Aaron
I see red.
"Gago ka talaga, Ron!" sigaw ni Kieran mula sa likod, patakbo papunta sa amin.
Kakashi was in front of that motherfucker, tinutulungan siyang tumayo matapos matumba sa pagkakasapak ko. Kulang pa nga yata 'yon - hindi pa kulay ube ang buong mukha, eh.
I was holding back. So much. My breathing was ragged, my fists clenched so tight na parang dudugo na ang palad ko. Pati panga ko, ramdam kong naninigas sa gigil.
"Naboang na nga!"
Nang tuluyang makatayo si Xavier, nagtagpo ang mga mata namin. I was glaring daggers at him, and the bastard had the audacity to meet my gaze.
He wiped the blood off his mouth, chuckling.
Putangina, gusto pa yata ng isa.
"Fuck you!" I spat, lunging forward to repeat what I just did - pero natigil ako nang biglang umalingawngaw ang matinis na tunog ng pito.
Napalingon kami sa gitna ng court. Coach stood there, his face flushed with anger.
"All of you! Out!" he barked, his voice echoing through the gym. Napatingin ako sa paligid - doon ko lang napansin ang mga camera na nakatutok sa amin, recording everything.
"Kayo! Maiwan dito!" sigaw niya, pointing straight at us.
My head snapped to Kakashi as he slung his bag over his shoulder, walking past me without even sparing us - me - a single glance. Ramdam na ramdam ko pa ang hangin na dala no'n.
Agad siyang sinundan ni Abby palabas pagkatapos ako nitong tapikin sa balikat.
Bumagsak ang balikat ko, and my nails dug deeper into my palms.
The weight of everything settled in my chest just as the other students silently shuffled out of the court, leaving only the tension hanging thick in the air.
"You are the Captain of this team, Aaron Maximus Escueta! You should serve as the role model for your members! Pero anong ginagawa mo?!"
Halos lumabas na ang ugat ni Coach sa leeg sa sobrang galit.
"Kabulastugan! Kailan ka nakakita ng Captain ng team na 'to na nananapak ng miyembro niya?! Wala! Out of my almost a decade managing the Thunderhawks, ikaw lang ang Kapitan na gumawa niyan! Bakit?!"
I clenched my fists, keeping my eyes down, fiddling with my hands - anything to avoid his gaze.
"Anong dahilan, Escueta?"
Hindi ako sumagot. Nakaupo kami sa bleachers - si Xavier, hawak ang ice pack sa pisngi niya, habang ang iba, tahimik lang, hinahayaan si Coach na maglabas ng galit.
"Answer!"
I shook my head. "Nothing po, Coach."
"Nothing?" He scoffed. "Then what was that? Trip mo lang? Sinapak mo siya dahil feel mo lang?"
No one spoke. The tension was suffocating.
"Pansin kong tumino ka ng halos isang buwan, Escueta," he said, voice laced with disappointment. "Napansin ko. Wala akong narinig na kahit anong gulo galing sa'yo. Pero ano 'tong ngayon? At teammate mo pa talaga ang natirada mo. Very good!"
I heard Coach let out a heavy sigh. Sobra na yata ang pagpigil sa sarili hindi lang ako masuntok.
"Ngayon pa talaga kayo gumawa ng kalokohan kung kailan may laro kayo bukas. A very elementary act from you, college students!"
He let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head.
"Thank you for risking your win tomorrow! Congratulations!" he spat before storming out of the court, leaving us in absolute silence.
