CHAPTER SIX

''Sana matapos mo agad lahat ng kailangan mo  so you could play again''. ani Keifer then tapped my shoulders.

''Yeah will do''. Sagot ko

After that he started walking at their area, sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang nakikitawa kina Jho, she's sharing the funny moment where nagbounce ang ball sa mukha ni Maddie after spiking. I watched Keifer greet his teammates and when he went to the left side napalunok ako ng hindi sinasadyang mapunta kay Thirdy ang tingin ko and the worst part is his also staring at me.Napalunok ako, I was thinking of looking away but it's too late now. Kaya instead, I smiled at him.

He seemed to be so surprise about that or it's just my imagination. But anyway I look away after I smiled at him though inside was so nervous.Nilibang ko ang sarili ko sa panunuod ng makitang nagsisimula na sila ulit maglaro nina Maddie, I saw how Maddie's skill in blocking had improved, Deanna's set and all of them, I wonder... would I be this good if I was in court for the past years?

''Oh anong ginagawa mo dito''. Napangiti ako ng makita si Couch O na naglalakad papunta sakin.

I rolled my eyes at him, joking. Couch O wasn't the couch of Ateneo's Volleyball Team when I left but we knew him since he was around already assisting the former couch.And I was so happy when I found out that he already took over the team. And it will be pleasure if I  can play in his team.

Hopefully..

''Hi Coach''. I greet him

''So totoo nga ang chika ni Madayag na andito ka na''.aniya, natawa naman ako sa term niya 'chika'? 

'' Yeah it's true, kaya nga wala ako dito eh'', I said sarcastically.

'' hay naku, same old De Leon'', aniya at natatawang lumapit sakin.

He hugged me and I hugged him back.

''So kailangan ko na bang ipaayos ang Jersey mo?'',he asked as we free ourselves from the hug.

''Hm sa tingin mo Coach gusto ko maging part ng team mo? paano kong gusto kong mag-enroll sa DLSU?''Pang-aasar ko sa kaniya.

Kunot-noo niyang akong tinitigan.

''As much as I can remember, you are so INLOVE with Ateneo'', aniya at mapang-asar akong tinitigan.

That caught me off guard, I wasn't expecting that one,really and I had to gulped and breath an air for me to stay still. I wasn't expecting that banat from coach.

inlove..

''COACH HALIKANA OBSERVE-OBSERVE DIN ABA'', sigaw ni Deanna.

''Sus di ka na nakaimik jan, hintayin ko desisyon mo'', aniyat at nagsimula ng maglakad sa gilid ng court.

Nakangiwi ako habang nakatingin sa kaniyang likod, tsk pasmado masyado ang bibig ni couch. Now nagdadalawang-isip na akong sumali sa team niya baka maungkat ang mga hindi dapat. I shook my head. Umupo ulit ako habang nanonood ako. Pero my eyes were betraying me dahil talagang lumalampas ang tingin ko sa other side ng court kung saan nakaupo sina Thirdy. 

I tried so hard not to look at them,parang mahihimatay na nga ako kanina pero pinilit ko lang ngumiti, I should act normal, He shouldn't notice that he's still has an effect on me. At most of all hindi dapat ako magmukhang suspecious. Aaminin ko ng hindi pa rin ako handa na malaman ni Thirdy ang totoo about Davin, he'll hate me for sure, now I that, now that it cross  my mind I can't look at Thirdy without feeling guilty anymore.

I sighed.

Remember you're priority Bea, it's Davin do what's best for your son.

Napunta ang tingin ko sa kanila ng marinig ang mga hiyawan,when I looked at the court the girls also stopped playing, their looking at the other side of the court. I averted my gaze there and saw Thirdy whose talking to Julia.I heard she's from the Cheering Squad and just by looking at what's she's wearing it's obvious. They were talking and laughing, Thirdy's eyes radiate happiness, he looks so  happy and contented, he's inlove I can say. I'm sure he is. I'm happy for them, finally the man I chose to hurt is smiling, finally he's enjoying the life he dreamt, my sacrifice didn't go for nothing. 

