decoding the boys ✔️

28 - finals || edited

Ngayon na ang much-awaited last game between Centrex U and Ignatio. Hoshet. Ang tindi! Even from the parking lot, kitang-kita ko na ang dami ng supporters ng bawat team.

I guess that was to be expected. After all, parehong matinding teams ang maglalaban ngayon.

"You go ahead," Ahron told me before killing the engine of her car. "I'll meet my friend muna."

I nodded and got off, an excited ear-to-ear grin appearing on my face.

I pushed past the crowd to enter the arena but before I could entirely get inside, my phone rang.

RCG calling . . .

My jaw instantly dropped. What the hell? Bakit siya tumatawag when it was just a couple of minutes before the game?

Bumalik ako sa parking lot, sa bandang dulo para lumayo sa ingay. Hoshet. Ayokong mahalata niya na nandito ako.

I answered it when he called again.

"Hello?"

"Last chance. You really can't go?" sinabi niya without beating around the bush.

I'm already here.

I suppressed my grin. "Sorry," sabi ko. "Bakit ka pa tumawag? Malapit na ang game."

Without a pause, he said, "Gusto lang kita marinig," then he chuckled. Yung malalim na chuckle na nakakamelt ng puso. "Pampaswerte sana."

Napapikit ako sa nararamdaman ko. I couldn't contain my excitement.

I laughed. "Good luck. Kaya n'yo 'yan. Bring home the bacon."

"I'll make sure to give you the championship."

Shucks. Goosebumps crawled all over my arms sa sinabi niya.

"I'm hanging up. Focus ka na sa game mo," I told him with a voice na kunwari hindi ako affected. "Seriously. Good luck!"

"I'll see you later."

We ended the call. By the time I saw Ahron in our seats, naka-settle na rin ang ibang mga manonood sa kani-kanilang upuan. Nasa bandang taas kami, not too near or too far sa court. Sakto lang. To be safe, nasa side kami ng Ignatio because Ahron was also supporting her friend na player sa team nila.

The players were already down in the court, warming up kanina pa. Ayoko sanang tumitig but I couldn't stop my eyes from going to the other side kung nasaan ang Centrex team. Una, ang napansin ko sina Justin at Marco. Nagkakatuwaan pa sila habang sumusubok mag-shoot. Then it was his turn.

When my eyes landed on Racel, my heart did an automatic somersault. Grabe. Iba ang hitsura niya ngayon; ang lakas ng dating. Bagay na bagay sa kanya ang red jersey nila, matikas tingnan. Parang labas na labas ang pagiging captain niya. Tapos, that aura and air of focus pa . . . hoshet.

After he shot, lumapit sa kanya si Justin and their other teammates. Tinawag na sila ng coach to give some instructions.

Ahron suddenly elbowed me. "Did you tell him you're here?"

"I didn't. Ayokong sabihin," sagot ko, my eyes still trained on the Centrex players. "Ikaw ba? Ignatio ba talaga pinunta mo dito o si Justin?" I said with a grin.

Her scoff was immediate. "Why would I watch that boy?"

Uy. Si Babe.

"Ows? Don't deny. Tayo-tayo lang naman, babe," sabi ko lang habang tumatawa.

She pointed me an incredulous stare. "There's nothing between us. We're not even friends."

Napatawa ako lalo sa expression niya. It was blank now pero I caught that tiny flicker of emotion sa face niya kanina kahit saglit lang. She wasn't admitting it but she was definitely affected by Justin kahit papano.