The Search

Chapter 13

The election of new officers was done as well as the meeting. At the meet, the president told us that we must be responsible for guiding our co-journalists in doing and finishing up their articles for the school paper. Marami raw kasing hindi nagpapasa noon, maraming pasaway. Marami rind aw na ang habol lang sa training ay ang meryenda; kapag natapos nang kuman ang mga ito, bigla-bigla na lang daw nawawala na parang bula.

"Bakit mo naman ako in-elect kanina?" tanong ko kay Lucille na kasama kong naglalakad sa hallway papunta sa social hall dahil may ganap pang program doon, at kailangan na rin naming magsimula sa pangangalap ng mga impormasyon.

"Because I can see your potentials. Hindi pa kita nakikitang nagsusulat, pero may iba akong feeling sa 'yo. Besides, nominating you isn't a waste because the majority voted for you."

Sa totoo lang, hindi rin ako makapaniwala na nanalo ako sa election. It was my first time to join, yet I won their hearts. Gusto ko ngang isipin na nagkamali lang sa bilang.

I let out a sigh. "Bahala na nga, pero feeling ko talaga mas bagay kang maging vice president, eh."

"Me?" she pointed out herself as she raised her eyebrows. "No way. Never ko pang na-try maging vice president because I'm always at the position of secretary. 'Yon na rin ang nakasanayan nila sa'kin."

Lucille was the elected secretary of the team. Mukhang sikat talaga siya sa university dahil during election, halos lahat ng mga kamay ay tumaas para sa kaniya. But I believed it was not just about popularity, but also ability. Unang kita ko pa lang sa kaniya, alam ko nang magaling siya. Nasanay lang talaga ako sa ibang eleksyon na kasikatan ang basehan ng pagkapanalo. Kung hindi ka naman sikat, dapat maganda o guwapo ka.

"But I'm telling you, your responsibility isn't easy, so you better do your best. Strict din kasi si Kye," she said. "Magaling vice president namin noon pero minsan di 'yon nakakatakas sa kaniya. Konting mali lang, mapapansin niya."

"Matagal na ba siyang president ng team?" I asked.

She nodded. "Since first year, siya na ang president. Kahit na engineering ang tine-take niyang course, kinuha pa rin siya dahil may history siya sa journalism," she explained. "When he was in primary and secondary, he was an award-winning campus journalist nationwide."

"W-wow..." I stuttered in amazement.

"Hindi lang 'yon, halos lahat yata ng field gamay niya, except for editorial cartooning. Marami na akong mga nabasang article niya, grabe nakaka-insecure talaga. Ang ganda kasi ng pagkakasulat niya, as in ang perfect, parang wala kang makikitang mali," aniya. "Kung tutuusin, malayong magaling si Kye sa mga SPA natin, baka siya pa nga ang magturo sa kanila, eh," mahinang sabi niya habang umaalik-ik.

I was indeed amazed. Alam kong magaling si Kye, but knowing his records in journalism? Mas lalo pa akong namangha.

Lucille told me more about him until we arrived at the social hall. Because jutting down notes was very important and a must, hindi na rin kami nakapag-usap during the program. After the event, that was the only time that we were able to talk again but to say goodbyes only because it was already time to go home.

Alas dos pa lamang ng tanghali nang pauwiin kami. We usually would go home at five in the afternoon. Dahil wala naman akong ibang gagawin, nagpunta muna ako sa bahay nina Psalm. Hindi pa naman oras ng paggawa ng article dahil hindi pa kami sinabihan ng slot namin.

"How's the meeting by the way?" Psalm asked as we were heading through their house's door.

"It's good," I answered. "Marami akong ikukuwento sa 'yo mamaya."

"Mukhang mapaparami ka nga ng kuwento," tawa niya. "Kaya kain muna tayo para hindi ka mapagod mamaya."

When we had finally entered the house and reached the kitchen, Tita Yadora in an apron welcomed us. "Buti na lang in-inform ako ni Psalm kanina na hanggang alas dos lang kayo," sambit ni Tita habang hinahainan kami ng pagkain.

"Actually I didn't know na may program, Mom," Psalm said. "Nalaman ko lang kay Margot, so I informed you right away. Buti na lang talaga sinabi ko kasi hindi pa kami kumakain dahil walang break. Hindi kami pinaalis sa hall."

