That Summer When She Cried

Part I: Her Summer Songs and My Winter Tunes

Like any ending, seasons come and go. Summer becomes winter, spring becomes fall. Each brings different emotions, positivity, and negativity. We can hate winter for chills then we love summer. We then blame the heat and wish for snow. We love the trees fully bloomed but the fallen leaves on the ground gives us a lot of memories to ponder on. No season is bad and no season is good. Just like love, it will be there no matter where you sleep, no matter where you wake up. Season is but a part of time and time is something that goes on. Seasons are nothing if it meant love.

-Tanya, Jeric

--

"And that was it Pilipinas! Jeric Teng sealing the cup with a three point shot for the RoSEPainters, leaving Ginebra behind with just four seconds remaining!" the commentator shouted above all the screams that echoed in Araneta.

Before I made the shot, there were still a few more seconds left sufficient for the other team to steal the ball, make a shot, then go for an overtime or a win; or have a foul, get the opponent in the free throw line then they still go for an extension.

But my shot changed our team's fate that season, making us champions. Everyone was rejoicing and screaming. I saw our coach patting the back of my team mates, Chan carrying his kid, Tiu locked in an embrace with his wife, Araña showering everyone with the water from his bottle, Norwood jumping in unison with Belga, Lee, and Almazan.

I saw my family on the courtside, all smiling and cheering for me. Somehow, I could hear Almira and Alyssa's chorused cheer for me. Mom was smiling, as well as dad, and I knew they were all proud. Karl was waving her white balloon while her hand glittered with a stud of diamond, Jeron beside her clapping.

Out of all the thousands of people who came to cheer and celebrate, of all those who went to show their support, of all those who played and did their best, of our team who worked as one and united, of them who dedicated every game to someone, of them who did their best for that one, of them who had someone to share the joys with of every game...

I had no one.

--

"Jeron? Anong nangyari sa kuya mo?!"

I knew it would end up with Jeron explaining this. He wanted and he needed to send Karl home but after that argument, conversation, confession, separation, however you may call it, he knew he had to let Karl take a cab and follow me. I went straight to my car and he took his, driving after me.

He saw me head to a quiet pub in Greenhills. He didn't say anything while I drank what I could. We were on the same table and we were both quiet.

When I was done, we both stood up and went back to the parking lot. He knew I was not drunk. I just consumed two bottles and I knew I could tolerate that. Sa totoo lang, nagulat ako na yun lang ang tinapos ko. I was expecting I would drown myself with it. He let me drive my car and like earlier, tahimik lang syang nakasunod sa akin until we got home.

Mom, Achi, and Dichi were all in the living room when we came and I never stopped to talk to anyone. They just saw me slam the door, throw my car keys on the table, ignored our family, then ran upstairs. Then another door slam.

"JERON! Saan ba kayo galing at nagkaganyan yung kapatid mo?!" Mom shouted at Jeron.

"We just had dinner," he answered.

"Dinner? E bakit halos gibain nya yung bahay sa pagsasara nya ng pinto?! Nag-away ba kayo?!"

He shook my head in response. "It's not me. Tanya and Ahia had some discussion."

"Lasing ba si Jeric?" Achi asked him.

"No, Achi. He just had two bottles but he's fine," he answered. Sabi ko na nga ba, sya talaga mapapagalitan.