inconveniences

maine

It’s Monday morning. AGAIN. So, we’re at the school’s gymnasium for our weekly flag ceremony. We’re just about done with this, the only thing left is the Principal’s announcements.

He gets up on stage, taps the mic, and smiles. He reminds us of the upcoming events and the annual school check from the government these upcoming days. His usual routine.

But just when I thought he’ll be done and over with, that’s not where his announcements end today. He changes his cue cards and an even bigger smile appears on his face.

That’s new, he isn’t usually THIS cheerful for morning announcements.

“Oh and for the final announcement today, I have talked with the board and we have decided that Hiphop will join the list of sports for this year’s Intramurals!” he says.

Loud cheers and thunderous claps erupt from the crowd. Everyone’s pretty stoked about this, my friends even more as they shake me in excitement.

For the record, it is actually quite impressive how hyped everyone is for the additional sport. I never thought there were this many people who wanted to see another dance sport as part of the Intramurals.

“Alright alright, settle down. We have here Coach Mickey to discuss the rubrics and criteria as this would be the pioneer batch for such a competition” he announces.

The principal steps down and a guy, who I assume to be Coach Mickey, steps up and informs us about the mechanics and how we are to be judged.

Once everything is clear, the principal calls all batch representatives — batch Presidents — near the stage for further announcements. After that, he greets us for a great week and dismisses us to class.

The hustle and bustle of the students around me is noticeable, each with their own topic of conversation. Then, a familiar voice cuts through the ambience, “Maine!” she says, causing me to turn and look at her.

I move to the side to wait for her. Sari, one of my close friends, rushes to walk alongside me.

Sabrina Sevilleja. She’s more than just the pink princess that graces our halls every break time, she’s our batch President as well. She might have charmed her way into that landslide victory (her words not mine), but I think she’s now showing everyone that she can walk the talk. She truly deserves the position more than anyone else. I admit, there are instances that she may not look like she’s reliable but she’s crazy responsible. She’s even deemed as the best batch President we’ve ever had.

“Maine, sali ka na sa Hiphop please” she says as she shows me the sign-up sheet.

“Sure” I answer and she smiles at that while we start walking to our classroom.

“Wow, inakala ko kailangan pa kitang awayin para mapapayag ka” she stares at me as if something was wrong.

“What’s with that reaction?” I ask her.

“It’s just unlike you to join anything for the batch” she replies.

Hindi naman siya mali doon. I don’t participate in these types of events ‘cause I’d rather just watch. Seems like too much work to be honest. But this is for the Intramurals, that’s a different scenario.

In Intramurals, everyone’s got to participate in at least one sport. It’s either that or a school magazine entirely curated by everyone in the batch who didn’t participate.

Isn’t it obvious which one to choose?

“Ikaw nagaaya sa akin kanina tas ngayon ganyan ka? Ano? Ayaw mo ba na sumali ako? I don’t have to if you’d rather not” I fake my annoyance, rolling my eyes at her.

“Joke lang eh. Sulat ko na pangalan mo ah?” I nod.

“Who else are you planning to recruit?” she looks at me with a shy smile and is quite hesitant to answer.

“Hmmmm maybe sila Catacutan?” she replies.

Ah, I see… Catacutan.

“I know that face” Marge greets us as we walk into our classroom.

Margaret Ricalde. She’s the batch vice president, which is why her and Sari are usually together. She was the election’s wild card — her unserious self-nomination led to her ACTUALLY getting the position. To this day, she genuinely believes that our batchmates voted just to mess with her. But, little did they all know that she’s a pretty good leader. With her and Sari as our top officers, our batch events and planning this year have never been better.

“What’s got you thinking so deeply, Maine?” she continues and looks at Sari.

“Sinabi ko lang naman na I might recruit Catacutan and her friends for the compet” Sari answers as we sit down on our seats.

“Is that really such a bad thing?” Sari asks as she looks at me, I shrug.

“We need the best of the batch, Maine” Marge reminds.

“I know that and I don’t hold anything against her naman” I try to explain.

“So anong problema doon?” Marge asks as she brings her eyebrows together.

“Wala akong problema doon at wala din naman akong sinabi na problemado ako sa posibleng maging situwasyon” I defend a little more aggressively than I wanted.

