So, I Met A Bear

Chapter 6

Napakunot ako ng noo sa aking narinig. Ito na ba ang sign na kailangan ko nang ipagtapat kay Erin ang katotohanan?

No, nakakatakot siyang magalit. One time na magkasama kami piningot niya 'yung lalaking sumingit sa pila. Tapos halos mabali na ang buto ng lalaking humawak sa kanyang p***t. Baka hindi lang kalmot ang aking abutin. Na-i-imagine ko na yung mga sakal niya sa akin.

"Sige, I'll quit."

The impression na nahikayat ako ni Ash was much better compared to my first option.

Erin slammed the table kung kaya't tumakbo ang mga pusa pabalik sa kanilang amo. Kahit si Ate ay napatingin sa kaguluhan. Humingi naman kami Ng dispensa. I also inspected the table for any cracks pati na rin ang mga cups and utensils.

Fortunately, wala namang damage.

"What?! Don't mind him! He's just grumpy."

Sage requested for us to sit.

Ewan ko ba kung bakit hindi maalis ang aking mata dahil umakbay si Erin Kay Ash.

"Could you please stop digging your nails on my skin?"

I blinked. Bakit napakakalmado lang ni Ash? Kung ako 'yan baka naningkit at napahagulgol na ako.

"Erin..."

"I knew you really used it as a reason to chase away your stalker but I need you."

"What she meant was she needed someone to help her share responsibilities and she felt lonely without you because we don't have a girl member," sabi ni Ash.

Lumuhod pa si Erin kung kaya't napilitan na akong tanggapin ang offer. Halos mapa-ubo na ako sa higpit ng pagyakap niya sa akin. Buti na ay nandiyan si Sage para paglayuin kaming dalawa.

"Stop. Do you want to kill her?"

Kung kanina lamang ang nakakita ako ng dalawang sungay sa kanyang ulo, ngayo'y may mga pakpak na siya sa kanyang likuran.

"I'm sorry. Were you hurt? Na-excite lang kasi ako."

Tapos tiningnan niya ba if I have bruises.

Nagpaalam kami kay Ate at nagtungo na rin kami sa classrom dedicated for swimming team.

Dahil I'm the new member ay nagkaroon ako ng self- introduction.

"Miss Assistant Manager, are you related to Mister Hunter Balaguer?"

Walang pinagbago. Kahit saan ako magpunta, hindi puwedeng hindi ma-mention si Uncle.

"Yes. He's my uncle."

Noong una'y grabe ang aking pagkayamot sa tuwing tinatanong nila ako tungkol sa kanya pero ngayon ay proud pa ako. Saan ka makakahanap ng three-time Olympic gold medalist na uncle?

"By the way, alam ba ni Hunter na sumali ka sa swimming team?" tanong ni Coach Clint.

Just like my Uncle, he was an Olympic gold medalist. Siya na ang head coach ng Cerulean. Iyan ang pangalan ng The Barnes College's swimming team. I didn't know how did he manage having a full time job and teaching.

Umiling lang ako.

"Don't worry, akong bahala sa kanya."

Tinapik pa niya ako sa balikat.

There was no way he would appease my uncle. I didn't even know how did my lion like Uncle befriended a golden retriever.

"Thanks Kuya. I mean, coach."

Tinapik-tapik pa niya ako sa balikat.

"Alright. Teams! That's all. Remember our morning practice tomorrow at 9 am. And wait for me. We'll have a welcome dinner for Clem."

Pagkalabas ni Kuya Clint ay kaagad namang nagsilapitan ang members ng sa akin.

Mayroong limang members ang swimming team:

Ash - (Captain) - Freestyle Swimmer

Sage - (Vice-Captain) - Butterfly

Yves- Breastroke

Blake- Backstroke

Erin- Student Manager

"Wow, saktong-sakto lang ang members para sa medley relay."

"Yup! It's hard to recruit people these days. Hindi raw cool ang swimming," saad ni Blake.

Unlike Ash and Sage, mas slender ang kanyang katawan but he looked handsome wearing his glasses.

Napasimangot ako sa aking narinig. Kukutusan ko talaga kung sino man ang nagsabi niyan.

"How about swimming scholars?"

Nagtaas ng kamay si Yves.

Yves was the youngest swimmer. He wore a sailfish pin on his uniform which is the mascot of our school's swimming team.

"Swimming is a cool sport!" I said.

Seeing how there were four members broke my heart. My uncle was an alumni of this institution. Noong bata pa ako ay lagi niya akong sinasama sa swimming practice. And there were even 20 members at that time! One time na nalunod pa ako sa pool kung kaya't tinuruan nila ang lumangoy. Naalala ko pa 'yung mga panahon na nag-away sila dahil lang sa swimming stroke.

"Thank you. But are you really okay doing this?"

Heto na naman si Ash.

"Yes. Why?"

"I'm serious when it comes to these matters. I want to work with people who have the same goal with me. Kung napilitan ka lang o kailangan mo ng reason para layuan ang stalker mo, you can still quit."

It was this side again. One time akala ko may pag-asa pa kaming maging magkaibigan. Then, bigla na lang siyang magsusungit.

I understood he was thinking about the swimming team's welfare. He was like a mama bear who wouldn't hesitate to bite you if you did one wrong move.

I admired him for that. I've witnessed the same strictness with my Uncle. Pero sana, he worded his message in a pleasant way.

Since he was this ferocious, I would show him na hindi lang siya ang may pangil rito.

"I do understand your sentiments regarding my recruitment. And yes, your concerns are valid. Totoo na hindi ko pinag-isipang mabuti ang pagsali ko rito. It's true na kailangan ko ng dahilan para makalayo sa stalker ko but I would never, play with people's dreams."

Ang nakairita pa lalo sa akin ay ang kanyang smug expression. Para bang hindi siya naniniwala sa sinasabi ko.

"Is that so? Pero hindi ako naniniwala sa taong puro dada lang."

Naku po. Kailangan ko na bang magdasal na sana'y bigyan ako nang mahabang pasensiya upang hindi ko matiris na parang kuto ang lalaking ito?

"Then test me! You want results? I'll deliver!"

Tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Sa halip na dukutin ko ang mga mata niya ay hinila ko na lamang ang kanyang kwelyo.

"Anong tinitingin-tingin mo ha? I'll prove to you that I'm not the one who you could treat like trash."

Inawat na nila kami ngunit may binulong siya na hindi ko maintindihan.

"Manang-mana ka talaga sa kanya."

"Ano?"

Erin told me to calm down. But how could I? Sinusubukan niya talaga ang pasensiya ko.

"You're this feisty towards me but not with your stalker?"

"Clem, ano 'yung sinasabi ni Ash na may stalker ka raw?"

Oopsies. Hindi namin namalayan na bumalik pala si Kuya Clint.