“Dani,” Bea approached the younger one
“Yes po?” Dani looked up to her Ate.
Napaisip naman si Bea. Still unsure if she should ask Dani or just go by herself. But going there alone would make her feel uncomfortable, at least one person who'll be with her is fine.
“Uhm, are you heading home na ba after ng last period mo?”
Dani knew that Bea's up for something. It's really unusual of Bea to ask her something like that. I mean, they're close friends of course, but not the point that they would hang out after school.
“Nope. Actually manonood ako ng practice ng—”
“That's great!” Bea responded with excitement, cutting Dani off. She couldn't really help herself from being too giddy. “Sabay na tayo.”
Dani creased her forehead. “What's great Ate? Sasama ka din ba manood ng practice ng Ateneo's cheering squad?”
Bea's smile slowly faded. She wished for the earth to just crush her, it was a total embarrassment. Halatang halata na excited siyang manood ng practice ni Thirdy.
“A-ah, I thought practice ng Men's basketball. Hehe.” she reasoned out shyly, scratching the back of her head.
Dani laughed out loud. Kaya mas lalong nadagdagan ang kahihiyan ni Bea. Good thing the others went out already, and Deanna and Ponggay looked like they're having an argument so it's impossible for them to interfere to their conversation.
“Grabe, w-wag mo naman akong tawanan.” Bea said, slightly punching Dani's shoulder. But the younger one didn't stop. She continued what she's doing and it gets louder and louder as time pass by.
“Nako Dani ha. Wag mo nga akong simulan. Sige ka, aasarin kita kay—” Before Bea could finish her sentence, Dani covered her mouth and told her to sush.
“Oo na Ate oo na! Sasamahan na kita. Just please. Wag mo lang akong tuksuhin sa kanya.” Dani pleaded and it was Bea's turn to laugh at her.
“We have a deal then.” Bea smirked and Dani rolled her eyes in defeat.
Later that day, their plan got postponed when Maddie, their team captain, announced that they'll be having an afternoon practice. Bea and Dani couldn't be more dissapointed and you can see it on their faces.
They finished 4th place for Game 1 and Coach Thai said that they still need to improve a lot of things. Especially when receiving the first ball.
The whole training is more about practising their skills on receiving the ball. Each one of them went through the Coach Thai way of training. Giving everyone an exhausted and painful body.
Bea felt sore by the time that they were almost done. She went to pick up the ball and the moment she bent her back, she let out a deep sigh.
“Are you okay?”
Bea stopped half way from picking the ball and immediately looked up to see if she's hallucinating or not.
Bea was sure glad that she's not.
“Thirds.. anong ginagawa mo dito?” Bea was out of words but still managed to ask him.
Bea's heart is palpitating so hard, so she told herself mentally, shut up.
“Nanonood ng practice niyo. Kanina pa kayo hindi nagbebreak ah, simula pa nung pumunta ako dito.” Thirdy answered worriedly.
“You mean kanina ka pa?”
Thirdy nodded. “Hindi mo lang siguro ako napansin kasi busy ka. Pero kaya mo pa ba? You look tired.”
Seeing Bea all worked up like that made him worry more. If he could just replace her even for half an hour so that she could at least rest herself, he'd be willing to do so despite of the horrifying drills they're doing.
Bea gave Thirdy a convincing smile with a thumbs up.
“Ako pa ba?” Bea laughed.
She knew that moment that she could still go training for the whole night. Thirdy just gave her an unlimited set of energy. It was amazing.
“That's my bei. Go on, dito lang ako. I'll wait for you.” Thirdy messed Bea's hair before turning back to the bench.
Bea blushed. She was left breathless, staring at Thirdy's broad shoulder.
“Bea watch out!”
Before she knew it, there was already a flying ball going to her direction. But before it could even knock her out, she ducked and was able to avoid the ball.
Someone slapped her butt and she knew who would do that even in the middle of dilemma.
“Naks. Lakas ng reflexes natin kahit kinikilig ah.” Jhoana whispered to her ear.
One thing she's sure about her bestfriend, annoying. She's always damn annoying at times like this.
“Wag mo kong simulan Jhoana ha.” Bea warned the smaller one but she just laughed at the tall one.
They went back to training but before Bea did, she took a quick glance at Thirdy.
Thirdy's looking at her intently that time. She didn't know what to do so she just smiled quickly before avoiding his gaze.
Magfocus ka Bea, anuba. She told herself as she swallowed.
“Beatriz, ikaw na magseserve!”
Her team mates almost gave her a mini heart attack when they shouted almost in chorus.
“Ay ako na ba.” was all she could ever say before going to the service area.
Her team mates laughed at her, but Jhoana isn't contented with that laugh so she added some spice.
“Bea wag kang pahalatang kinikilig ka! Nandito pa si Thirdy.”
Bea's eyes widened when Jhoana told her that loudly that made everyone laugh even harder.
She swallowed so hard thinking that it was Jhoana whom she's swallowing.
Tang ina. Bakit ngayon pa Jho? Her inner self thought, nearly crying out of embarrassment.
She tried not to mind them but when she saw Thirdy smiling like an idiot from the bench by himself, she sure wished that she was born half human and half bubble. So she could just disappear in times like this.
