Kinabukasan, sa gym pa rin ako nagising. Nakatulog ako sa sahig pero laking pagtataka ko nang magising ako sa bench at may unan at kumot pang kasama. I thought I won't be able to leave since every door and windows are locked but to my surprised, the back door remained open. Mas lalo pa akong nagulat nang makita ko ang sign na nakadisplay sa labas.
The door is broken. Do not use.
Pero ayos na ayos pa ang pinto!
"What the hell, sir Cad?" Singhal ko dahil siya lang naman ang pwedeng gumawa no'n. No one knows I'm at the gym except him and Mashi.
Nanatiling nakapatong ang kamay ko sa signage na tipong hindi ko napansin na sumadsad na pala si Cadikh.
"Good morning, Luch."
Bumusangot kaagad ang mukha ko, "Ang samang bungad naman ng umagang 'to."
"So harsh..." He chuckled then waved his phone at me. "I just talked to Attic and he said 'no problem'. Day off mo na lang ang hihintayin natin."
Kaagad akong napangiti, "Talaga?"
"Oo," Muli siyang tumawa. "Maganda na ba ulit ang umaga mo?"
"...medyo."
"Good to know. May pupuntahan ka ba ngayon?"
"'Bakit?"
"Tanong lang naman."
"Sa condo ako," sagot ko at nagsimulang maglakad. Sumunod din naman siya na para bang normal na naglalakad kaming magkasama at nag-uusap pa. "Wala naman akong gagawin dito, sir."
"Hindi ka manonood ng volleyball?"
"May play ba ngayon?"
"Road to finals, this 9:00 am."
I glance at my wrist watch and saw that it's already quarter to nine now so, I confusingly gave Cadikh a look, "Malapit nang mag-alas nueve. Bakit hindi pa binubuksan ang gym?"
"I don't know. "
"What? Usually players are called 30 minutes before the official start of the game. Pero naka-lock lahat ng pinto noong lalabas na ako."
Cadikh shrug his shoulders, "Maybe the sports' committee changed the schedule. Wala nga lang akong nababalitaan."
"Ang swerte ko naman kung gano'n..."
"Mm? Bakit?"
I snorted, "Imagine, the players and supporters saw me sleeping at the bench. They will really assume that I violated the university rule again. Baka ipinatawag ka na ulit para dalhin ako sa Disciplinary Office. Wala pa namang nakakaalam na nagcocommunity service ako dahil sa'yo."
"Alam ni Coach Mander at Ley, di'ba?"
"Yeah, and Mashi..."
"Why don't you watch the game to see if Ley is deserving of his title?"
Natigilan ako saglit pero kaagad ding naglakad, "You're kind'a right with that. But with the university's volleyball team, the whole gym will be full in no time. Mamaya pa ako makakapanood dahil kailangan ko pang maligo. I stink, sir."
"Not really. But, I reserved seats for two. You can sit beside me."
Blangko ko siyang tinapunan ng tingin, "At aagawan ko pa talaga ng upuan ang kasama mo?"
"Well, Sir Perez just texted me that he won't be able to watch the game with me. Nagka-issue daw sa ICT building na kailangan niyang ayusin so, I'm alone."
Hindi ko alam kung pabor ba ang universe sa akin o ano. But, from the moment I woke up until now, I seem to be so lucky, yet at the same time, no. Si Cadikh ba naman ang bumungad sa umaga ko, paano gaganda 'yon?
