Psalm's Law

VIII

We won. Grabe ang naging hiyawan noong mashoot ng isang player namin 'yung bola para sa free throw. Napayakap din ako kay Raeli dahil sa halo-halong kaba at saya sa nangyari. Nangiti ako ng makita si Silas na niyayakap 'yung nag free throw kanina, may sinabi siya rito, tumawa at dinumog na sila ng iba pang teammates.

Nagsisibabaan na ang mga kaklase 'ko na para batiin ang mga players, tila ba para 'tong championship at sumugod pa sila sa ibaba. Umiling ako at bumaba na rin. Habang naglalakad ay nilingon 'ko ang kabilang bleachers. They looked disappointed, yet so proud with their team, as they all went down and congratulated the members. Some even joined the photo-op, and took advantage of the situation by taking pictures with members one by one.

Ang ibang highschool at college student na nakita 'ko kanina ay nagkukumpulan doon sa pwestong kinauupuan ni Avellino kanina. The swarm keeps getting bigger and bigger as if they're bees eager to pollinate a flower. I halted when I saw the familiar curly brown hair.

Nilingon 'ko uli ang bench namin at nakitang wala na roon si Silas. Kaya naman pala dinudumog 'tong pwesto dahil nagsama silang dalawa! Nang akala ko'y aabutin na ng oras ang meet and greet nila, ay unti-unting nabawasan ang mga nagpapapicture, may iilang malaki ang ngiti ngunit karamihan ang may panghihinayang.

"Sungit noong Avellino. Porket gwapo!" rinig kong sabi noong isang kabatch 'ko na dumaan sa pwesto 'ko.

Tumango naman 'yung kasama niya, "Kaya nga eh. Buti pa si Theo... nagpapicture naman siya! Shet, tignan mo ang ganda 'ko rito. I-ddp 'ko talaga 'to!"

Natawa na lang ako sa narinig at tinignan sila nang makalampas sa akin. Bumalik ang mata 'ko sa pwesto ni Avellino at nakitang nag-uusap sila, animated ang pagtawa ni Silas na para bang wiling-wili habang may mallit na ngisi naman sa mukha ni Avellino. He looked reserved and unapproachable but maybe not so bad himself.

I stared at Silas as he talked and smiled with the kid. Even though his career as an actor programmed him to be a public-eye and a people-pleaser, Silas is just a naturally kind person, stubborn and persistent, yes, but he never lets his arrogance get the best of him. Sometimes I think that even though he can say no, he still chooses not to because he knows what feeling helplessness is, and does not want to contribute to others misery. While his kindness requires him to do peoples biddings from time to time, I have never seen him to be a complete push over, as he refuses and disagrees when it's outside his capabilities, or simply sensed that it'll be harder for him to do it.

Bumuntong hininga ako at nilibot ang tingin, unti-unti nang lumalabas ang mga tao at pumapasok naman ang ibang janitor para maglinis. Sinipat 'ko ang relos at nakitang magaalas-singko na, 5:45PM ang alam 'kong call time para sa huling laro nila mamaya, kaya makakakain pa siya at makakapagpahinga.

Naramdaman 'ko ang presensya ni Silas ilang pulgada bago siya makalapit sa akin. Nilingon 'ko siya habang hinawakan naman niya ang pulso 'ko. His dimples showed along with his complete set of white teeth when he grinned widely at me.

"Did I do great?" Like a child, he asked.

And I do not know if it's the weird childish question or his dimples, but I gave him a smile, then patted his head. "You're always doing great, Silas. I'm so proud of you."

His smile faltered, and eyes-reddening as if what I said made him so emotional, before he smiled widely again, beaming with so much happiness. His grasp slides to my hand to hold it firmly. He squeezed it three times and bumped his forehead to mine, "Damn, I'd hug you if only I'm not sweaty. I wanted to hug you."

I laughed and initiated the hug, "W-What.. Hey! Amoy-pawis ako!" He exclaimed but I only embraced his neck tighter.

"Oo nga eh, ang baho mo naman. Yuck!" Pang-aasar 'ko pero hindi naman lumuwang ang yakap sa kaniya, ilang segundo pa ay tumawa siya at niyakap din ako ng mahigpit.