I just wanted this conversation to be over. I was so ready to sleep, especially after drinking. I wasn't drunk, just feeling a little sleepy, which usually happens after I drink. At that moment, I felt like a construction worker who had just downed a drink after a long day of labor.
"I'm not exactly the girly type, you know."
"So, Lui, what do you have to say about it?" the guy who spoke earlier asked, raising his brows while grinning at me. Since they introduced themselves all at once earlier, I couldn't remember his name.
"Huh? What's your point, guys? Just get straight to it!" I snapped, grabbing the bottle in front of David and taking another swig.
Whatever happens, happens! I don't even need to be early at school tomorrow because a different team is assigned to watch over our booth. Besides, we're only required to report to our quarters after lunch to prepare for the competition.
"You don't have a boyfriend, right? Our bro wanted to ask," he hesitantly said.
"Wait, wait. I've been noticing this for a while now—who exactly is this 'bro' you're talking about? And why isn't he the one talking to me directly? Is he even here?" I asked, frustrated. I looked at each of the guys with us, trying to figure out which one of them it was.
"There he is! Come on, bro, introduce yourself! Don't worry, Lui doesn't punch people. We got your back. You heard her—she wants to hear from you directly. Raise our banner high, bro!" AC cheered while shaking one of his friends, who was already pale and avoiding eye contact with me. His face looked familiar, but I just couldn't remember where I had seen him before.
His friends were now forcing him to stand up. He kept his head down, looking as if he might faint from nervousness at any moment. He was so pale that it was obvious how anxious he was. So, I decided to stand up and approach him myself. Damn it, how cowardly!
"Oh, that's why he looks familiar—he was with AC during our beach outing last summer."
I just wanted to end this quickly so I could go home. I was feeling the exhaustion and drowsiness creeping in. I stood in front of the table, facing him, and patted his shoulder.
"What's your name? Sorry, I don't remember, though you look familiar. If I'm not mistaken, you were with AC during our beach outing, right?" I said firmly.
The whole group suddenly erupted in noise. Some banged on the table, others clinked their bottles and glasses together, and then they all started shouting in unison. The table we were at became even more chaotic.
"Ohhh! She remembers you! Go, bro! He's standing up, he's standing up! This is your chance, bro!" his friends encouraged him.
He finally looked up at me, struggling to get to his feet. I raised an eyebrow at him, arms crossed, staring him down.
"What?" I asked.
"If you're just going to keep staring at me and stay silent, I'm leaving. I'm exhausted, and I had a very long day. I really need to rest. So, take the chance I'm giving you now, or you won't get another one," I said firmly.
He looked like a child seeking help from his friends, while the idiots around us were signaling him to stand up already. When he finally managed to get on his feet—
"Ah, um…" He scratched the back of his neck while gripping the hem of his shirt with his other hand, which was visibly trembling.
"I'm James, by the way, Lui," he said hesitantly, unsure whether to extend his hand for a handshake.
Meanwhile, the idiots around us were acting like they were watching a movie, as if all they needed were popcorn and drinks. Damn it, this is so annoying! It felt like we were in a cockfighting arena with all their cheering.
I really wanted to get this over with and go home. I kept my arms crossed and lazily glanced at James, who was still fidgeting in front of me.
"How do you plan to court her if you can't even talk properly?" one of his friends teased, making the whole group cheer even louder.
"Unbelievable, tsk!"
"As I've said, I'm already exhausted. So, I'll give you a deal. I just want to end everything tonight while I still have the energy to stand and talk. I really want this to be over. Let's make a deal, and everyone here will be a witness. If our department remains the overall champion for this year's intramurals, then you have to stay away from me—no further discussion," I declared confidently. The alcohol had definitely given me a boost of courage.
Everyone fell silent, clearly not expecting to hear such words from me. I didn't have time to keep thinking about it. I just wanted to be done with this because I was already drained, and now I felt even more exhausted dealing with this situation.
"But if your department wins the championship, then I'll be your girlfriend," I added.
The group erupted into cheers again, getting even more hyped.
"Huh? Ah, um," was all James could say, furrowing his brows, obviously stunned by what I had just said.
"Wait! I'm not finished yet. If your department happens to be the champion, you have to come to our apartment as early as possible in the morning and bring flowers with you," I continued, holding my head high.
