He Was My Umbrella

02

"Sorry, coach." Narinig kong sabi nung VP.

Ang tangkad niya talaga! I estimated that he was about 5'11 or 6'0. He had a keempee haircut, long arms, long legs and his hands were slightly veiny. Ang gwapo niya! He was wearing black shorts and a white shirt, just like mine. Is he new to the church? I feel like he is. In the few months that I've been in this place, I haven't seen him. He must be new, but I also saw a few people greet him.

Their coach was also our coach. We already knew the dance steps so we just needed practice. The music was played and I was our main dancer and Icah was the lead dancer. The Sports Committee was just a few feet from us, they were our audience. I was positioned at the very front because I was the main.

"5, 6, 7, 8," our coach clapped, matching the beat. I started with a sway from left to right. I really tried to emphasize my dancing because of the audience.  Syempre, pasikat dapat. Talagang hinataw ko ang bawat step, since ako nga ang main, madami akong parts na ako ang spotlight. Nang tingnan ko sila, napansin kong nag-uusap lang sila at nagtatawanan! Nakakainis! Manood kayo! Sayang effort ko dito, oh!

After 15 minutes of practice, dinner time na. Kaya naman pumunta na kami ni Icah doon sa may kabilang side ng gymnasium.

"Pst, kilala mo ba 'yung bagong VP?" tanong ko kay Icah bago sumubo ng kanin. Icah knew many people, that's why she's always the first person I'll ask whenever I want to know somebody's name.

"Ah, that's Maverick Renzo Cabrera. I don't know if he goes by the name Maverick or Renzo. Pero sometimes, I hear people call him Mav or Ren," she looked at the guy and looked away immediately.

"I heard the president call him 'Ren' kanina. Pero pag nag approach ka tas what if pang close friends lang pala 'yung nickname na 'yon. Nakakahiya," sabi ko ulit bago sumubo.

"True, magmumukha kang feeling close."

I looked at the guy and then noticed that he wasn't that sociable. I also noticed that he only talks when somebody asks him. Introvert ata, e. Hays, one day, makakausap ko din 'yan! Umiwas na ako ng tingin dahil baka ma awkward-an siya sa pagtitig ko. Napatigil ako sa pag-nguya nang may pumasok sa main door. It was a girl that I wasn't familiar with. The reason why she caught my attention was that she went close to that Ren guy and then she gave him a kiss on his cheek. I noticed that he didn't kiss her back and his expression was plain. Was she his girlfriend? But even if she was, bakit ganoon ang ginawa ni Ren? Well, I won't assume. Wala akong alam.

"Hoy, sige tingin pa!" pumalakpak si Frances sa harap ko. "Sino ba tinitingnan mo d'yan?" malakas niyang sinabi sa akin.

"'Yung VP." sinabi ko bago umalis para itapon ang paper plate ko dahil tapos naman na ako kumain. Sumenyas na din si coach na practice time na ulit. Uminom lang din ako ng kalahating basong juice. Magsasalin sana ulit ako nang may bumanggang parang sadya sa likod ko kaya natapon ang juice ko.

Huminga ako ng malalim at pinikit ang mga mata ko ng mariin dahil sa inis.

"Couldn't you be more carefu-"

Nakapikit ako habang umikot para harapin ang kung sino man. Pero natigilan ako sa nakita ng mga mata ko pagdilat nito.

It was Cabrera.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. Tinulak lang din kasi ako," he held my arm when I slightly stumbled. My eyes widened by the sudden contact. I stepped backwards for him to let go of me. I just bowed slightly before walking away quickly. I didn't like that interaction, it was embarrassing.

I fixed my hair into a ponytail and then I drank from my tumbler, still panting. I just stretched my neck and my arms before going back to our place. I checked my watch and it was just 8:30 PM. Ang aga pa pala.

Nang pabalik na ako doon sa lugar namin, napansin ko wala na 'yung iilan sa Sports Committee sa harap namin. Nilingon ko ang paligid at nakitang naglalaro ang iilan ng basketball. Kasama na dun 'yung VP. Mas lalo ko nalang silang hindi pinansin dahil kailangan ko mag-focus sa sayaw or else mas tatagal ang practice.

