Air Ball

IX: Candy Canes

JILL

"What?" I said to the three guys who were looking at me with knowing smiles. They were on the floor, doing light stretching while I was sitting on the first level of the bleachers writing on my notebook. We were the first ones in the court since it was still a full hour before practice starts.

"Wala ka bang ikukwento samin, chubby bunny?" Kim asked but his smile suggested I have.

"Wala. Wag niyo nga ako chismisin. Mag-stretching nalang kayo dyan." I replied.

"Taray naman. Diba paps pag in love dapat good mood?" Aljon asked Kevin and Kim loudly.

"Who said I was in love? First date palang, in love na agad?" I retorted.

"Ayun naman o. Dating na ang status. Lumelevel-up!" Kevin joked.

"Bakit ba masyado kayong interested sa lovelife ko? Lovelife naman ni Kevin or Kim pag chismisan natin." I suggested. Out of the three of them, only Aljon has a steady lovelife.

"Wala namang lovelife to si Kim e. Kay Kev nalang pag-usapan natin." Aljon said as a joke.

"Kamusta na ba kayo ng girl mo, Kev? Ano nga ulit college nun?" I inquired.

"Dapat specific tanong mo, chubby bunny. Kahit ako di na ako maka-keep up kung anong college yung current ni Kev e." Kim commented.

"Ako din e. Iba ka talaga, Ferrer. Ang tindi mo." Aljon remarked.

"Hoy hoy gwapo lang ako pero hindi naman ako ganyan. Hindi ko kasalanan na maraming chix na lumalapit sakin. I'm just being friendly." Kevin defended himself.

"Yan. Linya yan ng mga malalandi." Kim said to him.

"Takes one to know one." I told them. Aljon raised his hand for a high-five.

"Wag niyo ako idamay dyan. Si Aljon at Kev lang malandi dito." Kim retorted.

"Oo. Kaya nga wala kang lovelife e." Kevin laughed. "Chubs, wala ka bang marereto dito sa kaibigan natin? Para naman mabuhayan yung mga mata nito."

"'Kasi naman, hindi ko alam anong hinihintay ni Kim. Yung destiny-destiny na yan, pangchix lang yan. Dapat tayo gumawa ng paraan para mapaisip sila na destiny." Aljon added.

"Maka-chubs ka naman, Ferrer. Palibhasa kasi ang payat mo e." I said to Kevin. "I can't wait for the day na ma-meet ni Kim ang future niya. Feeling ko, 'when love hits you, it hits you' ang peg ni Kim." I stated.

"Bakit, chubs? Ganun ba naramdaman mo nung kay Teng?" Kim teased.

"Yown!" Aljon reacted.

"At pinanindigan niyo na talaga yung 'chubs'. Ewan ko sa inyo. Wag ka nga mag-change topic, Kim. Ikaw ang topic dito." I tried to shift the conversation back to him.

"Coach!" Kevin called out as Coach Pido passed by.

"Ano yun?" Coach replied as he made our way towards us.

"Yung unica hija niyo po, nakikipagdate na." Kevin said it like a brother telling on his sister.

"O, akala ko ba kayo ni Teng?" Coach asked in jest.

The trio in front of me just laughed out loud. "Wag ka mag-alala, coach. Si Teng yung ka-date niya." Kim assured him.

"Ah. Edi mabuti at kilala na natin." Coach replied as he sat next to me."Alam mo kasi hija," he began in such a fatherly way that made me miss my dad. "yang si Teng sobrang sipag niyan. Lalo na pagkatapos ng injury niya. Unang dumadating sa practice, pinakahuling aalis. Minsan nag-e-extra hours pa. Pero minsan sa sobrang pagfofocus niya sa basketball, nawawala ang atensyon niya sa iba pang bagay. Kaya kailangan niya ng magsasabi sakanya to slow it down once in a while. Yung magpapaalala sa kanya ng mga bagay na napapabayaan niya."