Transcendence

Chapter 7

Jerk

Ulysses's POV

2 weeks passed by, and some things are different. 

Kung dati lahat ng team members ko ay binigyan ng bote ng gatorade, ngayon ako na lang ang naaabutan. Some of my teammates are asking me a lot, including Luis na hindi mapakali since the night Nathan and I talked about the freakin' "special treatment".

Speaking of him, who made a promise that he will be treating me a "very special one" from the others, made this Gatorade thingy everyday, every training - morning and afternoon session. Walang palya, walang sabit. 

At first, I was being so mad and irritated, kasi hindi ko naman alam kung ano yung pinaplano nung talipandas na yon. Pero kinalaunan, it made my heart fluttered and my walls that I've built they are trembling down one by one. Ikaw ba naman kasi makakatanggap ng ganon, tho, its just a gatorade, pero nakakapawi ng pagod sa training. Like Hello? Nathan Rivera na yon? Your greatest love of all tapos idedecline mo pa?

Well, like they've always said, "Guard your heart always". Kaya at first, you have to be strong and not easily get swayed with his actions. Hindi mo alam yung tinatakbo ng kanyang isipan. Hindi naman pepwedeng sungkab ka lang ng sungkab kapag may inilalagay na putahe sa iyong lamesa. You just have to think thoroughly. Although you are taking risk, you are crossing your line, but we have to think our actions first, para at the end of the day, there's no heartache.

Isa pang acclaimed "special treatment" ni Nathan is, he always watches our trainings, lalo na sa night session. Usually, kami ang nauuna sa court because of the schedules. So, madalas nauuna siya sa mga teammates niyang dumating, just to watch our training. Kapag naman sa morning, minsan sisilip lang siya sa gym at aalis na agad. But, it never crossed my mind as a special treatment. Hindi ko masyadong pinagpapansin yung mga actions niya at hindi ko masyadong pinagiisip yung mga ganong bagay.

Pababa na ako ng hagdan galing sa dorm, and I'm about to leave the building and hinahanap ko yung airpods ko. Hindi makukumpleto yung araw ko kapag walang nakasalpak sa tenga ko. Kanina ko pa hinahalughog dito sa bag ko at kinakapa sa mga bulsa ko, pero hindi ko mahanap. I checked my bag again, baka kasi naipit lang kung saan man. Pero wala pa rin talaga.

Because of being preoccupied and busy by finding my airpods, Hindi ko namalayan na nasa dulong bahagi na ako ng hallway. I lifted my gaze and look upon the parking lot, at may isang sasakyan na nakaparada dito. It was a 2020 Jeep Wrangler model, painted with a matte black color.

Sana all marunong mag-drive.

Napatingin ako sa likuran, at tinanaw kong may tao pa ba sa loob ng gym or even sa building. Wala naman akong naririnig na ingay sa loob gym, or even sa field. Nagkibit balikat na lamang ako, baka kasi nasa office. Napabaling ulit ako nang marinig kong may nagbukas ng pinto ng kotse.

"Bakit antagal-tagal mong bumaba?" Reklamo nito habang papalakad sa pwesto ko.

Short-tempered as always. Ugh.

"Bakit sino ba may sabing magintay ka?" I crossed my arms.

Nagpamewang ito at nagtapon ng seryosong mukha, "Ano bang ginawa mo sa taas? Almost 30 minutes na ako nagiintay dito."

Nagiintay?

"Sino... inaantay... mo dito?" Ani ko.

"Sino pa ba?" At medyo tumaas ang kanyang boses.

Napatahimik at nakagat ko yung pangibabang labi ko. So ako talaga hinihintay nito?

Inilahad nito ang kanyang kamay na para bang may inaabot. Tinignan ko lamang siya ng punong puno ng pagtatanong.