Love. What is it, really? It’s something known and familiar to everyone but each of us fails to fully explain and grasp the concept of it. How do you love? How do we feel love? How can we show love? Why do we love?
It’s a word full of mystery and wonder. It’s like you can write a whole book about it and still not be able to explain what it’s about.
I sighed as I sat on my bed. I held the picture of us in my hand. I couldn’t help but smile as I looked at it. My thumb brushed through the surface of it, as if trying to feel that moment again. How long has it been since this picture was taken?
Our smiles on the piece of paper were irreplaceable. It was gold. It was as if nothing in the world could tear us apart.
We were 18 then and this was just a few months after her debut. I was wearing my first ever UST Growling Tigers jersey while she wore a UST shirt even if she doesn’t even go to school there. (She was homeschooled.) The photo was taken just before my first game as a rookie.
“Are you ready?” she asked as she handed me my basketball shoes.
I nodded, despite the nervousness I was feeling. “Yeah, just a bit nervous. Pre-game jitters,”
Kaye chuckled. “You never got over those, huh?”
I smiled at her and nodded. She was right. Even during high school, I never got over my pre-game jitters but they lessened as time went by. The only thing is, I never outgrew them. Now, it’s like I’m having a new set of pre-game jitters. Maybe it’s because this will be my first game for UST and this is a whole new level.
“If you can believe in me, I’m sure you can believe in yourself,” she smiled. “And I believe in you, Jeric. Your family believes in you, my mom believes in you. Coach Pido and your teammates believe in you. The UST community believes in you. You have nothing to worry about,”
“Wow, Kaye,” I chuckled. “You just made me more nervous,”
“Sus,” she grinned. “You can do it, Jeric! Fight, fight, fight!” she laughed and I couldn’t help but smile as I looked at her. She really has this charm.
“At least I know I have my own personal cheerleader,” I smirked at her.
“Ikaw talaga,”
“Hey, if my cheerleader is this beautiful, how can I not be motivated to play my best?”
Kaye’s cheeks flushed red causing me to grin at her. I love it when I make her blush. It makes her cheeks really rosy and it suits her a lot.
“Landi mo,” she mumbled. “Go in na nga… You might be late and you’re the rookie pa naman. That’s not really a good impression,” Kaye teased.
“Hmph,” I pouted. “Fine… Anyway, I have something to tell you after the game, okay?”
“After pa?”
“Yeah. You’re making me leave na eh. Besides, para may surprise,”
“Fine,” she sighed, a smile playing on her lips. “Go get them, Tiger!”
I nodded and before I went inside, I stole a kiss from her cheek, which surprised her. I smiled and gave myself a mental pat on the back for what I did.
Kaye knew that I have feelings for her. I never failed to show that to her everyday. Every time I tell her what I feel, she smiles and says thank you. I know it was hard for her to know that someone was falling for her. She can’t seem to accept the love they give because of her condition.
