BLANCA POV
Now, palabas na kami sa room and Ayer is carrying my bag. Katabi ko siya habang nakikipagdaldalan kay Aldo about their game.
Nahinto ang conversation nila when Ayer bumped into some girl. He pulled me closer to him as an instinct. He let go of my wrist to kneel.
"Sorry, are you okay?" He asked to the girl at nilahad niya ang kamay.
Tinanggap ng babae ang kamay ni Ayer. "Ahh, yeah." She looked at Ayer's face. "I-I'm fine."
Ayer pulled her up and let go of her hand. "Sorry uli ah?" Ayer bowed his head slightly while reaching for my wrist.
He pulled me gently as a sign that we should start walking. We took a step but the girl held his hand. Tinignan lamang siya ni Ayer.
"Do you need something?" He asked.
Why is he so damn dull? Nag iinit ang ulo ko.
"A-Ah, I'm sorry but what's your name?" The girl shyly asked and tried to hide her face.
Ayer chuckled. "Oh, Ayer. Sorry, una na ko ah?" Turo niya sa daan.
The girl nodded and we continued our walk. He's walking like nothing happened while my eyebrows are almost meeting each other.
I felt his grip tighten in my wrist kaya napatingin ako uli dito. Kumalma ang puso ko but when I saw him looking at me ay pilit itong kumakawala.
Urgh, this jerk.
Sumakay na kami sa kotse niya at nilabas na muna niya ang damit na pang palit niya mamaya. We're on our way to the court at tinawagan niya si Aldo na malapit na siya.
We entered the court and I could already hear their taps on the board. Mga pinapatunog nilang sapatos at mga talbog ng bola. Geez, later I'll hear them gasping for air.
"Oh pre, tara na?" Tanong ni Ayer.
I saw Aldo sitting at the bench while using his phone. Tumingin naman ako sa nag shoshoot and there, I saw Earl in three point line. The two boys who I don't know greeted Ayer.
They decided to start the game and now I'm damn nervous. Geez, what the hell? Bakit ka kabado eh hindi naman ikaw ang makikipag laro, Blanca?
I heard the whistle and Aldo is the one who's dribbling the ball. Earl is running in the sides and Aldo passes the ball to one who's wearing a no. 2 jersey.
No. 2 dribbles it papasok and passes it to Ayer. Nasalo ito ni Ayer at pumwesto malapit sa ring but his opponent tried to steal the ball. To keep the ball safe, Ayer passes it to Earl na nakapwesto na sa three point line.
Earl got the ball and turned around to shake his opponent. He jumped and released the ball midair.
"Pasok!" Ayer shouted and the ball went in.
"Tres para kay Earl!" Sigaw ng isa nilang kasama. I clapped my hands 'cause why not diba?
The game continued and Aldo is the one who's dictating the play or tempo or whatsoever! I'm just here to watch Ayer, look at Ayer and cheer for Ayer. I don't need to know those damn rules.
One thing I always notice, Laging nasa loob si Ayer doing what do you call that? Layup? The one hand thing while jumping.
Habang iniisip ko kung ano ang tawag doon. Ayer scored again. I clapped my hands kaya napatingin siya sa'kin.
His chuckle echoed. "Bilib na naman sa'kin yun oh." Tinuro niya ako kaya humarap sa'kin ang mga kakampi at kalaban niya.
His opponents scoffed at him while his teammate teased him. Their laughs, shouts and commands are loud enough to hear on my seat.
The game ended and Ayer's team won. Tuwang tuwa na naman sila dahil sila ang nanalo. I always see Aldo and Earl playing with Ayer. Nung nakaraan naman ay si Claud ang pang apat o minsan si Ivo. Keith once visited the court to boo them.
Nilabas na ng kalaban nila ang mga pera. I saw them holding two thousand each at inabot ito kila Ayer. I unconsciously raised my left eyebrow.
Ganyan ba talaga ang pusta? Two thousand isa? So, ten thousand ang makukuha nila tonight?
I gave Ayer his extra shirt and a face towel. He sat beside me and accepted it. Nagpupunas siya ng mukha niya habang kinokwento ang mga plays na ginawa nila kanina.
I admit that I don't know anything about basketball but he helps me to understand it by explaining it after the game. Hindi napuputol ang sinasabi niya and I kept nodding.
"Edi sana all may taga cheer." Parinig ni Aldo nung makalapit siya sa'min.
Inakbayan siya ni Earl. "Aw, sana pala sinigaw ko pangalan mo kanina."
"Ew, dude pawis ka." Pandidiri ni Aldo sa kanya.
Earl rolled his eyes and mimicked Aldo. "Ew, dude pawis ka."
Nagpaalam na kami sa isa't isa and I went in to Ayer's car. Nasa labas pa sila at nag fifist bomb sa isa't isa. Pumasok na si Ayer and started the car's engine while he's fixing his seat belt.
"Gusto mong dumaan drive thru?" Tanong niya sa'kin habang iniikot ang manibela.
Umiiling ako. "Nah, I have snacks naman sa bahay eh." I looked at him. "Saka, you need a rest din."
"Lah, okay lang. Gusto mo ba?" He's eyes are still on the road.
"Hindi na, promise."
He sighed. "Okay, sure ka ah?"
I nodded and opened a topic. Dumami ang pinag usapan namin kaya walang moment na tahimik sa loob ng kotse niya.
We arrived at our house. Nagpaalam ako sa kanya and told him na ichat ako pag uwi. I went in and I sat on my sofa sa kwarto ko. I decided to wait for his message before taking a bath.
After 15 mins. I saw his text.
Ayer: Nakauwi na ako. Ligo ka ahh?"
I pressed a heart button at pumasok na sa bathroom. I took my time clean myself dahil ang daming nangyari ngayon.
Lumabas ako sa room when I heard a knock. Binuksan ko ang pintuan at nakita kong may hawak na paper bags ang maid namin.
"Ma'am, delivery po." Inabot niya sa'kin at agad ko itong kinuha kahit nagtataka ako kung kelan ako nagpadeliver.
"Thank you po." She bowed slightly and closed the door.
Naglakad ako palapit sa table ko at ipinatong iyon. Binuksan ko ang phone ko and I saw that Ayer sent me a message.
Ayer: I ordered you food. Sigurado akong hindi ka bababa. Yes, oo advance ako. Thank me tomorrow.
Hindi ko mapigilan ngumiti sa nabasa ko. Damn this man.
BINABASA MO ANG
Trials End
RomanceI am Takibi Aiby Flammia, daughter of the CEO of Flammia Airlines. I want to continue the legacy of my father and grandfathers. I want to be an airplane that can carry the people I love with their baggage of expectations. I should study hard and ear...
