Only You (EDITING)

Chapter 4

CHEERS FOR THE TEAMS were rumbling inside the court. Sobrang dami ng mga nanonood at sorang ingay na rin. Hindi ko na makita ang mga naglalaro dahil napapalibutan ang lugar ng mga tao kahit pa na tumingkayad ako.

Damn this height.

This will be quick. I swear, hindi ako magtatagal dito dahil ang paalam ko ay bibili lang ako ng Pan de Leche.

I squeezed myself into the crowd until no heads were sticking out and blocking my view. My eyes gravitated toward Andrei who was wearing an orange jersey, purple varsity shorts, and a pair of bright sky-blue basketball shoes that I'd seen before.

"Ang gwapo nung naka-orange." Pinagpi-piyestahan na si Andrei ng mga babae sa likod. He was the only one wearing that color.

Papunta na ang mga players sa gawi namin dahil hinahabol nila ang lalaking may hawak ngayon ng bola. Piercing screams of girls beside and behind me are gradually getting louder.

"Ilang taon na kaya si kuya naka orange 'no?"

"Bata pa 'yan, friend."

"Ang bata pa tignan pero sobrang tangkad na."

"Pogi na naka-orange, pahingi number!"

"Orange boy, I love you po!"

My forehead creased. The squeals were repetitive—them indulging his attractiveness with their eyes and mouths—and drilled into my eardrums so deep.

Andrei glanced in my direction. His eyes widened, and his lips parted. He stood frozen in place blinking once, then twice, trying to absorb what he had just seen. I turned my head left and then right to check if he might have seen a ghost or what.

The next thing I knew, he was lying on the ground with his hand massaging his head.

All the other players ran to check his condition. I wanted to approach him too but they're in the middle of the court and it won't be a great scene to watch if I was there. Magmumukha akong feeling close.

When he was still lying on the floor, the crowd started whispering judgments. May mga nadismaya pa dahil lampa naman daw ang pambato nila. Others were saying he was blind not to see the ball flying in his direction.

The comments made me frown. Ang daling bumaliktad ng mga tao. Kanina lang ay tinitilian nila si Andrei tapos ngayon pinagtatawanan na. Humans are just so fickle.

Nung handa na siyang maglaro ulit ay nagpatuloy ang laro. They have no substitute since their team only have the exact number of players dahil hindi 'to formal game, katuwaan lang.

I don't know what came into my mind but after the game, instead of walking past through the exit, my feet brought me to the bench next to the entrance. Umupo ako doon at biglang nagdesisyon na hintayin siya.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal ang paghihintay ko dahil nakita ko siyang naglalakad papalapit dito dala ang gamit niya habang may face towel na nakasukbit sa kaniyang balikat. His disheveled wet hair suits him even more. How is that even possible? Even with the darkness, the sweat dripping on his face was still visible, running from his forehead down to his pointy little nose.

"Uy, Tori!" he exclaimed and smiled with his teeth like he still couldn't believe I came.

"Nice game," panimula ko.

"Tss. 'Wag mo nang ipaalala." He hissed, looking disappointed and embarrassed.

"No, I think you play really well. Pumalya lang sa kalagitnaan." As odd as it is, my teasing came out naturally, no hesitations, no second thoughts.

Instead of getting pissed, he smiled really hard like he had figured out something, making his eyes disappear. "Sabi ko na nga ba babanggitin mo 'yan."

"How could I not? It's the highlight of the game."