We Are Just EXtrangers

I

"Hello, Janna?" I answered my bestfriends call as I am walking through the corridors towards the gymnasium. "Hinahanap na ba ako ni Coach Seth?"

Tumili sa kabilang linya si Janna kaya napahinto ako at natakot na baka mapagalitan na talaga ako ni Coach dahil late na ako sa weekend practice namin.

"Of course! Late ka ba naman ng half day?" mataray na sagot ni Janna.

"Absent na lang kaya ako ano?"

"Hindi naman siya galit, hinanap ka lang," pagpakalma nito sa'kin. "Lunch break pa naman eh, asa'n ka na ba?"

Ilang minuto lang ay nakarating na ako sa gym at tumabi kay Janna na nagsimula ng mag-stretching. Pagkatapos ay nag-jog kami sa court at nag-warm up in preparation sa formal practice. In fairness, hindi nga ako napagalitan hanggang matapos ang ensayo.

"Bakit 'di man lang ako napagalitan ni Coach? May nangyari ba?" usisa ko kay Janna na nakangiting nakatutok sa phone niya. "I mean, gets kong in love ka ngay----"

Tinapat niya bigla sa mukha ko ang phone niya at napapikit ako sa silaw ng brightness nito. Inilayo ko ang phone niya gamit ang braso ko at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Gusto mo 'ata akong mabulag o magkasakit sa mata eh," pagsusungit ko sa kanya.

"Just look, will you?" sabi niya at sinunod ko kahit naiinis pa ako sa ginawa niya kani-kanina lang.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: PASCUAL OF ALVAREZ FIGHTING ARCHERS

Wait, why?

"Congratulations, beshy!!!!" tili ni Janna at niyakap ako nang mahigpit. "I know it's surreal but you deserve it!!!"

"Why me?" tanong ko na dahilan ng pagkawala ng ngiti ni Janna. "Like yeah, I had a good game but why me of all other athletes?"

"Just accept it," sabi nito after sighing. "I know you'll be like this, as usual. What did I expect?"

"Like this--- you mean, what?"

"Like you denying right now that you deserve it and all other good things coming for you," saad nito. "I'm your bestfriend anyways."

Janna Maria delos Reyes, a senior year student studying Nursing, and obviously, my bestfriend since high school. She quitted volleyball in high school but tried out for the varsity's women volleyball team to save up some of her tuition. Well, she's raised by a single mother of two so, even though she's a student herself, she had a part-time job in one of my Mom's restaurant as cashier. Her Mother is my Mom's secretary and her little brother is just in 4th grade.

"Do I somehow felt like so out of your reach?" I asked her out of nowhere at nakita kong nawala ang ngiti niya bago umiwas ng tingin. "Do I intimidate you somehow, Jans?"

"No," she answered but sighed. "I'm not intimidated by you but I am intimidated by your status and the people around you."

Waw. That---

"That's no lie," she assured me and smiled at me. "Let's go! May duty pa ako."

Tinulungan niya akong tumayo at nagsimula ng maglakad.

Most of the time, it's usually like this. Me being cautious and her being distant because as what she said to me 'she knows her place too well'. I hate societal norms like this!

Nang mahatid na namin ni Manong si Janna sa restaurant ay umuwi na ako. Pagdating sa bahay ay naligo, nagbihis at natulog. Nagising lang nang marinig ang katok sa pinto ng kwarto. Bumangon ako to open up someone who's been constantly knocking on my door. Pagbukas ay si Mom pala at mukhang may dala na namang news na hindi ko ikakatuwa.