Chasing The Sunset

03

The words he said made me feel better and they make sense. I am embarrassed because we barely know each other. Alam ko namang mahina ako pag-dating sa mga bagay tulad nito at ayaw kong nakikita ako ng tao na mahina kasi... I know they were expecting me to be brave.

"Thank you," I said when I calmed down. "I expected him to say that again in but it still hurts."

"I sacrificed almost everything," I said, nakatulala. "Dati lagi niya akong sinasabihan nang ganyan, walang araw na training na hindi niya nasasabihan."

Kairo was quiet. Mismong paghinga niya 'di ko maramdaman. "I was craving for his validation. Kahit words of encouragement wala, pero sa mga teammates ko halos purihin niya."

"You really can't blame yourself for doing that," he said. "You're young and new tapos pinaparamdam niya pa sa'yo na hindi ka nararapat sa lugar nila."

"Yeah. Honestly, I felt good when he announced that he was going to retire," I said. "Am I a bad person?"

He glanced at me before laughing, "Hindi naman. Kasalanan naman niya, kaya isisi natin sa kanya."

"Sorry for bothering you," I said. "You don't really need to do this, but... you, here right now, actually made me feel better."

I can feel his smile: "Pinapakilig mo ba ako? Kasi kung oo, mamatay na ako sa kilig dito."

"Whatever," I said, rolling my eyes.

We stopped by a fast food store then we ate inside his car. I was careful not to drop any fries because his car looked so neat. Nakakahiya kung madumihan. "How did you two meet, ni Drio?"

"Ah, maligalig 'yon. Nagkakilala kami sa club sa may poblacion, ayon medyo click naman personality namin," he said.

"Yeah, parehas kayong baliw," I said.

"Si sungit," he said before laughing. "Ikaw? Paano kayo nag-meet?"

"Childhood," I said. "Edi tagal niyo na pala mag-kaibigan?" He asked.

"Yes, we're actually six," I said. "Si Drio lang lagi ko nakakasama kasi busy yung apat. Si Drio kahit saang lugar makikita mo, eh. Magugulat ka na lang kasi nakakasalubong mo," I giggled.

"Alam mo bang nakakapasok 'yan sa UP Manila kahit sa Diliman siya nag-aaral? Magugulat ka na lang nakiki-sit in na siya sa mga klase," he said. "Halos lahat nang nakikilala niya naki-click ang personality.

"He's Mister Worldwide," I said.

Nang matapos kami kumain, hinatid niya ako. "Where are you going after?"

"Bakit? Gusto mo ba tabi pa tayo matulog?" He smirked.

I raised my middle finger at him, "Ulol!" He laughed at me. "Thank you for today," I said before smiling.

"Ingat ka," he said to me.

I waved my hands before entering the lobby. Umakyat agad ako sa condo at naligo para magpahinga. I can't stop thinking about it but it doesn't hurt me na because Kairo's right, I don't need his validation because I am trying my best to be a better player.

I just did my night skin care routine tsaka humiga sa kama. I opened my Twitter account and saw Kairo's message.

@kairojver: i'm already at gate 2.

@kairojver: i'll wait for you.

It was sent at 7p.m. Na-guilty tuloy ako, kaya nag-send agad ako ng apology.

@ameliaycornelle: i'm sorry, i didn't know you texted.

@kairojver: oks lang, my idol.

I just left him on read and decided to follow him on Twitter.

@kairojver: feel ko talaga interesado ka sa akin.

@ameliaycornelle: edi wag

Tinanggal ko agad 'yung pagka-follow ko sa kanya sa Twitter. Minutes later he followed me. I confirmed, then followed him back. Natawa ako sa bio niya, ngayon ko lang napansin.

KJ @kairojver

Doctor na handa maging pasyente mo

18 Following 100 Followers

Pinatay ko ang phone ko at natulog na rin. Kinabukasan, nag-handa na uli ako para mag-training. My teammates probably don't know what happened. Mag-hapon kami nag-training, inaasar na nga ako ng teammates ko na ipanalo ko raw ang season na 'to kasi hindi ako tumitigil kahit break time.

"Corazon," tawag ni coach.

Lumapit naman agad ako sa kanya, "I trust you." I feel like crying because of what he said. "May tiwala ako sa'yo at alam kong kaya mo. Ipapasok kita this season at hindi ka maiiwan."

