"Mika, where's Ara?" I asked Ara's bestfriend.
I am here at the women's volleyball team dormitory to pick up Ara. She said she wanted to watch a certain movie. And because there's no such thing as saying no to her in my vocabulary, I came here like a knight in a white horse.
I started courting her like months ago. The more I get to know her, the more I am falling deeply in love with this girl. She's one thing on the court. She's another thing off of it. But both things make my heart go crazy about her.
"Nagbibihis lang, Thomas. Date kayo?" Mika asked.
I scratched the back of my head, smiled at Mika and nodded my head.
"Sus, nahiya ka pa. Tagal mo ng nanliligaw dito, butas na bulsa mo sa kakalibre sa teammates namin, ngayon ka pa mahihiyang sabihing may date kayo ni Ara," Ate Michele came out of the kitchen.
"Good morning Ate," I greeted her. "Hindi naman po ako nahihiya. Kaso minsan si Ara nagkukwentong kawawa daw siya sa mga pang-aasar niyo."
"Eh wala ka na talagang magagawa diyan Thomas. Kahit magtago pa kayo ni Ara, masisinghot kayo ng mga to," Ate Mich said.
I just smiled at her.
"Oh andito ka na pala," Ate Abi came down from upstairs in her jogging outfit. "Andiyan na si Ara. Nakipag-unahan pa kasi ng banyo kay Carol kanina kaya natagalan."
"Okay lang Ate, makakapaghintay naman po ako," I said.
"Wala pa si Ara, Thomas. Mamaya ka na bumanat," Mika butted in. I just politely smiled at the Lady Spikers here.
Then we heard stomping of feet from upstairs and few moments later, we saw Ara running down the stairs, followed by Carol.
"Humanda ka talaga sakin Victonara!" Carol shouted and Ara ran behind me.
"Hey careful," I told Ara as she was catching her breath while grinning.
"Tara!" Ara said. Then she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of their dorm.
"ARAAA!! Humanda ka pag-uwi mo!" we heard Carol lastly until we entered my car.
My dear silly Ara is panting with a beautiful grin on her face. She looks child-like and carefree, another thing that I am starting to love.
"Tara na, ano pang tinutunganga mo diyan. Baka labasin tayo ni Carol, batuhin pa tong sasakyan mo," she said.
I granted her request with a smile. "Ano ba kasi ang nangyayari?" I asked.
"Wala niloko ko lang si Carol, takot sa butiki yun eh," Ara said with a playful beam on her face.
"Ikaw talaga," I said while smiling. Her playful mood is contagious that I couldn't help but smile myself. "Where to?"
She looked at me with a beautiful face, "MOA po, okay lang?"
"Anywhere you like," I replied.
"Hay naku," Ara said but her tone is still playful.
"Bakit?" I asked and took a quick glance at her. She is just smiling at me.
