The last time I remember, I was in the taekwondo hall watching the sparring of the players while waiting for Sheena. But suddenly a hand was grabbing my arms, it was giggling Nicole and Emily. They dragged me to the soccer field where the soccer players of our school and other teams from other university were playing.
"Ayoko nga, Nicole." Kalmado kung sinabi. Bumungad sa amin ang napaka daming students na nakaupo sa damuhan, pinapalibutan ang gilid ng field sa kalayuan. Katulad ng ibang estudyante, umupo kami sa damuhan at pumwesto sa isang lugar na kita ang laro.
Because there were so many people, it was an uncomfortable environment for me; it was hot and humid around me, and it was noisy and chaotic because of the fan chants and cheers. Kagabi ko pa iniisip kung manonood ako dahil... hindi naman ako interesado talaga. Kung hindi lang sinabi ni Jackson na hihintayin niya ako, hindi ako manunuod.
That asshole even dared to put pressure on me just to watch his game.
"Ayan na! Ayan na!" Emily and Nicole cheered.
Sabay na sumigaw sila Emily at Nicole at buong estudyante sa paligid ko ng lumabas ang team ng school, I immediately saw Carlo and Adrian who's waving their hands, while Jackson walked straight up and starting to warm up while his gaze moves through the crowd, like he is searching for someone. They all wearing a blue colour uniform jersey. Sumiksik si Sheena sa tabi ko.
"Saan ka ba galing?" iritang tanong ko. Hingal na hingal siya habang inaayos ang buhok.
"Inayos ko lang ang banner." Inangat niya ang naka rolyong puting tarpaulin.
"Para saan?" tinignan ako na parang may malaking invisible big question mark na naka plaster sa mukha niya.
"Para sa team ng school natin?" I can't help to roll my eyes. Sinubukan kung tumayo pero hinila niya lang ako pabalik.
"Aalis na ako."
"Ayaw mo ba makita si, Jackson? Para saan 'ang pag gawa mo ng sandwich—" mabilis kong tinakpan ang bibig niya, napalingon si Emily at Nicole sa amin, sabay nilang binati si Sheena, binaba ang kamay galing sa bibig.
"Banner ba 'yan, Sheena?"
"Omg! Para ba 'yan sa hot coach slash boyfriend mo?" nagtiliian silang tatlo.
"Para sa school team natin 'to!"
Honestly I am not planning to go to school today pero sinabi ng isa naming professor, magbibigay daw siya ng extra points kapag perfect ang attendance namin sa intramurals... and I am not planning to sit here and watch a soccer game. Gusto ko lang malaman kung natalo ba sila o nanalo, that's all.
Lumipat ako ng puwesto at gumilid kay Sheena, para magkatabi na silang tatlo. Nag pa plano kasi silang hawakan nila yung banner at ayokong maki hawak.
The ceremony started and I saw Jackson looking into the crowd again. After fifteen minutes of the game, halos mabingi na ako sa ingay at gulo ng mga nanunuod, mataas ang score ng school team namin kumpara sa kabilang team. It seems that Jackson is the star of the game—of course he is the captain ball. He is almost the one who can give the score to their team. Every kick, run, and when he was able to slide on the grass and score he did it with all his passion. He definitely enjoyed the game.
Ngayon nasa kaniya ang bola, tumatakbo papunta sa kanilang base, pinapalibutan ng tatlong kalaban na players na nasa likod kung saan naagaw sa kaniya ang bola pero mabilis itong nahabol at nabawi ng kaniyang team mate at binalik ang bola sa kaniya. Pinapalibutan ulit siya ng mga kalaban, he suddenly lost his balance but he pick up his pace, he kick the ball strongly and reach it through their base, the crowd went wild full of cheers including Sheena, Emily and Nicole who's raising the banner now.
BINABASA MO ANG
Thorns
RomanceThorns tells the story of a woman who had given up on the idea of love. She had seen too much heartache and disappointment in her life to believe that it was real. But one day, unexpectedly, she met someone who changes everything. He challenges her...
