Steady Rhythms of Love (Ryker Series #2)

SROL [43]

I continued supporting Blade tuwing may laro sila. Si Cali ang madalas na kasama ko dahil bihira lang sumama ang iba. Minsan naman ay sumama rin si Ashley kapag wala siyang ginagawa.

The roar of the crowd was deafening. Sobrang taas ng energy sa buong arena. It was the finals game, game three. Kung mananalo ulit sila Blade ngayon ay sila na ang tatanghaling champion.

I sat on the edge of my seat in the front row. My heart was pounding with every dribble, every pass, and every shot Blade took. I was silently praying na matapos ang game na ito na walang mangyayaring hindi maganda sa kanya.

I was with the whole barkada. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit biglang kumpleto kami ngayon. Siguro ay dahil may possibility na magchachampion na sila Blade kaya nanood na rin sila.

The scoreboard flashed 102-100, with only ten seconds left on the clock. Lamang ang kabilang team ng dalawang puntos lang. Magkahawak ang kamay namin nila Calista at Lorelei. Blade had the ball in his hands. The entire arena seemed to hold its breath as he dribbled past two defenders.

"Come on, you've got this," I whispered.

"It's either mag-oovertime o titira siya sa tres," rinig kong sabi ni Harri.

With three seconds to go, Blade leapt into the air, the ball spinning from his fingertips in a perfect arc. The buzzer sounded just as the ball swished clearly through the next.

"Oh my gosh!" we yelled in shock. He threw the ball just at the three-point lane and it got in! The final score was 102-103!

I jumped to my feet, screaming along with the crowd. Confetti rained down from the ceiling as Blade's teammates rushed in the center of the court.

When his eyes found mine in the crowd, he motioned for me to come down to the court. I didn't hesitate. Sumunod agad sa akin si Calista. Blade broke away from his teammates and sprinted toward me.

"You did it again!" I exclaimed as he pulled me into a tight hug. "Congratulations, my love!"

"I love you," marahang sabi niya.

Before I could reply, he kissed me, right here in the middle of the court, with confetti still falling and the crowd still cheering.

"Let's buy some snacks first!" yaya ni Cali. "The awarding is gonna take a while, and we figured we'd stock up so we don't starve during the speeches. You know how long these things can last."

"Tara. Malapit lang ba?"

"May bilihan sa labas," sabi ni Alexa. "Sama na ako sa inyo."

We went outside the arena to buy some snacks. Sa sobrang daming pwedeng pagpilian ay panay ang ikot namin dahil hindi makapili si Cali.

"Ano ba kasing gusto mo? Kumuha ka nalang ng kahit ano," mukhang naiinip na rin na sabi ni Alexa.

"I want something sweet yet spicy," Cali said.

"Naglilihi ka ba? Saan ka nakakita ng pagkain na maanghang pero matamis?"

Cali laughed. "Meaning, wala rito ang gusto kong pagkain! Let's go sa kabila!"

Pareho kaming napailing ni Alexa at walang choice na sumunod na lang sa kanya. Halos inabot na ata kami ng thirty minutes sa paghahanap pero sa huli ay bumili lang naman siya ng Lays!

"Lakas talaga ng tama mo. Hindi ko alam kung paano ka nahe-handle ni Josiah," umiiling na komento ni Alexa.

When we returned, kumunot kaagad ang noo ko nang makitang sobrang dilim sa loob ng arena.

"Hala, brownout?" takang tanong ko. "Wala naman akong napansin na lumabas. Bakit ang tahimik din?"

Nang lingunin ko sila Cali at Alexa ay hindi ko na maramdaman ang presensya nila sa likuran ko. Kinabahan kaagad ako.