My Genie's Wish

BELIEVE OR CROAK

XAVIER

"XAVIER! DITO!" mabilis ko namang ipinasa kay Ron ang bola.

"11 seconds left!"

tumakbo ako malapit sa ring at pinasang muli sakin ang bola
"3 seconds!!!"

shinoot ko naman and. "GOOOAAAAALLL!! 85-62!"as expected, we finished the match and won

"WOOOOOOO!" Sigawan ng mga nanonod sa bleachers

"brad! Galing natin ah!" tuwang-tuwang sabi sakin ni coach sabay akbay "dahil jan! kitakits mamaya, magcecelebrate tayo, my treat!"

"Ah, sorry coach, kailangan ko nang umuwi after nito." Sabi ko kay coach nang may bahagyang ngiti sa labi

"Hahaha, para ka namang babae na bawal umuuwi ng gabi. Ah sabagay, kasama mo nga pala sya" pagbibiro niya bago lumingon sa mga taong nanonood sa bleachers

"Oh sya! Bihis na! Wag mo na sya pag-antayin pa"

"Coach, wag kang issue" tinawanan lamang nya ko

"Galing talaga pre! Da best ka!"
"Good game!" masayang bati sa akin ng teammates ko nang matapos naming mag-usap ni coach

"Xavier!!" Isang malambing na boses mula sa malayo ang nadinig ko dahilan para mabilis ko syang lingunin.

I smiled knowing whose voice it was as I look at her smiling, cheerful face.

She waved her hand running to me as I gestured a victory sign.

"Ang galing mo! You did it! Your team won the game! Congrats!" She gave me a big hug as her way of congratulating me.

"Ugh, please let go, people are watching" despite what I said, I don't really mind it.

"I'm just soooo happy for you!"

"Have you forgotten that it's you who made this possible? That's why it's all happening?"

"But it's you who made it this far" We smiled at each other knowing a little secret between the two of us.

Without her, I wouldn't even be where I am.
She's the reason I'm having the best time of my life right now.

Curious about her?

Well she's my very own ....

...Genie.

You might not want to believe me but it's true. Even I, doubted her the first time we met.

It happened, 3 months ago,

***
I got home feeling drained from everything.

Ever since my mom died, I quit college and found a full-time job to provide for myself and to pay our debts. I don't have a dad or any other family to take me in so I really have no choice.

Pagod na ko. Gusto ko na lang sumuko.
Pero kapag pasuko na ko, naaalala ko na lang ang laging sinasabi ni mama

Keep moving forward

She died a year ago because of cancer. Nagkabaun-baon kami sa utang para lang mapagamot sya. So when she died, lahat ng responsibilidad na yon, naiwanan sakin. Kaya naman todo pursigi akong magtrabaho para mabayaran iyon. I don't blame her for that. I blame my dad for leaving us.

Nagshower ako at ibinagsak ang katawan kong pagod sa buong maghapon sa kama habang nararamdaman ang pagkahilo sa ininom kong alak. I don't always drink. I just do whenever I'm having an insomnia. I have to sleep to be able to work again the next day.