The whistle blew and he threw the ball in the air for his first serve this season. France was not able to touch it kasi sobrang lakas ng force and pa-opposite yung trajectory nung ball. Everyone roared inside the arena, and he jumped out of excitement with his teammates as they gained the first point.
As he was turning around for another serve, he locked eyes with mine and I remembered everything from the moment we first met.
Our first talk, how he got my number, how he made me fell in love with him. It may be a puppy love to others who weren’t us, but we purely and genuinely loved each other. After everything that’s happened, our intentions were pure and rooted for each other. Pero it was not enough.
And sa kabila ng nangyari, I am still rooting for him with all my heart.
Papasok na sana ako ng gym kaso biglang lumingon si coach sa may pintuan. Paano na ko papasok neto? Bumuntong hininga ako at akmang papasok na, nang bumukas ang pinto sa kabilang gawi ng gym.
Napatingin si Coach Tim kaya ginawa ko nang sign yun para pumasok ako. Dali-dali akong pumwesto sa tabi ni Shanti at binaba ang mga gamit ko. Tumingin ako sa lalaking pumasok, at no cap. Siya yun.
“Huy, ano nangyayari?”, sabi ko kay Kiyo.
“Uso kasi maagang pumasok para updated teh,” sabi ni Jin. Ngumiti nalang ako hehe alam ko naman kasi mali ko.
“Mag memerge daw trainings ng women’s team sa men’s team. Parang gagawin daw yatang co-ed ni coach para may variety yung plays.”, sabi naman ni Shanti. OH shocks.
“Edi tuwa kana nyan Shanti? Lagi mo na makikita talaga bebe mo?” sabay nudge ko sa kanya. Ngumiti lang siya kasi alam ko kinikilig na ang gaga.
“Sana all may bebe talaga from men’s vb.” sabi naman ni Jin at nag buntong hiningang tumingin sa grupo ng mga lalaki sa kabilang gawi ng gym.
“Okay, mag stretching muna kayo and then mag drills. Yuki!”, sabi ni Coach Tim at pinalapit yung isang lalaki mula sa men’s vb team. Ito, kilala ko kasi captain ball at crush din ni Jin. 1 year older din sa amin, ka-age ni Yuji.
Tinignan ko si Jin at parang puputok na yung mga mata niya kakatitig. Tinulak ko siya at napasabi siya ng “Aray!”. Tumungo ako kasi tumingin na samin si Yuki. Natawa lang ako kasi hiyang hiya si Jin sa pagkatumba niya.
Matagal na din may gusto si Jin kay Yuki, at alam ko mag coconfess na din siya this Valentine’s day. Uso kasi yun sa JH pag Valentine’s. Kung hindi lalaki ang mag coconfess, babae naman. Walang hiyaan kasi aliw lang talaga sa araw na yon.
Bumaling nalang yung tingin ko ulit sa lalaking lumapit kay Yuki, siya din yung nakita ko kanina sa tabi ni Coach.
“Kento, pasabi naman kela Yuji pa set up na yung net bago mag stretching. Para mamaya tuloy tuloy na tayo.”, sabi ni Yuki. So Kento pala name niya. Bagay sa kanya.
Sinundan ko siya ng tingin at tumulong na din siya kela Yuji, boyfriend ni Shanti na 1 year older lang din sa kanya. Pinulot niya yung net at yung strings at kinabit sa pole. Nagulat nalang ako tinakpan yung mata ko.
“Mabubutas yan kakatitig mo,” sabi ni Shanti. Tumawa ako kasi wala naman akong excuse.
“Bakit parang di ko siya nakita this summer training?”, tanong ko.
“Kaka-galing lang kasi ng Japan nyan. Dun nag training nung summer, e diba parang halos sabay lang din naman both teams nag train nung summer? Kaya di mo talaga siya makikita”, sabi niya. “Gusto mo reto kita?”
“Gagi ka ba!!” sabi ko at tumawa. “Pwede din…” at tumawa kami ng pagkalakas. Tumingin samin ng masama si Coach Tess kaya tumahimik kami bigla.
“Yuji!” tawag ni Shanti sa boyfriend niya kaya di ko na sila nilingon ulit. Halata naman na gusto nila ng bebe time bago yung training. Pero biglang may humila ng kabilang dulo ng net kaya tumingin ako. Akala ko si Shanti pero hindi! Tinignan ko siya sa kabilang gawi ng court at ngumiti tska nag thumbs up silang dalawa sakin ni Yuji.