"Nalaman ko lang din po kay Mrs. Yllon, Tita. Hindi man lang po kasi sila nag-announce sa amin before this day."

"Hay naku, hayaan n'yo na lang. Basta kumain kayo nang marami para lumakas kayo."

We did eat. On the table, there were lots of foods, so I didn't know what I would grab first. Kaya pagkatapos naming kumain ay nagmistula nang lobo ang tiyan ko. Isa rin kasi si Tita Yadora sa mga the best na magluto. But of course, wala pa rin talagang tatalo kay Mommy.

I and Psalm went to the sala afterward to watch movies. He grabbed some popcorns and drinks for us before we took our rests on the sofa. Na-miss ko ring manood kasama siya. Noong buhay pa kasi si Mommy, libangan din naming itong magkaibigan after class.

"Feeling ko napanood na natin 'yan," sambit ko sa kaniya habang ngumunguya ng popcorn. Ang pinanonood kasi naming ay Wrong Turn. Sa rami ba naman ng mga napanood na namin, hindi ko na masyadong maalala 'yong iba. But I guessed this one was familiar.

"Feeling ko hindi pa."

"Feeling ko tapos na," pagsasalungat ko sa kaniya, "hindi ba 'yan 'yong babae na hahatiin sa gitna 'yong katawan niya, pero pa-lenghtwise?"

"Lenghtwise?" tawa niya. "Na-i-imagine ko na tuloy. Baka ikaw lang nakapanood niyan, eh, huwag kang spoiler."

"Nakakainis kasi 'yong babae, mali 'yong dinaanan niya. Dapat no'ng nasagasaan niya 'yong pangit na nilalang, dapat hindi na lang siya buma-" I wasn't able to continue talking when he covered my mouth with his hands.

"Spoiler is not allowed here."

"Ay, sorry, na-excite lang," tawa ko.

Hindi na ako muling nagsalita, bagkus ay nag-focus na lang sa pinapanood namin. Habang umaandar ang movie ay unti-unti ko na iyong naaalala. Hindi nga ako nagkamali, napanood ko na iyon.

"I was elected as the vice president of the publication team," I said then, without looking at him.

He stopped eating and then turned his gaze at me. "You mean you had an election?"

"Uh-huh... I wasn't expecting it. Ni-nominate kasi ako ni Lucille." I let out a sigh.

"Lucille?" he puckered his eyebrows. "Taga-kabilang block ba 'yon?"

"Yes, block 304."

"Sabi na nga ba, familiar ang pangalan niya, eh," sambit niya. "But congrats, BFF, I'm so proud of you!"

"T-thanks, kahit na ako ay hindi sure sa pinasok ko."

"Ayan ka na naman."

"Biro lang!" I chuckled. "Tapos alam mo ba, president namin si Kye."

"Kye Vonnier?"

"Uh-huh."

His happy face just turned into something that couldn't be painted. He even put down the popcorn on the table and turned again his gaze at the television.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I never knew he's a journalist," he said in a cold manner.

"Same, hindi ko rin alam. Nalaman ko lang during the election kasi pinakilala siya sa amin ng head ng mga SPA."

"Oh, okay..." he said as he took again the popcorn.

I looked at him for the last time before I turn my glance at the TV. I was confused by his sudden change of mood. Hindi ko na lang siya ulit kinausap dahil baka mainis lamang siya sa 'kin.

The sala was quiet for some time, except for the television. But after few minutes, Psalm spoke to me again.

"Regarding Tita Liona's case..." he said.

Napatigil ako sa pagnguya at napatingin sa kaniya. "Ano? Nakausap mo na ba 'yong mga pulis?" mabilis na tanong ko.

"Hindi pa."

I let out a sigh. "Oh..."

"Pero si Marcus nakausap ko."

My eyes grew wider. "Really? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa 'kin?"

"I didn't tell you because I thought it was the best thing to do. Kapag nagsama tayong dalawa para bisitahin siya, I don't think the conversation will go well."

"Oh, alright, got it," I said. "Anong pinag-usapan n'yo? Sinabi niya na ba 'yong reason kung bakit niya pinatay si Mommy?" I didn't take away my stare at him even for a second because I was waiting for the words that would come out of his mouth.

Again, he put down the popcorn on the table and drank some water before he uttered again. "He told me something, but I don't know if you're gonna take it."