Behind Those Glasses

Chapter 8

"Coach, who is she? Should we remind you that we don't let disgusting looking creatures in?" Maarteng sabi nung babae.

You know what I hate about brats? They can be bitches anytime they want. Tell me again how I ended up here?

"Guys, meet Snow, the new member of Archery Club"

Narinig niyo yun? Of course you did. You heard it right—scratch that— you read it right. I'm the new member of Archery Club. How I got in so easily? I pulled some strings. But you know that I don't depend on connections, right? I already proved to them that I'm worthy.

"But Coach, the tournament is gonna start any minute now"

"Yeah, and how should we know that she's qualified, I bet she doesn't have any trainings"

"Maybe she's good at it. I mean, we cannot judge a book by it's cover, right? Maybe she's not that bad, who knows?" Depensa sa akin nung isa.

"Shut up Jasmine. Zip your mouth or I'll rip your throat!" Yumuko yung Jasmine na para bang napahiya.

"And she's a nerd! Paano niya ma-aim ang bull's eye?"sabi nung may dalang orange juice.

Okay lang sa akin na laitin nila ako on how I look. But doubting my skills without witnessing it? That's a no-no babe. That is so under the belt.

At dahil na-trigger ako, dinampot ko yung bow and arrow saka walang sabing itinutok iyon dun sa babae. I was too fast that she didn't noticed that I already aimed it at her direction. Binitawan ko yung arrow and it hit her orange juice in a box and it embedded on the wall behind her.

Binaba ko yung palaso and a playful smirk crept on my face. Everyone was in shock kaya wala agad ang nakapagsalita.

Bigla nalang pumalakpak yung Jasmine. "Woah!"

Nakatulala pa rin ang lahat habang nakatingin sa orange juice box na nasa pader. Nung babaeng may dalang orange juice ay namumutla na. I almost feel sorry for her. Almost.

"Any complains girls?"tanong ni Coach. Napangiti nalang ako. Pero wala pa ring sumagot. "Girls, let's go" Pag-aya ni coach.

We decided to go to the gym where we found out that many people are waiting for the game to start. While on the way, masasamang tingin ang ipinupukol ng mga kasamahan sa akin. Pero hindi ko pa rin yun pinansin.

"Just don't mind them. Ganyan lang sila but they're nice" Sabi nung Jasmine. I just smiled a little and went on.

"Oh, ako nga pala si Jasmine, and you are Snow, right" I just nod at her. Ayokong maging rude like ignoring her pero hindi talaga ako nakikipag-usap kapag hindi ko kilala or kakilala pa lang.

"Shy type?"she ask. Hinarap ko siya and awkwardly smiled at her.

"I just don't talk much"I said.

"Oh" She exclaimed. "That explains it.

Umupo na kami sa designated seats namin dahil magsisimula na yung opening program. Tama nga si Ace, na tuwing sports fest namin maraming tao. Halos wala na ngang space sa loob ng gymnasium pati sa labas andaming tao.

Umakyat na yung MC sa stage for the introduction.

"Good Morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Saint Celestine Academy!"

Nagsipalak-pakan at naghihiyawan yung mga tao.

The MC called out the names of each school included in the feast and each school gave their yell.

There have been many speeches and film viewing happening in the gym but I didn't pay much attention. Hindi dahil sa boring ito— which really true— pero kasi I can sense that someone has been looking at me— no, staring at me from afar. Hindi ko lang alam kung ano ang plano niya, but I still need to be cautious.

Minutes pass at hindi ko namalayang tapos na pala ang program.

"Hey, nerd!" Tawag sa akin nung babae na may dalang orange juice kanina.

"Don't ruin the game, or else you're gonna get it" Binigyan niya muna ako ng masamang tingin bago niya ako nilampasan. As if on cue, lumapit sa akin si Jasmine.

"That's Patricia. She's obviously a brat, but she's nice. Only daughter kasi" Napatango naman ako nun. Hindi naman ako nagtanong.

Nagpunta na kami sa venue kung saan magaganap ang archery. Pinapatawag ang lahat ng coach so I was left here with my teammates. Papasok na sana kami sa loob ng may humarang sa amin.

"Well, well, well. SCA is here. Are you ready to be the second placer? Just accept the fact that you will always be the second winner. Right, Patricia?" Tiningnan lang siya ng masama ni Patricia.

"Oh, we'll not settle for second best this year. Right, girls?" Napag-kaalaman ko ding si Patricia pala ang captain dito. Ang she's already in Senior High. So this would be her last year as our captain.

"Oh, really?" Taas-kilay na sabi nung babae.

"We have our champ, right here" Nggulat ako nang hinila ako ni Jasmine. Like the heck?!

Natatawa nila akong tiningnan. "A nerd? Pft..."

