Part 1: Drowned and Clattered
One calm night, Kiefer walks around the Oval thinking on how will he admit his feelings. He has known her for half a year and had long term feelings for her, ganyan siya ka-torpe. Ilang chansa na ang dumating pero lagi siyang pinangunahan ng takot. He had past Crushes, but was not serious enough and when he met Alyssa at BEG, that is when he knew, she was something.
FLASHBACK
First day of Summer Training as an incoming Blue Eagle. I, Kiefer Ravena, is very delighted to be commited to my own School, Ateneo. It is April 6 today and I am walking to the gym along with some Teammates--soon to be Teammates.
When we entered the gym, the Women's VB, Men's VB and Women's BB Teams were there. The other two except for the AWVT are about to go out of the gym, me and my fellow Rookies excitingly placed our bags on the bench as we waited for our coaches to arrive.
"Dyan na si Coach, ayos na." Kuya Raymond said, our Graduating Team Captain this Season 74.
We arranged ourselves and watched Coach Norman talk, he gave us instructions and listed out what we will be focusing on for today. After the long talk, we preceeded to the other side of the court away from AWVT. While doing a shootout, a ball hit my back and when I turned around it was from the other side, I picked it up and saw two ladies approaching me.
"Sorry po, Kuya. Napalakas po ata." Sabi nung Morena na matangkad, mahiya siyang ngumiti at pansamantala akong napatigil. She was not that familiar, must be a Rookie. I thought, but my eyes were focused on her smile until someone spoke.
"Uhm... 'Yung bola po, Kuya?" Her Teammate said, much smaller than her.
I smiled and handed her the ball then returned my attention to that tall Morena. Naniniwala ba kayo sa Love At First Sight? Kasi ako, oo na ata. Her looks were stunning though she was obviously a simple woman but she was more than that to me. I get to give that stare to other girls but this lady forced me to glue my eyes on her.
I woke back to reality when Kuya Kirk tapped my shoulder, "Sorry po." I said and he nodded.
And for the rest of our training, I secretly glanced at her.
Crush ko na siya.
END OF FLASHBACK
That day, he failed to get a chance to know her because he was shy. And that was his first time to get shy so in the second day of training, he gained his strength and had the guts to approach her, that is where it all started.
At kung naglakas loob siyang magpakilala kay Alyssa nung una, ngayon ay tila hindi niya mahagilap ang lakas para umamin sa kanyang nararamdaman. Kilala niya si Alyssa, matalino, maganda, mabait, simple, respetado, magaling, sikat at habulin ng mga lalake. Maski siguro mga tindero sa tabi ng Ateneo ay napapabuka ang bibig tuwing dadaanan ni Alyssa kasama ng ibang Teammates, patunay na nasa kanya ang lahat.
Bigo mag-isip si Kiefer sa loob ng dalawang oras na paglalakad sa Oval, bumalik nalang siya sa Dorm at pinagpabukas ang mga bagay ng gumugulo sa kanyang isipan.
KINABUKASAN
Isang umaga ang sumalubong kay Kiefer, but he couldn't sleep well because of one reason. He got out of bed and prepared himself for a stroll, Sunday it is. Since he was not able to go home yesterday, he had no choice but to stay inside the Dorm with his fellow Rookies.
Before he went out, Greg asked, "Hanggang kailan mo ba i-tatago?" Kiefer knew what he meant and he just shrugged in reply, but inside, he has been dying to tell. Umiling nalang si Greg at tuluyang lumabas ng pintuan si Kiefer para magpalamig.
"Alyssa, meron akong gustong sabihin sa'yo pero sana 'wag kang magagalit. Alyssa, gusto kita." He said while rehearsing his line. Pangit, pa-bitin ang trip! He murmured and took a deep breath, "Alyssa, matagal na tayong magkaibigan at may gusto akong sabihin sa'yo. Actually, matagal ko na itong binalak na sabihin pero wala akong lakas... Gusto kita." He stopped and scratched his head. Hindi eh! Mukha akong ewan! He thought and groaned, "Bahala na nga!"
