Chapter Ten: YES

Louinna Therese's POV

1. The participant must bring an instrument that he/she will use during the contest.

2. Lyrics of the song that the participant will sing mustn't be brought during the contest.

3. The song that a participant must sing is not a Filipino nor English song.

I keep on reading the rules of the solo singing contest. For real?! Not a Filipino nor English song?! Seriously? My, God!

"Bulaga!"

Nagulat ako at napatayo pa nang may manggulat sa akin mula sa likod ko with matching hawak pa sa magkabilang balikat ko. Agad akong tumalikod upang harapin si Crystal at pinanlakihan ng mata.

"Do not surprise me like that anymore!" I said and hissed at her.

"Woah! Bakit ang init na naman ng ulo mo? Grabe siya!" reklamo niya. "Ano ba ang nangyari?" dagdag na tanong niya.

Instead of answering her question, I handed her the piece of paper that I was holding while pouting.

"Rules..." aniya tsaka binasa ang papel. "O, ano naman ang ikinabusangot ng mukha mo dito?" tanong niya.

"Number 3," I replied and heaved a sigh.

"Ano naman ang mahirap dit---"

I cut her off by saying the words, "What do you think would I sing?! Wala akog alam na ibang kanta maliban sa mga nabanggit na hindi dapat!"

"Hmm? Korean? Wala ka bang alam? Umangal ka pa at bubusalan ko na talaga 'yang bibig mo! Puro ka satsat! Eh, di bigyan mo ng pakinabang 'yang mga asawa mong Korean Oppa-ngit! 'Yong kanta ng favorite mong kdrama na heartstrings? Hindi mo ba alam iyon?! Ang ganda ng umaga ko tapos sinisira mo! Sayang naman ang kakabili ko lang kahapon na mini maong skirt na suot ko at itong croptop ko!" mahabang litanya niya.

Right! Korean! Si Jung Yong Hwa. Shemayy!

"Oo nga pala! Salamat sa pagpapaalala! And one more thing..."

"What again?!" pasinghal na tanong niya habang nakabusangot. Haha! Naipasa ko yata sa kanya ang bad mood ko.

I walked one step closer to her and leaned to her. I put my mouth beside her right ear while shputing the words, "They're not OPPA-NGIT!"

After that, I smiled at her and ran towards the exit door of the canteen. I saw her running towards my direction dahil nakalingon ako sa kanya. Nagsusumigaw siya at animo'y nagwawala. Hahaha!

Tumakbo ako nang tumakbo hanggang sa makaliko ako sa pathway patungo sa classroom namin. Pagkalikong-pagkaliko ko ay bumungad sa akin ang mukha ni Jpshuan na gulat na gulat dahil nakita niya ako. Sandali kaming nagtitigan bago ko siya nilampasan.

Actually, we've been avoiding each other since yesterday. Remember what happened yesterday? The embarrassing moment? That's the reason. Ngayon lang ulit nagtagpo ang mga landas namin.

Ang eksena namin sa room, parang hindi kami magkakilala. Walang pansinan, walang imikan. Ang set ng upuan namin ay two rows with six columns each row. Sa pinakadulong left row siya nakaupo, kasalungat ng upuan ko na nasa bukana ng right row. Katabi ko ang entrance door. Malayong-malayo kami sa isa't-isa kaya naman hindi mahirap para sa amin ang pag-iiwasan. We haven't even talked about the musical play. I've been thinking of approaching him but there are always mean girls clinging unto him.

Agad na akong pumasok sa classroom dahil alam kong hindi makakapasok si Crystal dito. May rule kasi ang school na DO NOT ENTER IN OTHER STUDENTS' ROOM. She's not the rule breaker type that's why I know that she can't come inside. Hahaha!

I held unto my guitar and started strumming it. Good thing I know how to play a guitar. If not, then I'm doomed. I brought my cellphone out and search for the guitar chords of Because I miss You By Jung Yong Hwa. The song was an OST of the korean series Heartstrings. I love this song very much!

For the intro, it says that the chords are C, A minor, D minor and G. I tried it and it was the right tune of the song.

I continued strumming while singing inside my head.

