The Playlist // Ricci Rivero Fanfiction (On-Hold)

Kabanata 20

The long wait is over. For the first time in UAAP Season 81, magtatapat narin ang arch-rivals, Green Archers at Blue Eagles. Naghahanda na ako dito sa aking kwarto while Blanche is waiting outside. I decided to wear a green sleeveless top, white skinny jeans and white shoes.

Hindi ko pa kasi nalalabhan ang aking school shirt. I have other things to do alright? I tied my hair in a ponytail, sprayed on my Bvlgari Rose Goldea perfume at lumabas narin.

"You look great wearing green and white! Buti naisipan mong mag ganyan rather than wearing random shirts." Tumawa siya kasabay nang pagligpit sa kaniyang mga gamit.

"This shirt is random naman ah. Only it's green kaya you don't consider it as random."

"Fair point." She said. Suot kasi niya ngayon yung jacket ni Brent noon. Since he's not playing for the green and white anymore, binigay nalang niya ito kay B. Paraiso naman rin siya. Nag transfer narin kasi si Brent sa UST.

It's still 12 noon kaya nag stop over muna kami sa Starbucks to grab coffee and also food. I ordered my usual Dark Mocha coffee and isang mocha cake. You can't blame me, I really love mocha flavored food.

I waited for my order saka umupo sa usual table namin. The table beside the window. Dati, hindi lamang si B yung kasama ko. Why does everything seem to remind me of him? Ininom ko nalang ang aking kape, ate the cake and went on Twitter.

Unang nag pop sa timeline ko is yung tweet ni Ricci. Wow, he actually tweeted; tungkol pa naman sa laro ng DLSU ngayon versus Ateneo. I clicked it at naka attach naman dun is yung video call screenshot nila.

_ricciiirivero :

  Good luck Archers! Keep the faith, Animo! 💚🏹

Many fans replied doon sa tweet. Agreeing with him also replying 'Animo!' tapos the rest of them are saying na bumalik na raw siya sa Pilipinas, specifically sa GA.

I also replied with a green heart sa kaniyang tweet and closed the application and also my phone. Pagkatapos nun, tumulak na rin kami ni Blanche papuntang MOA. Pagdating namin doon, UST vs UE pa yung laro. UST is currently in the lead kaya mas lalong lumakas yung chant ng crowd.

"Uy ang gwapo parin ni CJ! Yung jersey number 27!" Kinalabit ako ni B saka tinuro si Cansino. I've known him since NCAA player pa siya until now.  

"I know." Tumawa kaming dalawa 'tsaka nag IG story ako habang nag-aantay sa second game. The Green Archers are now preparing sa likod ng Arena base sa sabi ni kuya. Achi Des also texted me na pupunta rin daw siya.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas, natapos rin ang laro. Panalo ang UST kaya we went there to congratulate them. People are now going out of the arena kaya lumabas narin yung players sa next game.

"Ibibigay ko lang 'to kay kuya saglit." Tumango si Blanche kaya kinuha ko na ang tatlong Gatorade na pinabili niya sa akin kanina.

Bumaba ako galing sa mga upuan papunta sa court kung saan sila nag p-prepare for training. I saw kuya chatting with the others kaya dumiretso ako doon. Parang may kausap sila via phone. Well, I'm still going to give this.

"Kuya, eto nga pala yung Gatorade mo."

"Oh Ina, thank you. Sino kasama mo?"

"Uh si B, nandoon sa taas." He waved at her and vice versa.

"Ah sige kuya, babalik na ako, mukhang magsisimula na kayong mag practice."

Aalis na sana ako pero the other GA members called me. Nag shrug lang si kuya so lumapit ako sa kanila. I was shocked at hindi ako makagalaw sa nakita. It was Ricci on the phone; smiling and waving.

Kuya Aljun handed me the phone at sinabing mas better na kausapin ko siya sa locker area nila. Privacy raw. I nodded, tsaka I turned off the camera habang nag lalakad papunta doon.

"Hi! How are you there?" Anlakas makasabi ng ganyan ah. The tears are threatening to fall down pero I just blinked them away.

"Do you think I'm fine after mong umalis ng hindi nagsasabi? Ricci, alam mo ba kung ano yung naramdaman ko after that?" Napawi yung kaniyang ngiti and was silenced. I continued.

"Cci, I understand what you felt pero sana inisip mo rin na you should at least tell me. I care for you okay!" Ngayon, Hindi ko na napigilan ang mga luhang kanina pa nagbabadiyang bumuhos.

"Shit. Ina please, huwag kang umiyak. I'm sorry, and I'm tired to see you cry because of me. It's just that hindi ko nakayanan yung sakit. Call me whatever you want but that's what I felt after kong nalaman na kayo na pala. I'm just so sorry."

Ako nanaman yung natahimik ngayon. Akala ko dahil lang sa kaibigan lamang ang turing ko sa kaniya. But I found out that is isn't. Napakatanga!
The silence broke when a girl in the background spoke.

"Ricci! I've been looking for you, let's go!" The girl appeared in the screen, hindi niya namalayan na nag v-video call kami. Oh well, that might be his girlfriend.

"Ellie, just give me a minute and I'll be ready." Tumango yung babae at umalis.

"I have to go Ina, I'll call you when I have time. See you soon."

We ended the call. Nanibago ako roon just hearing his voice. I wiped the tears on my face at 'tsaka lumabas. I'll just smile to hide the pain again.

Nagsimula na sa wakas yung laro nila. Leading kaagad yung DLSU ngunit naka score kaagad yung Ateneo resulting to a tie. Mainit at pisikal and laro, first quarter pa lamang pero the game is just starting.

"Ina, you seem to be crying. What happened there?" Ani Ate Des. Kinwento ko sa kaniya yon and she seems to understand naman. The game went on a full storm. The crowd are cheering way too loud now. Green and Blue separated.

Natapos ang laro sa score na 71 - 55. In favor of the Blue Eagles. Dumiretso kaming tatlo ni ate Des, Blanche at ako sa GA. Although hindi man kami nagwagi ngayon, the Green and White would still fight.

"Congrats parin kuya!!!" I hugged and comforted him. He hugged me back and smiled. He mouthed a thanks and we proceeded to congratulate the other team.

After the game, we had dinner and then balik practice nanaman sila. I'm kind of worried kay kuya because he's very pressured lately. Team Captain siya, and also an honor student kaya doble. But the other thing that kept me awake all night is the video call. And the girl.