I smiled at myself and.. well, maybe keeping Davin and who he is will remain a secret. And maybe I should be contented with the little Thirdy, my Davin. Maybe this is how life want to work for me.We can't really get what we want. It's just that some things were worth being aside to give way for others.

Maybe..

''ouch'', I scream when a hard ball hit my face. At sobrang sakit feeling ko madidislocate ang mga buto sa ilong ko. Hinawakan ko ang mukha ko ng mahigpit as if it will lessen the pain.

'' Hey bea, look at me'', naririnig ko ang boses pero sa sobrang sakit ng mukha ko ay hindi ko magawang tingnan kung sino yun.

''Bea,bea please get your hands off your face let me see'', anito pero ang sakit talaga.

'' Bea, let me see''. usal niya ulit at maingat na hinawakan ang dalawang kamay ko na nakahawak sa mukha kong kumikirot.

And when I saw who it was parang nawala bigla ang sakit ng mukha ko at naramdaman ko ang pamumutla ko dahil sa sobrang lapit ng mukha namin sa isa't-isa. Worry is evident on Thirdy's face, he keep on looking at my face, mostly a nose part ko dahil talagang doon tumama ang bola, sapul na sapul ako.

''Hey sobrang sakit ba?'', nag-aalalang tanong niya.

Hindi agad ako nakasagot, I gulped and look away.

''Bea?'', he asked again.

''N-no I'm f-finee'', napipilitan kong sagot.

''No you look pale,dadalhin na kita sa ospital'', natataranta niyang sabi at akbang bubuhatin ako ng..

''Opss, sa mukhang tama hindi sa paa kaya nakakalakad yan, kami na magdadala sa clinic Thirds'', ani Jho

He look at me again and I look away.

'' Sige pero sasama ako'', there's finality in his voice upon saying those.

'' Okay tara na Beadel wag kang pabebe at mas masahol pa ang sinapit ko jan''. Ani Maddie at padarag akong hinatak patayo hindi ko naman maiwasang mapadaing.

''Hey Maddie please be careful''. Si Thirdy ulit.

I saw Maddie's eyes widen, tumango naman siya kay Thirdy at agad na akong naglakad dahil maging ako ay nabigla sa mga actions ni Thirdy. I mean I know he cares as a friend, yeah a FRIEND, mas masakit pa sa mukhang kong tinamaan ng bola ang katoohanang iyon. Stop bea!

Habang naglalakad kami ay alam kong sumusnod siya sa amin, I can hear him and Jho talking at our back but I cannot  give them my attention not when my face feels like it was being ironed at sobrang sakit lang ng ilong ko.

''Rate the pain from 1-10'', sabi ng nurse ng makaupo na ako sa isa sa mga bed dito sa clinic.

''8'',I responded habang may hawak na ice pack sa nose part ko.

''Okay, keep the ice pack on this part and bukod sa nose part mo may iba pa bang masakit?''. tanong niya.

puso ata nurse

But I actually didn't say that,umiling lang ako bilang sagot.

'' Okay just keep that on place then you're good but it will be better if you have it checked at the hospital'', aniya at umalis na muna. I think going to the hospital is unnecessary.

Maya-maya pa ay lumapit na sakin sina Maddie. 

''Oh kumusta masakit pa ba?'', tanong ni Jho and I look at them, andito pa rin si Thirdy and he's looking at me waiting for my answer at Jho's question.Hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko when he's around kapag nakikita ko siya nagbabago talaga ang pakiramdam ko feeling ko sinasakal ako kaya medyo mahirap huminga and my heart beat so fast as if I ran a mile.

''Huy Bea! Masyado bang masakit na di kana makaimik jan?'', nabalik ako sa realidad ng marinig ko ang tanong na yun ni Maddie.