I was confident. Our department had been the grand slam champion last year, and this year, all we had to do was maintain our title.
I immediately turned my back without waiting for his response. Ignoring the noise around me, I went back to my seat, grabbed my bag, and left without saying another word.
I didn't even realize Nika had followed me until she was running to catch up.
"Lui? Are you okay"" she asked while we waited for a cab.
"I'm not okay. I've been exhausted for hours. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have come. I could have gotten some early rest in our apartment," I replied.
"Lui, I swear, I had no idea this was going to happen. I really didn't know anything about it. That's why when you looked at me earlier, all I could do was shake my head—I was just as shocked as you," she explained.
"It's okay, Niks! I understand. No worries," I reassured her.
"Lui, can I ask you something" she hesitated.
"Of course, what is it?" I answered.
"Why did you say all that earlier? Are you sure about this?" she asked, clearly puzzled.
"Honestly? No," I admitted.
"Then what now? I know you like someone else" she asked again. Nika wasn't usually pushy, but I understood why she had so many questions now.
"Let it be. If something is meant to happen, it will happen no matter what. But if it's not meant to happen, then something else will come along the way," I said.
What's done is done. I always keep my word, so I had to prepare myself for whatever was coming in the next few days.
Nika just let out a deep sigh, shaking her head slightly, looking as if she was the one having a hard time with my situation.
The next day.
It was only 4 p.m., but all of us dancers were already wearing makeup. Our quarters were packed since all the participants from different departments were mixed in, and everyone was busy preparing for tonight's Literary Musical Night. I was starting to feel nervous about our performance later. We were already in our robes so changing later would be easier. My teammates and I were sitting in one corner when my thoughts suddenly drifted to what had happened last night.
Then, I noticed a familiar face peeking through our quarter's door. It was obvious they were looking for me. Thankfully, I was sitting at the farthest corner of the room, sitting on the floor in an angel pose. I recognized the one peeking in—it was one of the girls from their group. I didn't want to show myself to any of them just yet. Even earlier at home, I avoided any possible questions. As much as possible, I wanted to focus on the competition.
But what annoyed me the most was that my own words kept replaying in my head:
"No! For sure, we'll still be the champions this year. We're on a grand slam, right? That means we're the best, and no one can beat us. That's why I'm confident that guy doesn't stand a chance. Ugh, why is it that the one I don't like is the one making a move, while the one I've had a crush on for so long doesn't even notice me? And the other crush I had? He already graduated, and he still doesn't know I liked him! And now, I'm finally ready for suitors. So annoying! Good thing we're still friends. Never mind, I'll just visit him again at his station—since he's a disk jockey, or what they call a radio DJ."
"I'm hungry," I complained to Mitch, who was leaning against the wall beside me. Like me, she was sitting on the floor.
"Me too! But we can't eat. Even drinking water—we're only allowed a little. Coach said it might make us feel heavy when we dance," she replied. Our dance coach was super strict; we had to follow all the rules, or else we'd be in trouble.
"Zette is lucky—looks like she managed to nap," I said when I turned and saw her eyes closed, leaning against a chair.
"She's the only one who can sleep with a full face of makeup and still in her robe," Mitch joked, and we both laughed.
Now, we were all dressed up and waiting backstage for our name to be called. Our hands were cold as we held onto each other, having just finished praying. We hugged and wished each other good luck.
"Guys! Don't forget to smile. I don't want to see anyone looking at the stage or at your teammates—just dance with confidence and grace! This isn't the first time you're dancing on that stage, and it's not the first-time people will be screaming for you. Just let the audience cheer—don't let it distract you. Keep your presence of mind, avoid mistakes in execution, and listen carefully to the music to make sure you're all in sync. You've won this competition for years—you can do it again! Okay? Just enjoy the moment! Chill! Smile, smile! Now, go! Go, go! You're next! Form your line faster!" our dance coach yelled at us before we stepped onto the stage, getting into formation as the lights were still dimmed.
We had to win. After the other department's performance, it was finally our turn. This was what we had been waiting for—our moment to show what we've got. We entered the stage, formed our positions, and waited for the music to start. The moment it played, we executed every step we had practiced and mastered for more than a week. We ended our performance with great confidence and grace. Cheers erupted from the audience, especially from our department.
