We're staying in a Master's Suite, which has three bedrooms, and is cool enough for me as we have individual rooms for each of us. Dahil nga nag-aaya si Chronic sa pool, mabilis akong nagpalit ng two-piece ko. It's just 2 something in the afternoon so I would really enjoy the pool.

"Before we go out, apply sunblock first, 'Couz." Inihagis sa akin ni Chronic ang bottle ng sunblock kaya mabilis ko itong sinalo. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero binalewala niya ito. Tch.

"Si Raven pala? Nasabi mo na ba sa kaniya na pupunta tayo sa pool?" Tumango ito habang nag-aapply pa ng sunblock sa legs niya. Naglagay na rin ako at dahil hindi ko abot ang likuran ko ay nagpalagay na lang ako doon kay Chronic.

Paglabas namin at pagkarating namin sa bungad ng pool ay kita ko na ang mga mukha ng mga kaibigan ko mula sa dati kong school.

"Dainty!"

"Guys!"

We welcomed each other with warm hugs.

"We miss you, Dainty!"

"I miss you guys too!"

Kumalas na kami sa yakap. Tinaasan lang ako ni Chronic ng kilay. I suddenly remembered that he still hasn't met my friends. I gave them a smile.

"Oh, by the way, this is my cousin, Chronic." I patted his shoulder. "We call him C often." I showed a smile. Lumabas si Raven mula sa hotel kaya nagwave ako sa amin. "Here!" Ngumiti naman siya bago pumunta sa amin. "Guys, this is Raven, I and C's schoolmate. Our SC's President too. He is the guy with us last year?" They made an "oh" sound as they nod.

"I'm Furika Chouko, our paper's copy editor. It's nice to see you in this big event."

"I'm Janice del Quinn, former article contributor but I replaced Dainty's place now, I'm a copy editor too."

"And I am Violet Facundo, news article contributor too. I am also a details gatherer. I am the one who usually does the interviews inside or outside of our school."

Ngumiti ito. "I am Raven Jet Andrada, and I'm competing for the Sports Writing and Science Writing categories. All mediums. Well, as you all know, and maybe noticed, we don't have a school paper. Journalism isn't really our school's thing so we are trying to gather up all our students who enjoy such activities like these." Ngumiti siya na parang tapos na ang sasabihin niya ngunit tumingin siya sa aming dalawa.

"Sir Galleon is already here." Before this event, Sir Galleon is also the one who trained us, even with his hectic event. "He wants us to grab dinner with the owner of this hotel. They are good friends and because the event won't start till tomorrow, he wants us to go with him."

Oh, I nodded.

"We still have a lot of time, don't we? Let's have some fun muna!"

-

Seriously, I don't know but the pool's water is really refreshing. Maybe because it is monthly being replaced? They said, every last weekend of the month, the whole hotel is closed, why? General cleaning.

"Raven." Tawag ko kay Raven ngunit hindi man lang siya sumasagot. Aish. Is he enjoying exchanging conversations with Chouko? "Raven! Psst..." I still got no response. Tch. Bahala ka na nga. I threw a ball at Chronic, who thankfully, gave me a glance the first time I called him. "Let's race!"

"Swim race?" I nodded.

"From the edge to the other edge, then back." Ngumisi siya.

"Game on!" Wala masyadong tao kaya maganda talaga ang timing na ito.

"Ready? Steady? Go!" I swam as fast as I could. My breathing became unstable because of the adrenaline but I know I could do it. I touched the edge and went back to the other edge by swimming. My head's swirling as I'm not really used at racing. Sometime later...

"I won! I won! I definitely won!"

"Whatever, Chronic!"

The thing is, I and Chronic are a bit competitive at each other, we want to win against each other, we don't want to lose at each other. Kahit noong mga bata pa kami ay ganito na kami, maybe that's why magkaiba kami ng school mula noong mga nasa grade school palang kami, kaya siguro ngayong nasa grade 9 pa lang nila naisipang pagsamahin kami ng school.

"Did you two enjoyed swimming?" Raven plastered a smile as he welcomed us with towels. Tch. I rolled my eyes. Kinuha ko na lang ang towel ko sa kaniya. Last time, I remember calling you but, didn't you ignored me? Tss... Hindi ko siya sinagot at mabilis na umalis.

"She's pissed because I won!"

"You didn't! It's an illusion!" Pabalik kong sigaw. It's hard to get angrier when you're already mad, tch. Bakit nga ba kasi ako naaasar na hindi ako pinansin kanina ni Raven? Am I invisible? Tawa pa siya kanina ng tawa habang kausap si Chouko. Tch. Magsama sila ni Chouko.