The sound of the running water coming from the shower was the only thing you can hear inside my bathroom. I sighed upon remembering things I don't wanna remember.
"Then don't, suit yourself. Basta ako? Hindi ko gusto ang isang Fraizer Hanz Zackermore. Not today and obviously, never."
I unconsciously punched the wall right in front of me. Fuck. If you're wondering kung paano ko nalaman yun, well, ganto lang naman ang nangyari. Napaaga lang naman ako nang pagpunta sa school and sa di inaasahang pagkakataon, nakita ko silang magkausap at magkasama. For being way too curious, sinundan ko sila. Yun lang naman.
I brushed my black locks with my fingers. I was dazed and confused. I don't know what to feel nor react. Surely my ego was hurt pero I don't care. Hindi ako ma-pride na tao. Pero that shit hurted me.
Tss. Bakit? Dahil ba kay Daniel kaya siya ganun? Tangina.
Thoughts and theories came rushing in my mind pero I waved it off. Today is the third and last day of our intrams. Meaning, finals na ngayon ng basketball. We're currently against Daniel's team. And me remembering Daniel is making my blood boil.
I turned the shower off at lumabas na ng bathroom. I took the towel and placed it around my hips, taking another towel to dry my hair. Diretso akong pumunta sa damitan ko to take the clothes that was assigned for today. Jersey ang suot ng mga estudyante ngayon. I carefully scanned my self infront of the mirror.
The team's name was written on the front at sa likod naman ay yung apelyido at number ko.
I didn't bother to look at myself more, rather, I just took my bag and my phone with the airpods and plugged them inside my ear. I also took the car keys beside my bed and went down going directly to my car. Without wasting my time, I started the engine and went off.
Madilim pa ang daan. Making the city lights shine brighter than it usually is. It was a magnificent sight, minus the drunkards you can see beside the road.
Di naman ganun katagal ang naging byahe dahil kaunti lang naman ang nag-ba-byahe sa mga ganitong oras. It's just 4:23 in the morning for pete's sake. Asking me why? As simple as may training pa kami ngayong umaga. Our morning training usually starts at 5:30 or 6 but since there's a cheerdance happening later this morning. Inagahan na.
We can't train during the performance. May mga players samin na kasali sa cheerdance. Plus, the opposing team will be the next one to use the court at that time. It starts at 10:40 onwards. 10:40 is for preparation tas saktong 11 ay magsisimula na ito. Then lunch tas finals for volleyball muna tas basketball ang sunod.
We don't have much time to practice for this day kaya tuwing second day ng intrams kami nag-pa-practice ng todo. Pero kung tutuusin, ayos na din yun kesa sa kabila. Saktong pagtapos ng training nila, mga pagod na agad sila.
I then parked my car and turned off the engine and went straight off ahead to the court. When I came inside they were already starting. "Morning coach! Late na po ba ako?" I asked placing down my bag down.
"No. Don't worry. You're just in time, Zackermore." Ani coach at sumali na ako sa kanilang training.
•••
Michelle Adellaine Cruz
The audience are roaring and cheering for their teams. Simula na ng cheerdance ngayong umaga. Kasama ko ngayon sina Casty dito sa may taas ng stage to watch their performance. Kung gaano ka-init ang panahon ngayon, ganun din ka-init ang siklaban ng bawat teams.
Nagkalat ang buong estudyante. Some are on the stage, yung iba nasa 2nd Floor, yung iba naman nasa may gilid ng campus grounds at yung iba ay nakain sa may gilid. And speakin of pagkain, may hawak-hawak akong milktea sa kanang kamay ko. It's Okinawa flavoured, my cup of tea.
"Caltexians!" Sigaw nung isang teacher dito sa may stage na ikina-ingay pa lalo ng mga estudyante dito sa buong campus. "Are you ready to witness one of the most awaited performance of this event?!" Tanong pa ulit ng kasama niya at nagsihiyawan pa lalo ang mga estudyante sa paligid, including me.
"Ay ang hina naman nang mga cheer, wala na bang ilalakas yan?!" Sigaw pa nilang muli samin.
"Eto na nga diba?! Nag-chi-cheer na! 'Pag talaga ako nawalan ng boses dito!" Ang pagmamaktol naman ni Lino dito sa may gilid namin na ginantihan lang namin ng tawa.
As the students roar and cheer for their team may nahagilap naman ang mata ko sa hindi kalayuan. It was Fraizer. I couldn't help but stare at him. Kahit sa malayo, nakaka-intimidate siya. I mean, kahit ano namang gawin niya he never cease to glow.
I let out a breathe and with that when I was about to rip off my gaze from bigla naman siyang tumingin sakin making my breathe hitched and eyebrows twitch for a second. I didn't know what to do. I was stuck from my position not until siya na mismo ang tumingin sa ibang direksyon making my chest tighten.
