The match between us (ATHLETE SERIES 1 )

Chapter 14

I quickly bridge the gap between us, without second thoughts..... I slap him.

I love to be surprised but at the same time I hate it. Why? — it's creepy.

Dani is touching his right swollen cheeks , it's very red 'cause  maybe I slap to hard. I can't stop my reflexes.

"What was that for?"

"For mimicking and ordering me to go outside" I calmly said.

"Just for that!?" Still holding his cheek.

"Just for that" I mimick him.

He looked at me.

I saw amusement or maybe not, because he suddenly change his mood very quickly.

"Bakit ka ba nandito?"

He scratched his nose  " para ayain kitang kumain!" He smiled widely.

My brows furrowed of what he said.

"Kumain?.... Bakit parang gusto mo akong patabain ha!— diba sinasabi ko sayo may papalapit akong competition!"

"Yeah..... yung SEA games? Kasali din kaya ako, may strict diet din kami pero ..... di kagaya sa inyo-"

He eyed me from head to toe, I was embarrassed the way he looked at me.Kaya nag salita na ako.

"Anong kagaya samin Aber!?

"Yang diet niyo na parang, hindi na kumakain......Alam mo ang payat mo"

"Alam mo ang pakialamero mo!?" I crossed my arms.

Danilo just chuckle , kaya mas nainis ako.....pero at the same time excited ako kung saan niya ako dadalhin ngayon....sana yung hindi na Mahal.

Tumitig ako sa kanya kaya bigla siyang huminto sa pagtawa at naging seryoso bigla yung mukha niya.

"Saan ba tayo kakain?"

Suddenly he quickly showed me his amused smile.

He put his hands inside his sweat pants, he is wearing a white v-neck shirt with his duffle bag  and a white cali Puma sneakers.

Looks clean and cool.

"Ano gwapo bah!?" Even wiggle his brows and I rolled my eyes on him.

"Bakit parang nag change of heart ka yata?"

"Hindi noh!..... At least may saysay ang pag punta mo dito , meron pa naman akong puso kaya sasamahan na kita!....kaya wag Kang mag isip na kung ano diyan!"

"Sus ayaw pang umamin, pero sige na nga baka sampalin mo nanaman ako...... May malapit na night market sa BGC district"

"Basta wag sa mamahaling kainan lagot talaga ka sakin!!" Sabi ko sakanya , buti nga hindi ko nasabi na ang sasakyan muna ang pag gastosan niya.

"Oo promise..... Mura lang doon kaya kunin muna gamit mo para nakapunta na tayo"

I nodded then went inside back at the academy to fix my things. I didn't bother to change clothes cause it's already late and traffic sucks. When I'm done I saw Dani is already waiting inside his black Isuzu mu-x.

7 pm na nung nakarating kami sa night market na sinasabi niya. Matagal na siguro na hindi ako nakapag gala talaga dito sa Manila dahil, training at sa school ako palaging busy.

Danilo park his cark at a nearby parking area. While we're walking a saw a lot of people , mukhang benta sa mga tao ang night market , besides maganda na man talaga.

After minutes of walking Danilo stop at a stall, looks like we will eat grilled foods for dinner. Seeing the foods in front of us , my mouth suddenly watering of anticipation.

This is real food.

"Hey!" He snapped his fingers, kaya medyo nagulat ako.

"Ano na!?"

"Kanina pa ako tanong ng tanong Kung ano sayo!?" He chuckled.

"Kung ano sayo yun na lang din sakin."

Tumango  siya "find us a seat and I'll find you "

Iniwan ko siya roon at naghanap ng pwesto pero yung sa malapit wala ng vacant kaya medyo may kalayuan yung nahanap ko , napangiti na lang din ako dahil malapit kami sa mga dessert stalls.

Naghintay pa ako ng 20 minutes I guess? bago siya dumating, nanlaki ang mata ko sa dami niyang enorder.

1 plate of different grilled foods and a platter of rice and two bottles of water.

Gutom na ako.

Lord promise mag jogging ako mamayang madaling araw.

Sana hindi mahalata nila ate Suzette at coach na medyo tumataba ako ngayon.

The two of us started eating peacefully pero wala pang 2 minutes nag salita na agad siya , di siguru niya kayang Hindi mag ingay noh?

"May iba kabang kapatid bukod doon sa kambal mo?"

"Wala nah , ikaw?"

" Meron half bother pero wala dito sa Pinas"

Napahinto ako sa pagkain "half brother?"

"Yeah.....kapatid ko sa ina , lumaki kasi ako na hindi nakilala ang ama . 3 months after manganak ni mama sakin ibinilin niya ako Kay lola sa Laguna para makapag trabaho siya. Natanggap si mama bilang secretary sa isang kompanya dito sa Manila kung saan nag trabaho bilang engineer yung step dad ko......doon na sila nag kilala— after one year ipinanganak ni mama si Nelson tapos limipat sila dito sa Manila."

Bumalik na siya sa pagkain pagkatapos niyang magkwento. Napansin niya siguru na hindi ako gumalaw kaya tiningnan niya ako.

"Bakit?" He asked.

"Saan na ang—"

He cut me off "Step dad ko?"

I nodded for response , I felt he is a little bit uneasy that's why ,before he can answer I speak.

"Wag mo na lang sagutin" at kumain na ako ulit.

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nag fucos na lang ako sa pagkain ng bigla siyang nagsalita.

"He died......two years ago , nabagsakan siya doon sa ginawa nilang gusali"

Nanlaki ang mata kung nakatingin sa kanya.

"I'm sorry" that's all I could say.

He smiled " nah! It's ok..... though it's hard but— we need to move forward....right?"

"Right" I replied.

After we ate , I bought us some mango float for a dessert at a near stall. He insists to pay for it , but I stop him cause he already paid for our dinner.

Naglalakad na kami pabalik sa sasakyan niya nag kwento lang siya tungkol sa mga teammates niya minsan tinatanong niya ako tungkol sa kambal ko.

"Bakit pala gymnastics ang napili mo Marga?"

Tiningnan ko siya tapos tumingala ako sa langit.

"Ewan— diko alam" I shrugged " Sadyang nagustuhan ko lang bigla , how they bend thier bodies ..... Those splits, twirls and many more moves amazed me. That's one of the reasons why I chose this sport."

I looked at him "ikaw...bakit football?"

He smiled at me.

A genuine smile.

"Ever since I was a kid I love to run, play outside. I love big fields . One time sumama ako sa mga pinsan kong nanuod ng soccer match, then boom!— pagkakita ko sa field ....Ang laki! Tapos sinabi ko na lang bigla na dadating ang araw na tatakbo ako sa ganyang kalaking field."

Tumawa siya habang inaalala Yung mga panahong Bata pa siya..... pero iba ang nakikita ko sa kanyang mga mata.

His dedication to his dreams.

                                     ^_^