Rebound

4th REBOUND

4th REBOUND

Mika woke up to the sound of her alarm clock. She lazily reached for it and turned it off. It was past 11:00 last night when she took her slumber, everyone in La Salle did. They were as busy as Ateneo yesterday, prepping up for today's UAAP opening. Though sleepy, she still stood up and went to their dorm's restroom to wash her face, fixed herself and went downstairs to cook for her and Ara, if you don't know yet, Mika is really good at kitchen business, she's a really great chef. She often cooks for her team and for their dormmates. Mika opened their fridge to look for something to cook, but she noticed a new note sticked on the front of their refrigerator. She read it because she has a feeling it was for her. The note goes this way,

 "Good Morning Yeye! If you're going to cook for you and Ara, no need. I brought you some food, andun sa table niyo. Have your breakfast on time!" Mika couldn't help but smile, she didn't know where it came from but she appreciate the effort. She headed straight to their dining room and saw a piece of paperbag.

She opened it wide and another note popped up, "I hope you'll appreciate my effort and love my cooking. I'm a newbie in gourmets though that I still have to ask for Dichi's help. Sorry for everything. This serves as my peace offering, have a great day ahead! P.S. share some to Ara." -Jeron.

At the sight of Jeron's name scribbled on the end part of the note, Mika's not-so-chinky eyes grew wide. As if it's one of her foolish dreams. She slapped her face lightly, left and right to see if she was really dreaming, but no one behold, what's happening right now is a total reality.

Mika Reyes' Point of View

 

What is this? Is this true? Jeron? Sent me some food? Nakakaloka itey! Prince Jeron? Yung masungit na lagi akong pinapahiya at dina-down sa harap ng maraming tao? Pinadalhan ako ng pagkain? Ang aga naman ata ng Birthday gift ko from Daddy God? I slapped my face several times, left and right just to make sure this is happening in the virtual world. And it really is! My God! Kinikilig ako!

"Aaaaaahhh!!!" Sumigaw ako sa sobrang tuwa, sa sobrang saya. Hindi ko ma-explain ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. I can really feel myself turning red. OMG! O to the M to the G! Hindi pa rin nagsi-sink-in sa'kin na pinadalhan ako ng breakfast ng the ever-sungit-always-on-menopausal Jeron Alvin Uy Teng!

"Best okay ka lang? Are you okay Best? Ano may ipis?" Hindi ko alam na sa tili kung yun nagising ko si Ara. She's currently standing at the near edge of the staircase, still on her bed-look, wala pang suklay, wala pang hilamos, may bakat pa ng tuyong laway sa labi.

"Best this is really higly unusual! As in! Hindi 'to okay eh! It's super okay! Nakakakilig naman yung ginawa niya, peace offering daw? Grabe best, grabe! I can't believe it!" Sabi ko thoroughly at walang humpay. Ara looked so confused and just scratched the back of her neck with a blank face pinned on herself.

"Anong bang pinagsasabi mo best? Would you mind enlightening me? Di ko kasi gets yung pinagsasabi mo eh! Anong highly unusual? Anong peace offering? May nakaaway ka bang barako dun sa kanto? Ba't ka sobrang paranoid?" Tanong naman sa'kin ni Ara, grabe nakakatawa ang itsura niya ngayon, losiyang na losiyang, parang chinurva at hinarot ng ilang beses.

"Best, this is kinda weird. Extraordinary but don't freak out okay? Don't freak out. Promise me?" Ara nodded gave me a weak nod as a sign of agreement naman. I heaved a deep breath bago sabihin ang lahat sa kanya, in a state of shock pa rin kasi ako."PinadalhanakoniJeronngbreakfast!" Sabi ko naman ng mabilisan, basta hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala eh,

"Ha? Anong sabi mo? Hindi ko mainitindihan eh, ang bilis mo magsalita. Dahan-dahan pwede? Pakiulit?" Pagmamakaawa naman sakin ni Ara habang napakamot na naman siya sa ulo niya.

"Kasi ano ehhh... ano...Hihihihi" Nahihiya ako grabe! Jeron my God! Pinadalhan niya ako ng food.

"BEST?!" Sabi naman sakin ni Ara na medyo napasigaw na rin ng kaunti, syempre nerbyosa ako kaya nasindak na rin ako kaya eto na, sasabihin ko na, "Si Jeron....pinadalhan ako ng food." I told her casually, napatingin naman siya sa kisame, as if nagsi-sink-in pa sa kanya ang sinabi ko kanina.

