Chapter 27

cognizance
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​Just like what happened during the Filipino time challenge, writers found ways to make this challenge interesting.

Para akong nasa period drama kasi ‘yung iba ay nagsasalita ng old English. They even tried to move like aristocrats as if they were filming some kind of regency fiction.

“M’lady, how are you doing?” asked Ben as he passed by our cabin.

“I’m fine,” sagot ko naman.

Nakakatawa lang kasi ‘yon ang default question niya sa lahat ng writers na nakatambay sa porch ng cabins. Kapag hindi siya pinansin ay titigil siya sa tapat at saka makikipag-engage para mapilitan siyang kausapin.

Ganoon din ang ginawa ng tatlo kaya wala sila ngayon sa cabin. Since our ranking dropped from the last challenge, Zion devised a plan to improve our points. Of course, that involves sabotaging other groups. As expected from that sly personality of his. Sinabi ko na lang na ako na ang bahala sa mga dadaan sa cabin para hindi ko kailangang umalis dito.

“Where are your teammates?” tanong ni Chichi ng white team.

Tinuro ko naman ang playground at obstacle course kung nasaan ang karamihan ng writers. “They’re playing around and finding their targets.”

She chuckled. “I see. I guess everyone’s trying to play dirty now.”

Mukhang alam niya rin na gano’n na ang tactics ng writers ngayon dahil proven na effective ‘yon noong Filipino time.

Mabuti na lang at alam din nila kung sino ang mga ita-target—ang mga madadaldal dahil mas prone sila makapagsabi ng Filipino words. Medyo nag-give up na ang ilan na kausapin ang mga hindi naman palasalita kaya kaunti lang din ang kumakausap sa akin. Besides, kaunti lang din naman ang close ko sa writers dito. 

However, that actually made me worry about Arin and Roi since they could talk nonstop, but Zion was with them, so I guess they would be okay.

“Oh? You’re alone?” Napatingin ako sa kabilang cabin at lumabas mula roon si Yena.

I nodded in response. “You too?”

“Yup. I guess Zion’s dirty tactic has spread across the camp,” she said.

Bigla ko namang naalala ang story ko dahil bukas ay puwede na ulit kaming magsulat. Na-curious ako kung tungkol saan ang kay Yena dahil speculative fiction din ang forte niya.

“I have a question,” tanong ko at agad naman siyang tumayo. She went to our cabin and sat right next to me.

“What is it?”

“So, how’s your story going?”

“Oh, so it’s about that,” she remarked. Medyo nahiya rin ako dahil alam ko naman kung gaano ka-awkward magtanong sa kapwa writer kung kumusta na ang sinusulat nila. “Well, I’m not really sure if it will go well since it’s a romance story.”

Nagulat naman ako sa narinig. I didn’t expect Yena to write outside of her comfort zone, too. I guess maganda nga rin talagang masubok ang skills namin pagdating sa pagsusulat kung hindi kami ganoon ka-familiar sa genre. After all, the theme of this program was ‘challenge’ after all.

“Wow, I’m writing a romcom, too,” sagot ko. “And I find it hard to write romantic scenes that feel natural.”

She enthusiastically agreed. “Right? It’s romantic in my head but I can’t help but feel cringy when I’m writing it.”

“How do romance writers even do it? I cannot stomach writing the overly romantic scenes and dialogues.”

“Some even write and include erotic scenes,” she chuckled. “I wonder if they feel butterflies in their stomach when writing them or they don’t even bat an eye since they’re already used to it.”

Isang buntonghininga naman ang pinakawalan ko. I wondered if I could finish my story without a problem.

“I just wish I can write the romance between characters as natural as possible and without looking forced.”

“I guess it’s fortunate that there are a lot of inspiration here,” she replied while looking at the writers at the obstacle course. “I’ve written several heart-fluttering scenes referencing the writers who are clearly interested with each other.”

Bahagya naman akong natawa sa sinabi niya. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s quite obvious for some.”

There were clearly people who wear their hearts on their sleeves. Kahit pilit nilang itago ay halata pa rin na interesado sila sa isang tao dahil sa kilos nila. For instance, Michael tried hard to ignore the rumors between him and Sunny, but it was crystal clear that he had a crush on her. On the other hand, Sunny liked teasing him because he was easily flustered, and I guess that interest could gradually develop into something deeper if they continued hanging out together.

