In a Relationship with Dashed (Completed)

C38: Avoiding Dashed.

38: Avoiding Dashed

"Bronywn, ano bang nangyayari sa'yo?!" I felt Teegan's strong grip on my shoulders. She shook them slightly, as if trying to wake me up from my stupor. "If you have a problem with Dashed, why don't you talk to him? Hindi itong nagtatago ka nang nagtatago sa kanya! Maawa ka naman dun sa tao! Lagi kang hinahanap pero ni anino mo, ayaw mong ipakita!"

Yumuko ako. I didn't want to do this, but there was a part of me that felt obligated to. And I think I'm just doing what's right. It's been a week.

A week of hiding from him. A week of no communication. A week of not being with him.

"Teegan, please..." I said in a shaky voice.

I didn't want to talk about it, not now. I need time to adjust. I need to get used to not having him by my side. And it's a good thing that he's too busy with their basketball training for the upcoming tournament, so he's not attending classes. Hindi nagtatagpo iyong mga landas namin.

To tell you frankly, iniingatan ko talaga na 'wag siyang makita. I know that if we cross paths, I would be lost. I would surely run towards him and hug him like I haven't seen his face for years. And I don't want that to happen.

Ayokong magpatalo sa mga nararamdaman ko.

Kahit na ang totoo niyan, miss na miss ko na talaga siya.

Teegan stared at me, and I felt a pang of fear when she shook her head in disappointment. "My God. I won't be surprised if mababalitaan kong these days ay may bago na siyang girlfriend. Habulin ng babae 'yong jowa mo, couz, kung hindi ka man aware! Maraming mas magagandang babae diyan na nagkakandarapa sa kanya ang more than willing maging kapalit mo!"

I pursed my lips. I didn't want to talk because I knew if I did, mababasag lang ang boses ko. Manghihina na naman ako. The pain in my heart would flare up. And that's not appropriate. Gusto ko nang makalimot.

Gusto ko nang kalimutan ang lahat.

"But anyway. You could still consider yourself extremely lucky naman dahil ikaw ang pinakatumagal kay Dashed CDG. Imagine? Two months! Milagro para sa aming nagkaka-crush sa kanya 'yon," she sighed heavily, and I felt bleary and miserable. "But it's annoying because... I thought you two were really meant to be."

"You just can't predict the future, Teegan," I swallowed hard. "You just can't."

Naputol ang pag-uusap naming dalawa nang dumating na si Cher Myka sa harapan. We straightened up in our seats, but for a couple of moments, I looked at the chair beside me. Napakagat labi ako. Nanigas. Hindi makahinga.

It's been a long time, Dashed.

Kamusta ka na kaya?

Baliw. Para akong baliw na kinakausap ang upuan niya sa isip ko.

"Good morning, class," Cher Myka started, and her eyes ran in my direction. Pinanliitan niya ako ng mga mata niya kaya awtomatikong napalunok ako. "Before we open a new lesson, Mr. Alcamante approached me earlier and said... he wants to talk to Ms. Bronywn Arroyo y López in the gymnasium. Ngayon na."

Everyone looked at me. They were probably wondering bakit ako pinapatawag ng coach ng basketball team namin. But even I didn't know.

Hindi ko naman siguro makakasalubong si Dashed doon, hindi ba?

At kung oo... what will I do?

Tumango ako sa adviser namin at tumayo na mula sa upuan ko. I was hesitant. Mabibigat ang mga hakbang ko papalabas ng room at mas lalo pang bumigat ang mga iyon nang magsimula ko nang tahakin ang direksyon papuntang gym.

As soon as I stepped into it, I immediately saw Mr. Alcamante waiting for me on the bleachers. He was at the end, so I walked slowly towards him.

Kada hakbang ko, para akong lumulutang. Pilit kong tinatatak sa isip ko na kailangan kong umakto ng normal. But damn it. How can I do that when I know Dashed is here?!

I wandered my eyes around and searched for his presence. Players were currently warming up inside the court. At nang makita ko siya, pagkatapos ng isang linggo kong pag-iwas, hindi ko mapigilan ang pagkasabik na lapitan at yakapin siya. Pero hindi pwede.

I would invalidate that week of avoiding him if I let my feelings take over.

So I was internally praying that he wouldn't notice me. Ayokong makita niya ako. Ayokong lapitan niya ako.

Ayokong mahulog ng tuluyan sa kanya.

"Good morning, po..." I smiled at Mr. Alcamante.

"Have a seat, hija," he tapped the space beside him, so I slowly complied. I was nervous, to be honest. Hindi ko naman kasi alam kung ano bang pag-uusapan namin. "Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa. Ayaw ko na sanang mangielam, but we can't let things continue like this..." he took a deep breath as he looked me straight in the eyes. "May problema ba kayo ni Dashed?"

My eyes widened, realizing the fact that I came here because of him. I couldn't speak. I was caught off-guard!

"These past few days, laging wala ang focus niya sa laro. Laging tulala. Laging mainit ang ulo. His game is affected because obviously, he lacks concentration during practice. So I'm asking you... may kinalaman ka ba dito?" he sighed heavily again. "Nabalitaan ko kasi na iniiwasan mo siya. Totoo ba 'yon?"

Tears rolled up in my eyes. I didn't know. I didn't know any of this was happening to him.

What have you done, Bronywn?

"Nakikiusap ako sa'yo, hija... This is the first time I've seen him like this. Maybe, he's really serious about your relationship. So please, I hope you fix whatever problem you have. As a coach, I can't let him continue like this. You guys seriously need to talk before I decide to remove him from his position as the captain ball of the team."

Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Dashed. No. Hindi pwede.

Tumayo ako.

At tumakbo papunta sa kanya.