Chapter 26

between the lines
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​Our rank dropped from third to fourth after only getting one point during the drawing relay challenge. Naungusan kami ng yellow team dahil naka-four points sila kanina pero ni hindi namin iyon masyadong pinansin dahil mas importante kina Roi at Arin ang asarin si Zion.

“Gagi, mas maganda pa drawing ng six-year-old kong pinsan kaysa rito,” komento ni Roi habang hawak-hawak ang sketchpad ni Zion mula sa challenge kanina.

Arin snickered at him. “Fair talaga si Lord. Akalain mo ‘yun, below grade-school level ‘yung drawing skills ni Zion.”

It was quite refreshing to see them tease the heck out of him while he couldn’t retaliate because he was the reason why we only got one point. Kitang-kita ang pamumula ng mga tenga niya kahit na nagpapanggap siyang wala lang sa kanya ang mga sinasabi nila.

“May mga mas malala pa naman sa akin,” he muttered while sneakily hiding the drawing pad behind him, but Arin got a hold of it before he could completely get rid of the source of his embarrassment.

“Pirmahan mo nga ‘tong parrot mo,” she teased. “This is your magnum opus.”

Maging ako ay hindi napigilan ang tawa nang makita ko ulit ang version niya ng parrot. I wasn’t even sure if that could even pass as an animal.

Habang pinagt-tripan siya ng dalawa ay naupo naman ako sa gilid ng porch. My drawing pad was still with me, and for some reason, the scenario kind of inspired me to draw.

I started doodling them as they continued playing around. It had been a while since I last draw something, but the challenge earlier rekindled the passion I had before.

Medyo natatawa lang ako minsan dahil nagkaroon na talaga sila ng drawing lesson doon sa coffee table sa porch at pinipilit nila si Zion na mag-drawing habang nakabantay ang dalawa. I initially thought that he would reprimand the two, but I forgot that Zion was also stubborn and prideful. Parang gusto niya talagang patunayan na kahit papaano ay identifiable naman ang drawings niya.

“Tangina ka, paano ko ‘yan naging kamukha?!” sigaw ni Roi nang ipakita ni Zion sa kanya ang portrait attempt niya.

Halos mamatay na kakatawa si Arin habang sumasakit na rin ang panga ko dahil sa pagpipigil ng halakhak.

Zion placed his art beside Roi’s face. “Kuha naman, ah?” he confidently said. “This is already great for a two-minute drawing.”

“Mas may itsura pa si E.T. kaysa rito,” Arin remarked between her snickers. “Mukhang uod na tinubuan ng mukha.”

“Sinasabi mo bang mukha akong uod?!” intoned Roi.

“Ang sabi ko, mukhang uod ‘yung drawing ni Zion!” she returned. “Pero go, if ‘yun ang interpretation mo.”

The three continued badmouthing each other in front of their faces, and I was quite relieved that I was spared from their mischief this time. For some reason, pakiramdam ko ay mas lamang ako ngayon kay Zion at gumanda ang mood ko dahil doon.

“Magaling ka rin pala talagang mag-drawing.”

Muntik na akong mapatalon nang marinig ko ang boses ni Brian mula sa likuran. He was leaning from their porch and he could see my art from where he was standing.

Agad kong tinakpan ang drawing ko dahil bigla akong nahiya, dahilan para matawa siya nang bahagya. “But I already saw it.”

I cleared my throat as I put the pad down. Hindi ko na rin naman matutuloy dahil sobrang awkward kung may nanonood.

“Congrats pala. First place na kayo ngayon,” I said, diverting the topic.

He smiled in return. “Hindi ko rin akalain. Mga artist pala ang kasama ko sa team.”

They were a few points behind Orange team in the rankings, but they managed to get seven points during the drawing relay. Paano ay magagaling pala mag-drawing sina Yena, Lessy, at Lan kaya automatic na si Brian ang nanghula.

“Kumusta na pala si Yena?” tanong ko dahil inatake siya ng asthma kahapon.

Mukhang okay naman siya kanina during the challenge pero halatang kailangan niya pa rin ng ilang oras na pahinga.

