Started with a call | Ricci Rivero

Prologue

Prologue

"Huy be! May load ka?" ani Patty, ang malupit kong bestfriend.

"Yup. Why?" I answered.

"Patawag naman oh!" She pouted.

We're inside the library, I'm busy reading one of my favorite novels when she suddenly disturbed me.

"Sino tatawagan mo? Is it that urgent? Naka-line ka naman diba?"

"Dali na kasi! Smart ako e." Inalog niya pa ang braso ko dahilan para mapilitan akong dukutin ang phone ko sa bulsa.

Baka mamaya masita pa kami ng librarian dahil sa kabaliwan ng isang to.

Inabot ko sa kanya ang phone then she immediately typed a number.

"Hoy lumabas ka, bawal ang calls dito. Gusto mo bang ma-ban?"

"Hayaan mo na! Malayo naman tayo sa librarian. Tsaka nagbabaka-sakali lang naman ako." She explained.

"Nagbabaka-sakaling ano?" I noticed na nanginginig pa siya habang inilalapit ang phone sa tenga.

Seriously, naka-drugs ba tong kaibigan ko?

"Ano bang nangyayari sayo? Para ka ng mangingisay diyan. Sino ba kasi yan?"

Her eyes suddenly widened.

"Shit shit! Holy shit!" She kept cursing hanggang sa mabitawan niya sa table ang phone ko.

Some of the students turned their heads to us. Agad kong dinampot ang cellphone at humingi ng paumanhin because of the noise.

I placed my phone on my ear to talk to the one on the other line since natulala na si Patty at di na makagalaw sa kinauupuan niya.

"Hello sino to?" I asked.

Medyo matagal bago sumagot ang nasa kabilang linya.

"You're the one who called." A guy answered.

"Uhm, I know but I just want to confirm if who is this."

"This is Ricci Rivero."

My grip on the phone tightened as I processed his words.

Ricci. Ricci what?

Ricci! Oh my god.

I glared at Patty. This bitch! Kaya naman pala ganito nalang ang reaction ng babaeng ito, iyong iniidolo niya palang basketbolista ang nasa linya.

"Do you have anything to say?" He asked in a low, husky tone.

I'm lost of words. I admit that I lowkey have a crush on this guy too.

I've known him for long already, I watch him sa TV together with my Dad. My dad loves basketball as well kasi, and he's the one who introduced me to Ricci. Napapa-face palm na nga lang ako tuwing pinupuri ni Dad ito kasi sinasabi niyang naaalala niya daw ang sarili niya kay Ricci nung kabataan.

I was like, my dad? Compare to Ricci? Nah.

Pero dun siya masaya, so hayaan na. Matanda naman na e. Kidding!

Ever since napapanood ko siya, I've grown interested on him. Nakikita ko kung gaano siya ka-dedicated sa paglalaro and I can also see how great he is, on and off court.

Hindi lang talaga ako vocal sa pagsuporta sa kanya. Binabash ko siya sa harap ng mga kaibigan ko since natutuwa ako pag naaasar si Patty. Ang cute cute niya kasi! Lol.

Pareho kaming baliw ng kaibigan ko, pero nasa loob siguro talaga ang kulo ko.

I tried to compose myself and looked for anything to say. I even kicked Patty on her foot pero nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa akin habang madramang ngumingiti.

Napatingin ako sa librong binabasa ko   then one line caught my attention.

"If you don't have anything to say then I guess I'll just greet you a merry christmas?"

I hesitated kung babanggitin ko ba ang linyang iyon.

"Wala na ata akong kausap. Goodbye then-"

"Wait!" I stopped him.

"Uhm I....a..e." Gosh, what's stopping me? Asan ang kapal ng mukha ko?

Madalas naman iyang nandyan pero mukhang iniwan ata ako ngayong kailangan ko!

"i..o..u?" He chuckled.

I smiled a bit, his laugh was cute.

"People tend to say that you're a star. Pero parang hindi naman." I said disregarding the embarrassment.

"What?" He asked confused.

"Because you're not just a star to me. You're my whole damn galaxy. Bye!"

"Wait!" He yelled but I already cut out the line because I'm too embarrassed and I wanna slap myself.

I immediately packed my things at hinila ang tulala paring si Patty palabas ng library.

Pagkalabas namin ay agad ko siyang hinampas ng libro ng niyugyog nang magising sa katotohanan.

"Ah! Aray naman beshywap!" She covered herself.

"Baliw kaba talaga ha Patrisha Eliana Vicente?!" I yelled at her, feeling ko pulang-pula na ako.

"What was that? Why were you calling Ricci Rivero and how did you get his number?"

"Teka teka bago mo nga ako tanggalan ng balat can you please let me explain!"

"Explain then!"

"E kasi diba endorser siya ng Cherry Mobile?" She started, pabitin pa ang isang to.

"And?" I asked.

"Tapos ayun pinost sa twitter yung number niya para maka-join sa Hashtag HelloRicci."

My eyebrows creased.

"So you mean to say na hindi lang tayo iyong nasagot niya?"

"Malamang sa malamang oo." She pouted.

"You think that call was broadcasted? Narinig ng marami iyong tawag ko?"

I'm almost hysterical.

"I think so?" She gave me an innocent smile.

"You brat! Bakit mo ginamit ang phone ko?!"

"E kasi naman te! I tried calling numerous times using my phone, pero naka 143 call na wala parin."

"And so I borrowed your phone kasi naisip kong naka Cherry network ka that's why I tried kasi wala namang mawawala diba!"

"Tapos ayun, kita mo na! One call and he answered! Oh my gosh bes I heard his voice! He spoke to me!"

"I can die in peace!" Dagdag niya pa.

I don't actually know if she's explaining or rapping. Ang bilis ng mga sinabi niya. Ni wala na nga akong naintindihan.

"Talagang you will die! But not in peace! Naku kang babae ka, kakalbuhin talaga kita"

"Ouch ouch! Bes naman e. Ano bang kinagagalit mo diyan? Akala ko ba walang epekto sayo si Ricci?"

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya.

"Wala naman talaga." I defended.

"Yun naman pala e! Arte nito, kala mo naman ikamamatay mo pag nakausap mo siya."

Gusto kong isigaw sa kanya na ikamamatay ko talaga, ikamamatay ko sa kahihiyan!

Kung ano-anong sinabi ko dun, nautal-utal pa ako.

"Kasi naman e! Bakit kasi phone ko pa, dapat iyo nalang!"

"I explained it already, tumigil ka nga Zandria Lucielle Santander!"

I pouted. Nakakahiya kasi talaga! Ikaw kaya jan bigla mo nalang malalaman na crush mo na pala yung kausap mo sa phone, tignan ko lang kung di ka matameme.

I heard my phone beep...

And then something unexpected came up.

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