On That Summer Day

"Alright ladies and gents as I call your name, come in front and get your nametags. Entiendes?" sabi ng MC ng event. His name is Ivan, but we call him Ate Ivy. And yes, he's gay and it's fine with me. It's not like I'm homophobic or something, ya?

"Aisha Banner" I stood up from my sit and I came right in front of the stage and got my tag. Hi. As mentioned, I am Aisha Banner. 20 years old, a passionate newly graduate Nurse from Stann Smith University in Makati. Ayan ang educational background ko. And if nagtataka kayo kung para saan ang nametags na kinukuha namin, para rito sa event 'yon. We're here at Palaui Island dito sa Cagayan. Meron kasing outreach program ang hospital and since bago palang ako, required ako pumunta para raw dagdag experience rin. And after ng outreach program, grinab na rin nila ang chance para makapasyal kami dito sa island.

"Thank you po. Balik po kayo rito next time."

"Welcome na welcome ho kayo rito sa lugar namin."

"Salamat, Doc, Nurse."

"Thank you rin po. I had fun today." I cheerfully said.

So that's how our day went. And since tapos na ang event, nagkaayaan ang mga doctors and nurses and ang team na mag night swimming. And namention nila na may event daw mamaya sa beach. Fiesta rin kasi nila rito and may paraffle raw so dahil ngayon lang kami napunta rito, lahat kami nagpalista ng names namin and we purchased raffle tickets.

"Ang tagal naman ng results. Gosh! Gusto ko talagang makuha 'yung laptop. Banas na ako sa laptop ko eh, pabulok na 'yun hahahaha" Ate Ammy said. She's my older sister. Siya pala ang head nurse hehehehe.

"Nako. Wait ka lang kasi, sis."

"And in 5 4 3 2 1, we'll start na po na bumunot ng tickets." And the game started. So ayon, nabunot na ang winner ng 1 kilo ng bigas, bouquet ng chocolates, nabunot na rin ang winner ng aircon, and this time laptop naman.

"So para sa winner ng Mcbook Pro, here she? He? Ohh guys, I'm not sure kasi last name lang ang nakalagay so the winner is --"

"Gosh! Obviously 'di ako 'yan. Complete name ko nilagay ko!" sabi ng Ate ko and she pouted. Hahahaha cute sis.

"The winner is Banner!"

"WHAT!? BANNER!? OF COURSE IT'S NOT ME. IT'S PROBABLY YOU, LIL SIS!" Maingay na sigaw ng Ate ko.

And nagsinc naman na sa akin ang nangyayari so pumunta na ako sa harap, pero I was shocked ng makita kong may ibang kumukuha ng prize ko.

"Uhm, excuse me?" I plainly said sa lalaking may blonde hair na asa harapan ko.

"Yes, why?" he said while smiling aba pangiti ngiti ka pa riyan Kuya ha?

"I think the prize's mine." I confidently said.

"Huh? How come it's yours when the MC clearly announced the winner and it's me, Miss. So please, nagkamali ka lang siguro ng dinig. Alis na ako ha? It's okay, better luck next time." Aba iba rin 'to si Kuya.

"Wait a minute. Here, I am Aisha Banner. Banner daw ang nakasulat so it's me. Banner ka ba? I'm the Banner here. Baka ikaw ang nagkamali ng dinig, Mister?" Inis kong sabi and I pointed my nametag na thankfully 'di ko pa natatanggal mula kanina sa outreach program.

"I'm Banner, too. Ezekiel Banner." nagpakita siya ng driver's license and yes, he really is a Banner. Damn, what do we do now? Magkaparehas kami ng last name?

"Wait wait wait. Looks like nagkakaproblema na here" sabi ni Ate na MC then suddenly, may dumating na elder woman which is I assume eto ang event organizer or sponsor for tonight and they look like ineexplain ni Ate MC ang situation.

"Hello Mr. and Ms. Banner?" The woman said, andito na sila ni Ate MC sa harapan namin and katabi ko na ngayon si Mr. Banner.

"Uhm hi, Ma'am." Mr. Banner, while me? I just smiled. Sorry, I'm boring. I'm just like this. The people around me are already used to it. Natigil ang pagdedaydream ko nang --

"Miss Banner, pwede bang patingin din ng valid ID mo. Ayun lang kasi ang inaaccept namin eh." And I showed them my ID sa hospital. Ahem, Aisha Banner, RN yata 'to 😊.

"Hmm I think parang unfair naman if magtatanong kami sa mga tao around us kung sino sa inyo ang may sulat ng asa ticket. It would be bias. So Blaise, dalawa nalang sila bigyan ng prize." And nagulat naman kami pareho ng katabi ko pero kilala ko naman ang handwriting ko and I'll be honest naman if hindi 'yun sa'kin.

"Uhm excuse me po. Can I take a look at the tickets po? I'll check lang if sulat ko ba."

"Oh sure, dear." sabi ni Ateng MC and she handed me the winning ticket.

"Ahh. This is my handwriting." I emotionlessly said. I'm plain. I'm boring. I'm me. Sinilip naman ng katabi ko.

"Ohh. That's not mine. I'm sorry, Ma'am. I'm sorry, Miss. I really thought it was mine. I didn't know at first na meron palang ibang Banner dito." Nagbow bow din siya.

"It's fine." I said with my blank expression. Sorry, I'm not the friendly type.

"Hmm so it seems like the issue is solved now. I'll just give you the DSLR, Mr. Banner. Would that be fine with you?"

"Yah, yah. I would still be grateful for that, Ma'am. I'm sorry for the disturbance. If we just wrote our complete names then we wouldn't create this mess. I really am sorry" sabi ng katabi ko, jusqqqq napakadaldal ng lalaki 'to in all fairness!

"No, no, it's not your fault." Sabi ni Ma'am organizer and sponsor at the same time, napagalaman ko lang. I heard from the people around habang nag-uusap kami rito eh.

"Thank you po" maikli kong sabi and nagpaalam na para umexit. Mygosh, ang tagal tagal na naming nag-uusap. Yoko na noh. Umalis na ako while si Mr. Banner, andoon nagdradrama pa ata and nilingon ko sila ayun nagpapicture pa. Aba matinde rin 'tong nilalang na 'to. I watched them for a while. Narealized kong gwapo rin pala si Mr. Ticket. Binura ko ang nasa isip ko. Hey, self? Kailan ka pa pumansin ng pogi? NBSB din ata 'to hahahaha.

Natapos naman na ang event, nagswimming lang kami ng team and tamang kain lang and indoor games 'yung pang tanders. Card games gano'n lang. And that's how our night went.

"Aryt,aryt! Let's call it a day, a night. Goodnight everybody!" Sabi ng supervisor namin.

Andito na ako sa tent, katabi ko si Ate. I yawned and closed my eyes. Hayy what a day.