One week after our Papa threw me a Mayweather-like punch. I was slowly bringing back my old me. It has been a week since I get wasted. At hindi na din ako natutulog sa kulungan.
I also apologized to Von and the rest of the team because of what I did and I was thankful because they all are good-mannered gentlemen who know how to forgive and forget.
It's sunday and I wasnt doing nothing. I was the only one left in our house. Thirdy went on a date with his girlfriend Billy, who doesnt talk to me, Dani went out for a movie date with her friends and my parents needed to run some errands.
So I decided to go to our village's covered court to shoot some hoops. Mejo matagal na din akong di nakakapagpractice shooting, kailangan ko na ulit pulsuhan ang pagsushoot.
"Oh, Idol. Long time, no see ah!", aid Kuya Garry, one of the security guards on duty.
"Oo nga, Kuya eh. Busy kase.", and I smiled politely to him and gave him a hand salute. "Tara, Kuya. Shoot muna."
"Naku, Idol. Pass muna. Masakit na ang mga tuhod ko at pag nagbasketball ako baka lalong lumala tong ryuma ko. Dito na lang ako. Manunuod ako ng The bizz habang di pa nag-uumpisa ang Manila Classico."
"The buzz talaga kuya?!", I asked him playfully.
"Oo. Etong anak ko kase may pinapaabangan at iinterviewhin daw sa The Buzz yung idol niya. Hindi kase makakanuod, nagpapractice at may laro sa school bukas. Eto na, siya na ata."
"Oh siya, sige Kuya. Dito muna ako, shooting muna.", I walked to the court while dribbling the ball.
"Ahh. Siya pala si Mika Reyes. Eh kaya naman pala idol to ng anak ko, pagkagandang bata pala nito."
I froze at what kuya said. Siya? Siya abg iinterviewhin? I walked towards where Kuya Garry was seated.
"Magaling at maangas daw to maglaro pero mukha naman siya anghel. Napakaamo at bata ng mukha. Kaswerte naman ng boypren nito."
Swerte talaga ako, Kuya.
She was wearing a ping floral skirt and a simple white blouse and a bit of make up that highlighted her features. I could say that she has changed a lot. She was gorgeous.
"Good afternoon, Mika.", Tito Boy greeted her. How come he didnt inform me that he's interviewing Mika? "Deretsahang tanong,", I felt nervous all of a sudden. "kamusta ang lagay ng puso mo?"
She smiled sweetly, the same old smile she wears and the same exact smile I miss the most. "Okay na okay, Tito Boy."
"Medyo matagal kitang hindi na nakita.", and Mika smiled shyly."Lets talk about Kiefer.", and Kuya Garry looked at me looking so confused, "kamusta na kayo? Anong nangyari? Uhmm, nga kapamilya, we are talking about Kiefer Ravena here, Ateneo's star player." Kuya Garry looked at me again and I didnt react.
"We are not together anymore, almost three months now.", she said without any hesitation, "Things didnt work the way we wanted to, so its much better to give things up. Well, Tito Boy, we havent talked nor seen each other since the break up."
"Mika, I can still remember that Kiefer said, he was pre-occupied with basketball. What happened? Why all of a sudden wala na kayo?"
"He really was busy with basketball, Tito. I was busy with studies and volleyball saka I posed for several magazines that time pa po kaya parang nawalan kami ng time para sa isat isa. The break up, Tito Boy, it was unexpected.", and both of them laughed. She immitated how I answered Vice Ganda before on how did WE happen, "It was unexpected."
It just showed how great person Mika is. Kahit ganun ang nangyaring sinaktan ko siya, pinagtakpan pa din niya ako saying that we didnt have time for each other.
"Nakita ko nga yung mga magazine coover na andun ka, you're gorgeous.", and Mika said her thanks. "So, sinong nakipag break?", deretsahang tanong nga. Bigla akong nanlamig sa kaba.
"I envoke my right, Your honor.", Tito Boy laughed hard. Oh that witty Mika I missed so much.
"Maiba naman tayo, Mika. Rumors are spreading that Rodney Brondial of Barangay Ginebra is courting you and you were spotted going out for a movie, how true is this, Miks?", I silently prayed that the rumors werent true kasi nasasaktan ako. Parang tinusok ng maraming karayom, "Bagay kayo," pahabol ni Tito Boy, sino ba talagang alaga nito? Bakit parang di ko siya kakampi? Mas bagay kami.
"Uhmmm, opo, totoo po. Multo po ata yung si Rodney kasi kung makapagparamdam, grabe.", ahan-dahan naman Miks.Masakit eh.
"Idol, mukhang may bagong boypren na. Gwapo din yung si Brondial napapanuod ko. Yun nga yung papanuorin ko mamaya, kalaban ni Star Hotshots.", I almost forgot about Kuya Garry. "Pero sayo pa rin boto ko, Idol.", I smiled at him. At least kahit isa may kakampi ako. Pampadagdag lakas ng loob.
"Saka lumalabas din po kami pag may free time kaming pareho."
Tito Boy wrapped up the interview by asking Mika who she would like to thank and greet. She thanked her sponsors and greeted the people that matter. "Hi, Rod-rod.", and she immitated again the way I said hi to her on an interview with Mico Halili and Jason Webb for The Bro show over a year ago, "Goodluck sa game later. See you!"
Nawalan na akong ganang magbasketball. Sino bang hindi, di ba? "Pabalikin mo, Idol. Kahit gusti ko yung karibal mo, kaya pa naman yan eh. Pogi ka din saka magaling ka mag basketball.", Kuya Garry said.
I smiled to him bitterly and walked out the gym.
Tang-ina naman. Sakit!
She
"Ara, Tara na! Madami ng tao ngayon dun, mahihirapan na akong magpark!", I shouted. Antagal kase. Alam na maraming tao sa Moa Arena ngayon kase Ginebra at Star Hotshots ang maglalaro.
Ara and Kim came down the stairs running. Nasa dorm kami ngayon. I picked them up after my interview sa the buzz. Gusto kaseng manuod ng mga toh, idol daw nila si Justin Melton saka Mark Barocca. Ang kakapal talaga, Star Hotshots pa ang ichicheer eh si Rodney nagbigay ng mga tickets nila.
"Miks?", Kim. "Mukhang sobrang saya mo kanina sa interview, lalo sa part ni Brondial." she said while smiling at me.
"Ayyyyyiiiiieeeee.", both of them shouted inside the car. Kakarindi mga boses nga mga toh. "Pag-ibig na ito. Confirmed!" at tumili pa talaga si Ara kagaya nung tili niya sa video nila ni Ate Aby na conjoking. Kaloka. Hahaba.
"Wala namang masama kiligin, di ba?", I asked smiling.
"Wala naman. Single ka naman.", Ara replied.
"Kung ganun, pag-ibig na nga ata.", and they shouted like highschoolies again.
******************************************
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIKA! I LOVE YOU!
