East

Chapter 17

The event is finally down to finals, loud chatters erupted during this 30 minutes break that has brought enough pressure to make everyone nervous. The pressure earlier wasn't this intense until break happens.

Lui squeezed my hand with her soft ones. "Should we go to Fiona? I want to give her a goodluck hug." I nodded, the three of us stood from our seats, binilin din namin ang upuan namin kahit wala naman talagang kukuha doon.

We made a beeline to the warm-up area, it was easy for us to enter because knowing Luisia, her charms never fails. And as for me kilala ako rito ng mga janitors who happen to volunteer as security guards for today's event.

Napalingon ang mga nasa bungad na nag di-drills. Wow are we really that eye-catcher? Kasalanan ata ni Luisia ito. Sometimes I wanna see myself from the vision of others to know how powerful my presence is. Impossible, so nevermind. Sabihin nalang natin na sobrang ganda ko ata. (weh!)

Ano pa 'to si Lui? Talon nalang ata ako sa bangin.

"Woah there she is." Luisia pointed and drag me along, napakamot ako sa batok ko, I guess I should also wish her luck, even though the result will not be surprising at all. Mananalo siya, season ni Fiona ito, kinakabahan pa siya sa lagay na 'to, ha.

"Luisia! Oh my God!"

"Fiona!"

Parehas silang naglabas ng impit na tili, mukang ready na si Fiona humakot ng gold medals, competitive as always. Both girls was too preoccupied not to notice my presence, I told you, they just click and could easily build up their own world. Lui is busy planting goodluck kisses all over Fiona's face when I cleared my throat, she should stop using that sacred lips of hers for goodluck before my moodswing kick in at maisip kong hilahin siya palayo rito. Tama ba 'yun? Bakit kailangang i-kiss! Alam kong close sila pero 'wag sana sa harapan ko. Hmp.

"Ae wow..."

They look at each other, Luisia winking towards her like a proud kid who gain a star for writing letter perfectly for the first time. Kala mo nanalo ng loto kung makangiti.

"Yeah wow, well, goodluck." I gave her quick smile as I roam my eyes, looking for someone. She must be here warming up. Nasaan na ba ang taga East na 'yun?

"Thanks uhh coach charlie is standing there," biglang sabi ni Fiona, nakita ko naman kaagad si coach dahil tama siya si coach nga 'yun—it's too far to even spot her from here.

"And uhmm Ahiera is having a couple of run thru's there." She pointed, I followed her sight and there I found that eastern girl I've been looking for, sitting on the rubber while examining her spike shoes.

I nodded, "Thank you. By the way this is my brother, Shiro."

Fiona beamed and hugged Shiro, nginitian ako ni Lui na sinuklian ko naman, it's like we understand each other and I know she's glad I introduced Shiro as my brother, wala kasi muna dapat makaka-alam but it's okay to make an exception, right? I trust Fiona anyway.

We said again our goodluck before moving next to Coach Charlie. Busy siyang panoorin mag run thru ang player niya kaya nagulat pa siya sa pagsulpot naming tatlo. Luisia is quite close with her too dahil wala itong ibang ginawa dati kundi magdaldal kay coach habang naghihintay saamin ni Fiona matapos mag-training dati. She hugged coach almost in tears kaya natawa ako. Ang babaw ng luha amporkchop.

"I know that smile," sabi ko, hugging her too.

"What can I say." She nodded towards her player who happen to be Ahiera, yes Ahiera. Alam kong siya ang player niya so hindi na ako nasurpresa pa but Lui on the other hand shake Coach's shoulders. "No way, no way! That's amazing!"