Splash Love

Foul

Days went by fast. College na kami pareho ni Jay and yes, we went to the same school. He took Civil Engineering and I took Literature.

And my hidden feelings for him? Yun, andyan pa rin siya. Hindi man lang nabawasan mas lalo pa ngang lumago. Yung dating nasa paso lang, ngayon buong garden na. Lit major ako so dapat talaga may analogy, ganon.

I was happy being a wallflower to the heartthrob. Yes, Jay became a sensation in our school. Basketball varsity player, consistent on being on top of his class, charming and very approachable especially with girls. In short, yung typical nice campus jock na medyo maharot.

At ako? I am still your shirt and jeans Dei. The pigtails with cap, "best friend of the campus heartthrob" Dei. I'm happy not being on the center of things. Masaya na ko sa sulok, magbasa ng libro, habang naghihintay sa best friend kong busy sa buhay.

I would wait for Jay to finish his basketball practice and we'll both go home. Kahit na hindi agad kami makaalis because it would take time to accommodate all the girls waiting for him. He is just too nice to say no to them na minsan nakakainis na.

He would just look around for me and give me that "save me" look. I'll just roll my eyes at him pero agad ko namang lalapitan and make an excuse just to free him from those predators.

Most of the time, those girls would give me stinky eyes. Hmp, jealous bitches! Mainggit kayo! I'll just give them a sweet smile and walk away with Jay. Best friend duties done.

I was happy then. Being with him almost all the time gives me something to hold on to. Basta magkasama kami, ayos na ako dun. Masaya na puso ko maging best friend niya basta siya at ako, kaming dalawa lang.

But you know that good things don't last right? Cliche di ba? Pero alam mo yung mas cliche? Yung alam mong may nagbago na pero in denial ka pa rin.

Change started to happen when Jay would tell her to go home first and didn't want her to wait for him after practice. He would barely hangout anymore with her even just to play ball in the park. Madalang na rin siyang tumawag para lang inisin ako. Ni hindi na nga nagte-text para mag update ng scores ng NBA games.

It caught me off balance. Nakakapanibago. I tried to reason out to myself na siguro busy lang siya masyado sa mga school work and basketball trainings niya. Or baka mas gusto niya munang maka bonding yung team mates niya. Babawi naman yun eh! Si Jay pa!

Three days before my seventeenth birthday, I finally got caught of Jay. I waited for him after their basketball practice that day. I was so excited to see him. Mabibilang na lang kasi talaga yung time na nagkikita kami. Itatanong ko rin sana kung ano plano niya sa birthday ko. It has always a tradition for us to celebrate my birthday together. Kahit simpleng ramen treat lang, solve na ako dun. I smiled at the thought and approached the group.

Jay, bro, parang di ko na yata kayo madalas makitang magkasama ni Dei.

I heard Sam talking to Jay. I stopped myself from calling Jay and tried to hear what he's about to say.

Oo nga bro! Break na kayo? Sabi ko kasi sa'yo, humanap ka naman ng sexy. Sa pogi mong yan, siguradong maraming pipila.

I always hated the guts of this Derrick. Sarap paliguan ng semento at graba!

Hoy, wag nga kayo! Mahal ni Tisoy yun, wag niyong laitin. Di ba Tisoy? Asked Kris soliciting laughter from the rest of the group.

Hoy, hindi ah! Hayaan niyo na nga si Dei. Bakit ba natin siya pinag-uusapan? Best friend ko lang...

I gasped. I didn't even hear what the rest of words Jay was telling his teammates. My mind is stuck at "Hindi ah! and "Best friend ko lang."

I quickly turned around before anyone can spot me. I was shaking. Tears starting to form in my eyes.

I am Dei. "Best friend lang" at hindi mahal ni Jay.

And that day was my first heartbreak.