It Started With A Goal

Second Chapter

Chapter Two

Him

7 AM palang at nakatanggap na ako ng text.

I'll be waiting in the left bench near the entrance of locker room.

Yung locker na tinutukoy nito, yung sa may stadium. Hindi lang kasi field itong Quirino. As I've said, stadium ito.

Napaka-aga naman ng taong ito. Ganoon na ba kaimportante itong notebook? Haha. So gay for a man like him.

***

Dumating na ako. Wala namang ibang tao maliban sa isang babaeng nakayuko dito. Umupo nalang ako sa may left bench banda. 5 minutes lang ako maghihintay. Bahala siya. Naglaro nalang ako ng Mmm Fingers sa cellphone ko.

"Excuse me?" Rining kong sabi nung babaeng katabi ko. Mukhang kakagising lang.

"Yes?" Sagot ko with a smile. Wala e. Maganda. Pero walang epekto sa kanya ang appeal ko.

"I'm the owner of that book." Sabi nito sabay tingin sa gray na notebook sa tabi ko. Teka- siya si G.T.? Akala ko pa naman, lalaki! Super fan siguro ito.

Iniabot ko sa kanya yung kailangan niya. "Ingatan mo sa sunod 'yang gamit mo. Mukhang mahalaga pa naman."

"Sometimes, we forget even the most important thing in our life when we drown. Especially when we drown." Sagot nito. Ang aga-aga, tinatapunan ako ng words of wisdom. Paalis na siya nang magsalit ako ulit.

"You love football that much?" Na-curious lang ako kaya tinanong ko. Huminto siya pero hindi tumingin sa akin. "Yes." Sagot niya.

Her

I hugged my book as I walk towards English building where my next class is. I really call this book, not a notebook or anything else. Actually, this book has a name. But that's too private already and only I must know about it.

When I reached EN-203, I went inside the classroom and sat on the first row, right corner. Closest chair to the door. I just like it here. I'm almost unnoticed. Almost free from people's critiques. Almost free from the brain-cracking attention.