That’s it. Mas maganda ngang i-observe ang potential couples sa camp para mas maging natural ang dating ng romance.

Yena suddenly laughed as if I just said something funny. “I guess even mystery writers can’t figure out other people’s feelings easily.”

I looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

Tumingin naman siya sa akin nang nakakaloko. “So, you can see who likes who, right?”

Ilang segundo akong hindi nakasagot. I had an idea of what she was trying to say, but I tried to act clueless. “Kind of,” mahina kong sabi.

“Then you must know who’s interested in you.”

She had an amused look on her face and I wondered if she was just teasing me, or it was a deliberate plan to get me flustered so I’d forget about the challenge. I mean, speculative fiction writers could really be cunning sometimes.

“How about you?” I returned. “Do you know who’s interested in you?”

Hindi niya siguro in-expect na tanong din ang isasagot ko kaya natawa na lang siya.

“You’re good at dodging questions,” she commented.

“You too.”

But seriously, I don’t think anyone would be that interested in me. I mean, I wasn’t physically attractive. Alam ko ‘yon sa sarili ko. Boring din naman ang personality ko dahil hindi ako palasalita. Siguro kung pagsusulat ang usapan ay mayroong curious. Tulad na lang ni Brian. He said he was a fan of my works, but beyond that, I don’t think he’d be interested. Mas appropriate pa na sabihing may potential friendship kaysa attraction.

In addition, this kind of topic was too awkward to talk about. Parang ang kapal naman ng mukha ko kung magbabanggit ako ng pangalan. Besides, it could be edited maliciously since variety and reality shows like to create this type of drama. Parang hindi kakayanin ng kaluluwa ko kung ma-highlight ako sa isang scene. Iniisip ko pa lang ay gusto ko nang magpalamon sa lupa.

“Oh, looks like he managed to trick some teams,” Yena said after a few seconds of silence between us.

Sinundan ko ang tingin niya at nakita ko si Zion na naglalakad pabalik sa cabin habang nakangiti. No, more like, a devious grin.

“I’m kind of thankful that he’s my teammate,” I murmured. “He scares me sometimes.”

Yena let out a hearty laugh. “I get you. His desire to be on top makes him an annoying opponent.”

“And he can be petty, too.”

Tumingin na naman siya sa akin na para bang nang-aasar. “I think you were lying yesterday.”

She suddenly stood up and waved goodbye before I could even ask what she meant. Few seconds later, Zion arrived at the cabin with a curious look on his face.

“Did you get tricked?” bungad niya.

I stared at him in complete disbelief. Seriously, that was his first thought? Did he really think I would easily get tricked? Hindi ko alam kung ma-o-offend ba ako o matatawa na lang.

“Of course not,” I muttered. “Do you think I’m that careless?”

Bigla naman siyang umupo sa tabi ko. “You look flustered earlier and she had a grin on her face, so I thought you accidentally said something in Filipino,” he explained.

I admit I was taken aback earlier, and that was because I realized what Yena meant after she left.

“We were just talking about the progress of our stories,” I said.

“Oh, right. Our gadgets will be returned tomorrow,” he remarked.

Fortunately, he didn’t ask any questions anymore and just leaned back. Saglit siyang pumikit at napatitig naman ako sa mukha niya.

I was suddenly reminded of our first interview. The staff asked us who among the challengers got our attention. Si Zion ang sinagot ko sa tanong na ‘yon dahil curious ako sa personality niya. I guess it was the reason why his face appeared in my mind when the girls asked me yesterday if there was a person I was interested in. But I don’t think that could even be considered a crush or attraction.

His eyes suddenly fluttered open and met mine. A gentle breeze blew as we quietly stared at each other, and for a moment, his gaze softened.

That was the first time I saw him with such gentle expression and for some strange reason, it made my heart flutter.

Agad ko namang iniwas ang tingin ko nang ma-realize kong nakatitig ako sa kanya habang umayos naman siya sa pag-upo.

Embarrassment washed over me and I honestly wanted to run away, but at the same time, it felt like I’d be losing against him if I were the first to stand up.

​Damn it. This was all Yena’s fault.

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