Anong nangyayari?
Napahawak naman ako sa dibdib ko lalo na nung nakita ko siyang masayang nakikipagusap sa iba. And it's not just a someone kundi si Zakira lang naman ang kausap niya ngayon. Talk about the date they had yesterday, nagsaya siguro siya.
Nagsaya siyang kasama si Zakira.
Thinking that he had fun ng hindi ako kasama at hindi ako yung dahilan. I felt a pang in my chest pero bakit? I don't care. Tyaka ano bang pake ko? He can have fun with everyone so bakit ganto.
Not knowing what to do, Xerna suddenly grabbed my wrist. "Tara, Michele. Doon tayo para mas kita natin." Bago pa ako makapagsalita sa sinabi niya ay hinatak naman na niya ako bigla doon malapit sa pwesto nina Fraizer. What the fuck? What the actual fuck?
Sa dinadami-dami nang pwede naming pagpwestuhan bakit dito pa? "Uh," I trailed awkwardly. I don't what to do. Lalo na at ramdam ko yung tingin niya sakin. I can't do this. "Xerna, can we move there? Hindi ko kita dito 'e." Palusot ko naman sa kaniya para makaiwas kay Fraizer na hindi ko parin kabati ngayon.
When in fact siya dapat 'tong nagsosorry sakin ngayon. I don't what's happening inside that head of his. Tyaka he left me without explaining himself kaya paano ko malalaman kung ano ba talagang gusto niya kung gayong hindi ko naman alam kung ano ba talagang nangyari. Annoying.
"Really? This is the best spot to watch their cheerdance. Trust me." Ang sagot naman nito sakin. I mean, it's true. Kita ko sa pwesto na 'to nang maayos yung nangyayari sa field pero sadyang naalibadbaran lang ako sa nasa kaliwa ko.
I sighed. Trying to focus on the cheerdance that's currently happening on the field right now. I tried. My eyes are facing the field pero yung tenga ko ay naka-focus sa kaniya.
I could smell his scent from down here. It was intimidating me. Kailan pa ba ako na-intimidate sa amoy ng lalaking 'to? Palagi ko nga itong kasa-kasama kung tutuusin. As I tried watching on the cheerdance, bigla namang naglapat ang mga balat namin sa isa't isa making my breathe hitched. I jumped out of shock.
"Huy, you okay?" Bigla namang tanong sakin ni Casty na nagulanta sa ikinilos ko. I gave him a reassuring smile and went back on watching the game.
I tried glancing at him at back pero bigla namang dumating si Daniel at umakbay sakin. I was cautious of the people surrounding us pero they were so busy watching na nawawalan na sila ng pake. "Lalim nang inisiip natin, brad." Pagbibiro nito habang nakaakbay parin sakin.
"Ah," I trailed. "It's nothing. Wala lang ako sa mood na manuod." I honestly said. Ewan ko, bigla na lang kasi akong nawala sa mood na manuod. Kanina lang todo sigaw ako tas ngayon tamlay na tamlay ang hijo de puta.
"Hmm." Daniel only hummed and continued watching the cheerdance with us.
Maya-maya pa ay pumasok na ang team ng Dimetria. "Dimetria always win the cheerdance competition. Gagaling ng mga kasali, puro mga dancers at cheerleaders." Ang biglang sabi sakin ni Daniel na ikinataas naman ng kilay ko. Hindi na sila nag-aksaya pa ng oras at sinimulan na ang cheer. It was powerful, I tell you. Ibang-iba ang tensyong binibigay nito.
Then suddenly after a loud boom. Cheers came rushing in. Including Fraizer. "Go Zakira!" It took him alot of attention. May mga nagulat, may mga maguguluhan at yung iba mga walang pake.
And me? I was shocked. Feeling a pang in my chest. And once again, I threw him a glance at the back and mas lalo akong masaktan nang makita itong nakangiti. Our gazes suddenly met with each other and his smile faded as soon as he saw me.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit but his eye twitched as his gaze landed on me. His expression softened and well, he looked like his worried. Para bang may nangyari sakin na masama. He was about to open his mouth and say something pero mabilis ko namang iniwas yung paningin ko at tinutok na lang ulit yung atensyon ko sa mga nagsasayaw.
The cheerdance was fun, minus me breathing the same air as Fraizer. All in all, it was fun. Ang galing nilang lahat. Sasabihin mamaya yung mga nanalo. Pero everyone was already betting on Dimetria. Well, I can't blame them. Out of all the performances, Dimetria slayed it. Starting from it having the best cheer and the best dances. It was fascinating.
Nandito kami ngayon sa may field. Dito sa may likod ng school kung saan kami nagusap ni Daniel kahapon. Thinking about it, today is the last day of our intrams. Nice.
