PENTA BROTHERS SERIES III - The Last Basketball (GEOFF)

Chapter 2 - Marianne's Thoughts

SEPTEMBER. Junior Year.

"Hey, Osmond!" tawag ni Brye. "Maiba tayo, anong plano mo ngayong Sports Fest? Next month na 'yon!"

Osmond shrugged.

"Bumalik ka na ba sa banda mo?" biglang tanong ni Raffy.

Umiling siya.

"Talaga bang wala ka nang planong bumalik sa banda mo?" tanong ulit ni Brye.

Hindi siya sumagot.

"Psh, let him go," ani Geoff saka umupo. "Basta ako, pakikiligin ko ang mga chicks gamit ang aking malakas na charisma sa basketball."

Napailing si Geoff. He smiled faintly. Tila nauunawaan na nilapitan ito ni Brye.

"Ako rin, dude!" ani Brye saka tumabi kay Geoff at mahinang sinuntok ang tiyan nito. "Ikaw, Raffy?"

"Practice namin mam'ya sa lawn tennis," maikling sagot ni Raffy. "I really hate doubles."

Naiiling na ngumiti si Brye saka tumingin kay Clint.

"May practice kayo mamaya sa football, 'insan?"

Tumango lang si Clint.

Geoff rested his chin on his palm and stared blankly at nothing. Then, an image of someone sitting on the rear side of the court suddenly appeared. Napakunot-noo siya.

"Hey," tawag ni Brye sa kanya.

"Hmm?" tanong ni Geoff.

"We heard about--"

"Enough, Brye," awat ni Raffy kay Brye.

Tumango lang si Geoff saka kumibit-balikat. "Oh, that. Forget it... just... nothing but trouble. Isa pa, you're ruining my imagination. Alis."

Brye shook his head, then smiled. "Psh."

SPORTS FEST. BASKETBALL GAME.

Malakas ang hiyawang naririnig mula sa loob ng malaking gym ng Tudor University. Ilang minuto nalang ay magsisimula na ang game ng team Biz Ad nina Geoff laban sa isa pang koponan sa isang college ng school nila.

Geoff sighed heavily. He could hear the shouts and screams of the spectators outside their change room. The coach was also giving final instructions before the start of the game.

Bigla siyang tinapik ni Brye

"Hey, Cap'n! Ayos ka lang?" nakangiting tanong ni Brye. "It's not like you're gonna die from this game, ya know? And am confident to win this game 'coz nandito ka. Plus, teammate mo 'ko! We're a perfect match! It could have been better kung kasama natin si Osmond, ano?"

Napailing si Geoff saka mahinang sinuntok sa tiyan si Brye. "Ewan ko sa 'yo."

"Hey," tawag ni Brye saka inilahad ang kamay niya.

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay ni Geoff. Brye smiled. Agad na tinanggap ni Geoff ang kamay nito at ginawa nila ang kanilang signature handshake and clap sa isa't isa.

They instantly become animated and felt good after doing their "peace" pose, with their two fingers on their left cheeks na waring nagpapa-picture. Then they did a fist punch. They call it "Road to Coolness".

Natatawang naiiling ang ilang teammates nila sa nakita.

Ilang minuto pa ay tinawag na sila upang pumunta na sa court.

Everybody went nuts when Geoff's team was called to step inside the court.

"Geoffrey Clinton! Geoffrey Clinton!" sabay-sabay na sigaw ng halos lahat ng mga nanonood.