PIECE #3 (ELEVATOR)
I was waiting outside of the elevator on my way to class. Wierdly, konti lang ang taong nakapila and I was even first in line. Huh. Maaga lang siguro talaga ako.
After about five minutes, dumating na din 'yong elevator and I waited for the passengers to alight before I went in. Three to four people crowded into the elevator with me bago siya sumakay.
Siya.
She's still her usual shy self whenever mag-isa siya. Nakayuko siya and kinakalikot niya 'yong phone niya. Pumwesto siya at the back malapit sa akin. Magkatabi na sana kami but there was this one guy who squeezed himself between the two of us. I hope he didn't catch the brief glare I gave him. Wala naman siyang kasalanan. Hindi naman siguro niya sinasadya na sumingit between me and Ara. But still...nakakapikon. I took in a deep breath to calm myself down.
I waited for her to look up. Minsan lang kami magkita nang ganito. Usually by chance lang. Kaya naman I try to catch as much glimpse of her as I can whenever may chance. I am such a fan of hers. And hindi lang ako ha. My siblings, especially Ate Almira, is also a huge fan.
Matagal nang hindi sinusuot ni Ara 'yong immobilizer niya and hindi na rin halata sa lakad at tayo niya na galing siya ng sobrang lalang injury. I saw how much she worked hard to be able to play again. I saw the slow but sure improvement in the way she moved. And all those hard work definitely paid off. Kakatapos lang ng second game nila this season and she's still trying to gain back her old form. Maybe it will not be so easy pero I'm sure kaya niya. Si Ms. MVP pa. I'm just so proud of her for overcoming the odds. Even though she probably doesn't have any idea na gano'n ang nararamdaman ko.
When, finally, she looks up, I felt my heartbeat stutter a little... Every. Single. Time. Starstruck, yet again.
I stared at her. For the nth time, I wonder if she knows me... Yeah, I know she knows me, my name, me as a basketball player, a fellow student-athlete here sa La Salle. She might even consider me as an acquaintance, someone she occasionally sees walking along the corridors of the campus, greeting me whenever our eyes meet. I cannot be completely sure pero sa tingin ko hanggang gano'n lang ang pagkakakilala niya sa'kin. Just another LaSallian. Just another athlete.
But what I am sure of though: she does not know me like I know her and she has not been watching me the way I've always been watching her.
I have been seeing her ever since her rookie day pa lang niya. Yes, wala pa ako sa La Salle, kilala ko na siya. Noon pa nga lang I already told myself I wanted to get to know her. There's just something about her... Maybe its the downplayed greatness, the humility or the natural talent. But probably all three made her stand out. And ngayon nga may chance na na makilala ko siya since we're both student-athletes kaya nagkikita minsan sa training, sa games, and minsan pati sa therapy. Unfortunately though, hindi pa dumadating 'yong opportunity, that chance, na makapag-usap talaga kami nang maayos. 'Yong hindi lang basta greeting or basta maikling kwentuhan. I want that kind of talk na makikilala ko siya personally. Pero the time for that...still zero... Yes, wala pa rin after 4 years.
I felt so much like a stalker now as I tried stealing glances at her. And as I looked at her for another stolen moment, I noticed na may kakaiba sa pananamit niya ngayon. She's wearing slippers, gray jogging pants, and a pink blouse. It's an unusual outfit for someone who's going to class... May report siguro siya... I just hope I get to see her every time she has a formal report. Bagay sa kanya mag-blouse...
After a moment, nakaramdam na siguro siya na may nakatingin sa kanya kaya she turned my way. Medyo nagulat siya based on the expression on her face. I just greeted her with a smile and she did the same naman, like we always do.
"Uy, Ara. Congrats on your first two wins ah! Parang hindi ka naman galing sa injury e," natatawang sabi ko sa kanya, as I completely ignored thr guy standing between us. "Ang galing mo pa rin. Muntik ko nang isipin na imagination ko lang 'yong immobilizer and crutches mo before."
Salamat lang talaga sa mga TV guestings na 'yan at medyo nasanay na akong magsalita nang maayos kahit na kinakabahan.
Natawa naman siya and she smiled a very genuine smile that I just had to stare. If I could capture that smile, I will bring it anywhere with me.
"Yeah. Well... Hindi pa rin tulad ng dati e. More practice pa. Pero thank you, Jeron."
.
.
.
Man... Man... So many people can say my name in so many different ways and it doesn't matter. Pero bakit kapag si Ara...? My palms started to sweat pa nga yata as she continued to stare at me but I just ignored it.
"Tss. Wala 'yon, idol. Ikaw pa. Alam mo namang fan mo ako e."
She rolled her eyes. Akala niya yata binobola ko lang siya.
Ako? Binobola siya? Naman, ako pa ba? I won't and I don't need to. I meant and I will mean every compliment I ever gave and will give her.
Then, as if fate heard a prayer that I was unconsciously uttering in the back of my mind, bumaba lahat ng nakasakay sa elevator sa sumunod na dalawang floors. Oo, kasama na 'yong lalaking nasa pagitan namin ni Ara. What a weird, weird day for this to happen sa isang elevator dito sa campus. Madalas punuan 'to e. Agawan at siksikan pa nga minsan.
So, ayun, kaming dalawa na lang natira sa elevator.
"Hmm. Weird..." nagtatakang sabi niya pagkasarado ng pinto ng elevator.
"Yeah, weird nga," I agreed.
We stared at the elevator a few moments more, and before the awkward silence sets in, nagsalita si Ara.
"Balita ko ininvite kayo ni Mika na manuod ah," she asked, changing the subject a little. She briefly tapped my arm just under the sleeve of my polo shirt when she asked me and I felt it all the way to the tips of my toes.
Okay, kalma lang Teng.
"Yeah... Yeah, she did when I tweeted you guys good luck for the season..."
Ipapaalala ko pa nga sana 'yong tweet ko about her comeback pero unfortunately, that's when the elevator reached her floor. I couldn't help but wish, at that moment, that we were in a taller building sana or sana we were riding a slower elevator... But I guess we can't have everything we want. Not at the same time, at least.
"Ah. Salamat pala dun ha?" she said sincerely. "Nakita ko 'yong tweet mo na 'yon pero hindi na'ko naka-reply. Sorry... Sige, Jeron, dito na class ko."
"You want me ba to assist you to class?" I asked as I extended my hand towards her. I will. I really will kung papayag ka.
Natawa siya ulit. "Hindi na kailangan, ano ka ba. Mukha bang kailangan ko? Kaya ko na 'to."
"Okay... Sure ha? Sige... Bye, Ara. Ingat lagi. See you around."
"Ikaw din. I'll see you sa games namin soon, okay?" she said with a smile as the elevator door closes between us.
And knowing I was all alone inside the elevator with no one watching, I dramatically replied with my right hand to my chest, feeling the strong, stuttering beat of my heart, "Of course, Ara. Basta ikaw."
Then, I pressed the '3' button on the elevator panel to go back to the 3rd floor kung saan talaga ang klase ko...
:::
Sooo short. Sana okay lang. :)