"Anong oras start ng finals ng basketball?" Ang tanong ni Jillian habang may nginunguya.
Tila ba napaisip sa kaniyang sinabi ang kaniyang kakambal. "Oo nga, rinig ko kasabayan daw yun ng volleyball."
"Talaga? Edi san tayo manunuod?" Ani Casty.
"Syempre, Casty, boy. Dun tayo sa ulalam." Manyak na sabi ni Lino na binatukan naman ni Xerna. Ulalam? Anong katangahan naman yun Lino?
"Ulalam? Kung tadyakan kaya kita?"
"Tsk. Bakit ba? Epal ka? Epal ka."
"Annoying ka po."
"Ha?"
"Anla ewan ko sayo, bibing—"
"Hakdog."
At nagtuloy pa ang bangayan ng dalawa. Napa-iling na lang si Casty sa may gilid ko at tumuloy na lang sa pagkain. Talk about Papa Tulfo. Hindi na nga ako magugulat kung makikita ko sila sa show ni Papa Tulfo.
Ilang saglit pa ay tumayo na si Xerna making all of us look at her. "San ka?" Tanong ko dito na ikinangiti niya lang.
"Kukunin ko lang yung mga pagkaing pinadala ko, sige, eat lang kayo diyan." Malambing niyang tugon samin at umalis na.
At sa hindi kalayuan habang sinusundan ko siya ng tingin ay lumapit ito kay na Fraizer dun sa may isang pwesto dun na may upuan. Nandito rin sila? And not to mention ay todo lingkis si Zakira dito. I couldn't tell what they were talking about pero mukhang masaya ito.
"You guys still fighting?" Ani Enrike na ikinagulat ko. Ako ba kinakausap nito? "Oo, ikaw kinakausap ko." At doon na lumaki ang mata ko.
"Ah, ako ba." Paguulit ko sa sinabi niya at tumingin ito sakin. "Yeah." Mahina niyang tugon na ikinahulog naman ng balikat ko.
"Mhm. Two days na."
"I know. I, uhh, actually saw you guys talking near the fountain. Sorry for eavesdropping, I didn't mean to."
Sagot nito sakin na ikina-iling ko lamang at ngumiti nang napakalambing. Minsan na nga lang kami magusap nito, ganito pa. Talk about life dude. "Ayos lang. I mean, it's a public place, it's alright." I reassured him that made him nod.
"I think in a relationship, communication is actually the key to understand each other."
"Communication, huh?"
"Yeah."
I know. It's just that hindi ako makahanap nang tamang tiyempo para kausapin siya tyaka yung pride ko. Oo, medyo may pagkataas ang pride ko lalo na at hindi ko naman alam kung bakit siya nagkakaganan. And now? He's expecting me to say sorry? Who he?
"So, kelan pa kayo?"
"Ano?" Gulat kong balik dito sa aking narinig. Kami? May kami? Hala.
"You didn't deny kanina when I said in a relationship."
"Hoy! Walang kami."
"Really? I actually thought na..." He stopped. Putting everything into pieces and when he did, he giggled. "I see. I'll wait for you guys." Ang huling sinambit nito bago dumating ang pagkain na dala-dala ni Xerna.
"Here guys. Yung food na pinabili natin." Xerna said as she was raising the plastic on her hands. Bigla namang nagkagulo ang lahat pero naiwan naman kami ni Enrike dito na naghihintay para sa pagkain namin.
"Wait lang, Julie!"
"Hoy, tanga! Akin yan!"
"Xerna, parehas lang lahat ng 'to. Huwag kang ano diyan."
"Ugh. Annoying ka." Xerna retorted at Lino and went to our place handing out our food. "Here, Enrike, your food and of course," She then handed mine. "For you, Michelle." I took the food and gave back the smile she was giving me.
"Oh? Hinihintay niyo? Tara kain na." Alok ni Lino at kumain na ulit kami. Tataba na talaga ako ng sobra nito. Pero ika nga nila, huwag tanggihan ang grasya.
Ilang minuto pa ang nakalipas habang nakain kami ay bigla ko namang naramdaman na sumakit ang tiyan ko. And that's when I stood up. "Ayos ka lang, Michelle? You look kinda pale." Ang ika naman ni Julie.
Instead of answering I just smiled. Aalis na sana ako pero habang naglalakad ako I felt dizy. Biglang umikot yung paningin ko at ang sakit din ng ulo. What in the fuck is happening?
As everything was falling, nagslow mo naman ang lahat. They were panicking pero sa hindi kalayuan nakaaninag ako ng isang taong ngising-ngisi sa kung ano mang nangyayari sakin. What is happening? I thought and that was when everything went pitch black.