"Kiefer!"
The sound was obvious, Kiefer smiled as he saw her walking towards him. In turn, nervousness clamped and gambled along his senses. Ito na ang kinakatakot ni Kiefer. Make or break, this is what you've been waiting for. He thought.
"Aga mo ata nagising? Hindi ka umuwi ng Batangas?" He asked.
"Hindi eh, hindi rin naman ako makakauwi kasi next week VB Season na." Alyssa said, bahagyang natuwa si Kiefer sa kanya. Alyssa knows how to set her priorities kahit may kailangan siyang i-sakripisyo alang alang sa kanilang paaralan at tagumpay ng Team. Alam ni Kiefer na malungkot din si Alyssa sa tono palang ng pananalita, inakbayan niya ito at hinawi ang kanyang buhok.
"You are doing this for them, it's okay." He said and Alyssa smiled, naalala naman niya ang kailangan niyang sabihin, huminga muna siya ng malalim at umalis sa pag-akbay bago magsalita, "Alyssa, I want to tell you something."
"Oh... Ako rin, may sasabihin sa'yo." Ngiting tugon ni Alyssa na mas lalong nagpakaba kay Kiefer, sumenyas naman siya na mauna, "Ikaw muna." Ganti naman ni Alyssa.
"Ikaw muna, ladies first." Sabi ni Kiefer at tumango nalang si Alyssa.
Ilang segundo pa bago nagsalita si Alyssa, at sa loob ng mga segundong 'yun ay ramdam niya ang pagwala ng kanyang sistema na pati ang kalamnan nito ay nanginginig. His heart pumping loudly with fear and excitement surrounding him, and after a few seconds... He mentally shot out at what she said.
"Kami na ni Jovee!"
Kiefer's mind blacked out like the world has stopped, it was a moment of heartbreak rather than butterflies and cheese. He did not expect for this to happen, yet, he knows Jovee but he didn't know that he was courting Alyssa for a while. But he almost drowned and clattered emotionally into pieces while witnessing her lavish smile that always melted him, he looked at her with hurt in his eyes and held himself back to avoid his emotions to break.
"Ikaw? Anong sasabihin mo?" She excitingly asked.
"Wala." He answered with an off-trailing voice.
"Wala? Diba meron kang sasabihin?"
"Nakalimutan ko na, huwag mo ng isipin kasi sayang lang ang oras." He declined and she smiled, "Congrats nga pala, hindi mo naman pinaalam sakin na manliligaw mo si Jovee." He adds and forced a smile, 'yun lang naman ang magagawa niya, ang ngumiti at maging masaya kahit nasasaktan. What am I supposed to anyway? Magalit? He thought.
"Oo nga pala, anim na buwan siyang nanligaw. Mabait siya, mahiyain tapos matiyagaing tao. Nung una, off siya para sakin kasi tingin ko walang 'dating' pagiging mahiyain niya tapos nakita ko din ang side niyang makulit at komedyante... Ayun, na-fall din ako." Ngiti niyang kwento.
Ganun din naman ako, bakit ganun? "Swerte niya sa'yo, ilang lalaki ang humahabol pero sa kanya pa babagsak. Sana nga lang ingatan ka niya kundi, sasapakin ko 'yun." He said confidently and she laughed, "Seryoso ako, Aly." He adds and she stopped upon noticing his serious tone.
"Huwag kang ganyan, nakakatakot." She said, "Okay ka lang ba?"
I'm not... I'm trying. "I am, paalala ko lang naman. Mahirap na ang panahon ngayon, bilang nalang ang mga lalaking matino. Hindi kita tinatakot, talagang marami na ang manloloko ngayong panahon at sana, hindi kasama si Jovee doon."
Alyssa hugged him and kissed his cheek, "Opo, masusunod Manong." She said and smiled.