But suddenly, we heard a different kind of cheer—one that came from another department, and they were shouting my name. I didn't see that coming, but I knew exactly who those people were.
"Shocks! This is so embarrassing! Can the stage just swallow me whole right now?! Why did we even have to pause for a minute for the pictorial? Ugh! Wrong timing! Super bad trip!"
But I didn't let it get to me. Like our coach said:
"Don't let the audience's screams affect you."
I felt such a huge relief when our performance ended. We all immediately hugged right after. And of course, the pictorial followed—it had become a tradition since the photos were included in the yearbook. That's why each performer was given a five-minute allowance for the shoot.
As soon as the pictorial was over, I walked away as fast as I could. I was so embarrassed that I didn't even pay attention to the people I passed by. Even my fellow dancers were teasing me about what they had heard.
They said we had performed in the gym many times before, but this was the first time they heard my name get a special mention. I pretended not to hear anything and walked over to the table to grab my towel and bottled water. I wanted to head straight back to our quarters to change—not only because I was drenched in sweat but also to avoid all the teasing from my friends. Luckily, our choreographer told us that we would be exiting through the side of the gym because we needed to take a group picture with him before changing. Earlier, only the dancers were photographed on stage in our final formation.
After that, we returned to our quarters, and I quickly changed. I didn't even bother putting on my shoes because my feet were aching, so I just wore flip-flops instead. At least this way, my feet could rest—my shoes had rubbed my feet raw, and it was really painful. Dancing in heels was torture. But anyway, it was all worth it. The important thing was that we did great—no one made a mistake, we executed every step properly, and our movements were perfectly synchronized. I was sure we were going to win again.
"Girls! Move quickly and bring your things! We need to go back to the gym to support our teammates," our choreographer, who was also flamboyant and lively, announced. So, we grabbed our bags and headed back. I felt like I was running away from home with all the stuff I was carrying—haha! But at least I wasn't the only one.
The program ended late at night, so we also had a late dinner with our fellow department members. I chose to stick with them since I wasn't ready yet to face my friends and hear their questions.
"Let's get barbecue! KKB, okay?" one of our companions shouted excitedly.
("KKB" means "Kanya-Kanyang Bayad" or "each pays for their own food.")
"Oh, sounds good!" many agreed, including us. After all, we had only eaten a light snack after performing. The food committee only prepared snacks since dinner wasn't included in the budget—only lunch was covered.
"Mitch, let's share a cab later with Zette. I'll get dropped off at the apartment first since taking a jeepney would be a hassle," I told them while we waited for our food.
"Good idea! I was about to say the same thing, but you beat me to it," Mitch replied.
Our group dinner was fun—we chatted for a while before finally deciding to head home. As planned, the three of us took a cab together. I was the first to get dropped off since my apartment was the closest to the restaurant. Next was Zette, as her place was along the way to Mitch's house.
I didn't even think about VM and the others—they were probably with the same group anyway, so I wanted to avoid them for now. When I got home, the apartment was still dark, meaning I was the first to arrive, which was actually better. That way, I'd already be asleep by the time they got back. I was sure they were still out drinking, which meant they'd be home late—like always. Whenever they were together, drinking was inevitable.
At least none of them turned into troublemakers when they got drunk. The only problem was how noisy they got—cracking jokes, teasing each other, and laughing non-stop.
As soon as I freshened up, I landed straight onto my bed—my comfort zone. I fell asleep easily, completely exhausted from the long day.
"Lui? Lui, Lui!" someone was calling me, trying to wake me up. "Ugh, so annoying—I stillwanted to sleep!" I didn't have anything urgent to do anyway. I could just go to school later to help my classmates dismantle the booth and pack up the displays.
"Lui, Lui! Manang said you have a phone call," VM said, waking me up.
I had no choice but to get up. Without even checking myself in the mirror, I just ran my fingers through my hair and stepped out of my room. I headed to Manang's place—the owner of the landline and the apartment we were renting. I was still in my pajamas and a loose shirt, not bothering to change since I planned on going back to sleep after this. Half-asleep, I sluggishly got up, my eyes barely open. Now, I was really feeling the exhaustion from the past few days—I was beyond sleepy, and my body felt completely drained.
