Her kind of Red Flag

Orange

*Jamie calling*

"Uy Che, malapit na kami sa stadium. San ka na?" Cheer panicked upon hearing what her friend said from the other line.

"Oh shit! Di ko namalayan yung oras. Papunta na ko Jamie, save me a seat!" Tuloy-tuloy nyang sabi at pinatay na ang tawag.

Tumingin siya sa mga damit na nakalatag sa kama niya. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit hindi siya makaalis.

Today is RU's first game of the season. Which means, it's also Zeke's first official game as a member of the the team.

A few days ago, Zeke gave her a jersey. A smaller duplicate of what he's going to wear during the game. He requested that she wears it on that day, but since their talk, she feels something off.

At ngayon, hindi niya alam kung dapat ba niya itong isuot o mag casual na damit nalang..

Checking her watch, she bit her lip and decided to just wear them.

"There's nothing wrong about this, right? It's just a jersey."

Cheer looked at herself in the mirror. Supportive naman siyang kaibigan noon pa pero sa ayos nito ngayon ay pakiramdam niya, nagmumukha siyang girlfriend ng lalaki.

"Ugh, bala na nga. I'm his bestfriend. This is not uncommon!" Pilit niyang sabi sa sarili niya.

Cheer took one last glance at the mirror and headed out.

-

Puro hiyawan ang maririnig sa basketball stadium na pag aari ng school na kanilang makakalaban.

Kasulukuyang nasa locker room ang team nila Zeke. Nag uusap usap ang mga ito tungkol sa mga strategy na kanilang gagamitin.

Zeke's mind flew elsewhere. Maya't maya nitong sinisilip ang cellphone, nag aabang ng text o tawag mula sa kaybigan.

His emotions were in a disarray. He was excited and nervous about the game. He was looking forward to confessing to his long time friend, but he wishes that time would just slow down to prolong his agony, yet he impatiently waits for her messages.

"Yo freshman! I can feel your nerves from here. Relax."

Huminga siya ng malalim. Tama ang captain nila, he should relax.

"And on the other side, I introduce you the blue team-"

Each player stood up from the bench, preparing to go outside and get the win for their school.

Zeke stretched his arms, still looking at his phone. As if on cue, the screen lit up, indicating a text message.

"......Rune University!"

Muling napuno ng sigawan at palakpakan ang stadium. Maririnig ang mga boteng hinahampas sa isa't isa kasabay ang mga hiyaw ng mga manunuod para sa kani kanilang sinusuportahan.

Cheer barely made it. Mabuti na lamang at inantay siya ng kaybigan niyang si Jamie sa labas ng school kung hindi ay magkakanda ligaw ligaw siya.

Naupo na sila pwestong inireserba sakanila ng isa pa nilang kaybigan.

Cheer didn't waste a second, she took out her camera and prepared herself to snap more than a few photos of his bestfriend. For remembrance, she thought.

"Ni-require ka ba ni pres na i-cover yung game? Akala ko siya na daw at si Jun ang gagawa."

Tanong ni Jamie.

"Oo nga. Sabi pa nya, "This game is very important for the season. I can't let inexperienced rookies handle the pictures for the article" hahaha"

Sabi naman ng isa pa niyang kaybigang si Mara.

The three of them met at a basketball game. Mara's brother was one of Zeke's opponents. They bumped into each other while taking pictures. Jamie had a crush on Mara's brother, and was secretly snapping pictures of him which Mara found funny. They immediately clicked with each other. Dahil narin siguro sa pagmamahal nila sa photography.

Mara and Jamie became close overtime but Cheer never got the chance to meet them again, until they saw each other at Rune University, the three of them applying for the same club.

"Hahaha no. I'm just trying to get a few perfect shots. For sure manghihingi yun si Zeke ng kopya."

"Ahh. Kaya pala suuuper focused ka dyan. Para pala kay bespren." Mara said teasingly.

Humarap siya sa kaybigan at pabiro itong tinaasan ng kilay.

"Sinasabi mo jan?" Cheer replied and held her camera again.

She looked at the lens, searching for Zeke and saw him about to shoot the ball aiming for a three-pointer.

She focused, hoping to get the shot perfectly.

*click*

"WOOOOOO! NICE ONE Z!!!!!!!"

As soon as she pressed the capture button, the ball went straight to the basket and made the crowd go wild.

She looked at the picture. Cheer smiled because it came out great.

Z would love this. She thought.

"Ayan ang sinasabi ko."

She looked at Mara, and ceased her forehead. Confused at her sudden statement.

"Tinanong mo ko kanina diba? That's what I was talking about."

"What?"

"Do you even see yourself whenever you look at Zeke, or even when talking to him? Or even looking at his picture?" Mara asked.

"How can I even see MYSELF when-"

Jamie didn't let her finish her sarcastic remark.

"Alam mo Mara, you have to tell her these things straight to the point, or else she won't get it...

...or pretend to not get it." Jamie playfully rolled her eyes.

"I'm confused." Cheer said, her forehead ceasing.

"You like Zeke. Don't you?" Jamie asked.

"Yeah. Of course I do. Duh?"

Nagulat si Cheer nang humiyaw si Mara. Napalingon siya sa court para tingnan kung may nangyari ba pero naka time out ang mga manlalaro.

"What??"

She screamed again. "Hindi ko inexpect na aamin ka agad!!" Mara said, now slapping her arms.

"Ouch! Hey stop!" She gave her friend a confused look.

She looked at Cheer apologetically.

"Eeeh, sorry naman! Nakakilig kasi! So kelan mo pa siya nagustuhan? Dalii, magkwento ka!!"

"Anong ikukwento ko? I like him. Di ko naman kakaybiganin yan ng ganito katagal kung di ko gusto. Diba?"

Sinamaan siya ng tingin ng dalawang kaybigan.

"Bwisit. Akala ko naman---" Mara disappointedly said, at bumalik na sa panonood.