[Verse]

C Em

Neul ttokgateun haneure

F G C

Neul gateun haru

F G Em C

Geudaega eopneun geot malgoneun

F G

Dallajin ge eopneunde

C Em

Nan utgoman shipeunde

F G C

Da ijeun deushi

F G Em C

Amuil aneun deut geureokhe

F G

Useumyeon salgopeunde

[Chorus]

C G

Geuriweo geuriweoseo

Am Em

Geudaega geuriweoseo

F Em

Maeil nan honjaseoman

Dm G

Geudereul bureugo bulleobwayo

C G

Bogopa bogopaseo

Am Em

Geudaega bogopaseo

F Em

Ije nan seubgwan cheoreom

Dm G

Geudae ireumman bureuneyo

C

Oneuldo

[Solo]

G Am Em F Em Dm G

[Bridge]

F E Am

Haruharuga jugeul geotman gateunde

Dm G

Eotteoke haeya heayo

[Chorus]

C G

Saranghae saranghaeyo

Am Em

Geudereul saranghaeyo

F Em

Maljocha motagoseo

Dm G

Geudaereul geureoke bonaenneyo

C G

Mianhae mianhaeyo

Am Em

Nae mari deullinayo

F Em

Dwineujeun nae gobaegeul

Dm G

Geudaen deureul su isseulkkayo

C

Saranghaeyo...

Okay. Memorize ko pa pala ang kanta ni Jung Yong Hwa. All I thought I forgot it already. It was a long time ago since I watched a kdrama series... with my mom. Mahilig kasi kami ni mom sa kdrama. Balak pa nga naming pumunta sa mga pinag-shootingan ng series na Legend of the Blue Sea kaso paano pa kami makakapunta ngayon? Umuna na siya sa itaas, eh. Hayst!

Dahil sa isiping iyon ay nalungkot na naman ako. Bakit kasi pumasok pa sa isip ko ang alaala namin ni mom, eh! Huhu! Naiiyak tuloy ako!

"Hoy, Therese! Kapag ikaw lumabas sa lungga mo, lagot ka sa akin!" ani Crystal na nasa may pintuan namin ngayon. Hindi ko na siya nilabanan pa ng salita. Sa halip ay nginitian ko na lamang siya ng mapait. Malungkot ako kaya natural na mapait ang ngiti ko ngayon.

"What's with that smile? Did something happen?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"I just syddenly remembered... my mom," I replied as a tear escaped from my left eye.

"Hay naku, Therese. Move on na, dear. Buti sana kung nagiging pearl din ang luha mo katulad nung kay Sim Chiu," nag-aalala pa ring sabi ni Crystal, trying to comfort me on her own funny way.

Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya at humarap ako sa kanya sabay sabi, "It's Sim Cheong not Sim Chiu. Ginawa mo pang mag-asawa sina Kim Chiu at Sim Cheong. Hayst!"

"Pinapatawa lang kita, ikaw naman! Pero huwag ka! Hindi ko talaga alam ang pangalan nung babae doon sa The Legend of Blue Sea," muling aniya na muling nakapagpatawa sa akin.

"It's Legend of the Blue Sea, by the way," natatawang sabi ko.

"Whatever. Parehas din naman iyon. Duh! Ni-rephrase lang ni Lee Min Ho ang title," depensa naman niya. "Anyways, I need to go na. Baka i-mark as absent ako ni Professor Marissa. Bye bye," paalam niya and waved good bye.

I waved back before turning to the exit door. May tumatawag kasi sa pangalan ko. There, I saw Mr. Brandon. Siya ang caretaker ng school. Meaning, he is incharge of the cleanliness and orderliness of the school. Nagroronda siya palagi sa buong para tingnan kung may mga nagviviolate ba sa rules and regulations ng school.

"Yes, Mr. Brandon?" tanong ko nang marating ko ang kinaroroonan niya.

"Ipinapatawag kayo ni Mrs. Altamonte sa office niya. Kayo daw ni Mr. Wrights," aniya.

"And why is that? What is it all about again? If it is about the musical theater play, please tell her that we won't---"

He cut me off by saying, "I don't what it is about, Mrs. Mendoza. Just go directly to her office. Now!"

"O-Okay," nasambit ko. I was surprised to hear him talk with full of authority. Plus, he was so serious a while back.

I heaved a deep sigh before walking towards Joshuan's seat. Will I be able to face and talk to him? Ugh! I don't know!

