Nice Game, Captain

28

"Saan ka pupunta, Cap?"

I was about to go out to the gym when Yves suddenly appeared in front of me. Papasok pa lang siya sa gym kaya naharang niya 'ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya galing. Kanina nag-paalam lang siyang aalis siya.

"Lalabas lang ako saglit," tumango siya at pumasok na sa loob ng gym. Naglakad-lakad lang ako sa buong hallway hanggang sa may mapansin akong babae roon sa may parteng dulo. Walang tao ngayon sa school kasi Sabado kaya walang makakapansin sa kaniya roon.

Lumapit pa 'ko para makita kung sino 'yo. I can hear her crying from my position right now. Hindi ako gumawa ng ingay habang naglalakad palapit sa kaniya. Halos manlaki ang mata ko nang makita ko kung sino 'yon.

Kristina Imogen Mendoza, the team captain of Lady Phoenix. I almost furrowed my brows while walking silently. Kim and I were not friends but because we're both captains, we greeted each other if we saw each other in the hallway. I heard she's in her 3rd year and I'm in my 4th year, Architecture ang course.

It's my first time seeing her cry... I felt like I wanted to help her through what's bothering her.

I leaned on the wall and patiently waited for her to stop crying. I feel like she needed someone right now and I don't want to interrupt her. She needs to let out what's bothering her.

Hinayaan ko siyang umiyak hanggang sa marinig kong unti-unti nang humihina ang iyak niya. Pinunasan niya ang kaniyang mga luha bago tumayo. Her widened when she saw me staring at her.

"Are you okay?"

"What are you doing here?"

My lips almost rose up when we both asked each other, buti na lang napigilan ko ang sarili ko. Napaatras siya ng kaunti nang sabay kaming magtanong sa isa't-isa.

"I heard someone was crying that's why I'm here and I didn't expect to see you," hindi, nakita muna kita bago ko narinig ang pag-iyak mo. "Now, answer my question. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay now," she answered.

"That's good. Mauna na ako, may practice pa kami." Sumaludo ako sa kaniya at nagsimula nang maglakad paalis. Hinahanap na 'ko roon, sigurado ako. Kahit anong gusto kong samahan pa siya, hindi ko magawa kasi alam kong malalagot ako nito kay coach.

Hindi pa 'ko nakakalayo roon nang tawagin niya 'ko kaya lumingon ako. I saw how puffy her eyes was. Sobrang pula kaya pakiramdam ko, hindi pa siya makakabalik sa training nila. Kailangan pa niyang ayusin ang sarili niya para walang makahalata na umiyak siya.

"Don't mention anything about me crying," she said and I nodded.

Wala akong balak na ipagsabi ang nakita ko, Kristina. Hindi mo na kailangang sabihin sa 'kin kasi naiintindihan kita.