In Every Hues

Prologue

Difference

"Astrals University starting center, wearing jersey number 08, Trever Ledesma!"

Humalukipkip ako at seryosong pinagmasdan ang nakangising mukha ni Ledesma.

Nagmumukha siyang nakangiting orangutan. Pawi ang ngisi niyan kapag namataan na naman ako. Bantayero pa naman klaseng tao.

Malakas ang sigawan sa buong arena nang i-flash ang mukha niya sa large screen. It highlighted the dimples on his left cheek, and his close set of eyes.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at binaybay ng titig ang mga estudyanteng nandoon.

Their uniform was running in the color of black and gold. Ang mga supporters nila ay nakasuot ng university shirt na kulay itim din. Though, the balloons they were holding are gold.

Meanwhile, ours was silver gray and blue. That was why we're determined as wolves. Sa kabilang team naman ay cougar.

"This is gonna be hard," Cross sighed heavily, standing tall beside me.

"Nothing is easy," bored kong sagot at mas lalong inayos ang pagkakatayo nang sumulyap si Ledesma sa grupo namin.

I was right. His smile suddenly vanished. Ngumisi ako at agad na pinigilan iyon. Umiling siya at tumalikod, halatang naasar.

"Nothing is really easy if Trever is our opponent."

He was really making it a big deal. Halata sa mukha niya na kabado siya. Ilang beses pa siyang huminga ng malalim, samantalang ako ay dapat talagang chill lang.

Well, Ledesma's playing skills are quite hard to determine. He got this playing intelligence that can be used under pressure. Sa ilang taong paglalaro namin, wala pa ring nakakabasa sa galaw niya.

Kahit ako.

But that doesn't mean I'm not smart enough to adapt to his sudden changes of strategies. Mabilis kong nababawi kaya nga laki ng galit niyan sa 'kin.

Sabihin na nating maaari silang manalo ngayon, pero talo naman kasi pikon. Kulang na lang iumpog niya ako sa pader at batuhin ng bola. Tapos gawin niyang stress wall, ganoon kainit dugo niya sa 'kin.

"Good luck," ngisi ko nang tuluyan na siyang makaharap.

Sa gilid naming dalawa ay ang referee. Our height was almost close. But as I said, mas matangkad ako. Humabol siya kung kaya niya.

His soft arched brows furrowed as his eyes glanced at the top of my head. Halatang threatened sa height ko.

Our body's build was almost similar. Malalaki ang braso at kailangang tantyahin ang galawan para hindi masaktan ang isa't-isa kung ganito kalapit. The complexion of our skin is almost the same, too.

We stood tall as our eyes never left each other. Nakangisi ako habang seryoso siya.

"I don't believe in luck," malamig niyang sinabi.

"Let the game..." I prolonged it.

Ngumisi ako nang pumito ang referee. He tossed the ball into the air, while the both of us angled ourselves to jump to officially start the game.

I was stunned after my feet landed on the ground when he tapped it towards his team in an aggressive move. Malakas na nagkabanggaan ang dibdib namin dahil sa kaniyang galaw.

Akala ko mahinahon ang galawan niya dahil sa ekspresyon ng mukha niya! I should've been aware.

"Begin..." he whispered, enough for me to hear as he passed through me.

I was suddenly frustrated. Hindi ako makapaniwala pero mabilis ko iyong pinawi at sineryoso ang senaryong ginawa niya.

"Astrals!"