THAT GIRL | MIKHAIAH

CHAPTER 17

School Fest

Day 2

The girls are having their breakfast at the cafeteria while the men's basketball game are still on going. The women's team will follow in the afternoon and aim to get its second win.

"Panoorin niyo performance namin tonight ha. Literal na dugo't pawis inalay namin sa pag-eensayo." Wika ni Sheena.

Walang pagdadalawang isip na sumagot ang mga kaibigan niya.

"Syempre, present kaming lahat diyan!" Sabi ni Maloi.

Magkakasama ang walo ngayon, pansamantala munang isinantabi nina Stacey at Mikha ang ilangan sa isa't isa. They remain casual. Stacey congratulated Mikha and the latter smiled and thanked her. That's it.

"Gusto mo magdala pa kami ng led lights eh." Biro ni Jhoanna.

"Sure. Damihan mo ha." Sabi ni Sheena.

Stacey scoffs at Jhoanna. "May pera ka ba? Nagpalibre ka nga lang kay ate Aiah eh." Tinarayan niya rin ito.

Nagtaka si Jhoanna paano ito nalaman ni Stacey, kaya napatingin ito kay Aiah.

Aiah simply shrugged. "Yang pancakes na inorder niya was supposedly for you." She pointed at the half sliced pancake on Stacey's plate. "Pero umorder ka na ng sa'yo kaya..."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Stacey. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng hiya dahil binuking ni Aiah ang dapat sanang pagmamagandang loob niya lang kay Jhoanna. Kasi kahit madalas silang nag-aasaran, hindi maitatangging nakakatulong ang kulitan nilang dalawa para gumaan ang pakiramdam niya matapos ang pag-amin niya kay Mikha. Pero hindi niya gustong malaman pa 'yon ni Jho.

Jhoanna on the other end was silent after the small revelation. She couldn't even look at Stacey's eyes and maybe throw her some snarky comments or whatever. Just to say something - but she couldn't.

The others look at the two. Colet was smiling knowingly. Pakiramdam niya mukhang hindi magtatagal at magkakatotoo ang binitawan niyang salita kamakailan.

"Sweet mo naman pala, Staks." Sheena teased.

After their breakfast, bumalik na sila ng gym. Patapos na ang laro at lamang ang team nila.

Jhoanna looks at the stats from yesterday's overall tally up until this morning. So far, they're only two golds behind red team that has five. "Ayos 'to, gagaling ng team na'tin."

"Dalawang panalo pa para ma-secure ang silver. Kailangang manalo kami mamaya. Tapos, labanan sa gold." Sabi ni Colet habang pinapanood ang laro. She hissed when the opponent tied the game.

Tumahimik rin ang bench nila.

"Naku! Mukhang dehado pa yata tayo." Sabi ni Stacey nang makalamang ng limang puntos ang kalaban.

Dalawang minuto na lang ang natitira sa fourth quarter. They called a timeout. Still two and a half shots down. Their team captain is being guarded roughly and couldn't even touch the ball. So, they were forced to substitute him.

"Kinawawa ka boi." Colet mumbles.

"You know him?" Mikha — a seat apart from her, asked.

"Too well." She answered through gritted teeth.

Maloi who's in between her and Mikha raised an eyebrow hearing Colet's tone. Aiah could only tap her shoulder to calm her best friend, while Mikha squinted her eyes but didn't ask further.

In the end, the men's team got their first loss. 67-55. Colet shakes her head and had a smug smile over the captain who walks out of the court immediately.