A Stalemate

Chapter 10

Vedh's POV

"One! Two! Three! Gonzaga, mali!" I heard a voice shout inside the gym.

What am I getting myself into?

"Halika na! Bili!" Morrigan said as she pulled my left hand inside.

"Guys! Ito ang partner ko! Kaklase ko, si Vedh!" pakilala niya sa akin.

Her team waved at me and I nodded as my form of greeting.

Well, I'm in dipshit.

"Oh, buti naman nakahanap ka na ng partner, Ms. Samaras. Get him dressed and let's begin practice," sabi ng teacher niya.

Ngumiti ng malaki si Morrigan bago ako hinila sa boy's locker room at inabutan ng damit at sapatos.

"Diyan ka na magpalit. Wala namang tao eh. Gusto mo pa bantayan kita? " usisa ni Morrigan.

Tumango ako. "Wag muna ako bantayan. I'm not a kid. Magbihis ka na rin. I need to get this over quick dahil marami pa tayong homeworks."

She rubbed the back of her neck. "Thanks for doing me this favor. Medyo weird kasi ang ibang boys sa klase kaya ikaw rin ang napili ko."

"Really? Lance is weird?" nagtatakang tanong ko habang inaalis ang medyas at sapatos ko.

"Lance? Nah. The problem is that he's always surrounded by other girls. Ayaw ko no'n. Naplitan ka lang ba? Sa totoo lang kasi, ayaw ko ng namimilit pag ayaw talaga eh."

"No. Hindi naman din talaga ako napipilit kung ayaw ko talaga. I'm fine with it. You look really desperate," pag-amin ko.

"Ehhh? Talaga?" A dark cloud seemed to form above her head as she sulked.

I stared her when she suddenly jumped. "Sandali! Ba't si Lance agad naisip mo kanina? Sheesh, crush mo siya? Don't worry! I won't judge!"

"The fuck?" Hinimas ko ang tagiliran ng ulo ko. "I have no issue with gay people but I'm straight or at least I think so but I could be aromantic for all I know. I've never liked someone in a romantic way. The only reason I thought of Lance at first is because he's the only boy in class I'm acquainted with."

"'Sus! Haba ng explanation. Malay mo naman nagkakagusto ka rin sa lalaki o kaya sa mga tao in general." Tumawa siya. "Bata ka pa. Marami ka pang magugustuhan at makikilala."

"You talk too much. Magbihis ka na. You're wasting time," utos ko.

Madali siyang tumango at nag-salute pa sa akin bago umalis patungo sa girls' locker room.

This is gonna take so much of my energy away...

...

"Stretch your legs more, Ms. Samaras!" utos ng nagtuturo sa amin sa harap kay Morrigan.

She did as she was told and did a spin while holding her ribbon.

"Perfect! Kaya naman pala eh!" komento ng guro.

Bumuntong-hininga ako.

"Hijo, your turn. You're Ms. Samanas' partner, right?" tanong sa'kin ng guro matapos ng ilan pang practice ni Morrigan.

Tumango na lang ako at nagtungo sa gitna. I've already read the steps so I have an idea of how to act the part.

I started to do some warm-ups when I heard a voice shout, "Start!"

The other boys started and so did I. I did a few back flips and cartwheels before stopping to have some air.

"Great work, Mr. Montenegro!" puri ng guro sa akin.