Jason hangs his head in defeat. He brought the previously insignificant UCLA Bruins football team to a national championship game. They could not win though, facing the number two team in the nation in the Alabama Crimson Tide.
He walks over to the Alabama quarterback and shakes his hand.
"Aye, Cap. Keep grinding man. You're an inspiration to me brother."
"Yeah man, congrats," Jason replies.
He walks off, removing his helmet. He waves to the UCLA crowd and mouths his apology to them. They rise on their feet and burst into an ovation anyway, thanking him for taking UCLA to the championships. He scans the crowd, searching for familiar faces.
"JASON!"
He hears his name being screamed from the crowd. He finds his friends, standing and waving.
"HI GUYS!"
Tommy, Ed, and Mike are spinning their towels over their heads like madmen, once again their bodies are painted, this time in UCLA blue and yellow. Kyle, who lost in the semifinals to Alabama, is holding Mariella's hand, waving it vigorously. Jamie and Clara can be seen in Jason's UCLA jersey, this time wearing #17. This is the first time Jason has seen Clara since she left for UCLA two years ago. It was her who had the idea to have the group travel to SoFi Stadium, which ironically is in Los Angeles.
She waves.
He waves back
He eagerly runs back to the locker room and changes. He enters the media room and holds a post-game interview. He rushes out to meet his friends who are waiting outside in the VIP area.
"AHHHH JASON!" They all scream once he exits the room.
He hugs them one by one. Then comes Clara.
Jason and Clara, shortly after Jason admits to her his feelings, make it official and start a long distance relationship. It's been almost five months since they started their relationship, and each day away from each other seemed to make their hearts grow more intensely in love.
With butterflies filling his stomach, Jason looks at Clara who approaches him with flowers. He reaches out both his arms, her perfume separating his mind from reality and imagination. He can't believe she's finally here. She embraces him, her eyes welling up in joy.
"Thank you for coming," Jason says, breathing in the moment to make sure it's real.
"I couldn't miss it," Clara replies.
The group stands behind them and cheers. The two pay no mind, completely shutting off the rest of the world. The noise of the stadium suddenly fading out into nothing. It's just the two of them, holding each other within their embrace.
"I love you," Jason whispers into Clara's ear.
"I love you too," Clara whispers back, hugging Jason even tighter.
"I can't believe you're really mine."
"I always have been. Always will."
YOU ARE READING
kundiman.
Romancekundiman // tagalog // noun. : a traditional Filipino love song or serenade // kundiman - kung 'di man Jason and Clara: two friends, mixed signals, regret. Circumstances strike left and right, and the two seem to be destined to never be more than st...
