League of Life

Game 25: Something's Off?

KOBI
I'm staring at Joey who's just entered the locker room. Pumasok siya sa cubicle at doon nagbihis habang ang ibang kasamahan namin ay 'di na nag-abala at doon na lang naghubad. Kanina pa ako tapos magbihis at naghihintay na lang talaga sa mga kasama ko.

Lately I saw nothing but him. Nagkakagusto ba ako sa kapwa ko lalaki?

No! erase that idea!

You're not a gay Kobi!

I shook my head to erase that thought in my mind

"Robis," tawag ko sa atensyon ni Robis at naupo sa tabi niya. Tapos na rin siya magbihis at nagsasapatos na lang.

"Bakit?" he answered and didn't bother to look at me. His attention was still focus on his shoes. He's tying the lace of his rubber shoes.

"Do you notice something off about Joey?" I asked with a furrowed brows. Baka may napapansin din siya kay Joey. Maybe he could share something to me.

"What do you mean?"

"Hindi ko rin alam, I can't point it out right now but I'm sure there's something off with him."

"Is he hiding something?"

"Yeah, he's hiding something and we should know what it is!" as long as the Patriots is concern—even I like Joey as a friend— I will never let him keep secret to us. Sa Patriots dapat walang secret, lahat kami open sa isa't isa. He maybe a new member but he's still part of the team.

"Whatever it is...I don't care. He's least of my concern," Robis said and stood up as he finished tying his shoelace. "Lalabas na 'ko sumunod ka na lang."

I did nothing but to look at Robis who's storming out of the locker room. "Kj talaga 'yong isang 'to eh!"

Lumabas na si Joey sa cubicle at nagsuot ng sapatos. Nilapitan ko siya para kausapin. Hindi ko naman tatanungin direkta kung anong sikreto niya. Hihintayin ko lang na madulas niya. "Hi Joey,"

Joey throw a "what it is?" look at me. "Hi? maka-hi ka naman parang ngayon lang tayo nagkita?" Joey chuckled and continued tying his shoes. Pagkatapos ay tumayo siya. "Tapos ka na ba? Sabay na tayo lumabas?" Kaming dalawa na lang kasi ang naritira sa loob.

Hindi na hinintay ni Joey ang sagot ko at lumabas ng pinto habang naiwan akong mag-isa at nag-iisip pa rin.

I will look for an answer no matter what. Hindi ako titigil hanggat ko nalalaman kung anong sikreto ni Joey.

Lumabas na rin ako at sumunod sa kanya. Naabutan namin ang teammates namin sa gitna ng court. Some do warm ups and some do exhibition. The practice didn't started yet dahil kulang pa kami. Kalalabas pa lang namin at wala pa rin si Stephen at Kevin.

Hindi naman nagtagal ay dumating na rin ang dalawa. Nakabihis na rin ang mga ito at dumiretso na sa gitna ng court. Dumating na rin si Coach Iverson at nagsimula na kami.

Coach Iverson devided us into two; team A and team B, every practice ay nahahati kami sa dalawang team para maglaban pero shuffle rin ang dividing every practice para makalaban at makakampi namin ang bawat isa sa team. This time ay magka-team kami ni Joey kasama si Frey Stephen, Gallardo at Kevin.

Sa kabilang team naman si Robis kasama si na Jason, Derrick, Shaquille, William at Duncan.

Pumuwesto sina Frey at Robis sa unahan para sa jump ball. Usually si Frey ang laging nakakakuha noon, but this time, Robis catches it. He seems happy and determined to play. This past few days napansin ko din  na masaya si Robis, hindi distracted at naka-focus lagi sa laro. Para siyang nakawala sa hawla na ewan. Masaya siguro talaga siya na nakalaya siya sa Daddy niya.