Sasayaw na sana kami nang biglang narinig ko ang sinabi ng speaker na, "Battery low, please charge now,". Nakakagigil. Hindi ko dala 'yung charger.

"Adi, kuhanin mo 'yung isang speaker sa president ng SC," sabi ni coach. Syempre, wala naman akong choice. Pumunta ako doon sa may court na medyo nagmamadali.

"Kuya Matt! Pahiram daw ng speaker m-"

"HOY GAGO KA, CABRERA! BA'T DIYAN MO PINASA?! ADI, OKAY KA LANG?!"

Potek, ang sakit.

Pagkatama sa akin ng bola, sapul na sapul sa mukha ko, pagkabagsak ko, my ankle got twisted when I landed. Shit! Ang sakit!

"Miss, okay ka lang?!" freaking Cabrera again! What the hell! He carried me bridal style when he saw the mark on my forehead. I was brought to the nearest bench. I laid down as my I shouted when I tried to move my ankle. "You'll be a-alright," his voice was shaky. I saw that Daddy pushed him away aggressively to get a good view of me.

Binigyan na ako ng ice pack at may bandage na rin 'yung paa ko. Nakabalik na ako doon sa place namin pero hindi na ako makaka-sayaw. Umupo na lang ako sa bench namin at uminom ng tubig.

"Hi, I'm so sorry talaga. Hindi ko naman nakita na dadaan ka, e. Si Luis dapat talaga ang papasahan ko ng bola, since lumapit ka sa kanya, ayan, ikaw tuloy ang tinamaan. I'm sorry." Ramdam ko ang pagsisisi sa boses niya. I wasn't that cold-hearted naman para tanggihan 'yung apology niya pero magmamatigas ako. Tiningnan ko lamang siya at tumango. Nakita ko namang papalapit si Daddy sa amin.

"Ano'ng pangalan mo at ilang taon ka na?"

"Maverick Renzo Cabrera po. 21 years old."

21?! 21 na siya?! Oh, c'mon! I really don't stand a chance! Though, halata naman sa mukha niya na above 18 na siya pero syempre, nag expect pa din ako, 'no.

"Next time, be attentive of your surroundings." Sabi ni Daddy ng malumanay.

"Yes, sir." Yumuko si Cabrera dahil sa kahihiyan. I honestly felt bad for him. It was my fault after all. I knew that they were playing and yet I still went through.

Mga 10 PM na kami pinalabas. Habang naghihintay, pinanood ko lang ang mga dancers habang nakain. 

"Okay, I'll see you on Saturday." sabi ni coach. We all carried our bags. Nakaklakad naman ako, talagang hindi ko lang pwede isayaw.

"Get well soon! See you on Sat!" Sabay na paalam ni Frances at ni Icah.

I don't actually know kung paano kami naging close, actually. Ang alam ko lang ay bago ako sa neighborhood noon, syempre, bagong lipat. Pero nasa bahay ako ng Lola ko, meaning dito rin lumaki si Daddy kaya maraming may kilala sa kanya. Tapos ayun, sila ang nag approach sa akin. Nung una nga daw nahihiya pa sila, ang taray ko daw kasing tingnan. Church mates ko sila kaya every Sundays and Thursdays lang kami nagkikita. Minsan, different schedules pa kaya bihira na rin. Kaya sinusulit namin ang pagkakataon pag binigyan kami.

Naghihintay na lang kami ni Daddy ng binook namin doon sa tapat ng main door. Naulan kasi kaya mahihirapan kami mag commute. Nakita ko sina Cabrera at si Pres na sasakay dapat sa kotse.

Nakita ata niyang nagtatalo kami ni Daddy dahil nasa kabilang kalsada 'yung binook namin kaya kailangan pa namin tumawid, bwiset! Wala pa naman akong payong!

"Here," Kuya Ren handed me his. "Take care." I saw him run to his car while using a towel to cover his head. Nakita ko rin si Pres na sumakay sa kotse ni Kuya Ren kaya naman I waved before we crossed the road.

*****