He turned his head to the cabin with a worried look on his face. “She said she’s okay pero pinag-bed rest namin siya ngayong araw. Fortunately, today’s challenge wasn’t physically taxing, although medyo natakot din kami kasi baka ma-trigger ng pagtawa niya ‘yung asthma.”

Kita naman sa mukha niya ang pag-aalala. Although we were only on the second week, it was nice to see that they had already grown close to each other. I honestly thought that it would also be hard for me to approach fellow writers in person because of my introverted personality, but this program helped me overcome that.

“Oh! Brian!” sigaw ni Roi nang makita niyang magkausap kami. “Ang duga, first place na kayo!”

He smiled in return. “Thanks. Buti na lang magaling mag-drawing teammates ko.”

“Buti ka pa alam mo kung saan ilulugar ang sarili,” Arin remarked while glancing at Zion.

Isang malalim na buntonghininga na lamang ang pinakawalan ni Zion dahil sa hindi matapos-tapos na pang-aasar ng dalawa. It only calmed down in late afternoon and it was quite funny to see him without that smug look on his face.

I was quietly watching the changing colors of the sky before dusk when he sat right next to me.

“Please do not say anything about those cursed drawings anymore,” he said.

Bahagya naman akong natawa sa komento niya. “Wala pa naman akong sinasabi, ah?”

“But I know you would.”

Hindi naman ako agad nakatanggi. I thought it would be fun to tease him, but I guess he had enough of those from Arin and Roi. His pride and competitiveness got the best of him this time.

“Ano pala ang dino-drawing mo kanina?” he asked, craning his neck toward the sketchpad beside me.

“Oh.”

He saw that? I thought the three of them were completely focused on the sudden art competition among them.

“Nothing,” I murmured. “Random doodles lang.”

“May I see it?”

I was hesitant at first, but upon realizing that I could use it to make fun of him. Binuksan ko ang sketchpad at ipinakita sa kanya ang drawing ko kanina.

“Wow,” he blurted out while looking back and forth at me and my sketch.

It was quite embarrassing for some strange reason. Maybe because he looked sincere? His praises were often sarcastic, so him being genuinely impressed had taken me aback.

“You should have included yourself,” he commented.

“I just drew what I was seeing earlier.”

Besides, it felt awkward to draw myself, kahit na hindi naman masyadong realistic ang mga hitsura nila sa sketch.

He suddenly let out a long sigh. “I wish tomorrow’s challenge would be a bit favorable for me,” mahina niyang sabi.

Natawa naman ako nang marinig ko ‘yon. He had this mysterious and cool demeanor before yet some of the challenges had exposed his clumsy side. We learned that he had a poor sense of direction, was scared of heights, and wasn’t gifted with artistic skills.

“Want to make a bet?”

Agad siyang napalingon sa akin dahil ako ang nag-initiate this time.

“What’s your guess?” tanong niya.

The only remaining main genres were fantasy and science fiction, but I don’t think they would do another relay or race in the same week after what happened to Yena the other day. It would be more probable to repeat an easy to play genre.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa at sabay na binaggit ang hula namin.

“Historical fiction,” we said in unison. Pareho kaming nagulat dahil for the first time ay nagkasundo kami sa sagot.

“I guess we’re compatible when it comes to matters like this,” he remarked with a big grin on his face. “We’d be great as partners.”

Napatigil naman ako sa narinig. “But we’re already teammates,” sagot ko.

He snorted in return. “We antagonize each other most of the time, so you feel like an opponent sometimes.”

Hindi naman ako nakasagot dahil gano’n din ang tingin ko sa kanya. We always get competitive against each other, and sometimes, that would jeopardize our own strategies.

But, oh well, I guess we could still improve our teamwork in the next challenges.

***

We were anticipating the announcement the next day, and I couldn’t believe we accurately figured it out.

“Good morning, Challengers! Today’s challenge is English time!” Ms. Hanna announced through the speakers. “Points will be deducted for every non-English word that comes out of your mouth. Good luck, everyone!”

Mukhang mas madali iyon kaysa sa Filipino time pero mahihirapan din ang karamihan dahil mas sanay ang lahat sa Taglish. Hindi ko rin naman kayang magsalita na English lang ang gamit buong araw. Worse, bawal na rin mag-usap through written messages matapos naming gamitin ang loophole na ‘yon noong nakaraang challenge.

