Chapter 1 || Pollen
Handang handa na akong isulat ang sagot niya nang bigla itong tumalikod saakin. I blinked twice at humabol ako sa kanya.
Not surprising, Kise Romano is famous for his very twisted upbringing. Which simply means that he is one big arrogant high almighty male specie. It's one of the reasons why I tend to be so questionable with how the other girls were so drawn to him when he fact he's not that appealing.
"What was the moment in this game where you are most proud of yourself, Mr. Romano?" I said while trying to catch his pace, dumadami na din ang umaaligid sa kanya. "How did your team won the championship? What were your improvements from this game compared to last year?" I keep on firing him questions and he keeps on ignoring me.
The questions were a collaborative stance from me and Mike, I was honestly grateful that I was paired up with that photojournalist because he is also knowledgeable with sports which makes it beneficial for the both of us.
I released a full of exhaustion exhale. God, this is frustrating. Kung si kuya Q lang sana ang MVP mas madali na sana tong matatapos, I could have finished the task in a swift if it had been my cousin who was awarded.
"Excuse me, Kise!" Tawag ko sa kanya habang sinusubukang i-lebel ang bilis ng kanyang lakad sa akin. Advantage din talaga sa mga athlete ang mahahaba nilang biyas e, kaya halos hindi ko na mahabol ang lakad ng lalaking iyon.
"Wait up, limang questions lang! Efe-feature ka ng The Catalyst!" I shouted. Iritado ko ring hinila ang siko nito upang humarap sakin. Bold move actually, I would've had patience if this was a different person but as much as I loathe the situation; I can't do anything about it.
Seeing the scowl plastered in his face, I probably triggered him and pushed the buttons but nonetheless I smiled again not minding how the iritation is so evident in his face. May naririnig na din akong mga hindi kanais-nais na mga bulungan mula sa mga manonood.
"Ano ba 'yan, ang desperada ng campus press."
"Parte ba yan ng Publication, o crush niya si Kise?"
I rolled my eyes. They would never understand the struggle of a journalist, at oo, parte ito ng obligasyon namin. Minsan nakakapagod at nakakapikon pero passion eh. That's the fuel that keeps the flame burning.
I inwardly mute their voices and established my focus more on this guys, the goal here is not to please the crowd but to get the interview.
"Again. Mr. Romano, what was the moment in this game where you are most proud of yourself?" his jaw clenched. Nilagay nito ang puting tuwalya sa kanyang balikat at ang dalawang kamay ay nasa bewang. Beads of sweat was trailing from his face down to his neck. I blinked rapidly and removed the thought in my head.
"Ikaw? Tingin mo?" that's what he said, alright. Huminga ako ng malalim, kawawa na nito ang baga ko sa kaka-hinga ko ng malalim.
Kahit sino ay maiirita din naman sa kanyang sinagot, I'm not even a bit a surprise by his answer.
"What was the moment in this game where you are most proud of yourself?" I asked again. Halos mapamura na ako sa kakaulit ng tanong na ni ha, ni ho, ay di niya pinaunlakan. My temper is already hanging on a thread. Parang magkaka altapresyon ako dahil sa damuhong ito.
"Alis na dyan, Shenna! Ayaw magpa-interview sayo ni Kise!" Isang sigaw mula sa karamihan. My lips thinned and I felt how a vein in my pulse skipped a beat.
I mentally heard the cutting of the thread. Kusang nawala ang pilit na ngiti sa aking labi at tinalikoran muna ang aking misyon at hinarap ang balahurang nagsisisigaw saakin kanina.
Nang matukoy kung kanino nanggaling ay walang pag-aalinlangang tumungo agad ako doon upang kontrahin ang kanina pa nila isinisigaw.
I was already on the edge, I will retaliate with the way how they attacked. I was about to also shout at her nang makita ko itong may bitbit na kumpol ng mga bulaklak. I gulped. No, not the flowers.
Natutop ang labi ko at parang umatras ang kalukuwa ko bigla, I took a step back while maintaining ny gaze to that specific woman.
"She..." my thoughts were occupied when I saw the boquet of flowers from that girl's arms. My heart started to hammer from the inside. I need to maintain a 2 meter distance.
My mind started to panicked and the strength was slowly eradicated as though an unseen force was slowly sipping and devouring my entity.
"Shennaia." I felt something tugged my elbow, iwinakli ko ito nga malakas kasabay ng reyalisasyon na ang pinsan ko pala ang humawak saakin. Bahagya akong nakahinga nang maluwag at kumalma ng kaunti.
"Kuya?" I asked in a low tone. I was about to shout, okay? Pero my voice somehow, toned down.
I saw the understanding in my counsin's face, he knew why I acted that way. Buti nalang din at hindi na rin niya isinatinig ang kanyang naramdaman at alam niyang mapapahiya lamang ako kapag pinilit pa.
Tumawa ito ng bahagya at niyakap ako. I reciprocate the hug.
"Ano ka ba? Pwede namang ako ang interview-hin mo." Natatawa pa din nitong sambit habang bahagyang hinahagod ang hibla ng aking buhok sa likuran.
"Bakit? MVP ka ba?" utas ko na may halong pangungutya. Bahagya itong ngumiwi at bumitaw na sa pagkayakap saakin.
"Bakit? Ako naman ang captain, yaan mo na yang si Kise panget yan." aniya at humalakhak.
