PLAIN OATMEAL
I stretched my hands up in the air. Mag aalas sais na ng gabi at katatapos ko lang na mag ayos ng mga libro sa library. Kinuha ko ang susi mula sa aking bulsa at pinatay na ang lahat ng ilaw at ang aircon. Lumabas ako ng library at ini-lock ito. Niccolo insisted that he'll wait for me to finish my shift in the library pero iginiit kong wag niya na akong hintayin. Lalo pa't alam kong pinapatawag siya ng coach ng Black Wolves. Sinabi kong mag tetext ako kapag nakauwi na ako.
Tumingin ako sa paligid at may nakakasabay pa akong mangilan ngilang estudyante na palabas ng building, may ilan ding nakatambay pa sa open field at nakaupo sa mga bench sa ilalim ng puno.
"Sabrina." Tawag sa akin ng isang matigas na boses ng lalaki. Lumingon ako at nakita si Edward. Halata mong nakapag shower na siya at nakasuot ng isang puting t-shirt at jersey short na itim. Compared to Wally, Edward has this dark aura around him. The sinister kind of aura. His silver earring glinting in one of the lamp posts in the school. I felt my heart slowly thumping. Nakapamulsa siyang naglakad palapit sa akin. He stopped a few inches away from me. His built and height intimidating me more now that he's standing just in front of me. Among all the wolves siya ang mas gigil maglaro, mas marumi at mas barumbado. Kadalasang na pa-foul out pa siya sa mga laban nila. At isa sa mga naunang rumesbak ng napaaway si Niccolo sa nakaraang laban.
Napalunok ako hindi ko alam kung anong dapat sabihin o dapat bang may sabihin ako. Napatingala ako at napatingin na lang sa kanya. Pilit akong ngumiti kahit nanginginig na ang mga kamay ko.
"I have always wanted to ask you about your relationship with Niccolo. But he's always around you. Guarding." His lips turned up in a crooked smile. "And now you're here all alone." There was something scary in how he said the word alone.
"A-Anong kailangan mo sakin?" Nauutal kong tanong.
He breathed out a low laugh. "I've known Niccolo since we were eight. He's particularly known to fool around with girls. And also the guy wants nothing else in life but to be the most valuable player in the nationals. He dreamed of winning the National Basketball League Championship. Of entering a prestigious basketball college. He had his life planned out for him. And was never ever distracted by anything else. Not even a girl. Then here comes the best part, you came into the picture." He gestured his hand and made a popping sound of a balloon. "Then poof. You ruined him. You became a distraction."
I can already feel the dry paper feeling at the back of my throat. "You must be mistaken. There is nothing going on between us." Paliwanag ko.
"You are so gullible and innocent as they say." Tumawa siya. "Open your eyes. Look around." Pinagdipa niya ang mga kamay.
"Magkaibigan lang kami." Muli kong ipinaintindi.
Umiling si Edward. "Hindi lang kaibigan ang turing niya sa'yo. Hindi namin inakalang aabot pala to sa ganito. Akala namin lilipas din." Makahulugan niyang sinabi. "If you like him then avoid him. You are doing more harm to him than good. Have you seen him play last time? He was never out of his head. He's always level headed. But just because some player made a comment on how fat you are turned Niccolo into a raging bull." Nagkibit balikat si Edward at yumuko para salubungin ang mata ko. I can already feel that my eyes are turning glassy. "Accept it Sabrina. Mataba ka naman talaga. At kung lahat ng makakalaban namin eh lalaitin kung gaano ka kataba sa harap ni Niccolo eh baka makapatay siya ng tao at tuluyan ng ma-ban sa paglalaro." Natigil saglit sa pagsasalita si Edward. Umayos siya ng tayo at ngumiti. "You my girl are becoming his downfall. You are his kryptonite." Tinapik niya ang balikat ko.
"Edward!" I saw Niccolo pulling Edward's collar with his hands curling into big fists. Nagulat akong yun sa ginawa ni Niccolo at sa naging marahas niyang reaksyon. "What the hell are you telling Saab?!" Malakas na sigaw ni Niccolo sa kaibigan. I can see how mad he is. Like how mad his expression was before he break into a foul and turned into the mad bull Edward was talking about.
