My Dearest Captain

Chapter 28

Replenished

"Babe"

Agad akong napamulat ng aking mga mata when I heard the crowd cheer loudly. Si Luca ang gumising sa akin, nilibot ko ang aking paningin and I saw that most of my teammates were not here.

I noticed something soft sa leeg ko kaya napalingon ako dun, it was Axel's neck pillow. Nakabalot din sa akin ang varsity jacket niya, kaya pala sobrang komportable ko kahit wala na si Axel dito.

"Axel's in Lane 4, kaya gumising ka na jan babe."

I blinked a few times while gently rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand. I raised my hand para tingnan ang wristwatch ko, 4PM na pala.

"Ang daming sumigaw nung lumabas ang Captain mo babe." Tuksong sabi sa akin Luca.

Napangisi naman si Nikolai at Ethan. "Sikat pala talaga yang si Axel noh." Sabi naman ni Nikolai.

Ethan nodded and smiled. "Sobra, whenever he's competing mas lalong dumadami ang mga tao sa bleachers para mapanood lang siya."

Kasalanan talaga 'to ng abs ni Axel.

Halos lahat ata ng tao kilala si Axel. His name alone ignited excitement across the Sports Center; his popularity is undeniable. 

I couldn't help but roll my eyes tsaka tumingin sa direksyon ni Axel. Nilagay niya ang varsity jacket ko sa sandalan ng upuan niya kaya basang-basa ang apelyido ko dun at kitang-kita ito sa lahat ng mga tao na nandito sa Sports Center ngayon. Naudlot tuloy ang selos ko.

Tanginang mga seahorse sa tiyan.

Huminga ako ng malalim para itago ang aking kilig. I maintained my resting bitch face, but when Axel met my gaze agad naman akong nanlambot. Sino ba namang hindi kung ngingitian ka niya ng matamis? 

Marupok ka lang bakla.

Mas lalong lumakas ang tili ng mga babae sa tabi naming bleachers when Axel smiled at me. But I ignored them, Axel ignored them too, nakatutok lang kami sa isa't-isa. It's like their cheers faded at parang kami lang talaga ang tao ngayon dito sa Sports Center.

For me, Axel was more than just the star swimmer that everyone adored. Siya ang lalaking palaging nandito sa tabi ko, relentlessly charming, showing up when I least expected it, and making me feel like I really deserved to be loved by someone like him.

Ethan told me earlier na itong 400m breaststroke lang daw ang lalanguyin ni Axel ngayon at nasa Heat 4 siya, ang panghuling heat.

Axel already mastered all the four strokes kaya nagtaka ako kung bakit di siya sumali sa Individual Medley kanina, di niya lang siguro talaga trip sumali. Di rin pala siya sumali sa backstroke, oh well, choice rin naman kasi talaga namin kung ano ang sasalihan namin.

The roar of the crowd was deafening as Axel took his place at the diving block. Nag-inat inat pa si Axel habang hinihintay ang signal ng announcer.

Damn, those biceps. Sarap kagatin at pisil-pisilin.

"Swimmers, on your marks..." I held my breath habang nakatingin kay Axel, naka diving position na siya ngayon.

Axel took a deep breath, poised and ready. The starter fired the gun, at nag dive na silang lahat.

I can never get tired of watching Axel swim. His strokes are powerful to the point na mamemesmerized ka talaga. Every pull of his arms through the water was deliberate, his body surging forward with precision. Nasa Lane 4 siya, and within the first lap, he had already started to pull ahead. Mas lalong umingay ang paligid, but to me, the sound faded. Na kay Axel lang talaga ang focus ko ngayon.