"Pst," I said to steal his attention. As usual, nakatungo na naman siya sa armchair niya. Kulang ba sa tulog ang isang 'to? Bakit tulog yata?

"I am not sleeping," he said.

What the...?! How did he know what I am thinking?

"Just tell me what you need."

"P-Pinapatawag daw t-tayo ni Mrs. Altamonte sa o-office niya," kandautal na sagot ko.

"Okay," aniya. Walang emosyon siyang tumayo at umuna nang maglakad palabas ng classroom.

Hindi man lang maghintay ang kupal na iyon! The heck!

"Walk faster if you want me to join me while walking," he said.

Dahil doon ay napabilis ang paglalakad ko. Halos patakbo na dahil sa bilis niyang maglakad. Jusko po! Halos hingalin na ako kakahabol sa kanya. Gusto ko kasi siyang masabayan maglakad.

Hala? Ano ang iniisip ko? Gusto ko siyang makasabay na maglakad? What the heck is wrong with me?! Ugh!

Nang walang anu-ano'y bumagal siyang maglakad. Napaisip tuloy ako kung nababasa ba niya ang iniisip ko. Ugh! Whatever it is, I don't care!

Nang makarating kami sa office ni Mrs. Altamonte, located at the western side of the highschool department, bumungad sa amin ang nakangiting mukha ni Mrs. Altamonte.

She then motioned us to sit on the two chairs, reserved for visitors, in front of her desk.

"How are the both of you?" she asked and looked at us maliciously.

"Fine," magkasabay na sagot namin. Nagkatinginan kami dahil doon ng ilang segudo bago muling inilipat ang mga paningin sa kung saan.

"I smell something fishy, huh? Did something happen between the two of you?" tanong niya. The malicious look on her eyes are still there. Nailang ako dahil doon.

Agad naman kaming umiling sabay sabing, "NO!"

"It sounds defensive, huh? I really sense something. Hmm..." muling aniya which annoyed me.

"Stop that!" magkasabay na naman naming sabi.

Ugh! Bakit ba kasi nakikisabay sa akin ang Jpshuan Dwayne Wrights na ito?! Pangatlong beses na, ah! Arrgggh!

"Okay, okay!" ani Mrs. Altamonte. Itinaas pa niya sa ere ang kanyang magkabilang kamay na animo'y sumusuko. "The thing is that I want to ask you about the musical play. I was not able to ask for your answer yesterday before dismissal because something came up. So, what? Are you going to accept it?" tanong niya habang inililipat-lipat ang kanyang paningin sa aming dalawa.

"The thing is..."

Napahinto ako sa pagsasalita dahil nagkasabay na naman kami at iisa ang sasabihin.

"You speak."

Sa ika-limang pagkakataon ay sabay na naman kami at pareho na naman ang sinabi. Napatawa naman si Mrs. Altamonte dahil dito.

"You two look cute... TOGETHER," aniya na ikinagulat ko. She even put emphasis to the word 'together'. "Para kayong magkasintahan na nahihiya-hiya sa isa't-isa. Hahaha!" dagdag pa niya.

Nang walang magsalita sa aming dalawa ay napangiti siya.

"Whatever. So, what do you want to tell me?" she asked.

"We..."

"No chorus, please. One person can say what you want to tell me, right?" aniya nang marinig na naman ang pagsabay namin ng pagkakabigkas ni Joshuan. "Joshuan, you speak."

"Mrs. Altamonte... The thing is that we are not getting pretty well since yesterday. We even avoided each other," he explained.

"So?"

"So, we would turn down your request. Sor---"

"No, no, no! If you turn it down, my request, I mean, then the both of you will be kicked out from this institution!" she said seriously. "So, is it a YES or a YES?"

"Yes..." we both said without any energy.

How could she be so cruel?! Kicked out, my foot! So, she left us with no other choice but to agree, huh? How brilliant she is! She's so brilliant to the point that I want to punched her straight to her face! Ugh!

"You said YES so let us sign a contract now," she said while smiling brightly. She handed us two copies of a paper with a prited headline CONTRACT.

I immediately signed where my name is written and bade goodbye. I then opened Mrs. Altamonte's office's door and went out. As soon as I stepped outside her office, I took a deep breath and walked towards the direction of our classroom.

Ngayon ko lang nalaman na hindi pala lahat ng YES ay maganda ang kalalabasan kapag sinabi na. Hayst!

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