"Si Q naman ngayon? Sabi na nga bang ginagamit lang niya ang pagiging campus press!" My other brow raised with the statement, dinig din ni Q iyon kaya alam na alam ko na ang pagbago ng ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha.
Kuya Q's lips twisted. Ginulo nito ang buhok ko bago tumalikod sakin at humarap kay Kise.
Lalapit na din sana ako papunta dun ng may humigit sakin papunta sa kumpulan ng mga fans nina Kise.
In less than a minute, I was already surrounded with girls. I almost rolled my eyes in front them, uso pa pala yung mga ganito.
"Aba't abuso sa kapangyarihan itong manunulat niyo ah? Ginagamit sa kalandian ang jornalismo? Hindi kana nahiya?!" they're at it again. They're exaggerating! Lalo na ang babaeng may hawak na boquet. God, take me away from this place. Bahagya akong umatras.
"Ba't ba napaka close minded mo? This is part of our job, God, hindi ako tulad niyo!" I said calmly, no, scratch that! Hindi ako kalmado! Pero I maintained my composture.
Hindi na dapat pa ako pumatol, I wouldn't go that low kung hindi naman na sila sumusobra. I can't imagine na thing pa pala ang fangirling at gatekeeping dito.
"Oh really? Ba't kita nakitang sumasakay sa kotse ni Q? Ba't ka dumidikit kay Kise? Ano, ha?!"
Humigpit ang hawak ko sa strap ng bag ko. Shit, hindi nila alam na pinsan ko si Q and hell, ba't ako didikit kay Romano?
"Teka lang ha? Ano bang pinuputok ng butsi mo dyan? I am doing this for our publication and nothing more! Ang OA mo! Now, will you excuse me?!" there, I blurted out. Walang magandang negosasyong mangyayari kapag ang isang babae ay may bahid ng desperasyon. Halata namang type nito ang team nina Q.
"Aba't matapang! Ladies and gentlemen, ito ba ang ipinagmamalaki niyong 'most promising writer'? Nanlalalaki muna bago ang trabaho?" sigaw nito. Ngayon halos lahat ng tao sa gym ay samin na nakatingin.
Nakita kong lalapit pa sana samin si kuya Q pero sinenyasan ko ito na ayos lang. Bumaling akong muli sa babaeng nasa harap ko, I was about to answer her again nang inambahan niyang ihampas saakin ang kumpol ng mga bulaklak.
My frail system stirred. I clearly felt how she slapped me using the boquet. Huli na nang naiharang ko ang mga braso. Sapol na sapol sa aking mga mukha.
Rinig na rinig ko ang hiyawan ng mga tao. Oh God, please.
"No! Stop!" I was already shouting, at the top of my lungs. Paulit-ulit niyang hinahampas sakin ang mga boquet. "Help! The flowers!" I shouted. My visions are slowly blurring.
If my system wasn't only this fatal, hindi agad tatalab saakin iyong mga bulaklak.
"Stop!" I heard someone shouted. Tumigil ang paghampas. Parang nabingi ako sa biglang pagtahimik ng paligid.
My system's slowly deteriorating. My body's shaking. Bumibilis na din ang paghinga ko.
Wow, ramdam na ramdam ko kung pano pumasok at nagkumpulan sa aking airways and mga mumunting parte ng bulaklak.
"She's allergic to pollen! Stupid!" It was kuya Q.
Just when my body was about to fall, sturdy arms catched my now frail of a body. It was kuya Q. Sanay na ako sa ganito, this is not the first time, yet nakakatakot parin. Wala na akong pake kung nabitawan ko na ang notebook at ballpen ko.
"Oh my God, sorry Q. I didn't know..." ani ng nanginginig na boses. That's from that stupid girl, I bet.
My mind is slowly blacking out, pero nakakainis pa din talaga yung babae. Ang bwesit sobrang oa, tapos ngayon maririnig ko sigawan nila?
Binuhat ako ni kuya Q, tulad nang sa bridal style. I felt life slowly leaving me, natutup ang dila ko, I can't shout "ang gamot ko, nasa bag!" because I was slowly losing it.
"Mananagot ang lahat ng may sala rito! Kanina pa ako nagtitimpi sa inyo! Humanda kayo!" I heard kuya Q shouted. Wala na akong naririnig na ingay, ni bulong bulongan wala maliban nalang sa hikbi nung babaeng nang gago sakin.
Napa-ubo ako dahil sa sobrang sikip na nang dibdib ako. Halos hindi na ako makahinga, hanggang kalahati nalang ng leeg ko ang abot ng aking hininga.
"Call an ambulance!" kuya Q, shouted. I can't believe I'm still conscious at the moment. I inhaled lots of pollens for Pete's sake!
"Tol, malayo pa ang hospital rito. Isang oras." One of his teammates, probably.
"Sarado ang clinic. Yung mga staffs ay nasa games na outside ng school." Another answered.
Mas lalo pang bumilis ang paghinga ko, halos lumabas na ang baga ko sa kakahabol ko nang hininga. God, help.
"Sa condo ko. Doon nalang, sure ako may gamot yan sa bag niya. Sakay na bilis!" bahagya nang hinihigit ang paghinga ko, just when I was about to agree that my meds are in my bag; consciousness gracefully left me.