PIECE #6 (CHAMPION)
(...continuation of Piece #5)
"Grabe, Cap. Bago na naman 'yan ah!"
Nagulat ako no'ng biglang sumigaw si Rivero sa harap ko. The dugout was so peacefully quiet kaya napalingon ako agad sa kanya dahil sa gulat. Kakalabas ko lang kasi no'ng regalo ni Ara para sa'kin. I was admiring it before ko isuot. I can't help but smile since alam kong kaya ito ang niregalo niya e dahil I've been talking about it non-stop ever since lumabas 'yong design na 'to. Nagandahan kasi talaga ako no'ng unang beses ko pa lang makita.
"Wow. Is that the new Kobe?" tanong ni Thomas.
I beamed at them. "It is. And it's the limited edition," proud na proud na sabi ko. Hindi ko napansin kanina when Ara gave it to me pero when we were on the car na and on our way to Razon, sinabi niyang ito daw 'yong edition na sinabi ko sa kanyang gusto kong bilhin if I ever had the chance. I checked and oo nga. It's the one na may autograph ni Kobe sa soles. And as far as I know, it's the one na sobrang iilan lang ang na-produce na pairs. Kaya nga for the awarding ko lang siya isusuot. And probably never again...
She said it like it's nothing pero I know hindi madaling makuha 'yong shoes. Even 'yong mga kilala kong collectors, hirap makakuha nito e. Such a humble girl. Kahit sa gift-giving hindi niya makayang magyabang.
"Regalo ni Ara sa'kin," sabi ko sa kanila.
"Walangya. Kinilig pa," natatawang sabi ni Kib when I couldn't help but smile when I thought just how much effort she put into this gift. And how much love.
"That's very sweet of her. Saan daw niya nabili?" tanong ni Andrei. "Kung saan-saan ko na hinanap 'yan e."
"I don't actually know. I didn't ask her na," sagot ko. I'm sure hindi rin naman niya sasabihin sa akin kahit tanungin ko siya. Connections, she'd probably say sabay kindat pa siguro.
Pagkasuot ko ng shoes ko, ILYSB (Stripped) suddenly played on my phone kaya nga I already know it's Ara who's calling.
Ain't never felt this way
Can't get enough so stay with me
It's not like we got big plans
Let's drive around town holding hands
And you need to know
That you're the only one, alright, alright...
"Hello, Ara?" I said as I answered the phone. I saw Kib and Thomas look at me with smirks on their faces. They find it amusing na may certain way daw ako ng pagkausap kay Ara. May ibang lambing daw. I actually find it disturbing na napansin nila 'yon.
"Je, walanghiya 'tong traffic. Ugh! Sobrang nakakapikon. Bakit ba napakaraming sasakyan sa Pilipinas?!" asar na asar na sabi niya. "Sorry talaga baka mga 30 minutes pa bago kami makarating dyan. Bwiset talaga... Dapat kanina pa kami nandyan e."
"Loka ka, Ara, kumalma ka nga," I heard Mika say while laughing. "May isang oras pa tayo oh. Ang OA nito."
"Babe, it's okay. Mika's right. You still have plenty of time naman. I'm sure you'll make it."
She took a deep breath. "Pero..."
"Wala nang pero..."
She took another deep breath. "Okay fine."
"Echosera," biglang sabi ni Mika. "Na-miss mo lang si Jeron kaya ka tumawag e." After that, I heard a few curses, may mga pagbabanta pa at may narinig din akong ilang hampas. Woah. Ano nang nangyayari?
"Mag-drive ka na nga lang dyan, okay?" Ara said with frustration while I heard Mika laughing out loud.
"Paano ako mag-dadrive e hindi nga umuusad 'yong traffic?"
