Wild Series #2: Cowgirl

03

"What you doing here?" he asked me when his team mates leave us to talk.

"Can you help with my schooolworks? I can pay naman, you know..."

"Do I look like I need money from you?" Ang sungit talaga!

"Magpapahelp lang, sinusungitan pa. Just tell me if you want to help or no," pagmamaldita ko at mayamaya ay narealize ang ugaling inasta. I tried to chuckle. "Joke lang pala. Ano... Pahelp sana sa schoolworks ko. I need to pass those tomorrow."

He look at me in insulting way. "Why don't you ask some help to your boys?"

"Kapikon naman 'to," bulong ko. "Just help me."

"Knight! Parating na si coach!" sigaw ng isang team mate niya.

"You can't help me."

"I'm sorry, Kiara. Mapapagalitan ako ni coach."

"Oh, yeah. Bye."

Naglakad na ako kaagad palabas ng court. Nakasalubong ko pa nga ang coach nila kaya nahiya ako bigla.

Bakit nga ba nagpunta pa ako rito? Nagsayang lang ako ng oras. Imbis na gumagawa na ako ngayon, inuna ko pang puntahan si Knight na hindi naman pala ako matutulungan. Though, I understand him. He wants to protect himself that's why he's avoiding me and their coach are coming already. He can't leave his training for me.

While I'm on my way to the parking, may mga napapatingin sa akin. Maybe those students are active in UAAP volleyball. Lumalabas na kasi ako sa mga game, hindi ako basta ang masasabi nilang bangko. Lumalaro na ako sa court. At alam kong bago makarating sa kung nasaan na ako ngayon, ang dami ring pinagdaanan. Bangko lang ako no'ng junior high school and now... Look at me.

"Hey, Kiara," someone called me kaya napalingon ako sa likuran ko. "How are you?"

"Omg, Rem! I miss you!"

He hugged me. "I miss you!" ani rin nito. He's Kuya Lei's friend since high school. "What you doing here? is there any problem?"

"Oh, I ask someone from here to help me with my schoolworks—"

"Dapat tinawagan mo ako. You know, I can help you anytime."

"Kaya favorite kitang tropapits ni Kuya e."

"D*mn your terms, Kiara. You learned a lot, huh, conyo girl."

"I'm no longer conyo, Kuya."

"But your accent?"

"Ayun lang." At iyon, tumawa na naman kami.

Kuya Rem is willing to help me that's why I went home with him. He's good at everything just like Kuya Leivi kaya kahit papaano ay gumaan ang nga iniisip ko. I can pass all my projects na tomorrow.

"Do you want to meryenda muna?" I asked Kuya who is busy reading the instruction sent by Majo. It's about the project.

"I'm fine, Kiara. Let's start your schoolworks so your projects won't be super late."

"Okay, Kuya. I'll just order some foods for dinner then let's start."

At iyon, um-order muna ako ng pagkain bago sumalampak din sa carpet floor ng living room ng aking condo. Nasa harapan ko si Kuya. He's already starting something kaya nagbasa na rin ako ng instruction ng iba ko pang gagawin. I have a lot thing to do, really.

"Your phone is ringing, Kiara." Ang lakas ng pandinig niya.

Tumayo ako para kuhanin ang cellphone ko sa room ko. Hindi gaanong rinig ang tunog no'n pero narinig ni Kuya. Siya kasi ang mas malapit sa pinto ng room ko.