Chapter Sixteen

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Chapter Sixteen: Jealous

Hindi namin tinapos ang cheerdance. Pumunta kami sa covered court dito sa CSU para manood naman ng  basketball. Jilliana was determined to watch the game. She was excited not only for the Wildcats but also for Psalm Valmonte's match—he played for the Bobcats. The crowd was electric, cheering nonstop as they rallied behind their teams, caught up in the fierce competition of who would come out on top.

"Go Salmo!" Hiyaw niya mula sa bench.

"Hey! Are you a Wildcats or not? Traitor!" Ani ng isang babae mula sa harap namin. She's wearing a Wildcats shirt. Natawa ako.

Ngiting aso lang ang sinagot ni Jilliana sa kaniya. "Whatever."

The girl rolled her eyes and refocused on the game, the atmosphere crackling with intensity. The Bobcats led the Wildcats by twenty points, and the stakes were rising. I barely noticed Jilliana's shouting as I joined in, my voice rising with excitement when Tunnel got hold of the ball. He feigned a shot, but with two defenders closing in, he quickly passed to a teammate I didn't recognize. The guy attempted a shot, but before he could release the ball, Psalm swooped in and stole it away. The crowd erupted, and the thrill of the game pulled me deeper into the moment, drowning out everything else.

"Yeah, that's it! Go Psalm Valmonte!" Hiyaw ulit ni Jilliana.

"Seriously, Jilliana." The girl tsked again.

Jilliana sneered at the girl. "What's your problem? I'm watching. Mind your own business, Jade."

"Kung gusto mong i-cheer ang Bobcats, doon ka sa kabilang bench. 'Wag dito. Napapalibutan ka ng Wildcats, you know that, right?" Inis na wika ng babae.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." She said dismissively.

I chuckled seeing her annoyed. "Traitor Jilliana."

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya.

"Jade was just bitter because she was once Psalm's girl."

"Shut the fuck up, Jilliana!" The girl named Jade hissed at Jilliana, but Jilliana just stucked her tongue out at her. Then she immediately held my wrist and next thing I knew was she's pulling off to somewhere.

"What the hell was that? Are you close to her?" Tanong ko.

She tsked, still pulling me off. "Hindi masyado pero classmate ko siya noong Junior."

"Ah." I agreed. "So, saan tayo pupunta?"

Ngumisi siya. "Stad."

The Stadium is just a walking distance. Maybe 10-minute walk will do. Sabay kaming lumabas ni Jilliana sa campus at naglakad sa sidewalk hanggang sa nakarating kami roon. The Stadium was quite wide and elegant. There's a long wide benches, stage, wide field, courts and gym and comfort rooms. Everything is just fine and perfect.

Mula sa kinaroroonan namin ay natanaw ko ang mga players sa field. Both football and baseball teams. And they're doing joggings.

"Mukhang busy pa sila." Aniya.

Umakyat kami sa hagdan sa gilid para makaupo sa bench. Doon kami sa pinaka-unang row para kitang-kita namin 'yon ng maayos. Medyo malayo rin kasi ang pagitan namin. Natatanaw ko rin ang mga volleyball players mula rito.

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