Cordovez Series #1: Break The Accord

Chapter 11

Ajax

Hindi na ako nagulat nang makita kong first 6 ulit si Yohan. Nasa harap siya ngayon at bahagyang nakatingin sa likod kung nasaan ang server. Nakapamewang siya at magkasalubong ang kilay. His usual expression.

Marami rin ang nanonood sa kanila pero nakahanap ng pwesto si Yonah sa mismong benches ng players. Kasalukuyan kaming nakaupo sa tabi ng mga drinks at bags ng volleyball team habang si Yonah ay nakikipag-usap sa kakilala niyang player din. Ngiting-ngiti ang lalaki at doon pa lang ay alam ko nang crush niya si Yonah kaya kami nandito.

"Ooh! Congrats then!" the guy said when Yonah said that we just won our game. Napatingin tuloy ako sa kanya pero hindi rin nagtagal dahil nahuli ako ng lalaki na tinitignan sila.

"You're Raija, right? Yonah's uhm... friend?" he said after our eye contact

Yonah chuckled playfully. "She is my best friend, Rich. She's in my team too!"

"Really? I haven't watched any of your games eh."

"You should! Raija is our best player! Her spike could kill someone," pagmamayabang pa ni Yonah para sa akin. Although she's exaggerating, I feel like the guy believes everything she says.

I was about to say something when the people around us shrieked. Turns out, a player is about to run us over just to save the ball. Pero wala na akong time para tumayo o lumayo. The guy landed on both me and Yonah and so is the ball.

I felt him remove his sweaty arms on our thighs. Ang likod niya ay nakaharap sa amin habang bahagya siyang nakaupo sa sahig. Ginawa kaming sandalan.

"Shit, I'm sorry! Sorry!" the guy who fell said when he stood up

"Okay lang kayo?" Rich asked worriedly. Pati ang mga teammates nila ay nagsilapitan sa amin. Even the opposing team's player went to us.

"Gago si Yonah 'yan! Bobo mo, Charles!"

"Sorry! I didn't mean to!"

"It's okay. We're okay, right Rai?"

Tumango na lang ako habang naghahanap ng pamunas sa bag ko. I only saw my used jersey and nothing else. I sighed. I was about to give up looking when a towel landed on my thighs. Pati kay Yonah ay meron din.

I looked up to see Yohan who's currently furrowing his brows. Hinarap niya ang teammates niya at ang lalaking bumagsak sa amin para kausapin bago nagsialis ang mga iyon.

When he faced us again, he looks annoyed.

"Why are you here?" he asked Yonah but he also glanced at me.

"Syempre panonoorin ka namin!"

"Xavier's game is just there. Dapat doon na lang kayo. It's too hot here."

"It's not like we're not used to the heat of the sun! Oh! They're calling you already! Doon ka na!"

He shook his head before glancing at me again and walking towards the court. The game then resumed as if nothing happened. Salamat naman at hindi ginawang big deal.

Even thought I'm watching a really good game because of the long rallies, my mind is still elsewhere. Alam kong sinabi ko na ayaw kong tumulong pero may parte pa rin sa akin na gustong tulungan sila na kahit ayaw kong tanggapin ay hindi ko naman mabalewala.

I'm just really disappointed. More disappointed than angry, actually. Siguro kasi sobra-sobra ang pagtatampo ko sa kanila lalo na sa tatay kong literal na walang paramdaman. I have so many questions for them, all of it consists of why's.

I sighed again. Hindi ko alam kung pang-ilan na 'yon ngayong araw. I lost count already.

"Rai, your phone is vibrating," Yonah woke me up from my deep thought with what she said. Nilabas ko ang phone ko mula sa bag and I saw my Mama calling. For some reason, I feel really nervous so I answered it immediately.