Parallel Intersection

Chapter 7

Nabalik ang atensyon ko sa laro ng sambitin ng announcer ang apelyido ni Joe.

"De Liaño on three!" Kasabay nun ay ang malakas na tilian ng mga tao.

I can't blame these girls. Hindi ko sila masisisi kung sila iyong tipo ng mga babae na luluhod sa harapan ng mga lalaking 'to.

They got the looks...the swag...the fame...connections...and everything.

Hindi ko lang talaga maintindihan kung bakit hindi ko sila magawang kilalanin noon. Maybe, I was too preoccupied by acads...and boys who tend to leave me hanging.

Time out. My eyes were as if glued on Joe. Sinusundan ng malilikot kong mga mata ang bawat kilos niya. The way he drank on his bottle. The way he wiped off his sweat. The way his lips move everytime he's talking.

Gosh! Nahihibang na ata ako. I find this illegal! Baka isipin ng tao ay patay na patay na rin ako sa kanya.

Hindi nga ba? Duh! Obviously ay hindi! Get back to your senses, Jam!

Back on track. I bit my lower lip right after seeing Joe's eyes on me. Naipasok niya ulit ang bola. Tinaasan ko na lamang ito ng kilay.

He shook his head while smiling. Ganyan nga, Jam, hamunin mo lang ang tao. Wag ka ngang pahalata masyado!

Buzzer beater. They won their third game. Masyadong malayo ang kanilang lamang kontra sa kanilang kalaban.

I patiently sat on my seat. I watched him as his fangirls flocked over him for a picture.

Joe was smiling at them. Tinatanggap niya rin ang bawat alok sa kanya na picture.

My heart feels so light...and proud at the same time. Ganito pala ang normal niyang buhay.

He got the spotlight with him. Lahat ata e nakuha na ng lalaking ito.

Ang swerte niya talaga. Ganda ng lahi nito e. I keep my thoughts all by myself.

I sat down and carefully watched him as he interacts with his fans. Naramdaman ko ang mabilis na tibok ng aking puso nang tumama ang tingin ni Joe sa akin.

Ako, na mag-isang nanatili sa aking kinauupuan habang ang sandamakmak na manonood ay abala sa kanila.

At si Joe...na nagawa akong hanapin sa gitna ng mga tao kahit malayo ang distansyang mayroon kami sa isa't-isa.

It was as if, for a while, time stops running...everything is in silence...and all I can hear is my loud heartbeat...and the clear image of this man...my Gomez De Liaño.

I saw him dismissing his fans. Hindi ko alam paano niya iyon nagawa ng ganoong kadali. His steps were bigger and faster as he went near me.

"Predictable, I guess?" I laughed after hearing his words.

"It was nice." He shot his eyebrow at me. Goodness! He and his unbelievable expressions everytime I'm saying good stuffs about them. "Thank you." I whispered, hoping for him to clearly hear it.

Naguguluhan niya akong tiningnan. "For what?"

I smiled at him and let my eyes wandered around the people around us. I caught some shamelessly taking a picture on us!

Ibinalik ko na lamang ang aking tingin kay Joe. As usual, wala pa rin siyang pakialam sa mga taong nasa paligid niya.

"For not having any injuries." I sincerely told him.

I narrowed my eyes as I saw his cheeks turning red. Wait, is he blushing?

"Kinikilig ka ba?" Tunog pang-aasar ko sa kanya.