[EDITING] Who Would Have Thought?

16 - Other People's Happiness

Pat's POV

"Go Ricci!!!"

I was taking pictures of the Green Archers habang naglalaro. Rinig na rinig ko ang pagsigaw ng fans niya ng name niya. It was something which made me smile. Ang sarap lang pakinggan yung pag-cheer nung mga sumusuporta sa kanya.

I made sure na maganda yung pictures ko so that their fans wouldn't be disappointed once I upload this online. Thankful ako kasi simula nung first upload ko ng pictures, all I received were good feedbacks.

Pagkatapos ng game in which DLSU won, bumaba na kami nila Kuya Sheed sa Athlete's Den para hintayin si Kuya Prince and Ricci. Nauna na akong pumasok sa loob kasi may mga nagpa-picture pa kay Rasheed sa labas.

Pagpasok niya, tumabi siya sakin at ngumiti.

"Grabe Rash. How do you cope up? Parang celebrities na rin kayo."

Ngumiti si Rasheed.

"No, we're not. Syempre nakakatuwa lang na kahit hindi naman ako isa sa mga players, makikita mo yung support nila sakin pagdating sa sarili kong endeavors kaya super thankful rin ako sa kanila."

Tumango ako. I suddenly remembered Alex. For sure kilala siya ni Rasheed kung talagang naging girlfriend siya ni Ricci. I turned to him and asked.

"Hey Sheed, you know Alex Marquez right?"

Nakita ko yung pagkagulat niya.

"Si Alex? Yeah. You know her?"

Ngumiti ako.

"Oo. Recently lang. Ex-girlfriend ni Ricci, right?"

Dahan-dahan siyang tumango.

"Gaano sila ka-tagal?"

"I think 2 years."

"Ang tagal pala."

"Bakit mo natanong? Did Alex do something to you?"

"Wala naman. Curious lang ako kasi I saw her with Ricci a few days ago."

"You know, Pat? Si Ricci, hindi yan manliligaw if he isn't serious. Sa lahat ng girls na na-encounter niya, tatlo lang kayong niligawan niya. He doesn't do flings or what. That's what dad told us. Wag naming gagawin sa girls ang ayaw naming may gagawa kay mom."

Ngiting sagot niya sakin.

"How did they umm... broke up?"

"I shouldn't be the one telling you this pero sige para hindi ka na mag-worry. Si Alex ang nakipag-break kay Ricci. Ang pagkakaalam ko, naging busy kasi nun si Cci sa career niya pero hindi naman siya nauubusan ng time to spend with her . Magaling sa time management si Ricci eh. Studies, basketball, at relationship, kaya niyang i-handle. Siguro Alex just wants all the attention to herself. Hindi enough yung oras na nabibigay ni Ricci sa kanya. Pinagsabay ni Alex si Cci and some dude from her school kaya ayun. Akala nga namin matagal pa ulit bago makahanap si Ricci. But you came kaya happy kami ni Ahia na happy siya. Nung time kasi na yun after nila mag-break, he got depressed talaga."

Nagnod lang ako. Ricci really is serious when it comes to relationships.

"Kaya don't worry about her, Pat. Ricci is done with her. He loves you more than you know. I can prove that, I swear!"

Ngumiti si Rasheed.

"Thank you for telling me. Nahihiya kasi akong magtanong kay Ricci eh."

"Ano ka ba, you don't have to be shy sa kanya. You have the right to know."