"ANO?!" Alam ko sisigaw na naman siya kaya this time tinakpan ko na ang tenga ko bago siya makasigaw, "PINADALHAN KA NI JERON TENG NG PAGKAIN? YUNG TAONG SINUSUMPA KA HANGGANG SA KAMATAYAN NIYA?!" Dagdag niya pa.

"I know right! Yung taong kulang na lang ibenta ang kaluluwa niya kay Satanas kapalit ng pagkabura ko sa mundong ito! Pero best he did, pinadalhan niya ako ng pagkain may note attached to it pa nga eh. And guess what, siya raw nagluto. Marunong pala magluto ang ugok na yun? And about sa note, do you want to read it best?" Pag-aaya ko lay Ara while handing her the note that Jeron attached sa pinadala niya,

"OMG Best! OMG! Haba ng hair mo, nagpatulong pa talaga siya kay Ate Gretch ah! Todo effort si Teng! Pero, bakit biglang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin sa kanya?" Tanong naman sa'kin ni Ara. Oo nga, why? Why all of a sudden nagbago si Jeron? Is this a prank na gusto niyang i-pull off sa'kin? Pero bakit naman niya gagawin yun? He doesn't care about me. He will not waste my time on me, unless talaga nagbago na siya.

"Pero Best diba sabi ni Mariah Carey at Whitney Houston, there can be miracles when you believe? Baka naawa na sa'kin si Lord kaya ayun!" Sabi ko naman kay Ara convincingly, wala na talaga akong nakikitang ibang reasons for Jeron's actions.

"Ah bahala na! Let's just thank God that Jeron suddenly changed. But nevertheless, pinadalhan niya tayo ng food, grasya 'to Best friend. Tara, attack!" Pag-aaya naman ni Victonara Galang sa'kin, basta pagkain talaga 'tong si Ara.

End of Mika Reyes' Point of View

 

It took the two fifteen minutes to finish eating their breakfast. They had their usual talks and discussing various topics and some girly stuffs. The two started prepping up after, they have to go early to La Salle for final instructions regarding the opening. Mika also has to pass some projects and thesis to her Professors, to have that required grade to allow her to play in the league.

The sound of Nico's BMW parking at the front of their dormitory made Mika rushing down the staircase. Ara followed immediately after her and hopped into Nico's car, "Kuya super thank you talaga ha, alam kasi namin ni Ara na if maglakad or mag-commute male-late na kami, pasensya ka na." Mika asked for remission the moment they got in.

"Okay lang, ikaw pa. Tsaka mabuti na rin yun ano. Baka if maglakad kayo may mangyari pang masama sa inyo. Tsaka ang tigas-tigas pa naman ng ulo niyo, sabi nang wag mag-commute, or if magco-commute man, kunin ang plate number." Nico reprimanded the two.

"Alam mo ikaw Kuya, bakit ka kaya sinagot ni Ate Gretch? Ang OA-OA mo talaga! Buti nagustuhan ka niya no?" Mika replied sarcastically,

"Eh sa iba ang charisma at alindog ko eh. You can't blame me, you can't blame us! Maganda ang lahi natin eh!" Nico replied while snickering.

"Nako! Nako! True Kuya! So true! Ang ganda-ganda ng lahi natin no wonder marami nafa-fall sa'tin! Hahahaha" Mika laughed insanely and high-fived her cousin. "No wonder marami rin kayong napapaasa! Haay nako talaga 'tong magpinsan na 'to, puro hangin!" Ara butted in their conversation who's really quiet a while ago.

"Ara talaga! Tumahimik ka nga dyan, pababain ka namin ni Kuya eh! Ba't di ka na lang rin maging proud na may best friend kang cute na tulad ko? Hahaha!" Mika told Ara jokingly who was sitting still at the back busy playing with her iTouch. Victonara, in reply said, "Oo na, di na ako kokontra, kayo na magaganda at gwapo. But by the way, Kuya Nics, 6:30 am pa lang, nahatid mo na ba si Dichi sa Ateneo?"

"Oo naman Ars! Nag-breakfast na rin kami kaninang 4:00 tsaka maaga rin yun pupunta kasi may training pa raw sila today eh." Nico calmly replied Ara's question still focusing his eyes on the road. "Ang hirap siguro ng buhay mo Kuya Nics, may girlfriend ka na nga, may damulag ka pa talagang inaatupag sa La Salle." Victonara told him with a tone of sarcasm in her voice.