Tears running down my cheeks. "Pero coach, 'di ba po-"

"Sino ba ang in-charge? Ako naman," he laughed. "Wala na siyang pakialam doon. 'Wag mo nang isipin 'yon, ha? Kaya niyo 'yan at naniniwala akong mapapanalo niyo 'to."

"Thank you po," I said. He patted my back before calling my teammates. May sinabi lang siya before kami i-dismissed. Naligo na rin at nag-ayos ng gamit, pagod ang katawan ko at kailangan na kailangan ko na matulog.

I walked into my condo like a zombie. Natulog agad ako pagka-rating na pagka-rating ko. I woke up around eleven p.m. I decided to cook a home-made dinner because I've been eating fast food for the past fewt few weeks. Nanood lang akong drama shows para hindi ako ma-bored. I washed the dishes after para wala nang gagawin bukas.

Nag-open muna akong Twitter bago ulit matulog. Sakop na sakop na naman ni Drio ang feed ko pero wala naman akong magagawa. Minsan naiisip ko na lang na i-unfollow ang isang 'to.

pasado na!1!!! @driotheegreat
KINIKILIG AKO SA GINAWA NI CRUSH wait pahangin muna ako sa labas

pasado na!1!!! @driotheegreat
pinasa na ako ni prof heheheh sana pasado rin sa panlasa mo

pasado na!1!!! @driotheegreat
asan na kaya 'to?! @ameliaycornelle training araw araw hanggang mamatay

Napasapo na lang ako ng ulo, parang tanga 'to. Nag-comment naman ako ng 'anong paki mo' before scrolling again on my feed.

KJ @kairojver
amp hahahaha sungit

Pinindot ko ang PFP niya para sana i-stalk kaso 'yung isa lang ang tweet niya. The rest ay puro retweet na jokes tungkol sa mga orthopedic surgeons. Hindi ko maintindihan kasi 'di naman ako med student. Pinatay ko na lang ang phone tsaka nag-pasyang matulog na ulit.

Buong week ay puro training at paga-aral ang ginawa ko. Minsan pag-hindi masiyado busy ang schedule ko, naga-advance classes ako. Free day ngayon kaya niyaya ko ang mga kaibigan ko na mag-inom sa condo, wala naman akong gagawin na tsaka ngayon lang ulit magkikita-kita.

"What's up? What's up!" Bungad ni Drio na may dalang karton ng beer.

Sunod naman na dumating si Yuna, "Kumusta?" May dala siyang bucket of Korean chicken.

"I'm good," I said. "Ikaw ba?" I asked her back.

"Ayos lang din," she answered. "Grabeng workload pero surviving."

"Mas ayos pa sa ayos!" Drio shouted from the kitchen. He's making steak and mash potato kasi para daw masarap ang dinner namin.

"Hi, mga nakshit ko," Callie greeted us. May dala rin siyang alak tsaka cake.

"Bakit may cake?" I asked.

"Magce-celebrate tayo," sabi niya. "Naka-move on na ak-Charot! Para kunwari may birthday! Umalis ako maaga sa meeting namin kasi sabi ko birthday ni Yuna."

Natawa na lang ako sa rason niya. Ginulo namin si Drio sa kitchen; katawagan din namin si Zandara sa iPad. [Are you guys okay?] She suddenly asked us. Natigilan naman kami kasi mukha siyang may problema.

"Yeah, we're good. How about you?" I asked.

Nagulat kami biglang umiyak, [I'm so stressed. I missed you guys!]

Nagtawanan kami, "We truly missed you, Zandara. Sana umuwi ka na ng Pilipinas." Nagsimula na siyang magkwento tungkol sa school niya, kung gaano siya ka-stress, at kung gaano niya na ka-miss ang may kasama. Zandara is so soft-hearted and very fragile. Minsan natatawa na lang ako kasi simple things make her cry.

Late na dumating si Aiden, "Hi, girls!" Tapos na rin namin kausapin si Zandara, pinagpahinga na namin.

"Hi, babe." Drio was about to hug him, but Aiden pushed him away. "Parang gago naman 'to," Aiden said.

Tawa kami nang tawa, para kasing tanga 'yung dalawa. We ate dinner muna kasi may dalang sushi si Aiden at natapos rin sa pagluluto si Drio, before we drink the beer. We also took some photos to post on Instagram.

"Are you guys going to UAAP cheerdance?" I asked.

"Nope/No/Hindi," the three said, maliban kay Drio. Malamang mang-clout chase 'yan doon kaya pupunta.

"Why naman?" I asked again before drinking my beer.

"Busy. Salungat ang schedule ko," Yuna said.

