Chapter 28

rising point
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​“Grabe, naubos ‘yung baon kong English!” reklamo ni Roi matapos ang challenge. “Tingnan mo nga, Elix, baka may dugo na ‘yung ilong ko.”

“Ikaw nga muntik magpahamak sa team natin!” Arin huffed as she sat next to me. “Sana nanahimik ka na lang.”

Katatapos lang ng challenge at nakabalik na rin sila sa cabin. Mukhang effective ang tactic namin dahil nakabalik kami sa rank three after ng tally. Orange and green teams were still ahead of us, but at least we were gradually getting closer to their points.

Medyo nakakatawa rin dahil ngayon ko lang nakitang stressed si Roi outside of the horror or thriller theme. Mukhang nahirapan nga talaga siyang maitawid ang role niya lalo pa’t bantay-sarado sina Arin at Zion sa kanya.

“Huy, pero nakakaguwapo pala talaga kapag parehong magaling mag-Filipino at English ‘yung guy,” remarked Arin.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “So, sino ‘yang magaling mag-English at Filipino?”

“Kinilig ‘yan no’ng kinausap siya ni Cenon,” Roi chimed in. He suddenly tucked his non-existent hair behind his ear as if he was mocking Arin. “Oh, I like Mitch Albom’s works, too.”

She scoffed in return. “Excuse me, bet ko naman talaga ‘yung isa niyang book na Five People You Meet in Heaven, ‘no!”

“I like his works pero isa lang pala nabasa,” he retorted. “Crush mo na, ‘no?”

Naalala ko bigla ang nangyari noong Race My Heart challenge dahil si Cenon din ang naging partner ni Arin that time. Tumaas ‘yung heartrate niya noong sinabihan siya ni Cenon ng crush kita at mukhang na-conscious rin siya sa kanya after that.

“Sabi ko nakakaguwapo lang, ‘di ko naman sinabing crush ko na siya,” she returned.

“Gano’n din ‘yon, eh!”

Nagsimula na namang magbangayan ang dalawa kaya napailing na lang ako at natawa. It was fascinating how they easily got close to one another to the point that they could banter without holding back. Heck, they were even talking about their crushes so casually.

My gaze shifted to the door when Zion came in. May dala siyang apat na paper cups na may lamang kape dahil siya ang natalo sa bato bato pick kanina.

He heaved a sigh as he sat right next to me. “Hindi pa ba sila pagod magsalita?”

“Mas magulat ka kung bigla silang tumahimik,” I replied.

Karamihan ng kakilala kong writers bago ang show na ‘to ay tahimik sa personal kaya medyo na-shock ako nang malaman na marami-rami rin pala ang madaldal at mataas ang energy.

Fortunately, it was easy to tune them out since I had gotten used to their bickering. Madalas din naman kasing walang sense ang pinag-aawayan nila.

“Here,” Zion said while giving me one of the cups.

“Thanks.”

I glanced at him but immediately averted my gaze as soon as I remembered Yena’s words. Nakakainis kasi feeling ko ay naco-conscious na ako sa presence niya dahil ino-overthink ko ang mga usapan kahapon at kanina. Worse, I was the only one who was getting uncomfortable, and it made me feel quite stupid.

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako para subuking kalmahin ang sarili ko. Right. I should just focus on more important things instead of dwelling on this unnecessary matter.

Kinuha ko ang notebook at laptop ko sa kuwarto at nagsimulang mag-outline para sa story. Since I was a plotter, it was easier for me to plan every major plots first before writing them. Kahit na romcom ang sinusulat ko ay mas gusto ko pa ring alam ko na ang mangyayari kada chapter hanggang sa epilogue.

“Oh? Nakailang chapter ka na?” tanong ni Zion habang nakasilip sa notebook na pinagsusulatan ko.

“Five,” sagot ko. “Though hanggang chapter twenty na ‘yung na-outline ko.”

He was silent for a few seconds before walking away from us. Nagulat na lang ako nang dala niya na rin ang tablet niya at nagsimulang mag-type sa kabilang couch.