Ara's statement made Nico chuckle audibly and looked at his cousin almost on the verge of sleeping. He turned back to the road and calmly replied, "Hindi naman Ars! If iisipin mahirap nga, pero if you'll put yourself in my place, kaya namang i-balance. Napaka-understanding naman kasi ni Gretch eh, tsaka alam niya naman na si Mika ang inaasikaso ko sa tuwing wala ako. Tsaka close rin naman ang dalawa kaya madali lang ipagsabay."

Ara chuckled faintly and said in a low tone, "Buti ka pa Kuya, napakaswerte mo, mahal na mahal ka ng love ones mo, sinu-supportahan ka sa lahat ng gusto mo, hindi gaya ko." Nico noticed the sudden change of mood inside his car. They were enveloped with silence until Nico found the right words to tell Ara, " Is this still about your family Ara? Bakit? Hindi pa ba okay?"

Ara just shook her head and holding back her tears, tears of sadness that are about to flow from her eyes, "After that incident Kuya, parang wala na, hindi na nila ako tinuturing na kadugo nila. Ayaw nila kay Thomas eh, pero sinunod ko pa rin ang kung ano man ang nasa puso ko. Pero lintik! Hindi lahat ng sinasabi ng puso ay tama, iniwan rin ako ng walang hiyang Torres na yun! Sinubukan ko namang mag-sorry kina Mommy at Daddy eh, pero mas lalo lang nilang pinapamukha sa'kin na dapat nakinig ako sa kanila, dapat hindi ko sila sinuway, ewan ko ba Kuya pero hanggang ngayon wala pa ring signs of forgiveness eh."

Silence enveloped the place again, Nico just gave Ara some ample time to relax and calm down, until he gave her his friendliest advice, "Lilipas din yan Ara, I'm sure hindi ka rin naman nila matitiis, only child ka lang kaya I bet malakas ka sa kanila. Just be optimistic, try to look on the bright side okay? You have millions of reasons to be happy, you have us, you have Mika. We will always be here for you Ars, I promise." Nico's words made Ara wipe her tears away and smile, she patted Nico's shoulder and thanked him, "Salamat Kuya ah! Thank you."

"OMG BEST! OMG!" Mika shouted at the top of her lungs as her phone beeped twice. The two, Ara and Nico, who was in the middle of a very serious conversation was obviously startled witheir comapanion's reaction. "Teka nga Best, ginulat mo naman kami eh! Anong OMG?!" Ara asked Mika trying to calm her best friend down.

Mika seems to be reading something on her phone which made her smile like an idiot, she then gave it to her back where her best friend was and covered her face who suddenly turned red with Nico's pillow. "Mikang ano bang nangyayari sayo dyan ha? Anong OMG?" Nico asked her while scratching the back of his neck.

"OMG Best! OMG! I can't believe it, grabe!" Ara exclaimed while turning her head sideways disbelievingly. "Kuya Nico guess what, Jeron texted her good morning, tapos kanina pinadalhan pa kami ng breakfast! Ano bang nangyayari sa brother-in-law mo Kuya Nics? Ba't may sudden change of hearts?" Ara added.

Nico snickered at his two companions' reactions, he just kept himself calm and replied, "Ahh si Shoti pala ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakaganyan yung pinsan ko. Well hindi raw pinapansin ni Gretchen  eh, simula pa raw nung isang gabi, pina-konsensiya pa nga raw, baka Shoti realized his mistakes na kaya ayun. I hope tuloy-tuloy na."

"Me too pinsan! Me too! I hope magtuloy-tuloy na." Mika replied loudly, though it turned out to be just an audible mumble because of the pillow she used to cover her face, "Ayiieee Mika ha! Don't tell me natu-turn-on ka na naman kay Mr. Teng ngayon! Haaay nako Best, baka naman prank lang yan ni Jeron sayo ano? Wag ka naman masyadong maniwala, ikaw din baka ikaw masaktan."

"Grabe naman Best! Baka naman talaga Jeron realized his mistakes na, gaya nga ng sabi ni Kuya ano ka ba? Just be happy for me okay at natauhan na rin ang ever-sungit Jeron Teng na yun, thanks to Dichi Gretchen of course!" Mika reprimanded Ara who just rolled her eyes and stared at the car's window.

"Saan kayo dito sa La Salle?" Nico asked the two when they arrived at La Salle's main entrance. " Sa Henry Sy building nalang po kami Kuya Nics." Ara answered Nico politely. Nico steered the steering wheel right and headed to La Salle's Henry Sy building. They were welcomed by some fans who even asked to have a photo with them and some La Sallian athletes of course. They bid Nico goodbye and went straight to the claiming station, where they will claim their "Keep the Animo Burning" Shirt for the event later.

