Her kind of Red Flag

Blue

Months have passed since his failed attempt of confessing. Long painful months of trying to hide the pain he feels whenever he sees the woman he loves.

On another note, the season has been good to the Knights. They managed to get into the Best 4 and training was hell from then. The whole team is continously monitored to make sure that they are doing proper measures for their diet and rest.

Zeke is actually thankful for this. Dahil bugbog sila sa practice, hindi niya na kaylangan pang magdahilan kay Cheer kung bakit hindi niya na ito nakakausap. He can always say that he's tired and Cheer will immediately leave him alone to rest.

A dick move, he knows. But what can he do? Bukod sa lalo siyang nasasaktan kapag kasama niya ang kaybigan, lalo din siyang nahuhulog dito. Avoiding her would do him more good than bad.

A loud whistle filled the closed court signalling the end of their practice for the day.

Napahinga siya ng malalim. "So much for distracting myself." He thinks. He was supposed to be focused on their practice pero bumabalik balik padin kay Cheer ang utak niya. He heaved another sigh as they did their cool down routine.

Zeke walked towards the lockers to change his clothes. Inayos na niya ang mga gamit niya at inilagay ang mga ito sa bag nya. After a few minutes of resting his body, he decided to get out purposely ignoring the continuous buzzing of his phone.

Alam niyang ang kaybigan ang kanina pang tumatawag, kagaya nang pagtawag nito sakaniya noong mga nakaraang araw.

I'm not gonna answer that. Wag mong sasagutin, Zeke. Kaunti pa. Kaunting oras pa. He repeated under his breath while making his way to his car.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad nang makita niyang may nakaupo sa tabi ng sasakyan niya.

He instinctively turned around, attempting to make his way back where he came from. Where there's no Cheer sitting at the pavement beside his car, waiting for him.

Ilang hakbang pa lamang ay kusang tumigil ang mga paa niya.

"Ah shit" He cursed as he again turned to walk towards his bestfriend.

-

One hour. It's been an hour.

"Baka may late practice sila. Maybe I should just go home." she whispered to herself.

Desido na siyang umalis nang may isang pares ng paa ang tumigil sa harap niya. She trailed her eyes from the person's shoes to their face, at nagulat siyang makita ang kaybigan.

Seriously, Cheer. Inaantay mo nga siya diba? Bakit ka pa nagtataka na nandito siya? She mentally slapped herself.

Tumayo si Cheer mula sa pagkakaupo niya sa sahig.

"Bakit ka nandito?" Zeke asked.

Cheer smiled sadly. Ang lamig naman nun.

She didn't know what to say. Magbibiro ba siya? Magsisinungaling na napadaan lang siya at nakita ang sasakyan nito kaya nag decide siyang maki-sabay?

Nothing came out of her mouth. It was just silence. Silence used to be comfortable lalo na kapag si Zeke ang kasama niya. Hindi siya sanay na wala siyang masabi. Hindi siya sanay na malamig nag pakikitungo sakanya. HIndi siya sanay na iniiwasan siya.

She's not dumb. Alam niya kung ilag sakanya ang tao o hindi. She smart enough to understand people's vibe and body language. Ano pa kaya sa bestfriend niyang matagal na niyang kilala at kasama? She knows him too well.

"Uy Cheer. Okay ka lang ba?" She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the familiar tone of concern. Warmth and relief washed over her. Maybe she can prolong this a little longer. Just a little longer.

"Uhmm y-yeah. Okay lang. Sorry may iniisip lang. Okay lang bang sumabay pauwi? Galing akong club tapos nakita kong nandito pa yung kotse mo so I figured I could wait for you. We can go to the mall and eat." Just like the old times. Gusto niyang idugtong but she decided not to. Hindi pa naman ganoon katagal simula nang lumabas silang dalawa. Ilang buwan palang naman ang nakakalipas. Ilang buwan palang naman nung simula niya akong iwasan. She fought the urge to wince at the pain she suddenly felt because of her thoughts.

"Ang dami mong inexplain. Of course pwede kang sumabay. Tinatanong pa ba yun? Sakay na. San mo ba gustong kumain?"

Cheer felt an invisible lump in her throat. Umiinit ang mga mata niya dahil sa mga nagbabadyang pagtulo ng luha niya.

She took a deep breath to stop the sudden surge of emotions. "Jollibee? Gusto ko ng ice cream." She said happily and hopped inside the car.

Their ten-minute ride only consisted of the slow humming of the car's airconditioning. For Cheer, it was the loudest silence she has ever heard.

No one initiated to open a conversation, hanggang sa makarating sila sa fast food chain.

"Hanap ka na ng upuan, ako na oorder. Your usual?" Agad na sabi ni Zeke pagkapasok nila sa Jollibee.

"Ha?" Cheer? He just called me Cheer. She smiled sadly.

"Ano.. oo yung usual lang." Cheer walked around the establishment, looking for an unoccupied table.

It's only been 3 minutes, pero parang ang tagal tagal na nyang nag aantay kay Zeke. Her mind was pestering her to talk to him. But her heart was telling her otherwise, fearing the possible result.

After another five minutes, she saw Zeke walking towards her.

Ah shit. Okay, I'm gonna talk to him.

"Here." he said as he placed her food infront of her, fixing her cutlery.

She stared at him with fondness.

Hindi padin nagbabago mga habit nya. He still takes care of me, paying attention to little details. She thought.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Wala lang. Na-miss kita." She replied without thinking.

-

Tangina. Putangina. Bakit ka ba ganyan? Ang hirap mo naman kalimutan.

Zeke was caught off guard by Cheer's unexpected reply. He can feel the heat climbing up from his neck to his ears.

"Ako din. Na miss kita."

Tangina talaga. He curses himself. Months of trying to move on, wasted.

The conversation flowed smoothly after that. They talked about the things they missed out on. Like before. Like nothing has changed. Like nothing will change.

The car ride home was accompanied by a comfortable silence. An atmosphere they're both used to.

"Daan tayong park?" Biglang tanong ni Cheer.

"Mhm? Mag aalas-dyis na. May klase ka bukas diba?" He replied back, giving her a sideglance.

"Saglit lang. Promise."

"Okay, then." He said as he turned left for their destination.

Naupo sila sa swing. Zeke, barely managing to fit himself between the chains.

Silence filled them once again. This time, Zeke decided to break it.

"Cheer, okay ka lang?"

"No. I haven't been okay for a while."

Concern flashed through Zeke's face.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

His friend looked at him straight in the eyes. She looked at him like she knew his secrets.

Zeke felt his heartbeat double.

"Yeah. Let's talk about it."