Because of You (jailenash fanfic)

Chapter 34

"Okey ka lang?" tanong ni Drake sabay abot ng maiinom.

humarap si Shirley at kinuha ang inumin "Oo naman" pagkukubli nito..

"Hayaan mo na yun, di niya kasi kilala nasa harapan niya, di nya alam kung gaano ka kagaling sa larangan nato" pagcocomfort ni Drake sa dalaga.

Hindi siya ulit makapaniwala sa mga sinabi ni Drake.. "Hmmmm... I remember one guy who is as self centered as that beast.. but in the end his a prince pretending to be a beast...hehe.. Ganun din kaya yun?" nakatawang tugon ni Shirley.

"Hmmm.. may pinariringan ka ba?"

"Bakit natatamaan ka?...hehehehe" panunukso ni Shirley.

"So ako yun beast na yun.? hmmmm.. okey na din at least inamin mo na prinsipe talaga ako.. hahaha"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Shirley habang nakangiti "Narcissistic Prince kamu!" bawi nito.

"Ano?! hindi kaya.." depensa ni Drake.

"totoo Kaya" at nagtawanan silang dalawa.

I never thought you'd be this comforting - Shirley.

I never realized you're much beautiful when you smile - Drake.

Biglang tumayo si Benj at nagsalita hindi na natitiis ang nakikita.. "Hindi pa ba tayo magsisimula?!"

Natigil ang dalawa sa kakatawa.. agad din naman tumayo si Shirley.."Ahh.. okey form the same group as before and let's start the practice game."

Nasa magkaibang grupo si Benj at Drake. Both are the team leaders. Ball was tossed and the practice match begin.

Simula pa lang ng laro masyado ng mainit sa court. Benj is guarding Drake at masyado tong mahigpit sa depensa na hindi makagalaw galaw si Drake. Pero, He is Drake Lagdameo and in the first place dapat ganun ka talaga magbantay or he'll easily drift away.

Drake was too wise, knowing he is teamed with a sharp shooter he took the play to him..To get through Benj he made a pass through pass to kiko and booooom! Kiko made the shoot seamlessly.

Paulit-ulit.. Dahil sa matinding depensa towards Drake, nabibitawan nila Benj si Kiko kahit pa si Kobi ang nakabantay dito it was not enough to stop the pass and the shoot.

Benj frustration gets bigger and there ball game was a mess.

Shirley noticed it. He was waiting for Benj to call a time out and he did.

"What's wrong Benj..? wala ka sa laro ngayon ahhh" batid ng matalik na kaibigan. "Bro take off you're personal issues from the game because if you continue to play like that we're not gonna get even to them" paalala ni Kobi.

But Benj didn't seem to hear anything, malayo ang tingin nito.

"Haist! problema!" mahinang tugon ni Kobi.

Muling nagsimula ang laro. Face to face si Benj at Drake.

"What's wrong Jalbuena? your not in your game?" tanong Drake habang nagdidrible.

"It's none of your business" at sumugod ito sa opensa.

Drake just make a fade and pass through Benj, napagiwanan tuloy siya sa likod. Drake made a lay up, making there lead 55-46.

Lalong uminit ulo ni Benj. I can't just lose to you Lagdameo not on basketball and not on Shirley.

Benj made a clutch shot at napasmirk ito. When his back on defense masyado siyang naging mahigpit kay Drake. Nilapitan niya to at pilit na inabot ang bola hanggang sa di sinasadyang matamaan siya ng siko ni Drake sa mukha.

FOUL.

Benj stopped. "Anong problema mo bro?!" sigaw nito kay Drake na akmang lalapit.

"sorry bro.. di sinasadya..that was even illegal guarding." wika naman ni Drake

"Illegal guarding?...." at tinulak niya si Drake.

Nagulat ang lahat sa nakita nila. Nagulat rin si Drake sa ginawa ni Benj. Kanina pa kasi siya nagtitimpi dito masyado natong naging physical sa pagbabantay sa kanya pero di niya ito pinansin.

Sumugod si Drake at tinulak rin si Benj.."Kanina ka pa... ang dami ko ng tama sayo..nagtitimpi lang ako.."

"Gago!!" susugod n sana si Benj pero buti na lang andiyan si Kiko para pumigil.

"Oooy.." awat ng mga kaibigan.

"Jalbuena! Lagdameo! get out of the game, NOW!" sigaw ni Shirley.

Umalis din naman sila ng court at umupo sa kani-kanilang benches. Hindi na ulit sila nakabalik sa paglalaro. Shirley let them cool down. Pagkatapos ng match pinagtipon ni Shirley ang mga players.

"Both team did great today. Although there are just some mismatches but we can certainly mend that one. If you have notice the designed program is quite consuming. That's because we have an invitational game three weeks from now. Hindi to basta-basta invitational lang because you'll play against junior team pilipinas. I am sure you heard of them. They are players who represent the best of there provinces.. and it is quite an honor that they invited us on a practice game in preparation to there upcoming asian league. Don't look down on them because they are as monsters as you are on the court. "

Tiningnan niya muna ang lahat ng players at bakas ang sobrang pagod..

"Okey guys.. let's call it a day!... and Jalbuena, Lagdameo both of you remain!" madiin wika ni Shirley.

Nagsitayuan na ang ibang players at nagpaalam. Si kiko at kobi sumenyas na lang kina Drake at Benj. Nung lahat nakalabas na.. nagsimula ng magpacing si Shirley back and forth.

"What's happening to the both of you?? you are teammates! even if you play against each other kailangan pa ba talaga humantong sa ganun ha Benj, Drake?? Nasaan na ang essence ng sportmanship.. of all people kayo pa talaga nanguna...." sermon ni Shirley.

"siniko niya ako!" depensa ni Benj.

"It was not intentional and that was illegal guarding!" depensa naman ni Drake.

"Tumahimik na nga kayo!" sigaw ulit ni Shirley. "Wlang katapusan sisihan.....at Benj I have been watching you wala ka sa laro mo, you're making harsh decisions to your team.. you're dragging them! this isn't a one man game Benj! you knew that"

"So you're saying it's my fault?" at tumingin ito sa mata ni Shirley.

"It isn't what i mean.. thats not your usual game out there Benj.. ano problema mo? napakainit ng ulo mo simula pa kanina.."

"Problema ko?!!! Ikaw!.... because of you kaya ako ganito!" sigaw ni Benj.

"Ako?"

"Oo ikaw!! Kung kasing bato mo lang ako I wouldn't feel this way. I would not play the same play I did awhile ago. But I am hurting and pagod na ako sa kakahintay.." seryosong tugon ni Benj.

"Hindi kita maintindihan.."

"Hindi mo talaga maiintindihan."

"Paano kita maiintindihan kung di mo sasabihin Benjamin. you have been staying away from me this past few days, hinahayaan lang kita for you to cool off, but what happened?."

Tumingin ito kay Drake na tahimik lang sa isang tabi at umiling.. Kinuha ang bag niya at umalis.

"Benj... hoy anu ba!.." wika ni Shirley ng naglakad palayo ang binata.

Akmang hahabulin na ni Shirley si Benj. But Drake take a grip of her hands.

"Let him be..." wika ni Drake.

Tiningnan ni Shirley ang paghawak ni Drake sa kamay niya at tumingin ito kay Drake na maluhaluha.. "I have to talk to him.."