Moonage Daydream (Ciudad de Escalante #4)

Prelude

"Nice game, Junior. Hindi yata mainit ang ulo mo ngayon?" nanunuksong sabi ng isang boses matapos ang training.

I released a deep breathe and nodded at my Italian teammate, Giuseppe, before tilting my head to see this Saldivar beside me. Kumunot ang noo ko nang masilayan ang ngisi niya habang nagpupunas ng pawisang buhok gamit ng tuwalya.

"What do you mean?" nagtatakang tanong ko at kinuha ang jug para uminom ng tubig.

This training I'm having at this academy is too draining and exhausting than the trainings I had in Ciudad De Escalante. Inaasahan ko na dahil hindi talaga madaling makipagsapalaran para sa pangarap ng gusto mo.

Pinilig ko ang aking ulo habang umiinom nang bumalik sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Zaire. Ako? Mainit ang ulo? I'm not. Well, the game earlier went smooth and intense. Halatang nasa mood ang lahat, hindi lang ako.

Athletes must really train to control their minds, improve focus, manage emotional mayhem, and seize the state of flow that conceives highlight-reel performances. I was taught early by my Dad, a professional basketball player, that when the pressure and demands increase, I'll be resilient and able to cope with those demands.

Zaire smirked.

"Wala lang, parang hindi mo pa yata nakikita kaya hindi mainit ang ulo mo," aniya kaya mas kumunot ang noo ko.

Nakikita ang alin? He laughed when he noticed my cluelessness about what he was saying.

"Check your Instagram. She gave us again a good view of her..." makahulugang sambit niya at imbes na ituloy, tiningnan na lamang ang katawan na tila iyon ang pinapahiwatig niya.

Halos mabilaukan ako habang umiinom. What the heck he meant? A fucking good view of what? I scoffed when Zaire shrugged and tapped my shoulder. Natatawa siyang muli bago maglakad palayo para sumabay na sa mga teammates namin na nasa shower room na.

I breathed in and opened my bag to search for my phone. Whatever Zaire said bothers me. Those meaningful smirks of his? It unmistakably means something! I don't wanna conclude first without seeing in my own eyes, so I better check it now.

And I was right.

The second I opened my Instagram application, her picture was the first thing I saw. It was captured inside a nightclub. They were at a foam party. Her soft hair was sprawling at her face, but you could still recognize that she had beauty.

Napahigpit na lamang ang hawak ko sa aking cellphone nang pagmasdan ang buong larawan. She's only wearing a damn brassiere and a very short denim shorts. Her skin was sparkling from the wetness she acquired from the foam and bubbles.

Damn. Zaire is right. It is really a good view of her curves, cleavage, her waist, her thighs and everything! Hindi ko alam kung ibabato ko ba ang cellphone dahil sa inis o matuwa nalang dahil sa kumpiyansa na mayroon siya ngayon para mag-post ng ganito.

She couldn't do it before. She's too scared to do this. She doesn't even have the confidence to be included in any photographs.

Nanliit ang mata ko at zinoom ang mga lalaking nasa background na nakatitig sa kanya. Those jerks, how could you stare at her like that, huh? But I can't blame them. Kung ganito rin ang makikita ko, siguradong hindi ko na maaalis ang titig.

"Zachariel it was just a bikini top! Foam party iyon, kaya dapat gano'n. Mas malala pa nga itong ipo-post ko maya-maya dahil nasa beach kami ni Fuchsia. Mas sexy ito," pangangatwiran niya sa kabilang linya nang mapag-usapan namin ang larawan na nakita ko sa Instagram.

"May mas malala pa? That picture is already..." I uttered in frustration and couldn't continue what I was saying because I didn't want her to find me demanding and possessive.