''Hmm okay na ako, medyo masakit pa pero mas okay na compare kanina''. Usal ko habang nakatingin kay Maddie, I can't bare to look at Thirdy kahit ramdam ko ang titg niya, he's just staring at me and he's not talking which makes it awkward.

Natahimik silang tatlo as if nakikiramdam, hindi ko din alam kung bakit kahit na nandito naman si Jho at Maddie pero feeling ko kami lang dalawa ni Thirdy ang nasa loob nitong clinic. I sighed, iniiwas ko  talaga ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

''Uhm, salamat nga pala sa pagdala sakin dito guys at gusto ko lang malaman who the hell hit me?''. Inis kung sabi.

I heard a chuckle from Thirdy kaya napatingin kami sa kaniya, he was looking at me kaya agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin, tangnaaa!

'' Tawang-tawa as if hindi halos inisang hakbang lang ang court, hmm''. ani Jho kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya.

I got it pero ayaw ko lang gawan issue at e big deal yun, I know for him it's just nothing but a friendly care.

''as if hindi ikaw ang nakatama sa kaniya?''. May bahid ng inis na ganti ni Thirdy.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"What the hell Jhoana Louisse''. Sigaw ko sa kaniya.

Napakamot naman siya ng ulo,at nag-iwas ng tingin.

''Sorry na kasi.. di ko naman sinasadya saka ikaw kasi eh di ka man lang umilag e kitang-kita namang masasapol ka''. She apologitically said with a bit of paninisi.

I rolled my eyes at her, wala naman na akong magagawa eh. I just sighed and nod at her.

''Yiee okay na ha sorry talaga bei''. may kasama pang yakap.

''Whatever Jho''.

Sandali lang akong nagpahinga at napagdesisyonan na din naming umalis.  Thirdy stayed with us, at hindi ko alam kung paano ko yun nasurvive. Pansin ko ding Maddie's quiter now, as if observing. Hindi ko na din siya masyadong pinansin dahil medyo masakit pa ang ilong ko.

Nang makabalik kami sa court ay agad na lumapit sakin ang mga kaibigan ko, tapos na ang training ng ALE kaya turn na ng basketball team. My eyes searched for Thirdy dahil halatang kanina pa nagsimula ang basketball team baka mapagalitan siya, I stopped searching for him ng may maglagay ng paperbag sa lap ko. And when I look at who it was, Thirdy is already running towards the court. Bumaba sa paperbag ang tingin ko, and when I opened it, it has water, ointment for bruises and some snacks. I just felt myself smiling. 

At ng marealize ang ginagawa ko,I shook my head. This is nothing Bea.

''Okay ka lang?'', tanong ni Maddie, she's looking at the paperbag on my lap.

I gulped and breathe an air

''I don't know Maddie'', I answered honestly.

I felt a tap on my sholder.

''I hope you'll find it out soon and I pray that when that time comes, you will never be indenial''. I looked at her.

''What do you mean?''.

''Stay true to yourself Bea''. aniya and all I could do is to sighed.

........................

''Talaga namanng hinintay mo ha'', pang-aasar ni Manong habang nakaupo kami sa bench.

Hinihingal ko siyang tiningnan, hindi ko rin naiintindihan ang sarili ko sa totoo lang. Hindi ko maintindihan ang naramdamn ko ng makita ko ang bola na papunta sa kaniya, I was watching her kaya kitang-kita ko kung paano tumama ang bola sa mukha niya. She could have avoided it pero masyado atang malalim ang iniisip niya kaya hindi niya napansin, and I don't blame Jho for what happen. Alam kong siyang ang nakatama kay Bea, instead, I blame that person his thinking about. Baka nag-aaway sila nun or may problema sila kaya siya mukhang problemado. That asshole kung sino man siya. 

'' Manahimik ka nga nong'', badtrip kong sagot.

'' Ang sungit ah''. Aniya at umiiling na tumayo para pumunta sa mga teammates namin.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapasabunot sa buhok ko, badtrip talaga!

