Lhieon and I came before 4PM. Seaside 'yung camp so it is calming. Kakababa lang ng mga kasama namin sa bus kaya after magpark ni Lhieon ay sumunod na kami sakanila para makasama kami sa pila.
Lhieon just stayed at my back, following me.
The line is for attendance, to see who's there and who's not.
I've signed my name in the attendance sheet with my surname, Gray. I use another signature for formal papers like contracts and important papers but for attendance and school uses, I use a signature where in it only includes my surname.
I headed straight back to Lhieon's car to get my stuff. When I tried opening the back seat, it was locked.
Tinignan ko naman si Lhieon na binabagalan 'yung lakad niya. Nang marealize niya siguro n naiinip na ako ay may pinindot na siya sa susi niya kaya naman ay tumunog na yung sasakyan niya as sign na bukas na ito.
Pagkabukas ko ng back seat sasakyan niya, kinuha ko agad ang maleta ko at iniwan nalang ang school bag ko dahil hindi ko naman ito kailangan. Sinama ko na rin ang duffel bag ko na laman ang mga gamit ko for volleyball. Kinuha ko ito sa locker bago umalis dahil lagi iyon nandoon. Hindi ko naman dinadala na sa bahay at nilalagay nalang sa bag ko ng kailangan ko iuwi at labahan.
"Let me bring your stuff," Lhieon presented himself.
"I can manage," I told him and started to walk towards the hotel we will be staying in.
We will be with other universities. After this, exams and then sport's fest and academic break. One week din yon but I think it's kind of fine fine because I really have nothing to do. Good thing that I planned on going to New York after fest. Kinda impulsive but fine.
There are three floors that are occupied for all of the universities that participated in this year's camp. Last year, we consumed 5 floors in a different place but since most of the old athletes graduates. Obviously, there's a lot of old athletes graduated but some moved in to another school in different countries.
Pumasok ako sa room na may nakalagay ang school name, division namin, at name ko with the other players.
I knocked before entering the door. Well, I don't believe that this is just a hotel. This looks like a luxury apartment.
My roommates aren't really close to me. I just greeted them and proceeded to the occupied room that they pointed out. Lima ang kasama ko at may tatlong room dito. Pagpasok ko sa kwarto na tinuro nila ay full twin bed ang nandoon, pero mukhang wala akong kasama dito at iniwan nila ang room na ito para sa akin.
Nagsimula na akong mag-ayos ng gamit ko. Nilabas ko sa bag ang mga kailangan ko tulad ng charger, laptop, at mga toiletries ko.
After fixing those. I changed my clothes into much more comfortable ones. I am still wearing my uniform on the way here that's why I immediately changed what I am wearing. Nagsuot lang ako ng simple white tshirt and plain black pajama pants.
Kinuha ko ang phone ko at nakita kong 5PM na. My phone is also full with Kizealla, Lia, Caleb, and Lhieon's messages.
Kizealla Dela Cruz: Nasan na kyo?
Lia Dominguez: Musta byahe?
Caleb Mendoza: Capt! Pakisabi naman kay Lhieon 'yung charger ko nasa sasakyan niyaTT_TT
Lhieon Khaizer: Baba ka sa lobby. Let's walk then deretcho tayo sa kakainan mamaya
Hindi ako nagreply pero kumuha lang ako ng hoodie at lumabas na. Wala na ang mga kasama ko kaya baka lumabas na yung mga iyon. May key card na naiwan sa lamesa kaya I assume na iyon ay naiwan para sa akin kaya kinuha ko. The room have a veranda where you can see the sea.
Aftering sighting everything, lumabas na ako. Sinigurado ko munang nakasara ang pinto bago ako tuluyang pumunta sa elevator at bumaba.
When I reached the lobby, I looked for Lhieon around but I can't see him. While roaming around, someone covered my eyes but I remained calm.
"Guess?" the person asked.
"Lhieon stop," easy guess then.
I heard him chuckled and slowly removed his hand in my eyes, "Akala ko matatakot ka,"
"Why would I? Na makidnap? Takot ako pero alam kong ikaw 'yon kaya hindi talaga ako matatakot," sabi ko sabay irap.
Narinig ko naman siyang tumawa ng bahagya dahil sa sinabi ko. He should've covered my eyes intensely while dragging me if he's a kidnapper, he covered my eyes softly though.
Lhieon wanted to walk around and watch the sunset. Most of us actually wanted to. It's been a while since I last watched the sunset in a beach. Nakakapunta lang ako sa dagat kapag may occasions na invited ako or family ko. Kapag kasi invited ako napunta ako kasi nakakahiya kung magbibigay lang ako ng gift.
Swertihan nalang kung may kilala ako don.
We started to roam around first because it is still early. Pumunta kami sa mga stores to buy something to eat.
"Alam mo ba na the last time I cams to the beach to watch the sunset is back before this school year starts? Break down ko 'yon," kuwento ko kay Lhieon.
"Bakit?" he asked.
"Pressure and problems? Napaka sudden lang non." That was the time when I was having my problems crash together.
"We went to a beach the day after everything happen. Wala talaga ako sa wisyo non na halos hindi nila ako makausap e," I opened up.
It was too heavy for me to handle because I am still young that time.
"After that, I never took a vacation to a beach except if it is a invite for an occasion."
Kasi naman, nakapag bakasyon sila like nothing happened, like no one gets affected by that but in fact, I am really much affected.