Bumaling ulit tingin ko sa kanya pero tahimik lang siyang nag uuntangle ng net kaya ganun nalang din ginawa ko. Pero di ko pa din talaga maiwasan na sumulyap kasi ang lapit niya sakin. Napansin niya sigurong panay tingin ko sa kanya kaya tumingin na siya sakin.
“Bakit daw kayo nag palit ni Shanti?” sabi ko. Feeling close kahit di pa kami nag uusap!!!
“I think they want some time alone. So I gave way” ngumiti siya sakin at tumingin kela Shanti na nag uusap.
Gago ba to??? Ang lakas ng pintig ng puso ko, parang nanginginig pa ko!!
“Fern pala!” sabi ko habang nag uuntangle pa din ng net at ngumiti ako sa kanya.
“I know. Kento.” sabi niya at ngumiti nanaman. Lord bakit ang hilig niya ngumiti, ayoko na.
“Alam ko din.” at tumawa siya sa sinabi ko. Parang himala naman na ganito yung convo namin. BAKIT GANITO!!? After nun di na siya nagsalita pero papalapit na siya sakin kasi halos matatapos niya na yung pag uuntangle sa net.
“Classmate mo si Yuji diba? Or ibang section ka?” tanong ko at palapit na din sa kanya. Halos mauubos na din yung net na inuuntangle ko.
“Bakit gusto mong malaman?” and he smirked. He’s now in front of me, smirking. Pumito na si Coach Tess at nakatulala pa din ako sa kanya. “What’s your number?” WHAT???!
“Like my jersey number or my phone number?” I asked and he laughed out loud. Causing almost everyone to look at us. I just hid my face using my hand. “Dali na, ano ba??” I said while laughing.
“Phone number of course.” he said.
“Can you even memorize it?”
“Come on Fern, matalino din naman ako.”
“Ok! 0917xxxxxxx, don’t forget to introduce yourself!” I said and ran up to Coach Tess. I looked back at him after and he was murmuring my number yata while also looking at me. I guess if hindi niya ma-memorize then he still has the next day to ask it from me.
After training, I sat beside the bench with Kiyo, Jin and Shanti beside me. Most of the men’s vb team are gone na kasi kanina pa sila natapos. Kami kasi, we’re being whipped into shape ulit ni Coach Tess for missing out almost all summer on the trainings. Para bang hinahabol niya yung time na nag petiks kami this summer in just overnight.
“Gago napagod na ko. Akay niyo ko pauwi.” sabi ni Kiyo and it’s almost 12MN na din nang tumingin ako sa relo sa gym.
“Beh, kaya mo na yan. Diba sabi mo gusto mo maging single all your life.” sabi ni Jin habang nag pupunas ng mukha. Tumawa lang kami ni Shanti, pero siya nag mamadali nang mag ligpit ng gamit.
“Madaling madali oh. May nag aantay sa labas nyan for sure!” sabi ko at kinuha phone ko. Tinignan ko kung may any notifs from mama pero may ibang nakakuha ng attention ko.
Hey. Kento here. - 8:37PM
Told you I’m good at memorizing. - 8:38 PM
I heard you guys will most likely finish by 10PM pa. - 8:42PM
Take care going home. - 8:42PM
Nevermind, I’ll wait for you here outside. - 9:01PM
Let me take you home. Dw, I’m not a psycho. - 9:18PM
I looked at it, stunned. Not just one, but multiple text messages??? I wiped my face agad and immediately stuffed my things inside my bag. Jin and Kiyo were both looking at me in shock kasi never naman ako nag madali umuwi after training, and usually nag papares pa kami.
Bumalik na si Shanti from the restroom and nakita niyang buhat ko na bag ko.
“Uy, u okay? Ambilis mo ah. May nangyari ba?” sabi niya.
“May nagaantay pa yata sakin sa labas!” sabi ko at tumakbo na palayo.
“Sino yan!” “Sino!!!!” Rinig kong sabi ni Kiyo and Jin. Pero lumingon ako sa kanila at kumaway ng nakangiti. Nakita ko din na nakangiti si Shanti kaya alam ko siya na mag eexplain sa kanila.
Dali-dali akong lumabas at nag scan ng place. Andito pa rin kaya siya? Halos 3 hours ago na din yung text niya. I looked at it again and called him. The line rang for a bit and kind of not expecting him to pick up anymore, kaso biglang nag click.
“Hello? Where are you?” I said.
