Dying Embers

Chapter Sixteen

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 ni Jilliana, halos mapatayo pa sa bench.

"Hey! Wildcats ka ba o hindi?" sigaw ng babae sa harap namin, suot ang asul na Wildcats shirt. "Traitor!"

Napatawa ako. Si Jilliana, ngiting-aso lang ang sinagot. "Whatever," she said, rolling her eyes.

The girl scoffed and turned back to the court, her ponytail swishing as if echoing her annoyance. The Bobcats were leading by twenty points, and the pressure was thick enough to feel in your chest.

Hindi ko na napansin ang mga sigaw ni Jilliana habang ako mismo napasabay na rin. My heart jumped when Tunnel got the ball — he feigned a shot, then passed it quick to someone I didn't recognize. Pero bago pa makabitawan ang bola, Psalm swooped in and stole it clean.

The crowd exploded. The sound bounced off the walls, filling the court with a deafening roar.

"Yeah, that's it! Go Psalm Valmonte!" sigaw ulit ni Jilliana, all proud and smug.

"Seriously, Jilliana," the same girl tsked, irritation dripping from her voice.

Jilliana sneered, crossing her legs. "What's your problem? I'm just watching. Mind your business, Jade."

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

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," she said dismissively, flipping her hair.

Natawa ako. "Traitor Jilliana."

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya. "Bitter lang si Jade kasi ex ni Psalm 'yan dati."

"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?" tawa kong tanong habang halos madapa sa bilis niyang maglakad. "Close kayo?"

"Hindi masyado," sagot niya, hindi man lang lumingon. "Classmate ko lang siya nung Junior."

"Ah." Tumango ako, still catching my breath. "So saan tayo pupunta?"

Ngumisi siya, mischievous. "Stad."

The stadium wasn't that far — mga sampung minutong lakad lang. Lumabas kami ng campus, tumatawid sa sidewalk habang naririnig pa namin ang mga sigawan mula sa court na unti-unting lumalayo.

Pagdating namin, napatingin ako agad sa paligid. Ang ganda. Malawak, malinis, at parang bagong pinturahan pa ang mga bleachers. Sa malayo, tanaw ang mga football at baseball players na sabay-sabay nagjo-jogging sa field.

"Mukhang busy pa sila," sabi ni Jilliana, inaabot ang buhok niyang nahulog sa harap ng mukha.

Umakyat kami sa gilid ng hagdan, naupo sa pinakaunang row ng bench. From there, kita namin halos lahat — ang mga nagpa-practice sa field, at pati ang mga volleyball players sa kabilang side ng gym.

Doon napako ang tingin ko. Lalo na sa mga babaeng naglalaro. I remembered my dad teaching me how to play sports like that. Pero volleyball ang pinaka-nagustuhan ko. Hindi nga lang ako nakasali sa varsity — sabi ni Dad, makakaapekto raw sa academics.