4 years ago. 7th grade.
Math camp. I was not sure whether I should be happy or to book a ticket out of here. It was math. Jusko lord! If I did not need to pull up my extracurricular score, I would never have my foot anywhere near the school gate. Let's just get this over with.
"Julie!" someone yelled. Before I could turn, my body was jumped from behind.
"Gian! Get off of me, you're too heavy," I said trying to pry off her arms around my neck.
"No!" she said, pushing all of her weight on me, "You're late. Filipino time talaga oh... I was worried that you wouldn't attend. Good thing you did!" She then leaned into my ear, "That hot fourth-year student is in your group. You're so lucky."
"I know he's in my group, I saw the campers list yesterday, AND Kuya Vince isn't my type. That's yours." I finally shook her off.
Where's everyone by the way? I thought the assembly was there," I asked looking at the empty court.
"No one's here because you're late. Everyone's in their assigned classrooms. I even called you in the morning to hurry up. Anyways, your group is on the 4th floor. Second room to the right," she said, checking from her clipboard.
"Thanks. See you later!" I dragged myself to the top floor. Our school was small and out-of-budget, as most public schools were. The buildings were simple, a hallway with the rooms on the right and railings to see the court below on the left. Together, 4 buildings roughly make up the school quadrangle. There was a tiny garden beside the court where a flag pole was erected.
The building itself was old with the names of former politicians, who donated the buildings, from generations past. I climbed the largest and oldest of the four. Wooden desks were moved back and some lined the hallway to make more space. I peeked into the room. The campers were practicing the group cheer. Fuck, the group cheer. Time to embarrass myself in front of the student body all over again.
"Hi! Is this your group?" I was greeted by a tall, wiry student who came from inside. A camp facilitator, I guessed. He was a 4th year as indicated by his blue ID lace.
"Uhm... is this the Calcoholics?"
"Yes. Name?"
"Ricaforte. Julie Rica - "
Someone yelled behind me, "WAIT!"
A tall girl suddenly skidded to a stop beside me. She must've run all the way here. "So- hah.., hah... -rry, I'm late", she said wiping off her sweat.
"No, it's alright! We're just started practicing the cheer. Can I also get your name?"
"Delilah Saragosa."
After handing us our camp name tags, we slipped inside and practiced the cheer. It was awhile until they made us take a break as we designed the group flag and poster. We were 20 in the group and I don't know anyone except that Delilah girl I see from the class next to mine and Kuya Vincent. So, I silently sat in a corner while the artists of the group tolled away.
"You're that Ricaforte girl on the tarpaulin. aren't you?" Delilah greeted before she sat next to me, "You're really smart. Congratulations for winning the quiz bee."
"Thanks, you can call me Julie."
"Deli," she smiled. Looking closely at her, I only knew one thing. I have to get away. As an introvert, the friendly sunny type was the death of me. They seep the little energy I had like a broken charger. Even my friend Gian's personality was already hitting the glass ceiling of my social battery.
I smiled back.
"You're from the section next to mine, right? Ma'am Leah's advisory?," I asked trying to converse while looking like a live fish breathing on a market stand. I was nervous.
"Yep! I sometimes hear you from the hallway while you were studying up for the quiz bee," she laughed, "I thought I was going to have a nosebleed after hearing all those words."
I tried to force out a laugh. This was fucking awkward. It was as if someone decided to scatter glass shards where my bare feet would tread. One wrong step, everything would bleed and crumble into an uncomfortable silence.
She knows all this stuff about me, and I don't know anything about her. I feel like an arrogant asshole at the top of the social ladder for it. I swear, I'm not.
"GUYS!" one of the facilitators called. Thank god for the distraction. "While we're taking a break, we need to distribute the people for the events apart from the station games we need to do as a group. First game, math relay. I need people who are good at running."
"I can," Deli raised her hand. The facilitator writes her name on the board. Well, she does look fit. She had a slender body and long lean legs. Her dark skin had tan lines that must've come from training under the sun.
"You're an athlete?" I asked.
"Yeah, I used to be a volleyball player back in elementary."
"Are you going for tryouts next year?"
She sighs, "Sadly... I can't. We're in the science curriculum that means we can't play in the higher championship levels. What's the use of joining if I can't compete outside the school. There goes my dream of playing at Palarong Pambansa. Poof!"
"Ohh..."
"But it's okay, I plan to focus on other hobbies though, Except studying," she winked.
"Next, who can go for Math quiz bee?" asked the facilitator. I sat frozen. Nope, not today. This was math. Good day and goodbye.
"I nominate this girl," Deli yelled as she tugged my hand upwards.
"What are you doing?" I demanded through gritted teeth. I can't believe how feeling-close this girl is being right now.
"You won that division level quiz bee, this should be easy for you!"
"That was science. This is math. It's different."
"Nah, kaya mo iyan," she grins at me. You can do it, my ass.
Before I knew it, my name was written on the board
Fuck. If we're gonna lose the quiz bee I'm going to blame her. "We need two more for the quiz bee. Preferably a fourth-year and a third-year"
"Me!" a third-year girl said.
"I can," a voice called from the back. It was Vincent Patrocino.
Shit. Out of all the people, why?
Translation and author's notes:
Jusko - an expression. It may have come from Diyos ko! (Oh Lord!)
Talaga - really
Kuya - Older brother (literal definition) or older male. Used to show respect even if they are not relatives. Like how Koreans use hyung or oppa.
Palarong Pambansa - a national sports competition held annually.
The story is set when the Philippines was shifting to a new curriculum, from a 10-year education system before college to K-12. The K-12 system here is 4 years junior high (Gr. 7 - Gr. 10) and 2 years senior high (Gr. 11 and 12). Julie and Deli are from the second batch of the K-12, while Vincent is the second to the last batch of the old curriculum. (I know, the education system here is weird oof)
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