“Look behind you” he said. I turned and he was sitting inside the pavillion in front of the gym. Sobrang homey nung itsura niya, parang ang fresh pa. Samantalang ako, parang amoy pauwi na kasi lumabas ako agad. Hay nako talaga Fern!!!
“You still waited for me?” I said while getting close to him. Di biro na mag hintay ng until almost 12MN kasi supposedly 10PM lang talaga kami today. Kaso g na g si Coach Tess.
“I told you, I’ll take you home.” sabi niya. I smiled at him kasi kinilig na ako.
“Anong ginagawa mo since kanina? Ano oras na din kayo natapos kanina?” I asked.
“I think we stopped at around the same time I texted you. And I was studying dito sa pav kasi hindi pa dumadating yung hinihintay ko” he said and kilig nanaman ang lola niyo!
“Buti you could see from these dimmed lights”
“It’s alright. Are you tired? How was the training?” Then nag kwento na ako sa kanya kung paano kami kinayod ni Coach kanina sa training.
We both reached his car and he took my bag and put it in his back seat. Aakma na din sana ako to open the car door, pero inunahan niya ko and he opened it for me. Grabe naman ito?? Wala na, KO na ako. Ako na yung talo dito mga mare!
I went inside and see him jogged up to his door. I looked around also sa car and malinis siya. No surprise kasi parang siya din yung tipo na gustong gusto na malinis yung mga gamit niya. Yung parang makikita mo sa klase na sobrang puti ng uniform ganon?
We were both silent pero nagulat nalang ako sa tanong niya.
“How are you so okay to get in the car of someone you just met today?” tanong niya. Oo nga no? He was waiting for me to answer and he still haven’t opened the car engine.
“Tbh, idk! Ang alam ko lang, you seem trustworthy enough and you’re a friend of Yuji and Yuki. So I know I’m in good hands.” I said to him. And it’s true kasi I wouldn’t be going in someone’s car if they’re not a friend of those two. Also, I’ve always seen him since 1st year, and sa totoo lang I had my eyes on him since.
Hindi ko lang siya din gaano nakikita kasi ibang floor sila, but whenever recess na, nakikita ko silang bumabang tatlo nila Yuji and Yuki. It’s as if they’re three peas in a pod.
He smiled at me and started up the engine. “Seatbelt, please”, he said and I strapped in. So did he.
“Where do you live nga pala?” Oo nga!! I haven’t told him kung saan ako nakatira so where would he know kung saan ako iddrop! Most likely pa opposite ways kami, gosh.
“I live in the North, sa QC. Ikaw ba?” I asked, and he nodded lang.
“San ka banda?” he asked again.
“Sa Banawe lang ako. Right beside King Chef.” I said and he started waze and put in on my location. “If you’re in the opposite way, you can just drop me off nalang sa intersection point natin.”I said again.
“No, it’s fine. Sa Fariview ako nakatira, so it’s along the way.” he said and this time it’s me who nodded.
He began to drive off and he opened the audio in his car. I didn’t even realize na I dozed off. By the time he woke me up, we’re already in front of King Chef. I looked at his dash board, it’s almost 1AM.
“Sorry, I fell asleep pala! You should’ve woken me up para may kasama ka.” I said.
“It’s alright, you were tired talaga from the training. We could always have the next time.” he said and he smiled again.
“Sorry talaga. I won’t also keep you too long here. You also have to get home na kasi pa-1AM na.” I said while gathering my things. I looked up to him and he was just watching me.
“Thank you for bringing me home, Kento.” I said and touched his arm. He just held my hand on top of his arm. “You’re welcome. Bukas ulit?” And this time I nodded.
I opened the door and got out, and circled sa side niya. He opened the window and said, “Don’t fall asleep tomorrow. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
I just giggled kasi I felt bad.
“Good night, Miyaken.” I said and he raised his brows.
“Yeah, Miyaura and Kento. Miyaken.”
“That’s cute. Only you get to call me that from now.” he said. Kinilig nanaman po ang lola niyo.
“Okay. But you really have to go now. Or you’ll get home too late!” he just nodded again and waved bye.
After he drove off, it was almost 2 hours until he texted me again.
I just got home. Sleep tight, angel. - 2:56AM
You’re still awake? - 2:57AM
Yeah, I kind of waited for you to get home. - 2:58AM
You could’ve just slept. I was just gonna text you nalang once I got home. But still, thanks for waiting up on me. - 2:59AM
You’re welcome, Miyaken. Sleep now, we still got class tomorrow. - 2:59AM
Alright, good night. See you tmr. - 2:59AM
