Chapter 35: Uncomfy Concern
Two weeks had passed, and Aria's sprain had finally healed. The pain was gone, and she was eager to get back into her routine.
During her recovery, Orion had been a constant support, offering her rides whenever their schedules aligned. Even when they didn't, he still offers Aria a ride.
Saturday came, and Aria was excited to return to basketball practice. Despite her enthusiasm, the coach had made it clear that she should ease back into training and avoid pushing herself too hard.
As the team gathered on the court, Aria stood on the sidelines, her spirits high and her sports attire ready. Orion, in the midst of his warm-up, noticed Aria and gave her a friendly wave, his smile warm and reassuring. His gesture made Aria's heart flutter slightly.
Rico, who was just coming off the court, spotted Aria as well. His concern was evident as he made his way over to her.
" Aria," he said, his tone laced with genuine worry. "Ang ankle mo?"
Aria smiled, trying to convey her confidence. "It's much better, Rico. Pwede nako sumali sa training ngayon. I know the coach wants me to take it easy, pero excited ako bumalik sa court."
Rico's brow furrowed with concern. "Sure ka? Baka naman masyado kang nagmamadali. Ang sabi ni coach, mag-ingat ka pa rin."
Aria noticed Rico's genuine worry and felt a twinge of awkwardness.
'...parang sobra-sobra ang concern ni Rico..' Aria thought. They weren't that close, and his concern seemed more intense than she expected.
She offered him a reassuring smile, though she felt a bit uncomfortable. "Oo, Rico. Salamat sa concern, pero okay lang talaga ako, really."
Rico gave a reluctant nod and headed back to the court, still casting occasional glances her way.
Aria shook her head slightly, feeling a mix of gratitude and discomfort. She wasn't used to such concern from someone she wasn't very close to, but she appreciated his intentions.
As practice resumed, Aria focused on her drills, carefully following the coach's instructions and taking her time.
Orion, observing from the sidelines, noticed the interaction and the slight discomfort on Aria's face. He approached her during a break.
"Catch." Orion said as he threw a water bottle to Aria.
Although a bit startled, Aria still caught the water bottle.
Orion grinned, noticing her slight surprise. "You've still got it, Impressive catch."
"Thanks," Aria chuckled, taking a drink from the bottle.
Orion leaned against the nearby bench, casually watching the practice. "Seems like may iniisip ka na malalim, Everything alright?"
Aria took a sip from the water bottle, trying to shake off the thoughtful expression. "Just... thinking about some things."
Orion raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to it. "Something on your mind?"
Aria shrugged slightly. "It's just that... sometimes it's strange when people show too much concern, it's quite discomforting." Aria said, voicing out his thoughts about Rico.
"Ohh... baka ako ang tinatamaan mo niyan, Aria ha," Orion said with a playful grin, though his eyes were searching hers for the truth.
Aria laughed softly, shaking her head.
"No, no, it's not you Orion. It's just... sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming, lalo na sa mga taong di ko gaano nakakausap,"
Orion nodded, understanding her point. "I get it. People can be a lot sometimes, kahit na they mean well."
Aria sighed, appreciating Orion's insight. "Exactly."
Aria and Orion continued their conversation when suddenly, a basketball rolled toward them. They looked up to see Aiden approaching.
"Hey, sorry for interrupting you guys," Aiden said, grabbing the ball and giving Orion a quick nod. "Coach wants you back on the court."
Orion glanced at Aiden and then back at Aria. "Anyways," he said with a wry smile. "Just don't worry too much Aria and usap lang tayo later,"
Aria nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Sure, Orion."
Aiden gave a brief, appreciative nod to Aria before turning to head back to the court.
With a final encouraging glance, Orion headed over to the boys' side of the court, where the basketball practice was in full swing. He quickly joined his teammates, diving into drills and plays with his usual energy.
Aria, on the other hand, moved to the girls' side of the court. She took a deep breath, readying herself to focus on her own training. The rhythmic bounce of the ball and the familiar swish of the net began to soothe her mind.
As basketball training ended, Aria and Orion made their way off the court. Orion waited patiently for Aria to change out of her practice clothes and into something more comfortable. Once she was ready, they walked together towards his motorbike.
The familiar routine of their ride home offered a comforting end to the day. After they arrived at the condo and dismounted the motorbike, Orion removed his helmet and when suddenly, an old promise popped up into his mind.
===================