Break His Wall (Ramos Series #1)

V - Ramen

Mag-aalas dos na ng umaga nang makarating kami sa condo. It took them time to sort out the commotion but I can't thank god enough when it was over.

We needed to drop Chelsea to her condo whose also kind'a wasted. "Nakipag-sabunutan rin talaga siya do'n sa babae kanina. Unbelievable." Matawang giit ni Mari.

That night, no matter how I tried sleeping, I couldn't. The words that Arthemis broke unto me still echo on my mind. Kianna still loves Dwight.

Looking at my digital clock near my bed, it says 3:24. I took my hoodie and rush on the door as I grab my keys. Dahan-dahan akong tumungo palabas saka dumeretso sa mini-stop ilang minuto lang mula sa condo.

"Good morning, po." Bati ko pabalik sa lalakeng nasa cashier matapos niya akong batiin. I took an instant ramen and a can of soda.

As he was busy preparing my food, I heard the door chimes.

"Good morning sir." He greeted the guy who just entered.

Hindi na ako nag-atubiling lumingon pa rito. Hindi rin naman ito sumagot.

Tahimik ang lugar. Walang mga lasing na nagpapahupa ng kalasingan at walang mga galing burol na nagpapagpag.

As I was happily eating eating my ramen, a deep hoarse voice behind me spoke. "Can I sit here?"

Halos mabulunan ako nang makita ito. "Dwight?" Gulat kong tanong.

He, too, is having some ramen same as mine and some canned beers on a plastic bag. He's wearing a sweat pants paired with a while hoodie.

Hindi ito nag-salita at tila ba'y naghihintay lang ng sagot ko. "U-uhm. I mean, yeah. Have a sit."

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? I thought you guys are out for a drink? This late?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong.

He looked at me slightly annoyed. "Chill, woman." He smirked. "I'm here 'cuz it's the nearest convenience store from our training facility. Came to grab some of this but then I saw you, so." He pointed out on the bag.

"A-ah. Sorry. Nabigla lang."

He smiled a little. "How 'bout you?"

"Huh? Ako? A-ano kasi... Hindi ako makatulog. Kaya ayon." Utal-utal kong paliwanag.

"Did you drink? You smell like alcohol."

"Uh- oo. Kakagaling naming pub."

Nang tignan ko ito, naalala ko ang sinabi sakin ni Arthemis. I can't help but notice the details on his face. His perfect jawline, his high-bridged, pointed nose. Who wouldn't go crazy for this guy?

"You done staring?" He said coldly without looking at me. Nagising ang diwa ko rito saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Nakakahiya.

Naubos niya agad ang ramen niya nang hindi pa ako nangangalahati ng akin. Napa-nguso naman ako dahil rito. Aalis na kaya siya agad?

He took out his phone and type a message then put it back on his pocket. As he then just watched me eating. Nahirapan akong lumunok ng sabaw.

This is awkward.

"So, how's training?" I tried breaking the silence.

"Doing great." Tipid nitong sagot. I took it as a sign that he don't wanna engage to a conversation so I decided to just continue eating.

Bigla tuloy akong napaisip, gusto niya pa kaya si Kim? Sa tingin ko naman, sa tagal nila, hindi basta-bastang huhupa ang nararamdaman nila sa isa't isa. I think they still have a chance. Right?

Gustong-gusto kong magtanong. Pero sa huli, nanahimik ako.

Mag-aalas kwatro y medya na nang nakabalik ako sa condo at hindi mapawi ang ngiti saking mga labi.

Dwight insisted to walk me to back to my condo. Wala naman akong nagawa kahit paman alam ko na mas malayo ito sa facility nila.

"Mag-iinuman pa ba kayo? Late na. Matulog ka na lang." I jokingly suggested. Sa dami ba naman ng beer na dala niya.

"Alright." He answered as gave me a smug look.

"Sige, Dwight. Salamat sa paghatid. Text mo nalang ako kapag nakarating ka na." I smiled.

"Yes, ma'am."

Hindi agad ako natulog para hintayin  ang text nito. After almost twenty minutes, a message appeared on my phone.

'Just got back.'

'Good night, Dwight.'

Nakakalito ang umibig. Minsan tagilid, minsan patag. Marami akong katanungan na naglalaro sa utak. Sa ngayon, nalilito pa ako pero hindi ko maipag-kakaila na masaya ako.

I guess I could still tolerate this ignorance. For now, I don't mind being blind.

Sa nagdaan na araw, naging abala ako sa school projects. Plano kong tapusin lahat ng kailangan kong ipasa para naman wala na dapat akong alalahanin pagdating ng lunes.

A day before the game day, I was so busy revising all of my projects prior to submitting them.

'Estelle, this is Carlos. Sorry ngayon lang kita na-text. Bukas ng umaga, pwede ka bang pumunta ng university? May kailangan baguhin sa design template natin, e. Pasensya na, hindi agad na-review ni Bea. Nagkamali pala ng code.'

Isang nakakapanlumong mensahe ang tanggap ko mula sa groupmate ko sa website design. Maaabutan ko pa kaya ang laro ni Dwight bukas?

'Anong oras ba?' I replied.

'The tech-lab will open at 8. We should be done by lunch time since it's just a minor error.'

I don't think that's a good news to me.

Kinabukasan, dali-dali naming trinabaho ang code error ng prinograma namin na website. Mabuti naman at matapos ang isa't kalahating oras ay agad itong naresolba.

Hindi pa ako nag-aalmusal at sa tingin ko'y wala na akong panahon pa para rito. From Katipunan to PhilSports, it would take me more than an hour to commute not even considering the traffic.

I'm also an hour late by now since the game starts at nine. Fuck. Anong gagawin ko?

"Hey, Estelle?" Napalingon ako sa pamilyar na boses mula saking likod.

"Rion? Anong ginagawa mo rito? Aren't supposed to be in Bulacan?"

He chuckled and ignored my first question. "Sadly, I injured my ankle and couldn't make it. How 'bout you? I thought you'd watch the game."

He smirked at me as if he meant something I couldn't decipher.

"Well, yeah. I'm heading there now. Kakatapos ko lang mag-ayos ng codes." I explained.

"Sakto. Papunta na rin ako don. Sabay ka nalang sakin? Para naman hindi ka na mahirapan pang mag-commute."

"Huh? No, okay lang-"

"I insist. Besides, I'm not with anyone. I don't want to be alone on a long hour drive."

Afraid I might to make it to see Dwight's game, I was left with no choice but go there with Rion. Thankfully, the road was peaceful and we arrived in less than an hour.

When we got there, set 1 is already about to finish. The Blue Eagles are ahead of ten points against FEU Tamaraws. It's so loud that I can't even hear the words coming out of the commentator's mouth.

Punuan ang gymnasium at mabuti nalang nakahanap kami ng pwesto sa di kalayuan. 

I was too busy paying attention to the game... And of course, to Dwight when I heard Rion beside me. "Si Kim ba 'yon?"