Mika was busy turning her head sideways until she caught a glimpse of the person who never fails to complete her day despite his major stubborness and insensitivity. The boy with those lovely chinky eyes who always thaw Mika's tender heart. It made her even happier when she caught the boy staring straight and smiling at her. Mika however just hid that unusual vibes she had been feeling lately, she then turned to Ara who looked really pissed off. "Best, nakita mo yun?" Mika asked Ara politely with macthing lovey-dovey voice. "NAKITA ANG ALIN?!" Ara replied to her raising her voice which made Mika jump one step backward.

"Oh sorry Best, may masamang hangin lang kasi na dumaan kanina kaya kita napagtaasan ng boses! Ano nga ba ulit yung hindi ko nakita?" Ara backed herself up, this time trying to calm down. "Ahhh wala Best! Wala lang yun, nevermind. What do you mean ba nung masamang hangin? Bakit parang on menopausal ka dyan? Don't tell me nagkapalit na kayo ni Jeron?" Mika told her best friend jokingly still noticing that frown on Victonara Galang's face.

"Biruin mo best, he still had the guts to pass by and kumustahin ako! Anak ng tipaklong Best! Did he really did that on purpose? Para sirain yung maganda na sanang araw ko ngayon?" Ara exclaimed. Mika just stared at her blankly as if she didn't have any idea what her best buddy is talking about.

"S-sino Best? Si T-tho.." Mika was about to mention Thomas' name when Ara immediately interrupted. "Don't you dare Best! Don't you dare mention his name infront of me! Grabe best that guy never fails to get into my nerves!" Ara exclaimed staring at Mika angrily. Later on, she noticed the look on Mika's face, an intimidated kind of look.

"Best bakit? Ba't parang takot ka?" Ara dumbly asked Mika. Mika just closed shut her eyes and pointed the guy on Ara's back by using her lips. At the sight of Mika's actions, Ara's eyes widened and she turned around slowly.

"Ang bitter mo pa rin pala sa'kin Ara. I was just hoping na, we can be good friends. Let's just forget the past Ara..Please?" Thomas told Ara casually which made Ara really mad at the point of hearing the words that Thomas uttered earlier. "Forget the past Thomas? Forget the past?! DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT IT'S AS EASY AS THAT?! God Thomas! Anong klaseng tao ka? That permanent scar you left me Thomas? Hindi na yun mawawala! Permanente na yun!" Ara shouted at Thomas vociferously making the La Sallian crowd around them looking at the tension growing between the two.

"Uhh-uhmm Sorry po! Sorry about that! Sorry Thomas! Excuse us na lang po." Mika backed her best friend's actions up and excused themselves by grabbing Ara by the wrist and heading straight into Henry Sy's back building. "Best ano ba? Kumalma ka nga, muntik na tayong napahiya dun kanina eh! Chill ka lang okay?" Mika reprimanded Ara the moment they got at the back far from those eyes staring at them a while ago.

"Sorry best, Sorry!" Those were the exact three words that Ara uttered. She burst into tears then and buried her face in Mika's chest who enveloped her with her two arms for a warm and comforting hug. Mika just kept quiet and listened into her sobs and cries, rubbing Ara's back to ease her burden. Mika knew that it's very tough for Ara seeing Thomas around. All it really does was just remind her of their past and bringing back the pain inside her. She really felt sorry for what happened earlier, she knew she might've saved Ara by pulling her away earlier when Thomas was still approaching.

"Best, ang sakit-sakit pa rin pala. Bumabalik pa rin sa'kin yung sakit na naramdaman ko two months ago nung bago pa lang tayong pasok dito sa School. Akala ko nakalimutan ko na, I thought immune na immune na ako. Akala ko nakapag move-on na ako sa sakit na nararamdaman ko noon pa, pero hindi pa pala, hindi pala ganun kadali yun, ang kalimutan ang bagay na binigyan ka ng sobra-sobra para alalahanin. It's really hard to forget something that gave you so much to remember. Ang saklap!" Ara remarked thoroughly, still folded into her best friend Mika's hug.

A moment of silence enveloped the place again until Ara broke from their hug. She wiped her tears away and recomposed herself, smiling like nothing happened, smiling like she's never been hurt. Mika decided to treat Ara for snacks to lift her into high spirits, which she really does rarely. After a while they went back to their campus' Henry Sy building to help out the others for the main event. The two just rested after to condition themselves for the opening later. For the cheers and shouts as well. They'll be cheering for two teams later, Ateneo and La Salle. The two just decided to take out some foods and eat at their dorm before going straight to the Arena.

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