I am currently in our basketball practice and I'm making a couple of shots from the three-point line
Our assistant coach whistled, signalling that we'll be having a short break before heading to the actual drills, so I placed the basketballs on the rack and headed for the bleachers
My teammates were gathered on the bench near the court but I decided to take a couple minutes for myself. I took a deep breath as I contemplate about my life
I moved out of my parents house when I was 25. I wade my way out into the real world without any hint of idea on what's in it for me. I've been to a couple of leagues outside the country, until I've been drafted for the PBA..
It feels good playing here in your home country. Throughout the years though, I was dubbed as the ultimate bachelor in PBA because everyone's already settled down and building a family while I'm here, still single, and will probably be for the rest of my life…
How long has it been? Uhh yeah, that's so many years already. I'm already on my near 40s, and I already gave up on that aspect. What's the point, right?
My phone rang. I turned it over and I saw her caller ID, so I immediately picked it up
"Hello?"
I heard little sobs on the other line. I got a little worried so I moved to the edge of my seat
"Bea? Is everything okay?"
She's still sniffing but I can sense that she's trying to calm herself
"Meet me please. Our spot…"
"Can you drive there? Should I pick you up?"
"No no. I'll just ride a cab..."
Even though I want to insist that I should pick her up instead, I chose not to argue anymore…
"Okay I'll drive there now. Keep safe, okay?"
"Okay…" she quietly said before I heard the beep
As soon as the call ended, I hurriedly grabbed my gym bag and stood up
"Uyy tol saan ka pupunta? May practice pa…" Mike asked
"Pasabi na lang sa coaches na may emergency ako bro. I'll practice double time tomorrow…" he scratched his nape and just gave me a worried look
"Okay sige bro. Ingat!"
I just nodded and ran fast. When I got to my car, I immediately start the engine and made my way
It was a quiet ride, but I can feel my heart pounding. I've never heard her cry like this. I hope it's nothing too serious
I arrived at our spot first. I parked my car in the sidewalk and walked towards a little bench that we provided years ago
T & B
I read the initials in my mind. It felt perfect. Seeing our initials together feels so right, but I know that it will just stay like that. I sighed and just sat on the bench
Minutes later, I heard a car engine. So I looked around and there, I saw her. Her eyes were puffy but she still looks perfect as the sunrays touched her face
She slowly walked towards me and tried her best to smile
"Hi boo…" I let out a little smile
"I'm glad that you're still using our call sign…" she shrugged
I motioned her to sit down, and she did. She looked straight into the beautiful view in front of us, but I chose to look at her. She sighed and sniffed
"Stephen broke up with me…" I got startled by her statement
"We finally reached the breaking point of our marriage. He's already filing our annulment…" and after she said that, she broke down. Her shoulders were trembling from crying so I put my arms around her to try and calm her down
"Thirds, what's wrong with me? Am I not enough?" I caressed her shoulders and leaned her towards me
"There's nothing wrong with you, Bei. You're perfect…"
"Then why? Bakit kailangan niya pang tumingin sa ibang babae? Is it because I can't have a child pa?" she said in between sobs
"I don't know the right words to say at the moment, but don't blame yourself, Bei. It's not your fault that he's not seeing how wonderful you are…"
We were silent for God knows how long. The sun slowly hid behind the mountains and the stars began to show up. Her sobbing fades and all that's left is her tear-stained cheeks… She lifts her head up and looked at me
"Thank you for coming here, Thirds. I know you're busy but you still came…" she's smiling now, a genuine one, and all my life, that's all I want to see from her
"You know I would travel halfway across the world if I have to…" I enveloped her in a hug and all I feel is warmth and contentment
I released myself from the hug, afraid that she might hear my heart beating, even though I know that it's dumb and scientifically impossible
"Thirds?"
"Hmm?"
"Ikaw? Why haven't you settled down?" I forced a smile and look at the now visible moon
"You wanna hear a story?" I looked at her and she seems confused, but nodded anyways. I took a deep breath before I spill my thoughts
"Years ago, I met this girl. She's playing volleyball at that time. Even though she's sweaty, she still looked amazing. I know for a fact that I was there to support my sister, but then I ended up cheering for the other team because of her…" I paused and returned my gaze back at the moon
"We became good friends, or at least that's the term we decided to call ourselves. But then deep inside, I know that it's different with her. Slowly, I fell for her... She carved her name in my heart without her knowing it…" I smiled bitterly at that thought
"I was so coward to tell her how I feel because I was so afraid that one single moment could ruin a perfectly good friendship that we have, so I kept it to myself and told no one about how I feel towards her... Sure, seeing her with other man stabbed my heart, but I'd rather take that, kesa naman mawala siya sa buhay ko…" I looked down to my feet and played with a little rock to calm myself
"One day, she called me, saying that her boyfriend proposed to her. Funny though, I had the privilege to walk her down the aisle during her wedding because her Dad couldn't come... That stabbed my heart twice as hard... I had the honor of giving her away on her special day, and then I let her took my heart with her…" I looked at her and I saw that tears are threatening to fall from her eyes
"That's when I swore to myself that I would rather be alone than spending the rest of my life in the arms of a different woman... Pinangako ko rin sa sarili ko na I will always be there for her, although I know that someone is already there to take care of her…" tears fell from my eyes but I quickly wiped it and covered it up with a smile
"Yes I tried dating other girls, pero wala ehh. Siya pa rin talaga. No one can replace her here…" I placed my fist in my chest and tried to keep myself calm and collected
"Thirds… hindi ko alam…" I forced a smile and offered my hand
"Tara?" she tilted her head and her chinky eyes became so much smaller
"Saan?"
"La Crep, my treat…" she stared at my face, probably to see if I'm okay, but then she smiled and held my hand. We stood up and made our way
We didn't brought the story up the entire time, and that's okay. I don't expect her to love me just because I told her that I love her. I felt relieved that at least now, she knows how I feel, and somehow, that's more than enough...
If being friends is all it takes to have a lifetime with her, then I would gladly look forward to seeing each day. As long as it's with her, I know that living my life would be worth it...
