Lipad-Alapaap (Girlhood Series #3)

8

"Napakaboring ng Palarong Pambansa! Nakakainis." inis na banggit ni Esteban pagkatawag niya sa akin.

For some reason, he was giving me a negative energy I think I could not stand. And so I distanced myself from him through making a gap between me and my phone.

"Saan ba gaganapin?" I asked as a form of response.

"Northwestern University raw. Teka, malapit 'yon sa'yo, ah?"

Or maybe, I was wrong. That piece of information immediately caught my attention, and so I tilted my head while looking at him. "Northwestern University? Like Northwestern University in Makati?"

"Mmhm..."

I giggled. "Are we gonna see each other?"

"Gagawan ko ng paraan para magkita tayo."

My body wanted to jump out of happiness but I had to stay and act composed, like those words did not give any excitement that made my cheeks look like a pair of cherry.

"Kailan ka pupunta rito? Saka anong araw tayo magkikita? Gusto mo ba manood ako ng game mo?" sunod-sunod kong tanong.

Unfortunately, my emotions manifested through my questions.

"Ang daming tanong. Excited kang makita ako, 'no?" nang-aasar na tanong niya.

"Baka ikaw ang excited na makita ako."

"Ang kapal naman pala ng mukha mo!" natawa na lang siya.

Later that night, Esteban sent me his schedule in Palarong Pambansa. According to him, it was made by Roshaun. It was so organized, since everything is in the schedule — their departure in Bulacan, their time of arrival in Makati, the schedule of their practices and games, and the day where they would go back to Bulacan. He also incorporated schedule of free time, when the players are free to do whatever they wish to.

"So pupuwede tayong magkita sa Saturday?" I asked, smiling.

"Oo naman! 'Di ba, sabi ko sa'yo, gagawan ko 'yan ng paraan?" he answered, reciprocating my smile.

However, I felt like it would only continue to be as a plan. I did not initiate on inviting him to go somewhere because I wanted him to take some initiative on planning about our date, so I would feel that he wanted to see me. And he did not. I was so disappointed that I decided to uninstall my messenger.

"Grabe, parang ako lang talaga 'yung excited na makita siya." reklamo ko kina Ethisse at Zianne nang makarating sila rito sa bahay.

"Pero, 'di ba sinabi niya naman na gagawan daw niya ng paraan para magkita kayo?" Zianne asked, confirming if she understood my narration right.

"Oo. Pero ano 'yon? Puro lang sabi? Walang gawa?" pairap kong reklamo na naman.

I grabbed a pack of Cheetos and munched it while sitting on the couch, with my eyebrows closed to one another because of how annoyed I was. I felt the urge of re-installing my messenger, but then my rationality dominated. It whispered to my senses that I would just get more disappointed if I wouldn't see what I am expecting.

Parehong nag-cecellphone 'yung dalawa kong kasama. Si Zianne, mukhang nag-iiscroll lang sa TikTok dahil kahit hindi ako gumagamit ng app na 'yon, alam ko 'yung mga sounds. Si Ethisse naman ay tumatawa habang may ka-chat.

"Gusto niyong mag-lunch bukas sa Makati?" tanong bigla ni Ethisse.

"Bakit bukas pa? Ngayon na! Tara na, papalit na ako damit." umamba si Zianne na uuwi na ngunit madiin siyang nahawakan ni Ethisse sa magkabilang braso kaya napatigil siya.