Game Plan (COMPLETE)

27

Few days passed... everything has changed.

The car's engine was still running, but I hadn't moved for almost an hour. The streetlamps outside gave a faint light, and my phone sat in my hand with its screen dark.

Every few minutes, I'd wake it up just to stare at our old thread—the last conversation Arrie and I had.

I thought about messaging her.

I thought about calling.

But I knew better.

I locked the phone and tossed it into the passenger seat, forcing my hands back to the steering wheel.

I deserved this silence.

There were numerous times that I would drive aimlessly around the city, retracing steps I didn't even realize I remembered.

Sometimes, I'd park somewhere random, letting hours pass without even realizing it.

The nights felt longer... and heavier.

And when I did come home, it wasn't to sleep—just to lie in bed and listen to the quiet hum of a life I had no idea how to fix.

When second year started, I knew I had to get my shit together. I'm sure she wouldn't want me to fail in academics the same way I failed her.

Santi's messages would come every now and then.

santiszn
Brooo, guess what 😆
Your crush is officially part of the team!!!
She was just spending time near the field when a ball flew to her direction 🤣 she controlled it and kicked it back to us PERFECTLY

ferrera08
What the hell
Don't tell me she's also your crush now?
I can't afford a kaagaw.

santiszn
Nah, I'm loyal 👑
Anywayz, after that, one of our coaches got her name and contact info to try out. Ofc she got picked.
Ofc we asked her questions
Ofc she mentioned training w UPLB for a few months
Ofc I asked about you 😍
HAHAHA ikaw ha, she's the girl in the picture 'no?

I rolled my eyes. I didn't directly tell Santi about Arrie, but since he's so nosy, he still learned about it anyway.

Dad and Mom were slowly rebuilding Ferrera Transit Solutions, too. They started small—local delivery contracts, furniture moving gigs, basic trucking services across South Luzon.

Sometimes, I'd help out after class, even if it was just fixing paperwork with mom or listening to dad about operations.

"Ang layo niyan, anak." Mom said this morning, double-checking the address on the clipboard. "Make sure the barangay rep and school principal signs the acknowledgement receipt ha. Huwag mong kakalimutan 'yan."

"I got it, Ma." I said, pulling on a Ferrera Transit Solutions vest with a stitched patch of our company name. It was still a bit big on me but it didn't bother me.

We were delivering electric fans to a newly built public high school—thirty-five units, all sponsored by a local NGO. I can't believe that non-governmental organizations are the ones doing these instead of those who have the power and position to actually do so.

Anyway, FTS won the transport bid, thanks to Mom's smooth talking and Dad's history with one of the NGO officers.

"'Ya Ven!" One of the younger workers called out. "Oks na 'yung laman, secured pa sa secured. Check mo na lang din po para sure na sure."

"Okay, you can take a break and kain ka muna. Nagbili si mom sa bakery. Kuha ka lang." I pointed to the room in the warehouse where they usually stay during their break hours.