Trials End

Chapter 45

Iris sent a message sa group chat na nasa arcade sila. She's with Ivo, Rave, Ella, Aldo and Earl. Yun ang pinakamalapit sa'min kaya dun na kami dadaan.

With this distance, I saw the neon lights of the arcade. Moving more forward, I can already hear the background music of the games, the voices of the people, and the chains of the basketball ring.

Agad na pumasok sa loob ng arcade si Blanca at pumila sa counter. Napatingin ako sa mga tao na nag tatap ng card nila sa mga games.

Tumingin pa ako sa malayo and I saw Aldo playing basketball pero para namang may hinahanap siya dahil lingon ng lingon. Si Ivo naman ay nag claclaw machine at asa gilid niya si Iris na excited.

Hinanap ng mata ko sina Ella, Rave at Earl. Humakbang ako papalapit sa mga race cars at nakitang nandoon sila.

Earl is playing the race car, he's holding the steering wheel with a tight grip while looking at Rave. Napalingon naman ako kay Rave ngayon na nakasakay sa motorbike. Ella is holding Rave's purse at pinapanood lang siya ng tahimik.

Lumapit ako. "Hey, hindi ka bored Ella?"

I asked her kasi hindi siya fan ng gantong lugar. Paano ba nila napappayag yan pumunta dito.

"Kaya pa." Mahinang tugon niya sakin. I stayed by her side to keep her company.

"Bakit ka umalis? Hindi pa ako tapos sa game." Singit samin ni Aldo nung makalapit siya.

Ella looked at him boredly. "Ayoko, nakatunganga lang ako."

Kaya pala when I saw him shooting palingon lingon siya. Maybe he's looking for Ella.

Aldo sighed at tumabi na kay Ella. He greeted me with a nod. I saw Brice sitting in a waiting area na naman. Si Keith naman ang nag babasketball ngayon.

I don't know if my mind is just playing a loop pero bakit ganun? Pasok lahat eh, walang mintis.

Hindi ko napansin na kumukumpol na ang mga lalake sa pwesto namin. I shook my head when I remembered that Rave is riding a Motorbike.

Inis na tumayo ngayon si Earl. "Come on hon, you need to stand up." Hinawakan niya ang elbow ni Rave. Hindi niya ito hinihila, he's waiting for her.

Rave didn't stand up kaya tinignan na lang ni Earl ng masama ang mga lalakeng nakatingin ngayon. Nag iwas ng tingin ang iba pero may iilan na tinawanan siya.

"Tss." Earl clicked his tongue at binalik ang tingin kay Rave.

"Fine fine, I'm done alright." Rave stood up to the motorbike and turned her back to the screen that showed 1st place.

Tumabi naman sa'kin ngayon si Keith and I could feel the heat that his body releases. Ang tagal rin niyang nag basketball ah?

Sinuri ko ang mukha niya ngayon and I can see that he's slightly panting. There's also beads of sweat in his forehead.

He looked at me. "What?"

Tinuro ko ang noo ko to tell him to wipe his forehead. Just like I wanted, he wiped his sweat with his handkerchief.

I saw Brice stood up. Hinintay ko siyang makarating kung nasaan kami. Nilingon ko na rin si Blanca to call her. Luckily, palapit na siya sa'min.

"Let's go?" Aya ni Brice sa'min pagdating.

We all nodded at lumabas ng arcade with a smile on our faces. Iris is hugging a big white teddy bear at ikinokwento ito sa'min kung paano nila nakuha ni Ivo ang bear.

Naglalakad kami papunta kung nasaan sila Ayer. Nasa labas na kami ng isa store at tanaw ko na sa mga salamin si Ayer na nagsusukat ng sapatos.

They all went in at nagpahuli ako dahil may nakita akong matandang babae sa gitna ng mall. Tinignan ko siya at dahan dahang nilapitan.