Seeing my family slowly tearing apart is another kind of shit.
Even though I never experienced family stuff because of Dad's business mind, it really hurts me a lot.
"You can keep it to yourself if you're forcing yourself to open up things," Lhieon started walking slowly and from roaming around, I've realized that there are less people in this area.
"I've been keeping all of my problems for solid years now. I'm getting tired of defending myself and telling people that I'm fine just so I can't make them make me their responsibility."
Minsan kasi ginagawa nilang panglaban 'yung ganon sa away na kesyo nandyan sila sa lowest ko but I am not with theirs. It is hard to be mentally unstable. I can't even be with Kizealla and Lia when they need but. I don't like the fact that they kept saying that they understand, I'm being unfair with them.
"It will never be their responsibility if you opened up to them. Hindi nila responsibilidad na pakinggan ka kasi puwede naman nilang hindi ka pakinggan kung gustuhin nila. Hindi responsibility 'yon, Venus. Choice nila ang mag stay kasama ka while you're at your lowest," he stated, "You're completely wrecked up making you think of those."
I really am.
"It is better to spill everything out, love. Nakakagaan ng pakiramdam. You can cry too, it is not embarassing," and by that, a tear came out from my left eye when I looked down.
Napansin niya siguro 'yon kaya naman ay agad siyang tumigil para lingunin ako.
"Hey," he hugged me, "It's okay. I'm here."
I gave in. I silently cried and he hugged me, didn't even bother to hug him back but just grabbed the hem of his shirt instead.
Niyakap niya lang ako hanggang sa medyo kumalas siya ng konti para tignan ako. He slightly smiled at me and ruffled my hair.
I never expected myself to open up while crying. Unexpected things really happen.
"Let's go? Kanina pa sila nag chat na mag d-dinner na. I'm just waiting for you to be okay," he said.
Pinunasan ko lang ang luha sa pisngi ko at niyaya na siya. Tinanong ko pa siya kung medyo puffy ba mata ko pedo hindi naman daw. Which is good.
Sabay kaming pumasok sa isang buffet restaurant at agad na lumapit sa mga kasamahan namin. Lhieon left me with them while he was getting our food. I insisted in coming but he just told me to wait. Now, I am stuck with my talkative teammates.
"Saan kayo galing?" one of them asked me.
"Nag ikot lang. Ganda ng place e," sagot ko naman.
Ngayon lang siguro kami makakpag ikot dahil sa camp. Malamang ay paguran dito. Last year ay simula 8Am hanggang 4:30PM kami kaya wala talagang oras para mag gala tapos umaga din kami umuwi non. Sana pag galain kami ngayon.
"Gagala pa kayo mamaya?" Xui asked.
"Ewan. Hindi na siguro," 'di ko pa sure. Galing kasi kaming school kasi pumasok pa kami.
Puwede namang hindi pumasok kasi excused kami pero ginusto ko parin para may knowledge ako about sa lessons na puwedeng lumabas sa exam. Madalas kasi ay sinasabi nila kung ano ang coverage ng mga exam ng mas maaga kaya mas mabuting perfect attendance ka.
Lhieon came carrying two plates. I stood up and helped him. He gave me the plate that has lessee food. He knows that I don't eat a lot at night?
Sa tabi ko umupo si Lhieon. Hinintay ko muna siyang magsimula at saka ako sumabay sakanya ng kain. Patapos na ang mga kasama namin at yung iba naman ay mag second round pa dahil unlimited buffet restaurant ito.
Lhieon put Khani Salad and a sandwich in my plate. Dude putting me on a diet.
Kumuha naman siya ng lasagna and sandwich for himself.
Lhieon and I silently ate while our teammates continued talking to each other. We do answer some of their questions when they ask us.
"Are you guys together? Palagi kasi kayong magkasama and Lhieon is being clingy," Mendez asked.
"I'm courting her," Lhieon answered truthfully.
"Reachable no? You kept on sighting her dati tapos ngayon nakakatabi mo na kumain, nililigawan mo pa," tatawa tawa na sabi ni Miller.
"Babaero ka lang e," sabi naman ni Lhieon sakanya.
Agad naman itong nag react at umaktong nasasaktan, "Nagbago naman na ako," naglulungkot lungkot-an na sabi niya.
Ang cringe niya.
"Balita ko nga may napa-iyak ka nanaman sa GAS," sabi ko sakanya. Napalingon namam siya sa akin dahil don.
Updated si Kizealla sa mga chismis inside SLU kaya kinukwento rin niya sa amin. Nakuwento naman sa akin ni Kizealla ito.
"Hindi ah! Nag assume kasi siya," naka pout na siya ngayon.
Miller is nice. He's just very playful with girls. I don't know why does he likes playing with girls' hearts. He is handsome too but still! He shouldn't have played their feelings!
"Binigyan mo kasi ng motibo," iiling iling na sabi naman netong kasama ko.
"Red flag," Mendez said while laughing.
"Pinagtutulungan ako ah! Pagtanggol mo'ko, Venus!" bigla siyang nag cling sa braso ko!
"Akin 'yan. Alis," sabay hampas ni Lhieon kay Miller.
Napaalis naman si Miller sa pagkakakapot sa braso ko at tinaasan ng kilay si Lhieon.
"Luh! Gine- gatekeep. Payag ka non?" baling sa akin ni Miller
"Kung siya mang ge- gatekeep... why not?"