The Golden Ruins (High School Series #2)

Chapter 8

The heavy gate groaned on its hinges, startling both of us as it swung open with a resounding screech. Our attention snapped towards the source of the disturbance, only to find Cal at the gate, the culprit behind the unexpected noise. He stood there, catching his breath before darting towards us.

"Coach," he began nervously. "Ilang beses ko na siyang pinagsabihang huwag pumunta kapag walang kailangan dahil makakaabala siya, pero hindi siya sumusunod sa akin. Hindi na mauulit. Huwag niyo po siyang pagalitan. Hindi niya alam ang ginagawa niya."

I couldn't believe my ears. Cal was being nervous and scared around the coach. He actually had other emotions besides being a grump? Shocking!

"You meanie!" I shot back, my protest echoing through the court.

He mirrored the same curt tone he used when correcting me, and although I couldn't comprehend every word because of the language barrier, I recognized the unmistakable tone of criticism.

"Bakit ang hirap sa'yong sumunod?" he asked, frustration evident in the raised arch of his eyebrow. "Mapapagalitan pa ako dahil sa matigas mong ulo."

"Cal, nandito ka naman," Coach's voice sliced through the tension. "Nag-uusap kami tungkol sa posibilidad na maging manager siya ng Baviera. Kitang-kita ko naman na malapit kayo sa isa't isa. Puwede bang ipaliwanag mo sa kaniya ang gusto kong iparating?"

Cal's expression contorted into a mixture of horror and disbelief. "Manager? Anong ibig sabihin no'n?"

"Ibig sabihin, maging parte na siya ng Baviera—"

"Huwag!" Cal's sudden exclamation made us both flinch. His eyes widened as though he had just glimpsed a monstrous entity. He shot me a glance before pleading, "Magulo siya, Coach. Atsaka, maingay, nakakainis, madaming alam—"

I shot him a withering glare. I read those insulting words from the dictionary before! "I understood that!"

Coach let out a resigned sigh. "Cal, para sa inyo ito. Magiging mas malakas kayo kapag may dagdag na kamay na tutulong. Mukha namang responsableng bata si Eli," he explained. "Kung hindi mo siya kayang harapin, paano pa ang mga kalaban mo sa court?"

"Hindi ako takot sa kanya," Cal denied, his tone slightly offended. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed and reluctantly nodded. "Sasabihin ko."

As Cal walked away, he grabbed my bag, clearly intent on dragging me away before I could stir up any more trouble. I waved enthusiastically to Coach, calling out my farewells. "Thanks, Coach! See you tomorrow! God bless you—"

Cal let out an exasperated sigh, interrupting my farewell by covering my mouth with his hand. "Gabing-gabi na, ang daldal mo pa rin," he mumbled.

"Eww!" I recoiled, brushing his hand away and wiping my mouth. "You didn't even wash your hands!"

With an irritated twitch of his face, Cal grabbed his water bottle and hastily rinsed his hands. "Ano? Okay na ba para sa'yo, kamahalan?" he quipped sarcastically.

"You're so dramatic!" I laughed at his over-the-top response. He stopped in his tracks, and I turned to face him, only to let out a surprised scream as he suddenly grabbed my face with his damp hands. "Hey, cut it out!"

"Sinong dramatic ngayon?" he asked, a light chuckle escaping him as he spread his wet hands over my cheeks.

"You're such... an annoying... monster!" I playfully shouted. He retreated when I retaliated by tousling his hair. I removed the clips from my hair, which had become sticky from his wet hands. "Great! Now I'm all wet!"

"Magpunas ka ng mukha mo." He laughed, tossing his spare towel in my direction. "Ang stinky-stinky mo na kasi, e," he added mockingly.

I clutched his towel tightly in my hands, a soft gasp escaping me as I looked up at him with eyes widened in sheer disbelief. The courtyard's ambient sounds faded into the background, and all that remained was the enchanting sight of Cal's face, adorned with an ear-to-ear grin that revealed a dimple on each cheek—a vision so rare that it momentarily stole my words.