Out Of My League

Chapter Eleven: Penalty Kick

*Jeric's POV*

"Why wait tomorrow? Let's play today. :)"

"Naks naman, Ahia! Na-miss ka ata eh!" Jeron taps me on the shoulder. Hindi na sila umalis ni Almira sa tabi ko since Arya replied on my text. They've been coaching me on what to say. Feeling ko tuloy, sila pa yung mas matanda eh.

I wonder what happened to her. One moment, she's cold as ice and the next thing I knew, ang chummy niya na ulit. This made me believe na baka medyo nag overreact lang yung dalawa kong kapatid sa pag-analyze nila. Baka busy lang talaga si Arya today, I can't expect her to reply to me 24/7. Sino ba ako, diba?

"Ano pang hinihintay mo? Sabihin mo game ka tonight!" Almira pushed me enthusiastically. Mas excited pa to sakin eh.

"I gotta call her." I told them. "Naiinip ako maghintay ng reply niya." And besides, I really do wanna hear her voice.

"Better." Almira dropped her back to her seat while crossing her arms on her chest, waiting for my next move.

I looked for her name on my contacts and immediately press call. Three rings later, she answers.

"Yes?" She said with the sweetest tone of her voice.

"Seryoso ka?" I laughed, the clock reads 8:50.

"Yes, I am." She replied with a timid laugh. "Hindi ako pwede tomorrow, Sunday eh. I have this family thing... And I might not be available in the coming days...”

Oh, I wonder what that is. "Ah talaga?"

"Oo eh. Baka kasi maging busy na ako. So... Game ka ngayon na?" She asked.

"Oo sige, game!" I answered eagerly. "UST? Or maybe you know some place to play?"

"Hmmm. Ateneo football field lang alam ko eh... Pero wag na dun. Pwede ba tayo sa UST ng ganitong oras?"

"Oo, pwede dun. Ako na bahala." I assured her. Papakita lang ako sa guard, okay na yun.

"Good! So... See you in a few?"

"Yes, see you. I'll pick you up sa inyo?" I offered.

"Wag na." She immediately replied. "Mapapalayo ka pa eh. I can drive."

"You know your way?" I asked. She just came back to the country after five years, I'm pretty sure that she's not that familiar with the streets here.

"Oo! May GPS yung kotse ko-"

I cut her immediately. Hindi ko iaasa sa GPS yung safety niya. "Wag ka na mag-drive. Susunduin nalang kita. Wala na naman traffic ng ganitong oras."

"Wag na, Jeric. Sayang yung oras at yung gas mo. Malapit ka na sa UST diba?"

Ang kulit talaga nitong si Arya. "Sanay ka bang mag drive dito?"

"Hindi-"

"I wouldn't allow you to drive, hindi ka familiar dito at isa pa, gabi na. Baka maligaw ka pa. Susunduin kita." I decided firmly.

"Ang kulit mo naman." I can hear her laughing silently. "Papahatid nalang ako sa driver kung ayaw mo ko mag-drive."

"Akala ko ba wala kang driver?"

"Papahatid lang ako sa UST. Tapos uuwi na siya. Hindi ko naman siya pag-hihintayin."

"Eh pano ka uuwi?"

"Ihatid mo nalang ako pauwi. Okay na?"

"Sige na nga. Kulit mo kasi eh." I laughed.

"Ako pa makulit? Mas makulit ka. Kaya ko naman mag-drive eh."