Night Changes

CHAPTER THREE

HARVEY's POV

"Duque?"

Duque was standing in front of me, looking so drunk.

"Can I come in?" He said with his eyes half open.

"Sure, bro." I said and opened the door wider so he could come in.

"What's wrong dude?" Tanong ko. Bihira lang malasing si Duque at kapag nalalasing siya, alam kong may problema.

"Eh di ano pa? Wala naman akong ibang problema kundi ang buhay ko." Sagot niya habang pasalampak na humiga sa sofa. I sat on the chair opposite his direction, taking a glass and poured enough champagne.

"Buti ka pa walang problema sa buhay..." He said. ".. hindi katulad ko. Buo nga ang pamilya ko pero parang impyerno naman ang buhay ko." He added.

I suddenly felt the deepest pity for the guy but I didn't know how to comfort him. Duque kept on talking and I just kept on listening until he got tired of talking and dozed to sleep.

"I've missed you so much baby." Candice said, giving me a peck on the lips. "I've missed you too." I said as I lean my back on the hood of my car.

Maagang umalis si Duque sa condo ko dahil pagkagising ko wala na siya. He just texted me, thanking me for letting him sleep for the night.

"Babe, let's go for a swim.. please?"

"Ayoko." Mariing sabi ko. Candice just let out a frustrated sigh, thumping his way towards the shore.

I just watched her as she enjoys her time swimming on the beach with some of her friends. Candice is not my girlfriend. She's just a girl I got to know at some bar and ever since then started dating her, I mean fucking her. She got up from the ocean after an hour and walked towards me.

"Babe, let's go to your place.." She said while trailing her fingers on my chest. I threw my cigarette away and hopped into my car.

"Uhhh.."

I gave one last thrust until I felt warm and thick liquid came shooting out of me. I took my shaft out of her then removed the elastic thing covering it. I sat on the side of the bed and took another stick of cigarette. Pumunta ako sa balcony at saka ko sinindihan.

"Harvey.. do you love me?" I heard her asked as she wraps her hands around my waist, planting small kisses on my back.

"I like your body."

She stopped from kissing me. "When are you going to take me seriously huh?" She asked, sounding almost so desperate.

I took a deep breath and faced her. "Makuntento ka na lang kung anong meron tayo ngayon." I said at tumalikod na ulit. Hindi na siya nagsalita at narinig ko na lang ang mga yabag ng paa na palabas sa condo ko.

MAX's POV

"Dad, today is our championship game."

Dad just stared at me for a moment then turned his attention back on all the paperworks he was signing. I just left a deep a sigh then walked out from his office and rushed to my car. What was I thinking? I shouldn't have asked him to watch me play because he will just reject me like what he always do.

"Max!"

Napalingon ako at isang malapad na ngiti ang gumuhit sa aking mukha. Lumapit ako sa mga kaibigan ko at binati sila isa-isa.

"Where's Lindsay?" Tanong ko habang iniikot ang aking paningin para hanapin siya. They all just shrugged at me. I suddenly felt a little disappointed.

Pinilit kong itago ang pagkadismaya sa aking mukha dahil ayaw kong mag-alala sila. "I really love watching your games bro." Harvey chuckingly said.

"Good luck Max!" Barbara added, trying to encourage me.

"Where's tito Bobby?" Ford asked as she searches for my dad. "Kailan ba nanuod ng laro ko 'yun?" Sagot ko.

Nagkwentuhan muna kami hanggang sa bumalik na sila sa mga upuan nila at bumalik naman ako sa bench namin. Ilang minuto na lang at nagsimula na ang laro pero hindi pa rin nahahanap ng paningin ko si Lindsay.

The game had started and I was part of the starting five. We had the first possession, giving our team a chance to make the first point.

Our point guard, LA, was dribbling the ball while pointing to us where to position ourselves. I was positioned under the ring, being guarded by the opponents power forward. LA riskly passed the ball to me so I dribbled my way into the basket and score.

"Maximo Reid."

I heard cheers and clapping as the announcer said my name after making a point.

First quarter was about to end and the opponent was leading by 13 points. Seconds was left before the quarter ends and I was holding the ball. I positioned myself beyond the arch and was about to let a 3-point shot but the opponent's shooting guard, Jeff, blocked me. The first half has already ended but Lindsay was still not around.

"Hey! Max! Get your head in the game!" Sabi ni coach.

I heard coach said. "Sorry coach." I shook my head and just concentrated on what our coach tell us. "Our team is down by 13 so we need to buckle things up. We need offense people! Attack the rim!" He added. Second half has started pero pinagpahinha muna ako ni coach and substituted me with our other small foward from the team.

It was a quick game and the third quarter had finally ended, giving the other team a lead of 2.

The fourth quarter had started and I was back inside the court. Our other point guard, Jay, passed the ball to me so I positioned myself at the corner, letting out a 3-point shot.

"Maximo Reid for three!!" And a loud cheer was heard from the crowd.

The game was nearing its end and we were down by 4. LA passed the ball to me and was about to shoot it but I saw our center, Jack, having a better chance to shoot the ball so I crossed over the opponent's small forward and passed the ball to Jack. He dribbled his way into the basket and dunked the ball in.

"Last two minutes....."

The crowd was getting wilder as the game peek it's way to the end. We were tied at 89, ball possession to our team. LA dribbled the ball and passed it to our power forward, Ned. He was about to shoot the ball when the referee suddenly caught me tangling up with one of the power forward of the opponent. The referee gave me a foul so Gabe will shoot free throws since we were already in a penalty. Damn it!

Only 10.6 seconds were left on the clock and the opponent was leading by 2. The game was heating up and the crowd was already standing while praying for their respective teams.

Time was running out but LA kept on dribbling the ball, thinking on to whom he will pass it. He found me at the corner and passed the ball to me. I positioned myself beyond the arch, giving me a better angle and shoot!

"Maximo Reid for three!!!!"

And the crowd went wild. Balloons and confetti suddenly fell from the roof. My teammates ran up to me, giving me a hug for winning the game.

I searched for my friends and they were all happy for me. A sudden twinge pinched my heart when I didn't saw Lindsay among them.

"Anniversary nila ngayon." Ivo whispered to me as he pats my shoulder. I just faked a smile and just shook my disappointment away.