Strawberries and Cigarettes

Kabanata 7

Kabanata 7

My eyes are glued to the man running on the court. I couldn't even hear what Harper was saying because all my attention is on Alvarado's big form. Nasa gymnasium kami. Vacant namin ngayong hapon at hinila na ako agad ni Harper papunta dito. Aniya ay manood daw kami ng practice match ng basketball team laban sa F.E.U. Isa-sight niya daw ang mga players ng nasabing school.

Tatanggi nga sana ako dahil gusto ko ng umuwi, nitong nagdaang mga araw kasi ay medyo kakaiba ang takbo ng katawan ko. The stress within me is being intensified with the increase of sensitivity from estrogen. Tsaka may isang tao din akong gustong makita—Alvarado, number 7. Iba na, hindi na ang number 2 na naalala ko.

Halos walang laman ang gymnasium bukod sa iilang mga studyanteng naka-upo sa bleachers, mga lalaking professor at syempre mga staff at coaches ng dalawang team. Harper is pointing out some unfamiliar faces but I couldn't even bring myself to care. Nakatitig lamang ako sa likuran ni Alvarado... Posible naman hindi ba? Baka kamukhang apelyido lang. It's not rare for some people to have the same surname even if they're not related by blood.

"That man is rough. Literally. But then again he will not be an Alvarado if he's not." Biglang umalingawngaw sa isipin ko ang sinambit ni Harper noon. I gulped.

Tita Grace said we owe money to conceited and proud men, cruel greedy men. Alvarado might be proud but I do not think he's cruel. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa tote bag kong laman ang jacket ng lalaki. This is proof that he isn't cruel. Because if he is, I wouldn't have to return this jacket he lent me. Kaya baka nga... baka nga hindi sila magkaano-ano noong taong 'yon. I was pulled out from my thoughts when I heard a commotion. Lumingon ako kay Harper ngunit walang pakialam lamang itong nag-eeyeliner at nag papalobo ng bubblegum.

I narrowed my eyes on the court even if I'm having a hard time. Naka-contactless kasi ako. Nakita ko si Connor at Ray na hirap na hirap na pinipigilan si Alvarado habang galit na galit itong nakatingin sa isang player ng F.E.U may isang pumipigil din sa lalaki samantalang ang mga coaches at referee ay pilit na pumapagitna sa dalawa. From up here, I can see how tightly Alvarado's jaw is clenched even his moreno skin is starting to flush. Madiin na madiin din nakayukom ang kanyang kamao na nagpalabas ng ugat sa kanyang braso.

The men started to disperse after almost a minute, it seems like the little commotion was settled until the player from F.E.U decided to say something. And just like that, Alvarado escaped from the two men who were holding him. Maski ang mga pilit na pumapagitna sa kanila ay walang nagawa nang mabilis na tinawid ng lalaki ang pagitan nila at nagpakawala ng malakas na suntok sa lalaking kaaway. I gasped and stood up from my seat, gaining the attention of Harper.

Alvarado kept up his assault for almost a minute, he didn't even give the man an opportunity to strike back. No one dared to stop him. Even Ray, the most level-headed person inside the court didn't try to. Even the coaches and some of the professors watching didn't even try to stop him. Almost like they are afraid of him. The gears in my head started to turn as I watched Alvarado's form finally get dragged by a number of guards. My eyes found a man laying almost lifeless on the floor with blood pooling around him. Diyos ko po.

Isang palag lamang ay nakawala si Alvarado sa pagkakahawak sa kanya ng tatlong guard bago dumiretso sa exit ng gymnasium. Napapikit na lamang ako nang padabog na sumara ang pinto sa paglabas niya. Nadinig ko na lamang ang tarantang sigawan habang pinapalibutan nila ang kaawa-awang lalaki. Gulat akong napamulat ng hawakan ni Harper ang kamay ko at hinila ako pababa ng court. Nang makababa kami ay saktong lagpas sa amin ng duguang player na buhat-buhat ng ilang kalalakihan palabas ng gymnasium.

"Oh my god! What happened?" I looked at Harper who loudly spoke. Hila-hila pa din ako at naglalakad papalapit kina Connor at ibang mga natirang player. Napalunok ako ng madaanan ang dugo sa sahig. I raised my head and saw Ray, his looking at me, with a small smile on his face. I tried my best to reciprocate.