Nilingon ko si Bea and I saw her with Maddie she's just sitting there with the stuffs I bought for her on her lap. Hindi ko talaga alam ang nangyayari sakin,when she's around all I could think was her, no.. even if she's not around I am still thinking of her. At as much as I wanted to stop myself before I know it,I already did it.

I took a deep breath and play again. 

I just need to take her out of system by playing.

After an hour or two of playing we decided to stop there, habol ang hiningang umupo kaming lahat sa bench, couch was talking to us about the things we still need to improve and some good things.  As we listen to him, I can see the lady eagles staying at thier area and Bea's in  there also. Her face was a bit red especially in her nose part. And finally when couch dismissed us, we got all our stuffs. We went to ALE area for Dani.. yes for Dani only, though I can see Bea in the corner of my eyes.

'' Manong kain muna tayo? gutom na ako eh''. si Dani

''Sige na nga'', ani manong at agad naman pumunta si Dani sa iba niyang kasama.

I thought it will just us pero natigilan ako ng makitang lahat pala sila ay sasama, even Bea and here goes my heart again beating so fast. I had to look away or I'll faint.

'' Tara na? sasama daw sila'', manong nodded then started walking. 

Hindi ko naman magawang umimik, dahil pansin ko naman ang pag-iwas ni Bea sakin eh. How she would look away from me, distance herself, I'll be lying if I say it doesn't hurt like shit.

Agad kaming nakarating sa restaurant, we took our cars kaya mabilis ang transportation namin. And as usual Bea didn't bother to look at me. She keep her distance kahit medyo lumalapit ako sa kaniya. 

We all went in and sit on the biggest table they have dahil medyo marami kami.And when I sat.

''Thirdy?'', napalingon ako ng marinig ko ang boses na iyon ni Julia.

''Julia'', I greet her and stood up so  I could hug her.

'' Hindi na kita naabutan kanina. Late kaming natapos eh kaya sumasama nalang ako sa mga friends ko but they went somewhere''. aniya ng maghiwalay kami galing sa yakap.

'' ah that's fine, sit with us then''. I offered, she smiled a take a sit next to me.

Ng makaupo ako ay doon ko lang nakitang nakaupo sa harapan ko si Bea.  She's talking to Deanna avoiding me again.

''Hm wait lang ha, I'll just call mom,excuse me''. napatingin ako sa kaniya ng marinig ko iyon.

''Sus dito nalang, they won't mind saka gusto ko din makita si..'', kumunot ang noo ko ng marinig kong bulong na yun ni Deanna sa kaniya.

Sino ba yan? kailangan talaga bumulong?

I look away immediately when she look around. I pretended to be busy with my phone, everyone's minding their businesses even julia.

Pero pinapakiramdaman ko lang siya, when she was looking at the screen of her phone, I watched as she type at her screen, maya-maya pa ay nagring ang phone niya. I watched everything that she does, she's busy kaya malaya ko siyang napapanood.Natigilan ako ng ngumiti siya sa screen ng phone niya. It's so genuine.

Parang biglang natahimik ang paligid ko at unti-unting nawawala ang mga kasama namin only her that I can see. 

''Mi,mi!'', I blinked a couple of times when  I heard it as if something going wild inside my stomach., baka gutom na ako.

''Uy, hi cutie!'', ani Deanna na nasa screen ang paningin.

Sunod-sunod namang lumapit ang mga kaibigan ni Bea at tumingin sa screen. 

''Ahhh ang cute naman niyan", si Jho.

''Oo nga kaninong baby yan ate Bei'', si Dani

Nakita ko ang paglunok ni Bea, I saw hesitation in her eyes,and she look at me hindi ko alam kung guni-guni ko lang  yun pero  think I saw fear in it.

''My.. s-son'', she forced  herself to say it  after noon ay agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin sakin.

I don't know what I feel when she said it's her son, but it feels good, it shouldn't be knowing our past right? but it is at nalilito na naman ako.