My Man

Chapter 20: Their little game.

CYBIL slowly frowned as she stared at BJ who was standing in the middle of the court. He was staring blankly ahead of him while absently rolled the ball in his hands. Pinuntahan niya ito sa bahay nito noong araw na iyon para gampanang ang pagiging hired help niya rito. Pero sahalip na palinisin siya ng yaya nito pinapunta siya nito sa likod bahay kung saan merong basketball court na ipinasadya ng binata.

Her frown deepened as she continued staring at her ‘boyfriend’. It was obvious that he was deep in his thoughts but what made her confuse was the way he acted, it was as if he was having an inner battle with himself. Kung kanina tulalang nakatitig lang ito sa kawalan, ngayon naman ay wala sa sariling nagdidribble ito habang paikot na naglalakad sa gitna ng court. Maya’t maya itong humihinto at tipid na ngumiti ngunit a few seconds later mariin itong umiiling, sighed deeply at nagpatuloy sa paglakad. Nabaliw na yata ang isang ‘to! Cy silently thought. She shook her head and winced as she saw him missed a dribble. Agad naman nitong hinabol ang bola and resumed pacing around at the middle of the court.

Naiiling na nilapitan niya ito. Ang plano sana niyang gulatin ito but as she looked at the ball he was holding a thought came instantly in her mind. Nakakamiss na, she thought at she ran towards BJ. Walang sabi- sabing tinapal niya ang bolang dinidribble nito at nang makawala ito sa kamay ng binata agad niyang sinundan ang bola. A perfect steal! sigaw niya sa isip. Nakangiting tumakbo siya papalapit sa ring habang dinidribble ang bolang hawak. Huminto siya sa may arkong linya but before she throws the ball she first took a step backwards, jump and instantly released the ball. Pasok ang bola, it never touched the metal ring saktong sakto ang pagpasok nito.

‘Cybil shot,’ nakasigaw na sabi niya habang nasa ring ang buong atensyon. ‘It flew… she scores… man it’s a three! Wooo…’ nagtatalon siya sa sobrang tuwa. She really missed playing basketball. Masyado siyang busy kaya hindi na siya nakapaglaro at isa pa wala na rin siyang mga kalaro dahil sa pagbubukas ng bagong season ng CeSAFI.

‘Nice shot!’ amaze na sabi ni BJ. Nakatayo na pala ito sa kanyang likuran. ‘Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin na marunong ka palang magbasketball?’

‘You never asked me,’ nakangiti niyang sabi habang nilingon ang binata. ‘And besides, ano pang silbi ng pagiging ex-girlfriend ni Dave kung hindi ako marunong magbasketball.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ bahagyang tumaas ang boses nito and Cybil swore she saw him clenched his jaw. Bigla rin tumalim ang pagkatitig nito sa kanya at nakakunot na rin ang noo nito.

‘Nothing… it’s just that he was the one who taught me to play baskeball.’ Pinagmasdan niya ang pagkakunot ng noo nito. ‘Anong problema mo?’ she asked habang pabirong sinuntok ang braso nito.

Kinuha nito ang bola at nagdribol papalapit sa kanya. ‘Do you have to mention his name in front of me?’

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay at naghalukipkip sa harapan nito. ‘Cholera! Kung makapagreact ka parang ikaw ang ex-girlfriend ni Dave ah.’

Tumigil ito sa pagdidribble ng bola at tinignan siya nito ng masama. ‘Nagkabalikan na ba kayo?’

‘Oo.’

‘What?’ mabilis pa sa kidlat itong kung kumilos. Inilang hakbang lang nito ang layo nila sa isa’t isa nang makalapit na ito sa kanya hinawakan nito ang magkabilang balikat n’ya at mariing niyugyog. ‘Cybil are you crazy? Bakit ka nakikipagbalikan sa kanya? ‘Wag ka ngang magpakatanga sa gunggong na iyon!’ may halong panggigigil ang bawat salitang binigkas nito. Cy saw frustration written all over his face and the frustration was more evident when he threw both his hands in the air and paced back and forth in front of her. ‘At isa pa, girlfriend kita, may commitment tayo sa isa’t isa. Bakit ngayon nang- iiwan ka? Akin ka lang. Akin lang…’ Mas lalong tumaas ang kilay niyang kanina pa nakataas. ‘At tsaka hindi naman kayo bagay ng lalaking iyon.’