Apricity (Published under PSICOM)

5th

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As it turns out, si Alister pala ang bagong nakatira sa bahay nila Elcid.

"Umalis kami saglit kanina para kumain," Cal shrugged. "Pagbalik namin, naabutan namin sya. He was making shots in the court,"

It was the same time when Cal's friend called to tell him that he can't join the team anymore.

Kung paano nila agad na napapayag si Alister ay hindi ko alam. It amazes me how boys can easily talk to one another as if they've known each other for the longest time. Mapa-fishball vendor, carwash boy, o kahit nakasabay lang mag-fit ng sapatos sa Olympic Village. Parang normal lang sa kanila ang biglang mag-usap.

That's not the case for Davion and my brother Aki though. The two are rather detached when it comes to strangers. Si Elcid naman ay nagsasalita lang kapag alam nyang kailangan.

Habang si Cal ay kung sino-sino lagi ang kinakausap. I remember when the squad were in Siargao, kaming dalawa ang magkasamang nag-rent ng surf boards. Habang hinihintay na maihanda iyon ay hindi ko namalayan na kausap niya na ang kasabay naming nag-aabang din. Their topic was very random. Kung saan-saan napunta ang usapan nila. Mula snorkeling hanggang NBA at kung may starfish daw ba ron sa dagat.

Kaya't hindi na nakapagtataka na kaswal nilang naimbita si Alister na sumali. They also got Aysen here with them. He's pretty good at conversing too.

"Ba't hindi na lang ibang kakilala natin ang sinali? Someone from school or the street next to ours."

Patapos na ang practice nang makabalik si Adea. Nakatutok kami sa panonood ngunit hindi pa rin sya makaget-over sa kinwento kong kaganapan kanina. As usual, she's overreacting.

"Mahirap makisama lalo na't hindi naman sya pamilyar satin." dagdag nya pa. "I mean, does he even know na lahat ng proceeds mula sa games ay kay Elcid lang mapupunta?"

"Relax, Dea. Stop thinking too much. I'm sure sinabi naman iyon nila Aysen sa kanya,"

Naghahalo na ang kahel at dilim sa langit nang matapos ang pag-eensayo nila. They already finished changing clothes when I asked if they wanna grab a bite. Sa huli ay nagdesisyon kaming mag-fastfood bago umuwi. Si Elcid ay nauna na dahil may aasikasuhin pa umano ito.

"You sure you don't wanna come with us?" tanong naman ni Cal kay Alister habang papalabas.

Huminto lamang kami sa paglalakad nang marating na ang bukana ng court.

"We can atleast drop you off bago kami lumabas ng Vill,"

Alister simply shook his head. "Wag na. I wanna jog on my way home."

Sa sinabi nya ay hindi na namilit pa sina Cal. Aysen tapped Alister on his shoulder to bid goodbye. Tumango naman sya at nilibot samin ang tingin para magpaalam.