. "You hurt yourself again?" Cooler asked with a worried face.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito? I'm sure you didn't come here just to save my friends."

"I want to talk with you Amber," he said at hinawakan ako sa braso. Why is it that I don't hate him? Nang una ko siyang makilala ay magaan na ang loob ko sa kanya. He even saved me from a bullet.

"Sorry but she's not talking to you," wika ng kadarating na si Gray. He pulled me away from Cooler who also didn't let go of me. Nagsukatan sila ng tingin at walang sino man sa kanila ang unang bumawi.

We heard Ryu whistled kaya napalingon kami sa kanya. "Way to go, loverboys."

Naglakad siya palapit sa gumugulong na bola ng baseball. Pinulot niya iyon at inihagis sa estudyanteng humabol doon. "Why don't we decide it over a game since wala sa inyo ang may balak na bumitaw. Whoever wins, can have Amber. I mean if Cooler wins, he can talk to Amber, if Gray does then we will accept our defeat and we would head back home, how about it?"

"Fine with me as long as we'll play soccer," Gray said.

"I suck at soccer. I don't even know how to play it! Basketball!" wika naman ni Cooler.

I remembered that he was good in basketball. He said it when we first met. But Gray also sucks at basketball. At isa pa, bakit ba sila pumapayag? I should be the one deciding but the idea of deciding it over sports is fun so I mentally agreed to it.

"But Gray suck at basketball too," wika ko.

"Then why not this; since they know different sports, let's have a 50-50 probabilities of losing and winning. We'll have a coin toss. It's either basketball or soccer. If it is basketball, it's for Cooler's advantage, if not then it's for Gray. That's fair enough right?" Ryu said.

"Fine! Head for soccer!" Gray said at kumuha naman ng barya si Ryu.

"Head for soccer and tail for basketball. Here it goes!" Ryu said and tossed the coin. Nang saluin niya iyon ay kinuha niya ang kamay ko at inilagay ang barya.

"Damn!" Gray cussed when it was tail.

"So it's basketball! Simulan na agad natin!" Cooler said with a victorious smile.

"Perfect timing. My best buddy is in distress and I am here to save him."

Sabay kaming napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses ng bagong dating.

"Khael!" I called him out. Perfect timing!

"Hello there my Special A!" he said. Lumapit siya sa akin and kissed my hand which I didn't resist. Nasasanay na yata ako sa kanya. I saw Cooler and Gray frowned while Ryu was on his usual smirk.

"Hi everyone. My name is Mikhael Timothy Alonzo, Amber's future boyfriend," he said and I rolled my eyes on his statement. "My best buddy Silvan knows nothing about basketball so I'll be representing him," wika niya.

Hindi naman pumayag si Cooler. "That's not our agreement!"

I suddenly had the urge to watch a two vs two game. "Why don't we make it 2 on 2. Khael will help Gray while Ryu will help Cooler," suhestiyon ko. Maybe it's better that way. Hindi ako sang-ayon sa sistemang ito but I feel like watching a game right now.

"What? I know nothing about basketball too! If it is baseball, I would be sure of our victory!" wika naman ni Ryu.

"Then it's better. Gray and Ryu both suck on basketball while Khael and Cooler are good at it. It would be a fair match," paliwanag ko sa kanila.

"Deal!" Cooler said.

"Fine!" pagpayag naman ni Gray.

"Finer and finest!" Khael said. "Now where's the gym?"