For some reason, Zion looked fired up, and it took me a moment to realize why.

I broke into a sly grin as I gazed at him. “Mas marami na ba akong nasulat sa ‘yo?”

His eyebrows twitched, and forced a smile in return. “Not at all. Naka-eight chapters na ako, so I guess I’m in the lead.”

The strange, uncomfortable feeling I had earlier instantly turned into annoyance, and ironically, that felt better and more familiar.

I shrugged my shoulders in response. “Plot-wise, I’m ahead by twelve chapters.”

We stared daggers at each other before shifting our gaze back to our respective tablets. Although I didn’t want to admit it, Zion really knew how to trigger my competitiveness.

“Woah, nagsusulat na kayo?!” sigaw ni Roi matapos nilang magsagutan ni Arin at mukhang na-pressure din sila dahil doon.

“What the?! Hoy, ang dami mo nang na-outline, Elix!” Arin commented as she hastily opened her tablet.

Silence filled our cabin as we focused on writing our stories. The four of us were completely in the zone, blissfully unaware of the time, and it almost cost us our dinner.

***

It was already 5:30 a.m. but I still couldn’t sleep. I finally gave up and got out of bed since it was already morning anyway. Nakakainis lang dahil nakapikit na ako around 11:00 p.m. pero hindi talaga ako makatulog dahil sobrang active ng utak ko.

I was thinking of several scenarios for my story and those ideas didn’t let me sleep. Sana pala ay isinulat ko na lang kaysa nag-aksaya ako ng oras na nakahiga lang.

Dahan-dahan akong lumabas ng kuwarto pero napatigil ako nang maramdaman ang pagkalam ng tiyan. Dahil masyado kaming nag-focus sa pagsusulat kagabi ay hindi namin agad napansin ang oras. Halos maabutan kami ng closing time ng camp store kaya nagmadali kaming pumunta ro’n para kumain ng dinner. Half cup of rice at fried egg lang ang nakain ko kagabi kaya gutom agad ang naramdaman ko ngayong umaga.

“Oh? You’re awake.”

Halos mapasigaw ako nang may marinig akong boses sa likuran ko habang nakapatay pa ang ilaw pero mas nag-panic ako dahil muntik na akong ma-out of balance sa gulat.

The room got illuminated as Zion switched the light on with his free hand, and I felt so embarrassed because we were in such an awkward position. His left arm was wrapped around my waist in his attempt to break my fall, while I was already halfway falling face first onto the floor.

“Sorry,” he softly said after pulling me back to a standing position.

Agad niya akong binitiwan at pareho kaming natahimik matapos ‘yon. My unruly hair was all over my face and I wasn’t sure if I should be embarrassed because I looked like a ghost, or grateful since it was hiding my beet red cheeks.

I was still contemplating whether to run away or just pretend that nothing happened when he suddenly stifled a chuckle. Mabilis na nanaig ang hiya na may halong inis kaya sinuntok ko siya sa braso.

“Ouch,” he said while snickering.

I didn’t have the strength to punch him for real because of the shock, so it must have felt like a tap or bump to him.

“Magugulatin ka nga pala,” he remarked. “I forgot.”

Dumiretso siya sa couch at doon ko lang napansin na naka-setup ang tablet at keyboard niya sa may table.

Confused, I walked toward him. “Hindi ka natulog?”

He shook his head. “Can’t. My mind won’t let me.”

Sinilip ko ang tablet niya at napanganga na lang ako nang makitang nasa chapter thirteen na siya. Writing five chapters overnight with a genre that he was unfamiliar with was kind of impressive, I must admit. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay one step ahead na siya sa akin kahit hindi naman talaga.

The sudden grumble of his stomach distracted me from my thoughts. Napatigil din siya sa pagta-type at tiningnan ang orasan.

“5:40 a.m. na pala,” he remarked. “Gutom ka na rin ba?”