Me: "Hello?"
I greeted as I picked up the landline receiver.
Mitch: "Lui! It's Mitch. Did you just wake up?"
Me: "Yeah. Why?"
Mitch: "Sorry! But listen—Professor Cruz said we need to come to school now. There's a meeting, and after that, he's treating us to a meal because he's really happy with our performance last night. He wants all the dancers to be there."
Me: "Huh?"
Mitch: "Yes, Lui! He called Bernie (our dance coach/choreographer), then our ever-dramatic coach called me in a rush and told me to inform you all."
Me: "Oh, I see. Are you on your way?"
Mitch: "Yup." [popping the 'p'] "I just finished showering and getting dressed. I'll grab a quick bite, then head out. Let's just meet at the quarters, okay? You live closer, so you might even get there before me."
Me: "Ugh, I'm still so sleepy!"
Mitch: "Same! I wanted to sleep more too, but I got startled when my aunt woke me up earlier."
Me: "Alright, fine. I'll go shower now. See you later."
Mitch: "Okay, thanks! Bye. See you."
I had no choice but to get up and take a shower. Since no one had cooked breakfast, I just ate oatmeal so I could leave quickly. By 8:45 AM, I was already inside the campus and went straight to our quarters.
When I arrived, some of my teammates were already there, chatting and laughing while waiting for everyone to arrive.
I sat down by the window and leaned my head against the wall, about to close my eyes, when Prof. Cruz walked in, followed by some of our other teammates who had just arrived. A few seconds later, Mitch came running in, panting as she plopped down beside me.
We didn't get a chance to talk because Prof. Cruz—our department head—was already speaking in front of us. He thanked us for our efforts in last night's performance and reminded us that we all needed to be present tonight for the awarding ceremony. Before leaving, he told us to wait for the packed lunches he had ordered for us—he just had to talk to the Dean for a bit.
After lunch, we were still in the quarters, lying on the mats, taking a short break before heading down to start dismantling the booth. Mitch and I were the only ones left since Zette had asked to leave earlier and hadn't returned yet. She also didn't mention where she was going.
We were technically free for the rest of the day, but because we were so exhausted, we chose to stay in the quarters and lie down, hoping to get even just a little sleep. Some of our teammates were already napping, while others were whispering to each other about our competition standing. A few had left after their boyfriends picked them up. Yeah, yeah, they had love lives—good for them!
I wanted to listen for any updates, but eavesdropping wasn't exactly a good thing to do, so I just let it go. I was confident enough that we were still the defending champions.
"Grand Slam, right? That means we're unbeatable!"
Around 4 p.m., we were nearly done dismantling our booth. Thankfully, the people who always ruin my day didn't show up. Those guys were usually hanging around the student lounge, but I really didn't want to think about what would happen after the intramurals.
Suddenly, Mitch arrived with Zette, who was clearly crying—her eyes were swollen and red. The three of us had grown close, not just because we were teammates but also because we were classmates in all our major subjects. We actually had two other close friends, but they were too lazy to join extracurricular activities. They preferred going out with their boyfriends, who weren't even from our school.
"Zette?" I stared at her with a raised eyebrow, silently asking what had happened.
"Do you have anything to do after this?" Mitch spoke instead. Zette just kept her eyes on the table, not saying a word.
"N-No, not really. Why"" I asked hesitantly, still watching Zette closely.
"Would it be okay if Zette and I tag along with you?" Mitch asked cautiously.
"Huh? Where? What happened?" I fired off my questions.
"Let's talk about it later, just us," Mitch replied, glancing at Zette.
"Okay, wait a sec. I just need to let Blue know. You know how short-tempered he is. He acts lie he does everything himself when all he does is boss people around just because he's the leader!" I immediately left them and walked to the next table.
"That hotheaded Blue, always pissed off for no reason. Tsk!"
Luckily, Blue let us go since there wasn't much left to do. He said they'd take care of packing up the remaining stuff in the boxes, but we had to come back tonight for the awards ceremony.
I had no idea where we were going, but I knew I had to be there for them. I could feel that they needed a friend, and I was glad Mitch reached out to me. It meant they trusted me.