When Everything Fails (De Chavez #2)

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

IT WAS 6:30 p.m. when the basketball practice was done. I did not go to the Gymnasium to watch the game practice. My tolerance of the noise and irksome chants went downhill so I needed to stay on the bench near the growling Gymnasium. As the time set at 6:30 p.m., dusk rolled in, beating up the daylight that was hopelessly trying to light up the vicinity but failed as the time calls for an end of the day. With the cold and crisp touch of the wind that was crawling over my bare skin, I rubbed up my palm against each to ignite heat in my body.

Lights in the hallway and other rooms of the buildings in front of me flicked on— a mesmerizing symbol of the end of the day and the imminent coming of night. I watched some leaves unleashed from their branches as they danced downward. The sun was already drowned over the horizon; the ember of fire that adorned just above it glowed through the suffusing darkness. Closing my eyes, I let the cold wind crawl over my neck to my cheek, summoning a sigh out of my throat.

I was pulled out of the trance when my phone buzzed for a new message. I fished it inside my pocket and looked at the sender. When I saw the name of Kei, I opened the message.

From: Kei

Shower muna ako saglit.

I rolled my eyes. Akala ko pa naman ay maagang matatapos ang practice nila but it ended up late. I gritted my teeth as the rapid surge of annoyance poked in my nerve. I had to soothe my seething inside by breathing heavily and steadily. Oh crap, I just realized that I hated Kei and I hated group projects! I mean, if I were given a chance to choose between having a partner or group to make a project and doing it individually, I would absolutely choose the latter. I can do all the projects alone and the reason why I opted to do it alone? This. I hated it when my partner was late and exceeded the time allotted to him. No matter what his reasons were, what we agreed was what we agreed.

Hindi ako nagreply kay Kei at ibinalik na ang aking cellphone sa aking bulsa. I had to bend my back a bit to slap my legs when I felt a mosquito dipping its tube to suck blood from me. I cursed loudly as the skin fell itchy. A groan flies out of my throat as I glanced over the path to the Gymnasium. Bakit ba kasi umoo pa akong hintayin siya rito at bakit kasi mas ginusto kong hintayin siya rito at hindi nalang pumunta sa Gym o kaya ay hintayin siya sa Thirsday Cafe? I was the one digging my own grave, eh?

To distract myself, I pulled my iPad out of my backpack to watch a video. May naisip na kaming kanta ni Kei na kakantahin namin. Most of the lines were from a girl while the male singer would be a second voice. Okay naman kay Kei 'yon kaya hindi na namin pinalitan. I watched several performances in which the piece was the one we will be performing. Huminga ako nang malalim at pinanuod kung papaano kakantahin ng singer ang kanta. It was just individual performance, mamaya nalang ako maghahanap ng duet.

After several minutes of waiting, Kei was already looming through my sight. A sigh of relief rumbled out of my mouth as I rose to my feet. The irritation plagued my face which I guess made him grin apologetically. Actually, wala naman siyang kasalanan talaga, iritado lang ako sa kaniya at sa set-up namin. I clutched tightly onto my backpack as I waited for him to come to my part.

"Sorry kung naghintay ka. Sana pumasok ka nalang sa Gym. Maraming lamok dito..." Panimula niya noong nakarating na siya sa puwesto ko.

I rolled my eyes, "Mabuti naman at narito ka na. Akala ko mauubos na ako rito sa rami ng lamok na pumapapak sa akin,"

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo at kinuha ang aking kamay. Tinignan niya ang aking kamay at nagulat ako dahil may pantal pantal na roon galing sa kagat ng lamok. I reluctantly pulled my hand away from him. I didn't like the glint his eyes were casting. I wanted him to blame himself for making me wait and now, I had these itchy mosquito bites but upon seeing his sullen eyes, I felt a pang of sadness that seared through me.