Muli kong naramdaman ang pagkalam ng tiyan ko nang sabihin ni Zion ‘yon. I nodded and we decided to eat breakfast at the camp store.

The sun was already rising when we got out of the cabin, painting the sky with pastel hues of pink, yellow, and orange. The ground was dappled with morning rays filtering through the tree canopies, creating scintillating speckles as the leaves rustled from the wind.

I had already seen the tranquil and picturesque morning of the camp for several times, but it still felt like a first every single time.

Maliban sa ibang staff na maaga ring gumising ay kami pa lang ang writers na nasa camp store para mag-breakfast. There were already cameras installed around the store, but the camera operators who got up early started filming us, too. Although I had somehow gotten used to their presence, it was still awkward whenever they point a camera on my face.

Dahil kaunti lang ang nakain namin kagabi ay hotsilog ang binili ko habang tocilog naman ang kay Zion. Tahimik lang kaming kumain pero isa-isa na ring nagdatingan ang ibang writers.

“Uy, ang aga mo yatang kumain ngayon, Elix,” biro ni Feliz dahil isa ako sa madalas late mag-breakfast.

Agad namang umupo si Ben na teammate niya sa table kung nasaan kami at ngumiti nang nakakaloko. “Yiiee, breakfast date ba ‘yan?”

“Ang aga-aga, ang dami mo na agad sinasabi, Ben,” sagot ni Zion.

“Magseselos n’yan si Zey at saka si Brian,” dagdag ni Irina habang tumatawa.

Two weeks pa lang ang nakakalipas pero may kanya-kanya na silang narrative. Worse, nakukuha ng camera lahat ng pinag-uusapan ngayon at hindi na ako comfortable lalo pa’t napagkakaisahan kami.

Medyo nakahinga lang ako nang dumating na ang food nila kaya doon napunta ang focus ng karamihan.

“Gusto mo na bang bumalik sa cabin?” mahinang tanong ni Zion.

Tumango naman ako pero kumuha muna ng kape para makatulong sa pagsusulat mamaya. Hindi naman kami nakawala sa pang-aasar ng mga nasa camp store dahil tumitili sila habang naglalakad kami palayo.

“Don’t mind them,” he said while sipping coffee from his cup.
I glanced at him and wondered how he wasn’t affected with all their teasing. He was never flustered with their playful remarks, and could talk to anyone confidently. Somehow, I felt a little envious.

“You’re quite amazing,” I murmured amid the silence between us.

“Hmm?”

“Parang never kang naging affected sa kahit ano.”

He suddenly chuckled and looked at me with an impish grin, much to my annoyance. “I’m just better at controlling my expression.”

I stopped short. “What?”

“Tara na, marami pa tayong isusulat,” sabi niya habang bahagyang tinutulak ang likod ko para magpatuloy sa paglalakad.

“Wait—”

“I’m already seven chapters ahead of you.”

Nagpantig naman ang tenga ko nang marinig ko ‘yon. I only finished one additional chapter last night, while he had written five. Well, hindi naman kasi siya natulog kaya nakalamang siya sa oras pero nakakainis pa rin ‘yung pagkakasabi niya.

“I am seven chapters ahead of you,” I retorted, referring to the chapters I had already outlined.

He haughtily shrugged his shoulders. “If you say so.”

“You’re really annoying this morning.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“It’s not a compliment,” I groaned.

Isang malalim na buntonghininga ang pinakawalan ko para kumalma. This guy really has a talent at getting on my nerves for the pettiest reasons.

“But I do want to finish it as soon as possible,” he said.

Lumingon ako sa kanya at nakita ko ang excitement sa mukha niya. As a fellow writer, I could tell that he was enjoying whatever he was writing, and honestly, that kind of energy was inspiring me to write more, too.

“Heh. Is it that good?”

His gaze met mine, and a guileless smile escaped his lips. “I think you’ll like it.”

​I averted my gaze and fiddled with the paper cup I was holding. That expression again…I wish he’d stop doing that because it was making me feel strange.

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