Forever and Always

Kabanata 6

Kabanata 6

"Hindi ka pa ba pagod?"

"Pinagtatabuyan ka na niya. Hindi pa ba sapat yon?"

"Ano ba?! Ayaw na nga niya sayo diba?!"

"Isipin mo naman sarili mo!"

It's been a month since nung lumipat ako ng bahay. Wala namang ibang bago. Pinupuntahan pa din naman ako ni Tots at bumibisita pa din ako sa Pampanga.

"Fly, ready ka na ba?" Tanong ni Gi sakin.

"Medyo kinakabahan." Natatawa kong sabi.

Ngumiti siya. "Kaya natin yan!"

First game namin ngayong season. It's my comeback year na rin. We're up against the former FEU team. Lumabas na kami ng dugout para magdrills. Puno yung arena, mga fans nila ate Ly at ng ateneo.

Gizelle pulled me to be her partner. She's a setter, si ate Den kasi ang libero. Gizelle's being back to herself, goofy as ever.

"It isn't BeaDdie or JhoBea or AlyDen anymore. It's GiDdie."

I laughed at Gizelle's remarks but she threw the ball and she hitted my head. "Aw, Gi! Why so brutal?"

Tumakbo naman kaagad si Gi papunta sakin but Bea pulled me. "Are you okay?"

Sa gulat ay hindi ako nakapagsalita kaagad. "Uh, yeah. Okay lang."

"Gi, naman. You don't have to hit her on head." Pagsaway ni Bea.

"No, Bea." I interrupted. "Hindi naman sinasadya ni Gizelle yun."

"Sorry, fly." Ani Gi sabay yakap sakin.

"It's fine, Gi." I said. "GiDdie."

We both laughed but Bea was looking at me like I did something wrong. She looked away and held her head like she was feeling something.

"Are you okay?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

She didn't answered instead she gestured that she wasn't. I was about to go to her but Jho was there already. So, I turned my back and continued our drills.

The first set was a little bit shaky but Bea is on fire. I wasn't on the first six simply because Ana was more getting her beast in her. That's not a problem naman.

We won the two sets but the former lady tamaraw isn't gonna just gonna back down. So it was in the middle of third set when coach Tai decided on me substituing Ana.

Bea was on the service deck while I'm in front of the net. Remy Palma was smiling at me, like we knew each other.

"Hi, maddie." She said like we're not in the court.

"Hello."

"So, how's your session?"

I was taken a back at what she asked. She smiled at me. She knew something, but I can't let her see that I am affected.

"It's fine."

It's getting a little bit awkward between me and Remy. Her mind game is getting me na rin.

"How's Bea and Jho?" She asked me again.

I smiled. "They're fine."

I was praying so hard na sana matapos na 'tong set na 'to. Remy knew something and it's making me uncomfortable. They showed a split screen of me and Remy. God, are they making issues about me and her?

"Are you okay?" Tanong ni Gizelle sakin.

"I, uh. I got uncomfortable."

"What was she saying?" Bea interrupted.

"Ah, she was asking lang about something."

"What something?"

"If Tots fine." Sorry, Tots. I had to use your name.

Naputol yung paguusap namin nung nasa set point na ang score.

"ALYSSA VALDEZ!!!!"

Woooh!!! First win for this conference baby!!! Nagsitakbuhan naman mga teammates namin papunta sa kanila. Lahat kami tuwang tuwa dahil nga unang panalo namin 'to. Nakipagkamayan naman kami sa mga referees at sa team ng FEU.

"Congrats, Maddie." Bati sakin ni Pons sabay ngiti.

Nginitian ko rin siya. "Thank you."

Nang si Remy na yung kakausapin ko bigla akong tinulak ni Ponggay kaya napatingin ako sa kanya dahilan para hindi kami makapagusap ni Remy.

"Oh, not me ah!" Depensa agad ni Ponggay at tinuro ang nasa likuran niya na si Bea.

Natawa naman ako at sumampa sa likod niya. "Si Deanna nanood?"

"Wapakels." Tipid niyang sabi at binuhat naman ako ng maayos.

"Flyfly! Okay ka lang?" Nagaalalang tanong ni Ate Ly.

Nginitian ko naman si Ate Ly. "Ayos lang ako, ate."

"Sarap buhay nga, eh." Singit ni Ponggay kaya piningot ko siya. "Aray ko!!!"

We went to the dugout para magbihis. Nauna akong natapos kaya lumabas muna ako. Remy was there and she went to me.

"Hey." Aniya. "Sorry kanina, I was trying my cards."

I smiled. "I understand."

"And about that, the session."

I looked at her. "How?"

"I saw your appointment. And, I concluded it." She said. "So, it's true?"

I looked away. "What do you think?"

"What happened?" She asked. "Is it about her and the accident?"

I shrugged. "The idea of me being with her would be perfect together but it turned into a nightmare."

Napakunot noo siya. "What? Nightmare?"

I nodded. "A nightmare that would break us forever."

"Hindi ko maintindihan." Aniya. "Masaya naman kayo noon. Kitang kita sa mga galaw niyo."

"I thought we were perfect, I thought kaya namin, na kaya ko." I sighed. "I thought it was me that she needed but she gave up and found someone better."

She tapped my shoulder. "Instead of killing yourself, why don't you start healing yourself?" I was taken a back at what she said. She smiled at me. "‪You have to try, Madeliene. And trust some people, hindi naman lahat ng makikilala mo ay sasaktan ka."

"Pero lahat may kakayahan na saktan ako."

"Where's the Madeliene na nakikita ang kabutihan ng isang taong masama?"

I smiled at her. "Thank you."

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." She winked and I laughed.

Umalis na din siya after naming magusap. Sakto din naman na paglabas nila Gizelle.

"Where have you been?" Tanong ni Kim sakin.

"Nagpahangin lang." I said.

"Soooo, susunduin ka ba ni Tots?" Tanong ni Ate Ella.

Umiling ako.

"Wow, first time yan ah?" Pang-aasar ni Ponggay.

I smiled. "Kailangan niya rin kasi magpahinga."

"Bakit? Napapagod na ba siya sayo?" Tanong ni Bea.

I smiled. "No. Pero ayokong mapagod siya sakin. Ikamamatay ko."

"Woooh, smooth beybe." Singit ni Ponggay. "ToDdie. Woot woot."

"Ang sagwa mo talaga magbigay ng pangalan kahit kailan." Angal ni Ria.

Sumimangot naman si Ponggay. "Whatever, Charice ng Lipa!"