It has been a week since Khalil declared to the entire world that we're dating. Kumalat na rin sa buong school ang balita dahilan para kami ang maging laman ng tsismisan. Maririnig kaliwa't kanan ang pangalan naming dalawa. Thanks for that, dumami lalo ang haters ko sa instagram. Siya ang nagsabing nagd-date kami, yes, pero wala na siyang ginawa pang iba maliban sa bigyan ako ng marshmallow nung Valentine's Day.
Never siyang nag-initiate ng conversation. Never kaming nagsabay sa pagpasok. Never niya akong sinabayan mag-lunch. Never niya akong hinatid pauwi. He didn't do even the bare minimum of opening the door for me!
Hindi naman ako na-inform na ganito pala para sa kaniya ang 'dating'.
Para akong hangin na hindi niya kailangan sa araw-araw. Carbon dioxide? Siguro.
This feels bad. Really.
"Good morning." Napalingon ako kay Bridge nang bigla siyang sumulpot sa likod ko.
"Morning." I replied and heaved a deep sigh.
"Si Khalil?"
"Hindi ako lost and found, 'wag mo hanapin sa akin. Wala ngang pake 'yon kung nasaang lupalop ako ng mundo. Nagd-date lang talaga kami every February 14 so baka next year niya pa ulit ako kausapin. Goodluck na lang sa puso ko."
"Coach Tan was looking for him. Ang dami mo na agad sinabi. Pwede mo namang sabihing hindi mo alam."
He's right. Masyado akong affected sa simple niyang tanong. I should not lose my cool! Don't let the haters get you! Stand straight and hold your head high, Naila!
"What are you doing?" Nakangiwing tanong ni Bridge nang makita ang ginawa ko.
Imbes na sumagot ay nagmartsa na agad ako papasok sa room. Marami pang mangyayari mamaya. I should save my energy and quit being pessimistic!
***
"Welcome to ESRA-Mid. We're very pleased to have you here." Bati ni Coach Tan sa Coach ng Western Summit Academy.
"No, it's actually our pleasure to get an invitation from your school. Please be good to us." He replied and laughed at his own joke.
Imbes na matawa rin ay lalo lang sumeryoso ang mukha ko. Hindi pipitsuging school ang WSA. Hindi lang sila basta-basta naglalaro ng basketball. We share the same goal and that is to rank first on the Orikawa's Middle School Basketball Chart.
As of now, we have the second spot and they have the fourth. Last chance na lang naming third years ang Spring Tournament. If hindi ulit kami ang manalo sa Finals, g-graduate kaming hindi nakukuha ang goal namin since first year.
"Naila, we need the past and present data." Coach Miko snapped me out of my reverie.
"Ah, yes. I'll explain the latter part first."
Bridge, Caspian, Kasimir, Ravi, and Khalil sat on the bench while the other ten players stood at their back. Coach Tan, Coach Miko, Angela, and I, on the other hand, were standing right in front of them.
After the brief introduction and instruction, the game started and everything I mentioned earlier really happened. Pinaulanan ako ng papuri ni Coach Miko dahil wala sa mga sinabi ko ang hindi nangyari. Everything went under my plan. Biniro pa nga ako ni Coach Tan na baka siya raw talaga ang Manager at ako ang Coach. Natawa na lang ako.
The game ended as Bridge went for a three-point shot.
128 - 78
We won without a doubt.
"You did great." Puri ko kay Bridge atsaka siya binato ng face towel. Sinalo niya lang 'yon at naupo na sa bench para magpahinga. "Ikaw rin, Ravi! You totally improved your speed and agility. Buti at hindi nauwi sa wala ang pag-uwi ko nang late para samahan ka mag-practice. Nice game!" Baling ko kay Chavez saka siya tinapik sa balikat.
BINABASA MO ANG
Yo.
HorrorDespite the small chance of dating him, Naila confessed her feelings to Khalil Alegre until one Valentine's Day, when Khalil came to her and gave her a pack of marshmallows. How did their love blossom from a simple 'yo' to a heartbreaking 'yo'? Horr...
