A Close Second

Thirty Second

"What the fuck were you thinking?"

I flinched even though I was not the one she was screaming at, I couldn't help but react sa biglang pagsigaw ni Ate Katie. My reaction of course, was far off from what the real receiver of the scolding right now.

Thea looked at her, unnerved while she towelled her hair.

Maranatha won, eventually, and a record too. eight minutes and fifty three seconds. I don't know what happened to NVH, when the flag was just standing proudly sa may beachfront, with Kuya Gab and the cousins just watching as audience freely, with no one else guarding it.

It's funny and shocking at the same time.

"Who in their right minds would jump off a hundred feet tall cliff, into seventy feet deep waters, just to win a game?!" Ate Kate hollers at her cousin.

Jacob takes the towel from Thea saka naman pinaupo ito, saka pinunasan ang buhok niya. I sat down there, the scratch in my left shoulder already cleaned and taped with a band aid. Other than that, wala nang ibang injury.

Wala rin sa ibang mga kasama namin, ang pinakamalala na is yung scratches for the others, and yung pagod na mga katawan. Si Jaoob may pilay sa balikat, at the most, but Thea had him patched kanina pa.

"That part's at least thirty feet, Ate Kate." sabi ni Thea. "Nakikita ko pa yung ilalim."
"Twenty, bunso." sabi ni Kuya Rob who was sitting down as well. "That's twenty seven to the least.."
"See?" sabi ni Thea. "Twenty seven feet. far from Seventy."
Hindi naman na appease si Ate Kate dito though. "And that's at least five times your height!" Sabi nito.

Napailing lang ako saka naman lumapit kay Keith, who was standing at the sides. Kinuha ko yung mga kamay niya, noticing a bright red mark sa may wrists niya.

"Does this hurt?" sabi ko.
He looks at me, a little surprised. "A little." sagot niya.

Pinuntahan ko yung gitna naming lahat, where a kit was open and fished out a cold compress pack. Thea smiles at me, habang siya naman ang nagtetend kay Jacob, na siyang nakaupo naman, palit ng pwesto. She massaged his shoulders while going back at Ate Kate.

"Calm down, Ate Kate." sabi ni Thea, chuckling. "No one was hurt. I'm still in one piece. And everyone had a great game. No use of getting your knickers in a twist. Mahihirapan si Kuya Rob niyan."
"WHY YOU--"

Sasagot pa sana si Ate Kate, kaso tinakpan na ni Kuya Rob yung bunganga niya. Sobrang pulang pula na si Ate Kate, and Kuya Rob chuckles.

"Ok na. Tama na." sabi nito. "Kalma na, mahal ko."

Nangiti lang ako saka lumapit kay Keith, the instant cold compress pack in my hands. Kinuha ko yung mga kamay niya saka naan marahang inilalapat ang packs dito.

"Wala na bang ibang masakit?" tanong ko sa kanya..
Umiling siya. "Wala naman po."
"Yung sa paa?"
"Balikat." sabi niya. "Medyo mahigpit ang pagkakatali kanina ni Bunso."

Kinuha ko yung kamay niya saka naman inilead siya sa isa na mga upuan malapit kanila Greg at Nico, which meant malapit kanila Jacob at Thea. I made him sit down a chair saka naman tumayo sa likod ng chair, massaging his shoulders.

"Their defenses were really good." sabi ni Thea na kausap na ngayon si Kuya Gab. "May apat na layers. a base camp for the offense, an outer defense, an inner defense and the core. It's well thought upon, and sobrang mahirap ipenetrate. I complement them on that."
"Mahirap pa ba yun?" sabi ni Greg. "Ilan kaming itinali mong mag isa?"
"Grabe lang, Thea." natatawang sabi ni Nico. "May pantal pa yung mga kamay ko."
"Teka Aya, nasan ka?" hagikgik na sabi ni Thea.