“What are you doing here? I’ve been trying to find you!” Ismael shouted when our eyes met.
Ismael looked at the cliff, and I could see the shock in his eyes when he saw Savannah. Ismael turned to me as if he wanted to ask me why my classmate went there, but because he is smart enough to know the answer, he immediately understood that it was more important to help Savannah get out first than to talk about what happened.
Ismael first helped me to stand up before helping Savannah, who was now crying non-stop, and hugging Ismael while thanking her endlessly. Ismael grimaced at me while apologizing. I’m not the type to get jealous easily, so it’s fine with me. Savannah was probably just scared, so she hugged the one who helped her.
Everyone was surprised by the appearance of the three of us, whose bodies were full of dirt. They were asking what happened.
“Jothea, what happened to you?” Raviel inquired when he saw me.
Ismael immediately pulled me closer to him. “You should clean up now,” he whispered. “You might get sick because you got wet from the rain,” he said firmly before walking away from us.
“O-okay,” I answered, knowing I knew he didn’t hear. I turned to Savannah to ask her to take a shower when I saw her staring at Raviel. Wait a minute…
I was stunned to realize it all.
“Savannah!” I called her. “Come on, let’s take a shower. We’re a mess!”
She glanced at me and followed. I thought she was going to argue with me. Fortunately, she did not, because I don’t have the energy for it anymore.
We went to the shower room together to take a bath. We were both naked.
I closed my eyes, feeling tired. I’ve been walking up and down hills in the jungle looking for flags. Hold on, where are our flags?
“Savannah, where are our flags?” I asked her. I noticed her staring and watching the water drip from the shower. She didn’t answer.
“H-hey, are you okay?” I approached her and touched her shoulder. She turned to me.
“Do you like Raviel?” I was surprised by her sudden question. But it confirms that my hunch was right. She likes Raviel, and maybe that was the reason why her blood boils for me.
“No. I already like Ismael.” I couldn’t stop my mouth from answering her directly. I saw her blink for a moment. Shit. Why am I so honest? “I mean, P-professor Ismael…” I corrected, but it seemed too late.
“And he likes you too…”
I nodded. “Yes, he likes me too.”
I saw a glimpse of hope in her face. I feel like something has changed about her. She was talking to me calmly. It’s effective. What Ismael said to me was real. When you don’t return evil for evil, your argument will end. It’s actually more convenient when there are no enemies.
“I see. Maybe there’s something that Professor Mondalla sees in you that’s why he liked you… and somehow, I can see a part of it now. Thanks for helping me earlier. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.”
I smiled and shook my head. “Ismael helped you. It wasn’t me.”
After we showered, we returned to the field. They were all looking at Savannah and me. I looked at Ismael curiously to ask him what was wrong, but he just smiled. I noticed the five flags he was holding. Wait, is that ours?
“And to our winners, Miss Savannah Dela Fueroz and Miss Jothea Alvandra! May we call on the team in front?”
I gasped when I heard my name. I looked up to Savannah; she was surprised too. I smiled and pulled her to get our prize. Two thousand five hundred is fine when divided! Now I can buy rice!
“Majority of the team didn’t complete the capture of the flags because it rained and the only one left that finished was the team of Savannah and Jothea!” explained Dean Dator. “I never expected that these two ladies would join forces and work as a team for a common goal. Congratulations! This is what we promised-a prize of five thousand pesos! Sponsored by Professor Ismael Mondalla.”
I looked at Ismael and saw him elbowing Dean Dator as if he were embarrassed because he didn’t want to say that he was the sponsor. Tsk. So stingy, huh? Why only five thousand?
Savannah accepted our prize. I was surprised when she gave me everything. “Actually, it was only her who worked for the both of us,” Savannah said when Dean Dator offered her to speak on the mic to say thank you. “She found the five flags herself because I was too immature to help her. But karma made me realize that not all people you treat as your enemies are also treating you as their enemies. A while ago, I was trapped in a pit. I was losing hope, and I never expected that the least I could imagine would not help me was the one who actually offered her hand to help me. It was my partner. So I’m giving all the reward to her; she deserves it.”
I was stunned by what she said. I never expected this. Despite the rain, I feel the warmth in my heart. I was even more surprised when she hugged me. Is this real? What happened to her to be this kind to me? Just now she was yelling at me.
I saw Ismael smiling at me proudly. A smile formed on my lips too.
*****
“Actually, Jothea was the reason why we had a lot of sales that day,” said Atacia. We are currently eating dinner here at the long table. There is a lot of food lined up again, but now it’s all grilled-grilled liempo. Ismael does the grilling. And he’s doing that, not far from our place.
Earlier, the other students were always greeting me. Because of what Savannah did, I feel like everyone has been nice to me.
“I found out that the majority of the lower years had a crush on Jothea. I even saw a lot of their stolen pictures!” Atacia added that the joy could be seen on her face. I never thought that in just one day, everything-how they treat me-will change. They consider me one of their own, and every time my eyes meet theirs, they smile at me.
“Me? Their crush?” I asked Atacia in disbelief.
“Yes! And that’s why I also wanted to thank you. It’s a good thing that we made you our bride because we agreed that you are very beautiful.”
In fact, it is called a crush because it lacks information. When they know what I’m like with Ismael, their heads will hurt too.
Speaking of Ismael, he came to us to give us the meat he had already grilled. He glanced at me for a moment, and our eyes met. It was as if I was electrified by his brief glances, and I couldn’t help but feel very excited.
“What a flirt, huh?” Savannah whispered, making me laugh. Every time Ismael and I look at each other, or if he sees me looking for Ismael around, Savannah catches me, and the next thing is her torture. She doesn’t seem to be able to see my secret charm. Fortunately, she no longer uses that against me. I had confidence in her as a friend.
“Jothea, eat now,” said Raviel, which surprised me. He gave me meat and took care of my food. I just stared and looked at Savannah.
“I-I’m fine! What are you? I don’t eat meat!” I said and gave the food to Savannah.
“You don’t eat pork?” he repeated. I looked at Ismael when I heard him shout while raising his hand. Did he get burned?
I was about to get up to go to him when Savannah stopped me. Right, I can’t. I can’t expose my concern to Ismael.
I just sat down again while continuing to worry about Ismael’s burned hand. I hope he’s fine.
*****
“What if we play a game of put your finger down and whoever loses will clean everything?” Atacia invited when she noticed that almost everyone had finished eating. And because they didn’t want to wash the dishes, they raised their right hands as if they were ready to join the game.
I didn’t do anything other than join because they said that those who refuse will automatically be removed.
“Put your finger down if you’re still hungry.”
I put my thumb down because I didn’t eat properly since I was thinking and worried about Ismael.
“Hey! Be honest! I know you’re still hungry! You’re even inviting me to cook ramen later, huh!” shouted one of our classmates while teasing her best friend.
“Put your finger down if you’re happy today.”
I saw Raviel lower his finger before looking at me. I noticed that Savannah did the same. How can I be happy if I haven’t been with Ismael yet? But anyway, he made me happy with his zumba earlier.
I lowered one of my index fingers. I’m happy too that Savannah and I have settled down.
“You’re boring, pres! Put your finger down, if you’ve got a boyfriend!” exclaimed one of our LGBTQ+ classmates who was now looking to see which of the fingers came down. Actually, he was only watching men, but his eyes widened when he caught my finger coming down.
“Jothea, you already have a boyfriend? Who?”