Game Plan (COMPLETE)

07

We had a few days of rest from training. First reason was to let our body relax after the tournament, and second was because it was their finals.

And that meant a few days without seeing him and hearing from him.

I focused on my academic aka graduating tasks. We just finished practicing for a dance to be performed during our graduation ball. Our grades will be released tomorrow, next week will be our grad ball, then the following week will be our retreat. I sent out an announcement to our class group chat about the respective dates.

Arrie Yleina Viste:Good day! Please keep the following dates in mind.April 20 - Graduation Ball
April 26 - Retreat (w/ STEM B)
April 29 - Distribution of toga and cap at the covered court
May 3 - Graduation
May 6 to May 12 - Clearance Week

Acelyn Cerise Gallardo
Thanks, Pres. Labyu 😘

Most of my classmates reacted a heart to my message, and some bumped Ace's message.

"Magkakatabi lang talaga tayo," I said. Some of my classmates giggled, lalo na si Ace kasi literal na katabi ko lang siya. "Sino na nga pala partner mo?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Ace. "I don't know..." She looked around. "Nasa lower batch kasi 'yung gusto ko eh."

I raised a brow and smirked at her. Tumatapang siya ha.

"Uy, sino? Baka tropa ng kapatid ko, ipalakad na kita." Biglang sumingit si Aden sa usapan namin. Ace and him are kinda close, pero kami ay hindi talaga. Sakto lang.

I still had my grin on my face though as Ace was stammering on what to say to Aden. "Ah, eh, hahaha! Secret muna! Oo nga pala, may partner ka na ba sa grad ball? Tayo na lang kaya mag partner? Sasayaw lang naman eh."

Okay, now ako na lang yata ang wala pang partner because Aden agreed to be paired with Ace. Bumuntong hininga ako and roamed my eyes around.

Nakabukas ang pintuan ng classroom namin. I saw a guy standing outside, in the corridor, and leaning against the ledge. He was holding a book and was too engrossed in whatever he was reading.

He's from STEM B, as far as I know. I think I saw him once there.

"Hey," I greeted once I walked up to his direction. He lifted his gaze and there was evident surprise in his eyes. "Do you have a partner for the grad ball?"

I waited for a response. When three seconds had passed and there was still nothing, I furrowed my brows. What's taking him so long to say yes or no?

"Uh..." Umiwas siya ng tingin sa akin. "No, I don't have a partner yet."

"Do you want to be partners?" I straightforwardly asked. His eyes slightly widened at my sudden question. I get it. Imagine, we don't know each other or we've barely talked, then suddenly I am asking him to be my partner to one of the most awaited events of every senior?

Kung puwede lang talaga, si Ace na lang ang papartner-an ko.

"Are you... sure?" He asked, as if he's the one hesitating for me.

"Yeah, why not? We're just going to dance anyway." I shrugged. There were at least five seconds of silence before I sighed. "If you would like to be my partner, approach me later at the covered court during our practice." Then I left him there.

I was dancing on my own, just following the steps for girls dahil wala pa rin akong partner. I didn't have guy friends here, si Ace lang talaga. Hindi rin naman ito nag-aaral ang ilang teammates ko sa Agila.

I sighed as I stopped because I looked dumb dancing by myself. Hindi lang naman ako ang nag-iisa na gumagawa nito–ang dami pa sa aming mga babae ang wala pang partner.

Upo na lang siguro muna ako sa bleachers. Just as I was about to step aside, a hand held mine and spun me once. The person then held my waist and looked at my eye.

His hold on my waist was light–could be compared to a feather. I could feel that his palms were smooth or, at least, it was smoother than mine.

He started to follow the steps, and I did too. He has dark brown eyes–I was able to see because of the ray of sunlight peeping through the covered court. He was also probably five inches taller than me...

Tumikhim ako at iniwas ang tingin para mabawasan ang awkwardness na nararamdaman ko. Well, at least may partner na ako. Hindi ko lang maiwasan na mahiya dahil hindi nga kami close tapos inaya ko siya maging partner.

"Sorry, nagulat ba kita?" He asked.

I looked back at his eyes. "Hindi naman, sakto lang."

He gave me a small smile before diverting his eyes to the front in order to see the next steps that we need to follow.

"Aw." I grunted. Inikot niya kasi ako gamit ang kanan na braso ko.

"Hala," he reacted, inalis ang kamay niya sa akin. "Why?"

"My right arm's recovering from an injury..." I explained. Pagaling naman na ito, hindi ko na nga suot ang arm sling. I could see that he mentally took note of that and became more gentle with every touch and step.

After an hour, the practice was done and I was preparing to leave. I could see that he was beside me as I hung the strap of my bag on my left shoulder.

"Thanks for agreeing to be partners." I said as I turned to him.

"No worries. Your name's Arrie Viste, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, and you are?"

"Wow, you asked me to be your partner without knowing my name? Iba ka." He was chuckling–trying his best not to laugh at me.

I also let out a chuckle. "Sorry." I just know he's from STEM B.

"Ryan."

I nodded my head once. "Arrie."

He pursed his lips for a second before responding. "Trust me, everyone knows."

I didn't have a reply to that. He asked for my Facebook for easier communication regarding what we will wear–sabi niya ay i-send ko na lang daw kung ano ang itsura ng akin at siya na ang bahala gumaya.

Since we still didn't have football practice, I went straight home. This has been my routine for days now. I always had my phone in my hands, contemplating whether I should send him a message. Wala lang, mangangamusta lang tungkol sa finals nila.

But if I'll ask Ven about his finals, then maybe I should also ask everyone else... right? Para fair?

But kay Ven lang naman talaga ako interested.

Bahala na nga.

arviste
Hey
How's finals going?

I waited for his response.

And waited.

I looked at the clock. Maybe he's reviewing.

I opened another app to distract myself, but my mind seems to have a clock embedded in it because I knew that it had been two hours and 20 minutes and there was still no reply from him.

Until a notification popped up.

ferrera08
Sorry for the late replyy
Very hectic :c
How are you?

Dalawang oras mahigit niya ako pinaghintay, pero hindi ko man lang siya pinaghintay ng dalawang segundo. I even found the emoticon to be cute. I typed out a response.

arviste
I'm doing good

ferrera08
Hmm?
Tell me more

arviste
Just busy w graduating stuff and practice
Hey, tell me if I'm interrupting you from studying 

ferrera08
No, I'm on a quick study break

arvisteOh, okay
Use it well and go rest

ferrera08
I am using it well
I am resting