Faith Around the Hoop

Chapter 7

It was their games again, siyempre present ako. Sila Stacey at Anne na ang kasama ko this time. Si Anne sumundo sa'min kasi tinatamad ako magdrive. 

"May bayad pag sama ko madam." Sabi naman ni Anne. Hindi ko naman siya pinilit sumama, ah? 

"Edi sana hindi ka nalang sumama." Pangbabara naman ni Stacey. Anne rolled her eyes at her. Ever since the encounter with Ethan, napansin kong nagbago siya. I just didn't pay attention to it.

"Sigurado ka ba diyan sa Mateo mo? Baka nagsasayang lang tayo ng oras dito." 

"Ikaw? Sigurado ka ba kung sino kaibigan mo?" Kanina pa si Stacey ang sumasagot para sa'kin. Hindi ko naman alam ano ang gustong iparating nito ni Anne.

"Ikaw ba si Cali?"  

"Ikaw rin ba si Cali para mangealam?" Sabat naman ni Stacey. "Parang mas naka kampi ka pa kay Ethan e." 

"Tumigil na nga kayo." Suway ko naman. Natahimik naman ang biyahe namin pagkatapos no'n.

Pagbaba naman namin mula sa kotse ni Anne, bumulong si Stacey sa'kin. "Pigilan mo ko, naiinis na ko d'yan sa kaibigan natin." 

"Hayaan mo nalang." 

Pagpasok namin sa arena I saw a kid crying. She seemed lost. Linapitan ko naman siya habang nakasunod sila Anne sa'kin.

"Hey, why are you crying? Where is your parents?" Hindi naman ako sinagot nung bata. "Shhh, we'll find your parents." Sabi ko naman noong umiyak siya lalo.

I looked around and saw a security guard. Linapitan naman namin 'yon para humingi ng tulong.

"45 minutes nalang girl magstastart na ang games. Hindi ka ba hinahanap ni capt?" Tanong ni Stacey.

"I can't leave this kid here. Maiintindihan niya 'yon." Sabi ko naman. Ayaw rin naman kasi niya sumama sa guard, siguro takot. Medyo tumahan naman na 'yung bata. "Hey, what's your name?"

"Maya." She said shyly. Her voice was soft and almost inaudible.

"Hi Maya, I'm ate Cali." I introduced myself. "What are you doing here alone? Who are you with?"

"Kuya is a basketball player. I was with mommy." Her voice was cute, it wasn't really that clear but I understood what she said.

"Really? What's the name of your kuya?"

"Kuya Niko." That's when it hit me. She did looked like Mateo. Gosh, so nandito mom nila?

"Oh ano sis?" Tanong ni Anne na halatang naiinip na. I shook my head and dialed a number in my phone.

"Hey, are you here na? Wala ako sa court, I'm looking for my sister. Can we-" hindi naman niya natapos 'yung sasabihin niya kasi siningitan ko na siya.