Game Plan

08

arviste 

Are you free, 14:00? 

ferrera08 

Yeah, why? 

arviste 

I'll return your jersey. 

ferrera08 

Why not just bring it mamaya sa training? 

arviste

My dad won't let me go to practice today. It's my graduation tomorrow, and he's scared that I might get injured. 

ferrera08 

Ah, yeah, the superstition that graduating students are prone to danger. 

Sure. Olivarez sounds good? 

arviste 

Yup. 

ferrera08 

See you there. 

I turned my phone off to sink it in. It has been like this for whenever we have a conversation. I have to turn my phone off to let it register. 

Ah, what the hell is happening to me? 

Binuksan ko ang phone ko nang may notification ulit na dumating. 

ferrera08 

And stay safe. 

"Dad," I called. We were eating lunch that he cooked. Today's a day off from teaching, but not a day off from coaching. "I'll go to Olivarez later." I left out the detail about who I'm going with. Baka mag-isip pa ito ng kung ano-ano. 

He thought about it. Tumango na lang siya bago ako paalalahanan. "Uwi ka agad, ha?" 

After showering and putting light makeup on, I commuted to get there. We agreed to meet at Teaza because I mentioned that I already ate lunch and I'm not hungry yet. Siya rin naman daw. 

He was standing in front of the stall, but he was on the phone with someone. I walked up to him. When he saw me, I heard him telling the person on the line, "Yes, uuwi na lang ulit ako... Bye." 

Then he turned his attention to me. "I'm sorry about that." 

"It's fine." I assured him. "Here's your jersey." I was handing him the paper bag. 

He got it. "What flavor do you want?" He asked, now walking towards the stall. 

"I'll have strawberry." 

"Okay." He ordered for the both of us. But when he was about to get his wallet from his pocket, I pulled out a 500 peso bill to pay for both our drinks. "Wait, no." He was too late to object because the cashier already accepted my money.