Patricia was shock when Jasmine drag me in front of them. I am well aware of the fact that they disgust me. Pretty much everyone in this campus. Kasi nga nerd ako. They tend to degrade people who don't share the same class with them. What can I say? This is the cruel world.

"Hindi lang siya nerd. Our best player. Watch out! Coz' we are going to bring the crown back. Let's go!" Masiglang aya ni Jasmine.

Nilampasan na namin sila at nung nakalayo na kami biglang nagsalita si Patricia.

"Nice try Jasmine. Naging laughing stock na tayo dahil sa sinabi mo."

"Come on guys. We all saw what Snow can do kanina, diba? That proves it!" Jasmine, still looking so positive.

"Her, almost killed me, doesn't convinced me that she's good. Now I'm not confident with my team." Nilingon niya ako kaya tinapatan ko yung titig niya. "Panagutan mo yung sinabi ni Jasmine sa kanila. There's no place for mistakes."

"You'll be surprised..."

She still doubts me but I don't care. I'm not gonna force people who don't trust me. Bahala na yung tadhana.

Pumasok na kami sa loob at diretso kaming umupo sa team seats namin at tumabi naman sa akin si Jasmine. What now?

"That's Nikki. Captain of Simpsons High. For her, our school is a big threat in this game"

Another info from Jasmine. Pinamukha lang talaga niya na wala akong alam sa mundong ginagalawan ko. And I just don't care.

"Round 1, first players, please step forward and go to your positions"

We have four opponents so we are five all in all. All first players ay pumunta na sa line na may 5 meters away from the target. I notice that my seatmate is not talking anymore so I look around and I found out that she is our first player. The longer you play, the farther the target. We have five rounds so from five meters to six to seven to eight to ten meters. So basically ten meters is the farthest.

"Simpsons High, 10. Saint Celestine Academy, 10. Xavier Institute of Technology, 10. Corazon Lampierte High 10, San Lorenzo University, 10"MC

All scores are tied. Hmm.. tight fight.

"Ako muna!"sabi ni Patricia at tumayo. Pumunta siya sa six meters line.

"Simpsons High, 9. Saint Celestine Academy, 10. Xavier Institute of Technology, 8. Corazon Lampierte High, 9. San Lorenzo University, 8"

Umupo na si Patricia sa upuan niya at binati ng mga teammates namin. Nakita ko namang masamang nakatingin si Nikki sa kanya kaya binigyan niya ito ng nakakalokong ngiti. Hmm. I'm with her for that.

"Simpsons High, 10. Saint Celestine Academy, 9. Xavier Institute of Technology, 8. Corazon Lampierte High, 6. San Lorenzo University, 7."

Nakita ko kung paano binelatan ni Nikki si Patricia kaya umirap nalang ito. Childish act of two captains.

"Simpsons High, 10. Saint Celestine Academy, 9. Xavier Institute of Technology, 7. Corazon Lampierte High, 7. San Lorenzo University, 5."

My teammates were shock. After the five rounds, all scores are added together and whoever who got the highest score wins. Lamang ang Simpsons High ng one point, it's a shame. Simpsons High is the rival of Saint Celestine Academy. So it's a big deal for our teammates.

"Sino ang susunod?" Natatarantang sabi ni Patricia. Tatlo nalang kaming naiwan kaya isa sa amin ang maglalaro sa final round. Ten meters.

"Ah, captain, masakit po ang tiyan ko. Pwede po bang si Snow?" Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya at agad namang nakabawi.

"Opo, siya nalang po. Masakit din kasi ang ulo ko" Said the other.

Patricia stood infront of me so I stand before her and met her eyes. I mean seriously? She bought their excuses? That's the lamest excuse I ever heard!

"You better not mess this up"she said.

"Oh please..." Dinampot ko yung palaso ko saka binalik yung tingin ko sakanya. "...watch me."

Nagsimula na akong maglakad papalapit sa ten meters line. As soon as I stepped on the ten meters line, I looked at my opponents. Nikki.

"For Saint Celestine Academy's final round is a nerd. How pathetic." She mocked. Katabi ko siya kaya maririnig ko talaga ang sinabi niya. Imbes na sagutin, binawalewala ko nalang siya.

"Hey nerd, paano mo makukuha ang bull's eye eh ang kapal ng salamin mo!" Lait niya ulit. Was she threatened by me? Natatakot ba siya sa akin? Thinking about it makes me want to laugh.

"Sorry SCA, we're going home with the crown, again." She said. Una siyang tumira and it hit 9 points kaya naghiyawan ang SH students.

"Beat that nerd!" She boastfully said.

"I'm sorry..." I said as I lift my arms para tumira. I didn't look at the target but instead sa mukha niya. "...we're gonna win this round." Saka ko binitawan ang arrow. Nung binitawan ko na yung palaso ay ginawaran ko siya ng isang nakakalokong ngisi.