“Hello there, neighbor!”

My thoughts dissipated as I heard Lan from their cabin. Medyo natawa pa ako dahil tinry niya pang mag-British accent at may kasama pang pagkaway sa amin.

“How are you doin’, mate?” sagot naman ni Roi in Australian accent kaya tuluyan na kaming natawa.

I’m certain most teams were targeting the green team since they were the first place after yesterday’s challenge, but they seemed to be doing well.

Sakto namang lumabas si Yena mula sa cabin at kumaway rin siya sa direksyon namin.

“We’re going to get coffee,” she said while pointing at Les. “Would you like to come with us?”

“Sure!” sabay tango ni Arin.

Habang papunta kami sa camp store ay may narinig kaming ingay na nanggagaling doon. Akala ko noong una ay may nag-aaway kaya kinabahan ako pero nag-aasaran lang pala ang mga nandoon.

“Are you two on a date?” pang-aasar ni Ben dahil magkasamang kumakain ng breakfast sina Michael at Sunny.

Humiyaw naman ang ibang kumakain dahil parang mas naging close ang dalawa after ng paper bracelet elimination challenge.

“Shut up, Ben,” muttered Michael, but he was clearly getting flustered.

“What can you say about that, Sunny?” tanong naman ni Imari ng purple team.

Napatigil si Sunny sa pag-inom ng kape. She rested her chin on her right palm and looked straight at Michael with a teasing smile on her face. “So, are we on a date?”

Lalong lumakas ang hiyawan nang itanong niya ‘yon at tuluyan nang namula ang mukha ni Michael. Maging ako ay nag-blush dahil doon.

She was clearly comfortable with him, and at the same time, enjoyed teasing him about their closeness because of his expressive denials. Their reactions were also amusing to see because Michael is an erotic writer, yet he easily gets flustered by her taunting.

“Wow, they look cute together,” Yena commented while getting her coffee.

“Right? He looks confident most of the time, but loses his cool when it comes to her,” dagdag ni Arin habang natatawa. “Somehow, I feel jealous.”

“Jealous?” tanong ni Les. “Do you like him—”

“No, oh my god, no!” she retorted. “I mean, I want to meet someone who can make my heart flutter like that.”

“Hmm. Someone that makes your heart flutter, huh?” Les mumbled.

Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo nang makita namin ang expression ni Les at agad na napangiti.

“Oh~? Did someone come to mind?” teased Arin.

“Is it one of the writers who talked to you last time while you were eating alone?” dagdag naman ni Yena.

Her face turned beet red and it was so cute how she tried to divert the topic back to Michael and Sunny.

“Heh~so you have a crush on one of the writers,” muling pang-aasar ni Arin at saka napatingin kay Yena. “How about you?”

Yena shook her head while chuckling. “Oh, I don’t think I’m meant for romance.”

“Why?” tanong ko naman.

“I mean, I already have my hands full with my shitty health condition,” pabiro niyang sagot. “And I don’t easily get attracted to someone.”

“Oh, I feel the same,” Arin commented. “I mean there are faces that fit my ideal type, but their personalities kind of fizzle out the attraction.”

Nang maiabot sa amin ang kani-kaniya naming kape ay nagsimula na kaming maglakad pabalik sa cabins namin.

Yena suddenly glanced at me with a playful smile on her face. “And you?” tanong niya pabalik, dahilan para tumingin din sina Arin at Les.

Akala ko ay makakatakas na ako sa tanong pero mukhang mali ang hinala ko. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit parang sobrang interesado nila to the point na napahinto kaming apat sa paglalakad.

“What?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

“Do we have to spell it out for you?” retorted Arin. “Are you attracted to someone? Do I know him?”

“No,” I replied. “I’m the same as Yena.”

They all looked at me with doubtful expressions, but I insisted that it was true, and we all started arguing about the definition and difference between crush and attraction.

Habang nagn-namedrop na sila ng tingin nila ay crush ng isa’t isa ay napaisip naman ako sa tanong nila kanina. Truthfully, for a second, Zion’s face suddenly came into mind earlier, and I got utterly confused.

​Why did I think of him when I wasn’t even attracted to him? 

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