A Reviving Vocal

XXXI - A Deal

"'Tol, pasa mo dito!"

"Open ako, oh! Dito kasi!"

"Go Nathan! Wooooh! Kaya mo 'yan!"

Rinig ko yung mga sigawan nung mga players pati na rin yung kay Aisha kahit na nasa pinaka-dulo ako ng mga benches dito sa gym namin. Nakakagulantang lang yung mga tunog ng pag-bagsak ng bola at yung mga paa nilang kung saan-saan tumatakbo sa loob ng court.

I stared at Reece's movements intently. He's so fast, so strong, so great in making a three-point shot. He is really an amazing basketball player, I can't deny that. They practiced against their own team, divided into two. And since one of their member is absent, Rain was forced to play as well. He was on Team A while Reece was on the other one. I remember that time when he blew smoke to my face, it was so suffocating, I felt like dying. I hope his team loses.

After one quarter, they finally took a five-minute break. It was 32 against 45. Reece is winning. And while I thought of him, he noticed me from far away and gave me a stare. He looked away before drinking his water. He was still sad.

I stood up so I could just walk away and... forget him. I hope.

But he called me, so loud that it could be heard all over the gym. "Eumeleia!"

I didn't turn around. I just walked towards the exit door, but I heard loud footsteps as I held the door knob.

"Watch until the game is over, please...?"

No answer.

"Eume--"

"Reece! Nasaan si Reece? Magsisimula na ulit yung laro, siya na lang kulang. Hanapin niyo nga." Sigaw nung coach nila sa mga players, ako naman nakatayo pa rin dito, hindi siya nililingon.

He groaned, then sighed. "Eumeleia, it's okay if you can't watch now. I just hope you do in the finals. After that... I'll never bother you again."

"That's a deal." He held my hand tightly before letting it go again.

"I'll see you..."

He's making me guilty. Why, just why do I still love him? His presence still makes my heart go wild. His voice makes me tremble. His stares let me have butterflies in my stomach.

This is so hard for me.

It's difficult for me to let go because I love him.

With my other hand, I turned the doorknob and walked out of the gym.

* * *

I stared at the floor with Rae's brother's electric guitar on my lap, still thinking about the deal Reece told me earlier. I snapped quickly out of my thoughts when both Aisha and Rae can be heard from the studio talking.

"Badtrip! Nanalo pa yung Team A kanina! Tss." inis na tono ni Rae pagsabi niya nito kay Aisha.

"Hoy! 'Wag ka nga, ang galing galing kaya nila! Lalo na si Nathan, buti nanalo sila, haha!"

"Haist, ewan ko ba. Nandaya lang sila noh! Siguro si Rain ilang beses na dapat tinatawagan ng foul, kaya lang hindi natin nakikita yung paniniko niya or something! Madaya!"

"Bleh! Insecure ka lang!" Bumukas na kaagad yung pintuan at nakita na nila kaagad ako.

"Eumeleia! Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa'min na umalis ka na pala ng gym? 'Kala namin nandun ka pa rin sa likod." I just smiled at them and repositioned the guitar on my lap so I could play again. I turned on the power of the amplifier and played a note.

"Wait, wait. Bago kayo ulit tumugtog, ano na palang plano natin sa pag-sali ng mga members sa'tin? Wala pa rin sumasali dahil alam nilang tapos na ang recruitment ng mga clubs." Tanong sa'min ni Aisha at ang isinagot lang namin ay katahimikan, nag-iisip ng plano. Maya-maya, nag-salita na ulit si Aisha. "Diba Rae may kaibigan kang nag-aasikaso sa audio-visual room? Pwede kayang ipa-broadcast sa buong school na may music club tayo?"