Till the Last Game Do Us Part

Chapter 2

Atherelle's POV

Engagement

As soon as class ended, I rushed to collect my things due to my eagerness to go home early. Alam ko kasing naghihintay na ngayon si EzTri sa akin. Sa one week na nagdaan ay palagi kaming naglalarong dalawa pagkatapos ng klase. He was the one who always waited for me, so now I want to make it up. Hindi kasi talaga siya naglalaro hangga't hindi pa ako nakarating, kaya nakakahiya.

"Why are you in a hurry?" Sita sa akin ni Clarissa nang mapansin ang pagmamadali ko.

Natigil ako sa pagliligpit at napatingin sa kanya sandali. It was at that moment that I realized how fast and aggressively I organized my things inside my bag. Bahagya akong napailing bago sinarado ang zipper ng handbag ko. I slung it over my forearm and adjusted my mid-length wavy hair before turning back to Clarissa.

"I have a game," I responded, being calm this time.

She just stood there, looking at me, all confused. I acted as though I never noticed anything and went on walking as if I didn't do something weird. Sa ikinikilos ko kanina ay hindi ko na namamalayan kung gaano ako nagmamadali dahil wala akong ibang naiisip kundi ang makauwi nang maaga.

"Alam ko namang excited na excited ka for the game, but..." I could feel her furrowed brows as she walked beside me. "You're acting weird, girl."

"No?" I let out a small chuckle, trying to sound casual, but it only made things worse. "I mean, yeah..." I paused to calm my nerves. "I've got a goal to reach this season. That's why."

"Hm... is that really it?" she asked, like she could tell I was hiding something.

Tumango ako kahit alam kong hindi ko siya mapagsisinungalingan. Clarissa knows me better than anyone else. Ang konting bagay na biglang maiba sa akin ay mahahalata niya kaagad 'yon. I could feel her scrutinizing me as we were making our way to the exit.

Mabuti na lang at napadaan kami sa building nila Emerson kaya hindi niya natuloy ang pagtatanong sa akin. Dediretso raw kasi si Emerson sa practice nila mamaya kaya may ipinadala lang siya kay Clarissa para sa parents nila.

"I'll be home late tonight, so please give these to Dad," Emerson said, handing Clarissa two envelopes that were probably business-related. "It's the proposal they asked me to prepare."

"Malilintikan ka na naman ni Daddy n'yan kapag hindi ka umuwi nang maaga, knowing na you have a scheduled meeting pala later at 5PM..." Pagtatalak ni Clarissa sa kuya niya.

"Tell him I had an urgent project I had to finish with my friends, okay?" Emerson suppressed a wide smile as he looked at her sister.

Inis siyang tiningnan ni Clarissa habang yakap-yakap ang dalawang envelope na ibinigay sa kanya ng kuya niya.

"Isasali mo pa talaga ako in your stupidity, ah?" Umirap ang babae. "Ayoko!"

Hindi ko mapigilang matawa habang pinagmamasdan ang dalawa. They were always like this, and Clarissa would eventually cover for her brother's indulgences.

"Please, Clarieth..." Malambing na saad ni Emerson, nagpapaawa ng todo sa kapatid. "This is for the tournament we are going to join, and if we win this, I'll buy you the—"

"No!" Clarissa stopped him. "This meeting is with the board, kuya. What the hell are you thinking?"

"The meeting could proceed without me, Clarieth. I wasn't really necessary there," Emerson explained, as if convincing both her and himself. "Besides, what Dad needed was already there in the proposal. Walang sablay 'yan, sigurado ako."