"Me too. May business presentation pa ako," Aiden reasoned out.

"May ganap ako... Uhm, baka pumunta sa sugar cakes ko, Charot! Family dinner ang atake ng pamilya ko," Callie said before laughing.

The night ended, and it was super fun. None of us are drunk because we're heavy drinkers; most of the time, pagnag-clubbing kami si Drio at Callie talaga ang unang nalalasing.

My routine will always be a hot shower, night time skin care, and then Twitter. Hindi na talaga siya nawawala sa aking night routine. As usual, si Drio na naman ang laman ng feed ko. Wala naman akong nakitang bago, kaya natulog na rin ako.

"May ticket na kayo sa UAAP cheerdance?" Ate Krish asked.

"There's ticket selling na ba?" I asked.

"Yup, noong nakaraang araw pa," Ate Rain said.

"Oh? Wala na siguro siya now," I said.

"Wala na. Hindi ka ba nakakuha?" Ate Krish asked me.

"Yeah, but it's okay," I said. I'll ask Drio na lang mukha naman maraming kakilala 'yon na nagbebenta nang ticket. I really want to watch the cheerdance because I have a feeling na kami ang mananalo. Just kidding, although I am hoping.

From: Drio (pinaka-pogi)
Wala na. Akala ko ayaw mo manood?

To: Drio (pinaka-pogi)
Akala ko rin.

From: Drio (pinaka-pogi)
Hanapan kita. Text agad kita pag-nahanapan.

I also posted sa Twitter about the ticket.

@ameliaycornelle
LF UAAP cheerdance ticket (LB area plus can double the price!)

Bumalik na uli ako sa training. Nang matapos ay binuksan ko uli ang phone ko para magtingin kung meron bang nag-message.

@kairojver: i have a ticket.

@ameliaycornelle: really? can i buy it?

@kairojver: yeah, ofc

@kairojver: you'll get it to me tho but i'm a little busy atm

@ameliaycornelle: can I come? where are you?

@kairojver: can I text you later?

@ameliaycornelle: yeah, sure. i'm sorry

He didn't reply, so he's probably busy. Umuwi na rin muna ako sa condo para magpahinga. Nagising ako around five p.m. I checked my Twitter to see if he had any messages but wala pa. Kumain na lang muna ako, then nanood uli ng shows. Maya-maya pa nag-message si Kairo.

@kairojver: I'm waiting outside your condo.

Bumaba naman agad para i-meet siya. "Hi," he said. He was leaning against his car with his usual poise.

"Hello, Mister," I said. "How much is it?" I asked.

"I actually don't have it," he said. Nalukot naman ang mukha ko, "It's a soft copy. Is it okay?" Natatawa niyang sabi dahil unti-unti lumiwanag ang mukha ko.

"Sure." He sent it via Twitter. "Why did you come all the way here when you can transfer for it? "

"Baka 'di ka magbayad, eh?" he smirked.

"Kapal mo," I said. I handed him a thousand-peso bill. "Ayan na, baka sabihin mo pa scammer. Keep the change."

He laughed, "Huwag mo na bayaran. Libre na, basta ikaw."

I rolled my eyes. I noticed how tired he is but still managed to go all the way here. "Are you okay? You seem tired, sleepy, and hungry."

"Ayos, ah. Hulang-hula mo kung anong nararamdaman ko ngayon," he said. "Kakagaling ko lang sa duty. Medyo okay pa naman ako."

"Then why did you come all the way here pa? You could've just message me an address," I said, a bit guilty.

Ngumiti lang siya sa akin, "Ayos lang. Hindj rin kita maasikaso kung ikaw pa pinapunta ko sa hospital."

"Oh okay. I'm sorry but you know, you didn't have to go here just to give me the ticket." I insisted.

I tilted my head. Mukha talaga siyang pagod at mukhang hindi pa rin nakain at natutulog. "Do you want to eat? I have a cooked meal sa taas."

He stopped for a second before smiling, "Baka lasunin mo pa ako. 'Wag na."

My brows rose up. "Edi 'wag. Ang arte nito."

He laughed at me before shaking his head and saying, "Uuwi na rin ako."

"Okay, if you say so," I said. "Maybe next time?"

"Yeah. Maybe next time," he said.

"Thanks for the free ticket," I smiled. "But you really don't need to come all the way here just to give the ticket, and you can give it to me naman tomorrow or at the day of cheerdance."

He stared at me before smiling and saying, "I wanted to see you tonight, Amelia."