Game Plan (COMPLETE)

06

"I'll give the jersey back once nalabhan ko na." I told him in a low voice. There really is no need to use my normal voice because he's sitting right next to me. Again.

He nodded while his eyes were still closed. I prevented myself from smiling. Kita kong pagod na pagod siya. He seemed pretty comfortable, wearing the hood of his hoodie, and both hands in the front pocket.

Kita ko rin kung paanong mas mahaba pa ang pilik mata niya kaysa sa akin. How unfair.

At kita ko rin—

Wala na akong nakita. I had to put my eyes somewhere else when he opened one eye.

"I saw that," he whispered, his voice was low probably because he was on the verge of falling asleep. I felt chills.

I looked at his eyes. Matatag ako. "Saw what?"

He was smirking. "Nothing, 'wag na,"

The mini bus stopped, it caused me to look outside. We were at a lomi place. Sigurado ako na si dad ang nakaisip nito. I remember how one time he woke me up just to go to Batangas and eat lomi.

Sakto rin kasi gutom na kaming lahat. We all went out of the vehicle and went inside to sit down. Bahala na si dad na umorder para sa akin.

"Coach, ano ba 'to, libre mo ba?" Loko na tanong ni Marcus.

"Aba, ay ano pa ba? Panalo kayo, eh." Everyone was happy and some even cheered. Inasar pa nila si dad. "Manahimik na kayo at pumili ng gusto niyo."

I sat in front of dad and the driver of the mini bus. I pulled my phone out of the pocket of my jacket. I entertained myself with whatever games I have. Naalis lang ang tingin ko sa cellphone nang makita si Ven na umupo sa kabilang tabi ni dad.

Buti na lang ay sumunod kaagad si Yago and Marcus. Marcus randomly took out his phone with the camera app open. He held it up, kita kaming dalawa ni Yago. Yago just looked at it, while I gave a simple smile.

Video pala iyon, so I also waved a little. He turned it into his back camera. Ngayon ay nakatutok na ito kay dad and kay Ven.

"Coach, mag-hi ka!" Marcus said. Nang-aasar ba ito?

My dad gave him what he wanted. He smiled and waved at the camera, and Ven also. Vlogger ba ito si Marcus?

Dad, as if he read my mind, told Marcus. "Mag-vlogger ka na lang kaya? Huwag ka na mag-football."

Ginatungan pa ito ni Max. "Umalis ka na daw sa team, pre."

"Ano? Kayo lang may video? Kami din!" Reklamo ni Kathleen. When I looked at them, they were already posing. Pinicturan na rin ni Marcus 'yung iba pa naming teammates sa ibang table.

I ate in silence using the hand that isn't injured. Medyo napabagal nga lang because my dominant hand–my right one–cannot move freely to feed me. Karamihan sa kanila ay kung ano-ano ang naging usapan at sagutan, kadalasan ay kasama pa si dad sa bangayan nila. When I was done with my food, I stood up and went outside.

I always need time to walk after eating. It was the perfect timing because the sun had set, with leftover streaks of orange above before the night sky dominates it later.

Not long after, we were back at the mini bus. Ngayon na busog kami, lalo kaming inantok. I rested the back of my head on the window and looked straight. I saw that Ven, who was sitting across from me, already has his eyes closed.

Hindi ako tumabi sa kaniya kasi iniisip ko rin ang dating nito to both my teammates and dad. Baka makita o maramdaman nila kung ano ang iniisip ko tungkol kay Ven. I would like to keep this to myself for now.