Love Poison

Attention (Two)

Dark and lonely...hays

Frustrated, Jema shifted her gaze from the starless sky to the citylights below and watched a typical Manila night from the rooftop where she is.

Heavy traffics...crowded and loud.

"Malamig dito sa labas...Baka sipunin ka."

Nagulat na lamang si Jema nang biglang may nagsalita sa kanyang likuran. When she turned her head where the voice came from, she was surprised to learn that it was Deanna Wong, the three times Best Setter from Ateneo.

"Ah okay lang. Hmmn, medyo nag-iba lang yung pakiramdam ko kanina. Nagpapahangin...saglit."

Which is true.

Dala na rin marahil ng pagod sa byahe dahil mag-aalas siyete na rin nang makarating siya from Laguna at kakulangan sa tulog kaya biglang nag-iba ang kanyang pakiramdam. Idagdag mo pa ang nakabibinging ingay sa loob at dalawang shot ng gin na ang lasa ay hindi niya nagustuhan.

Hindi agad pumasok sa isang club team si Jema nang makapagtapos ng college despite being the famed Queen Falcon. She rather continue her studies and teach in a private university. But after graduating, finishing her Masters Degree on General Education she suddenly lost the passion to stay and work on the said field. She missed playing volleyball, her friends and of course, the daily routine of an athlete. So when an offer from Creamline Cool Smashers of PVL came, she grabbed it.

Dalawang buwan pa bago magsisimula ang conference kaya sumasama-sama pa siya sa mga kaibigan niya from her college days. Konting inuman lang naman plus ktv at hindi matapos-tapos na kwentuhan. Sinasagad na rin niya dahil alam niyang next month, mag-uumpisa na ang training not to mention na system pa naman ni Coach Tai. Magiging busy na naman siya...buhay athlete na naman ulit.

"Here, use my jacket. Naka-sleeveless ka pa lang naman."

Di na rin siya makatutol pa dahil naipatong na ni Deanna ang jacket sa kanyang mga balikat. "Thank you."

Pasimple niyang inamoy ang jacket.

Ang bango naman ng isang Deanna Wong.

Nangiti siya sa naisip niyang iyon.

"Kanina ka pa dito?" Untag sa kanya ni Deanna nang mailang ito sa sumunod na katahimikan.

"Ah mga 20 minutes na rin ata. Bakit?"

"Hindi ka pa papasok sa loob?"

"Hindi pa naman."

When Deanna didn't reply she looked at her, only to find her sheepishly smiling. When their eyes met, napakagat-labi na ito marahil sa pagpipigil. It makes her cute and sexy at the same time.

Jema suddenly felt her cheeks heating up without knowing the exact reason why. Not wanting the other woman know that she is blushing, she looked away. "Anong pong nginingiti-ngiti mo dyan?" Tanong niya na kunwari ay nagsusungit.

"Wala naman po. It's just...you're beautiful tonight Jema...saka bumagay sayo ang favorite jacket ko."

Hindi na napigilan ni Jema ang tuluyang mangiti. "Bola!"

"Err no! Nagsasabi ako ng totoo." Sagot naman nito agad nang nakataas pa ang kanang kamay.

Jema crossed her arms and faced Deanna. "So what do you want now, T-Rex?"