Definitely Out of his League | published under Ukiyoto Publishing

10th League: Trapped in each other's eyes

10th League: Trapped in each other's eyes

TRAVIS COULDN'T quit staring at his wrist watch from time to time. It was already 8PM. Hindi man lang nagpaalam ang kapatid niya na aalis ito. He was worried sick about her. Muli ay umalis siya ng bahay nila at at nagtungo sa labasan. Sa daan ay nakasalubong niya ulit si Greta.

"Greta, napansin mo na ba si Trixie?" tanong niya sa dalagita.

"Pogi, pangatlong tanong mo na 'yan, ha. Isa pa, iisipin ko na talagang nagpapapansin ka lang sa 'kin. Hindi ko pa siya nakikita," sagot ni Greta.

"Sige, salamat," ani Travis at naglakad-lakad pa upang magtanong-tanong.

Balak na niyang magpatulong sa mga tanod nang bigla na lang may humintong isang magarang kotse sa harapan niya.

Iniluwa noon si Trixie na maraming bitbit na paper bags. Sa sobrang dami ay hindi na nito alam kung paano kakargahin ang mga 'yon.

"Kuya, patulong naman," Trixie said.

"Ano ba sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?" malamig na tanong ni Travis.

"Kuya... Sorry... Namasyal lang naman kami ni Ms. Iris. Pinamili niya rin ako ng mga magagandang damit," tugon ng kapatid niya.

"Napag-usapan na natin 'to, Trixie, 'di ba? Ibalik mo 'yan sa kaniya," utos niya sa kapatid.

Iris got out of the car and stared at Travis.

"Ikaw, saan mo ba dinala ang kapatid ko? At 'yang mga 'yan? Hindi niya kailangan 'yan. Iuwi mo sa inyo ang lahat ng 'yan," Travis told Iris.

"Pero Kuya..." Trixie was at the verge of crying.

"Tapos ka na? Hindi naman ikaw ang binigyan ko, 'di ba? Si Trixie, siya ang binigyan ko. Alam mo, mas mabuti pa nga ang kapatid mo, nakaka-appreciate. Hindi katulad mo, punong-puno ng kayabangan sa sarili, wala namang ipagmamayabang," sagot ni Iris.

"Ikaw, ano? Pakialamera ka. Gustong-gusto mong nagpapabida. Oo na, ikaw na ang mayaman, ako na ang mahirap. Masaya ka na?"

"Kasalanan ko bang mayaman ako at mahirap ka? I like Trixie, Travis. She's fun to be with. And if there's anything I can do to help her get out of this place, gagawin ko. Hindi mo 'ko kilala, Travis.

"Yup, I admit I was wrong for judging you the first time we met. I tried making up to you in every possible way I could thought of but you're just too closed. You didn't even try welcoming me," Iris told him. Her eyes were starting to get watery.

"Hindi mo 'ko naiintindihan," Travis said. This time, his voice sounded tired.

"No, I get you. I understand now. For you, first impression lasts," wika ni Iris. "Don't worry, you won't see me again. And if you don't like me too close to your sister. Then, I won't."

"Ms. Iris," naiiyak na tawag ni Trixie.

"I'm sorry, Trixie," Iris said before going back to her car and driving away.

HINDI MAKATULOG si Travis nang buong magdamag. His sister was ignoring her. She didn't even eat dinner with him.

He felt his reasons were right yet why did everything become hard for him? Kung tama ang pinaglalaban niya, bakit mali ang naging resulta?

Nang makatulog naman siya at magising kinabukasan, Trixie was not on her bed. Ani naman ng mga kapitbahay ay pumasok na raw ng eskwelahan.

His sister was still mad at him. Alam niya kung gaano kaidolo ng kapatid niya si Iris and what she had experienced last night was every fan's dream.