“Ang weird niyo rin ni Catacutan eh. Our sections meet at every single event, but not once have you guys spoken to each other” Marge points out.

“What IS the score between you two? Wala ka pa kasing kinukwento sa amin” Sari adds.

“To be honest, you should ask her that” I reply just as our teacher walks in.

Our classes passed by in a blur. Syempre kung di ka naman kasi nakikinig, ano nga ba ang makwekwento mo?

The bell rings, signaling the end of our morning classes.

It’s FINALLY lunch time and we went out to buy food in the canteen. Hindi kami masyadong nakakakain doon dahil parating punuan at walang mauupuan. Pero pagdating namin sa canteen ngayon, wala masyadong tao at maraming empty tables.

We’ve just gotten our food and have literally just sat down when they came in. 

Catacutan, an incredible dancer from another section. Our sections usually battle it out for the champion title in every event. One thing I’ll have to admit, she leads quite well in performances and dance productions based on what I’ve observed. But, not trying to sound biased or cocky, I’d still say our section’s more tight knit. Oh did I mention she’s also my rumored rival? With the amount of times we could’ve possibly interacted throughout our 2, almost 3, years in high school, it IS absolutely ridiculous that I have yet to even have just a glance from her; hence the whole “rumored” rival bit. But, I, personally, don’t have a problem with her.

Catacutan and her friends walk into a semi-filled canteen — along with everyone who seems to have just been dismissed by their teachers.

Sari sees them, immediately stands up, and makes a bee-line route towards them with the sign-up sheet in hand. She talks to them, hands them the paper, and when Catacutan sees it, she stares for a while before giving it to her friends. They talk for a while while her friends write on the sign up sheet.

Looks like Sari’s charm has its limits.

She walks back with looking quite disappointed, “Ang lala naman pala ng feud niyo ng cru–”

I cover her mouth immediately. Sabi ko na nga eh, kahit na anong mangyari, may kalokohan pa rin siyang balak.

“Shut up SABRINA, people might actually believe you” I warn her.

“Malaki ka na, bunso, suyuin mo na kasi girlf–”

“Isa ka rin MARGARET. Just because we’re rumored rivals, doesn’t mean that we’ll end up like those rivals to lovers stories on Reddit that you see on TikTok” I cut her off.

“Pero di mo rin naman sinasabi na hindi mo siya gusto. So…” Sari teasingly butts in as she looks at Marge. They share a knowing glance that I am unfortunately excluded from.

Hay nako. We would, most likely, go on and on if I keep defending my case, so I chose not to engage anymore and started eating.

Throughout the week, Sari and Marge had been recruiting dancers for the Hip Hop competition. Today is the deadline and they’ve been trying to complete the list since this morning.

“Haaaayyy finally, it took a lot of convincing pero nakumpleto na rin” Sari says, handing me the sign-up sheet.

“Bakit mo binigay sa akin?” I ask while her and Marge spin their chairs to face me.

“Para naman makita mo kung sino-sino kasama mo sa crew. Di mo pa nga nahahawakan yang papel na yan eh” she answers.

I take a look at the sheet and see that most of the crew are who I consider to be great dancers in the batch which is great. I give her back the paper.

“Wala man lang ‘thank you, Sari and Marge’? Napilit namin ‘rival’ mo oh” I took the sign up sheet again and found her name at the every end.

Sapphire. Sapphire Catacutan. She’s got a beautiful name to match her beauty. So, what is it about me you despise so much, Sapphire?

Sari rips the paper off my hands with a smile on her face, “Marge, nandiyan na lahat ng telegram handles nila so gawa ka nalang ng GC mamaya” she says as she gives the paper to Marge.

“Sige boss, announce ko na rin ba first practice?” Sari nods to that.

“Speaking of, paano na kayo kapag nagsimula na tayo ng practice?” Marge pauses.

“Kakausapin mo ba siya?” tanong ni Marge sa akin.

“I guess so? But, you girls know me, I don’t initiate conversation” I remind them.

It’s slightly the social anxiety and mostly just energy draining to be forced to make small talk after.

“I guess we’ll see soon” Sari says.

You seem to be quite an interesting person, Sapphire. But, what have I done to you that warrants this much avoidance?