Her kind of Red Flag

Yellow II

The end of their first semester is finally approaching. Which means, RU's first official basketball match is also getting near.

"So..kamusta training? I hardly see you these past few weeks." tanong ni Cheer at kumuha ng fries na nasa plato ni Zeke.

Nasa café sila malapit sa school, sabay na nagmemeryenda.

Ito lang ang oras na libre sila pareho kaya naman nagkayayaan silang lumabas.

Zeke has been training hard for the upcoming match. In fact, mayroon ulit silang training nang araw na ito.

"Fine. I guess." Matipid na sagot nito.

"Sure ka?" taas kilay nitong tanong pabalik sa kaybigan.

"Oo naman. Bakit?"

"Wala. Para kang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa eh hahahaha"

"Pagod lang."

Napatingin si Cheer sa kaybigan. Kita sa mukha nito ang pagod at kaba. Hindi ito ang unang official match niya pero alam ni Cheer na na p-pressure ito dahil sa ito lang ang freshman na nakapasok sa first five. Alam nitong doble ang effort na ibinubuhos ng kaybigan sa mga training nila.

"You'll be fine, Z. Don't worry too much."

Cheer flashed him a small smile.

Zeke felt a little relieved. Isang ngiti lang ng kaybigan ay napagaan na agad nito ang loob niya. Ngunit hindi parin maalis ang kaba niya. Hindi dahil pakiramdam niya ay papalya siya sa laro, he always go all out. He always does his best, at may tiwala siya sa sarili niya. He also believes that his training will never betray him. He's sure that as long as he tries hard enough and get enough practice, he will be satisfied with the results.

There's only one thing he's always unsure about. Ang dahilan kung bakit siya kinakabahan.

Cheer.

He plans to confess his feelings after the game. Matagal na siyang nagpaplanong magtapat dito. Pero lagi siyang inuunahan ng kaba. Minsan, nauunahan pa ng iba. But now that Cheer is herself again, wala na siyang balak palampasin pa ang pagkakataon.

Hindi niya maalala kung kailan ba siya nahulog sa kaybigan. Was it back in elementary school when even after their other friends left, she never did?

Or that time when she comforted a girl he rejected even though that girl was mean to her?

Maybe when he first read her letter? Or when he saw her helping a stranger pick up their things when they fell from bumping into an asshole?

Or that time when he fell ill because of playing too much, and she never left his side and took care of  him.

He doesn't know. All he knows is, he loves her. Mahal niya ang kaybigan. At gusto niya na itong ipaalam.

Wala naman talaga sa plano niya ang magtapat. Noon kasi, ay natatakot siyang masira ang pagkakaibigan nila. Pero habang tumatagal, habang itinatago niya ang nararamdaman niya, lalo itong lumalalim. Kaya pinag isipan niya ito ng paulit ulit at nakarating sa isang konklusyon.

He wants to tell her how he feels. Na-realize niya na kung sila talaga, ay sila talaga. If she rejects him, ay gagawin niya ang lahat para bumalik sila sa dati, no matter the process. Kung sakali mang kaylangan niyang iwasan si Cheer ng panandalian para mag move on, he'll do it. Alam niyang maiintindihan siya ng kaybigan. Because that's how she is. She sees things in different perspectives. And just like Cheer, kung iiwas man ang dalaga sakanya nang dahil dito, ay iintindihin niya ito. But that doesn't mean he'll give up on the friendship. If she accepts him, then all is well.

"Thanks, C. Ano, tara na?"

Aya niya dito. Alam niyang wala na itong klase at uuwi na rin, habang siya naman ay babalik sa university para sa practice.

"Yep. Tara." 

Tumayo na siya at lumabas. Tumigil siya sa tapat ng café at akmang papara ng taxi para kay Cheer nang pigilan siya ng dalaga.

"Huuy, wait. Anong oras kayo matatapos?"

He was confused by her question but he answered, nonetheless.

"Siguro mga 6pm. Bakit?"

"Pwede maki-nood?" Cheer gave him a hopeful look that made his heart skip a beat. He was surprised at what she asked.

Supportive si Cheer sa mga laro niya, but she's not one to watch and wait for him to finish training. Nabobored daw ito sa ganoon dahil wala daw pressure mula sa totoong kalaban.

"Okay lang naman siguro..." he trailed off

"Wait..are you okay?"

Zeke was genuinely concerned. Baka kasi may problema ito at hindi lang nagsasabi. Maybe that's why she's doing something unusual.

She laughed loudly at the sight of his worried face.

"What the heck? Hahahahaha. I'm fine! Wag ka ngang mag isip ng kung ano jan. Minsan lang kasi tayo magkita na, so I figured na sumabay nalang sayo pauwi. Tsaka ayokong magtaxi."

He sighed in relief. Yun pala ang dahilan. He tried not to smile at her explanation.

"Miss mo lang pala ako. Haha. Fine, let's go. Pero bahala ka sa buhay mo pag na bored ka ha?"

Ginulo niya ang buhok ng kaybigan at nauna nang maglakad when he heard her say, "Meanie."

He could only laugh at her, and continued to proceed towards the university's gym.