East

Chapter 7

After that night, we've grown close. Pumupunta siya sa unit once in a while, naging busy rin siya, I guess.

But most importantly the atmosphere changed around us whenever we converse ourselves in a conversation, it's now a worry-less atmosphere. I felt more open and comfortable.

Simula kahapon hindi pa siya nagpapakita but she texted and said she was alright.

Shiro started home schooling last last week. I'm currently settling his papers, at dahil buhay pa ang guardian niya, nahihirapan ako ngayon. When mother figure out about him, she freaked out obviously, pero kalaunan ay naging okay rin naman siya sa bata — damn Shiro is a gem, he's a brilliant kid! He could practically memorize every country's name in the world, he's fond of science and english. My mother is the one who suggested to adopt him, so finally I could call him my brother. I'm excited, really.

A phone call interrupt my train of thoughts. Napangisi ako, it was from someone I haven't seen for awhile, a friend of mine, may oras nanaman siya para kitain ako.

Hah someone needs a hand.

"How's my Goldie?"

Natawa ako kaagad, dali-dali akong nagbihis, one thing is for sure whenever she calls, we have an appointment and I have to be there right away as if it's a life and death situation.

"Yeah coach really? Where are you?" I noticed the background, super ingay at puro hiyawan.

"Get your ass here, we need to discuss something."

Hmm what could that be.

Oh — that, readers, was my mentor when I'm still into sports, Charlie. She became a friend of mine as I grew up, kahit na hindi na niya ako player we make sure to keep in touch and be available whenever. By the sound of it alam ko na agad kung nasaan siya kaya malakas ang loob kong babaan siya ng telepono, just to tease her hahaha. I wore my casual clothes and my cap that I bought, gano'n sa ibinigay ko last time, nainggit talaga ako kasi ang ganda.

"Ate saan punta mo?"

I waved at him. Nadaanan ko silang nag le-lesson sa sala nang palabas ako, he's with his teacher.

"Out, just a couple of hours." 

After that umalis na 'ko. You know where I'm going? Remember that University we barge in last time? There.

Stop your thoughts, sa laki ng uni na 'yon imposibleng magkita kami ng babaeng 'yun, at sure akong after namin mag-usap ni coach ay aalis na kaagad ako, ni hindi nga ako papasok sa building nila.

I won't see that eastern girl there.

Nakarating ako doon in no time after ko dumaan sa convenience store para bilhan siya ng pagkain, ughh sobrang laki talaga nitong Uni.

Deretcho kaagad ako sa field samay bleachers. Coach Charlie is a promising coach, lahat ata ng nate-train niya ay walang tapon, lahat magagaling.

"There, there, my favorite goldie."

Napangiti ako, goldie was her nickname to me, kahit kailan hindi niya binago iyon kahit ang dami nang nagdaan sa kan'yang ibang players. Since some of you are curious, I'm an athlete before, track and field player ako noon and she's my coach since day one. Running is my passion it's —  ahm, a stress reliever, kaya hanggang ngayon nag-gi-gym ako para ma-maintain ko kahit papaano ang katawan ko. I told you I'm sporty, also the reason why I could keep up when we did that reckless trespassing shit last time — nakikita ko ngayon kung saan kami dumaan by the way, hindi ko tuloy maiwasang tumingin samay rooftop, the difference is maliwanag ngayon.

"What's up? A meet?" We hugged and greet each other. I'm happy she's healthy, and still got that mischievous aura, nakakatakot talaga 'yan kapag nasa training.

"Yeah, regionals." Umupo kami sa bleachers, we talked a bit to catch up, about adulting stuffs and survival. I was enjoying our little chitchats parang dati lang pinapagalitan ako nito dahil kumain ako ng madaming junkfoods out of stress.

Kumakain kami habang nanonood. 110 meter hurdles. What a coincidence. I saw Fiona stretching at the hundred meter mark.

"She's really good now. Smart player." Kumento ni coach.  I know Fiona, ka-team ko dati, and a friend, her passion in running is sobrang nakakamangha kaya hindi na ako magugulat kung manalo man siya ngayon.

"Ngayon lang ulit ako nakapanood, kinakabahan din tuloy ako." Natatawang turo ko sa field. Kinakabahan para kay Fiona — she's always this strong, competitive anxious girl, malakas siya pero laging kabado causing her muscles to stiffen that affects her performance.

Napapalakpak ako nang makuha niya ang gold. Nag-bago na nga siya, she seems confident.

"Here." Inabot ni coach ang isang folder, alam ko na kaagad kung para saan 'yun. Mga requirements para makapag-apply ng scholarship.

"So thoughtful of you coach." I smirked at her.

Hindi na 'to bago.

Sa trabaho kasi ng father ko naghahanap sila ng nga scholars nila, it's a good way to boost the company's image, also their well-being.

Nagpaalam na din ako kaagad pagkakuha ko, walang kasama si Shiro sa bahay after ng session niya na matatapos na rin maya-maya. What the hell happened to Coach's we need to discuss something? We didn't even talk that much she just gave me these papers.

I was walking when someone called me, Fiona. Ugh hindi talaga ako nakalagpas sa babaeng 'to.

"What's up?" she greeted, I fixed my cap. "I heard about Tito, is he okay now?"

Binati ko siya ng ngiti, she shyly look away almost immediately. Nabalitaan na rin pala kaagad nila ang nangyari kay Dada. Bilis talaga ng balita sa panahon ngayon.

"He is, thankfully."

"Balik loob?"

"Nah just visiting coach." Taas ko sa folder. "And I don't have time for these."

Which she responded with a nod.

"Right. You're too smart to worry about these — anyway, kailan ka nakabalik? Where's Lui?"

Oh I actually forgot that I lied about my whereabouts for four freaking years.

Of all people bakit si Fiona pa ang nakakita sa'kin, apaka malas.

"Uhh just recently, and Lui is probably still in France," alanganing sagot ko.

Nginitian ko nalang siya at nagpaalam na, nagmamadali kuno kasi ako, may pahabol pa siya, iniimbita ako sa party mamaya, rito sa east, sa Night Out, isang bar-like club 'yun dito. Of course I politely refused. Ayoko ngang makita 'yung mga ka-team ko noon, mas lalo lang ako mapapahamak, may iniingatan pa naman akong sikretong malupet.

At bigla ko tuloy namiss si Lui.

*******

Thanks for reading and voting!
 Keep safe :)