A Change of Heart

V

“Kuya, saan po yung gym?” Jane asked a student still out of breath. She has been rushing from her school to Linfield just to watch Alvin’s first practice game. She literally begged her director and theatre adviser para lang payagan siya umuwi ng maaga. She had troubles getting a cab at pagdating sa gate ng Linfield the guard won’t allow her to enter at first since hindi naman siya student dito. Buti nalang naawa ang guard at pinayagan na din siya makapasok sa wakas.

“Please abutan ko sana,” she whispered to herself and sprinted to the gym.

Buti nalang kahit madaming aberya nakaabot siya. She checked the scoreboard. There’s still 4th quarter. She hurriedly look for a vacant seat closest to the court. Even it’s just a practice game marami parin ang nanunuod. Almost all the bleachers are full. Luckily, she spotted a vacant seat at the corner near the court.

When she got to the chair, she pulled out a green varsity jacket from her bag and put it on. She looks silly she thought. She’s still wearing her school uniform under an oversized jacket. Pero she doesn’t mind, para kay Alvin naman to.

“What a dunk from Teng!” The commentator blasted to the microphone. Lahat ng nanunuod were shouting for him. For a rookie, Alvin caught the crowd’s attention almost instantly.

Just then when Alvin landed on his feet, he coincidentally sees Jane among the crowd. He was surprised but just the same so happy to see her there. Alvin gave her a wink and went back to the game.

“Woooh! Go 21!!!” Jane shouted.

Kahit mag-isa lang siya she isn’t shy shouting cheers for her friend. Actually, pinagtitinginan na siya ng mga tao sa paligid.

“Is she his girlfriend?”

“Kaano-ano ba ni Jeron yan?”

People were whispering about her. Curious at who is she at bakit ganun nalang siya maka-cheer for Alvin. But for Jane, if ever narinig man niya ang bulong bulungan, hindi na niya yun pinansin. Patuloy parin siya sa pagcheer at pagpalakpak sa tuwing makakscore ang team at lalo na pag makaka shoot si Alvin. She watched the game keenly, as if she’s lost in it.

The game ended with the score 68 – 52, in favor of Linfield. After the school’s alma mater song played, people started to disperse.

Alvin looked for Jane in the crowd and waved for her to wait before he went to the dugout and change.

“Makaka-kanta ka pa kaya niyan?” It’s Alvin. He walked towards Jane who was so busy fiddling her phone. Hindi niya napansin na kanina pa pala nakatayo si Alvin malapit sa kanya.

Jane lifted her head and saw Alvin smiling at her. She put her phone down and hugged him. “Congratulations!”she greeted him with a broken voice.

“Sabi na eh! Mamalatin ka! Tsk! Grabe ka kaya makasigaw kanina!” Alvin teased her.

“Hindi naman! Nakisabay lang ako sa crowd.”

“Hindi kaya. Nangingibabaw ang boses mo. I thought I heard you shout pa nga eh!” He laughed again.

“Seriously? Ganun kalakas ang mga sigaw ko?”

“Yeah! Rinig na rinig ko boses mo.”

“I don’t believe you. Ano sinisigaw ko?” Jane asked him unconvinced na ganun nga talaga kalakas ang mga hiyaw niya. Nakakahiya masyado kung rinig na rinig pala boses niya sa buong gym.

“You were shouting ‘Woooh! Go 21! Ang gwapo gwapo mo!” Alvin imitated her voice in his best way possible.

At this moment namula na si Jane kasi rinig na rinig pala talaga ang boses niya. “Ang kapal ng mukha mo! I never shouted na ang gwapo gwapo mo ha?”

“Really? I thought that was you shouting na ang gwapo ko?” Alvin laughed out loud.

“Nakakainis ka alam mo yun?” Jane said sabay irap kay Alvin.

“Joke lang naman,” Then he put his arm around her shoulders as they walk out of the gym. “Bakit ka nga pala andito? I thought you have theatre practice until 8.”

“Diba sabi ko sayo manunuod ako? Promise ko sayo yun,” Jane answered him simply.

“Yes, but I thought not practice games,” Alvin answered a bit amused.

“Diba sabi ko lahat ng games mo? As in  lahat. Practice games included… but if you’re not pleased I will not watch nalang. Parang ayaw mo ata eh,” Jane pouted her lips and acted as if she was hurt.

Alvin stood in front of her and held her shoulders with his hands.

“You know tonight is a great night. I’m happy that we won. I’m even happier that you are here and I’m much happier because you wore my jacket.” He smiled at her, “Thank you, Jane.”

She smiled back at him then remembered what she’s wearing right now. “Speaking of which, hindi ba ako mukhang timang kasi oversized jacket ang suot ko?” Jane jokingly asked him habang minomonstra yung jacket na suot niya.

“Of course not!” He looked at Jane from head to toe as if assessing how she looks. “Sa tingin ko green really looks great on you.”

“Eh yung size?”

“You look pretty kahit nga matabunan ka na ng jacket na sobrang laki eh.”

“Edi pretty nga kasi natakpan na mukha ko,” she answered him mockingly.

“Hindi… ikaw talaga…” Alvin goes back to Jane’s side and wrapped his arm on her shoulders. “So where do you want to eat? My treat kasi ikaw ang Most Valuable Fan ko.”

“Who said I’m your fan?” Jane raised an eyebrow at him which caused Alvin to frown. “I’m just joking. Pizza tayo?”

“Actually, yan din nasa isip ko.”

“Yey! Pero hindi ka ba hahanapin ng teammates mo?”

“Nope. Nagpaalam na ako kanina na I’ll go ahead and besides araw araw ko na sila kasama. I just want to have a relaxing dinner with you.”

A/N - Hello po. I changed some of  the names in the story but same characters parin po. I used  Jeron's second name for his character and changed DLSU to Linfield.  And italicized chapters are snippets from the past kaya wala po continuity then saka palang po magchachange sa present. Thank you po sa pagbabasa. :)