Love Me, Hate Me

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Problem

I sat back at my chair and sighed. I'm almost finished with my thesis. Isang chapter na lang ay pwede ko na itong ipasa para mapa-check-an. Ang sunod ko namang paghandaan ay ang demo teaching.

Dumagdag pa sa isipin ko ang pagiging manager ng basketball team. I don't want to disappoint Mrs. Carandang. I will help the basketball team as best as I can.

"Bakit kanina ka pa buntong-hininga nang buntong-hininga riyan?" tanong ni Tamara. Kumakain siya ng isang malaking bag ng chips habang may nakadikit na face mask sa kanyang mukha.

"I have a huge problem," sagot ko. Iniharap ko sa kanya ang swivel chair na inuupuan ko.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Ano naman?"

"I became the manager of the baskteball team." Pilit akong ngumiti.

Her mouth hanged open and she dropped a piece of chip from her hand. "You what?!"

"You heard me." I rolled my eyes.

Tumayo siya. "But how?!"

"Mrs. Carandang asked me a favor. Walang tumagal na manager sa kanila. I'm her last option."

"You hate them. How are you supposed to deal with them?"

I smirked at her. "I'll use my hatred."

Now that I think about it, I can do whatever I want to make the training hard for them. It's like killing two birds with one stone. At saka, pahirapan ko man sila sa training, may advantage pa rin sa kanila dahil ma-e-enhance ang katawan nila.

"Kailan ka magsisimula?"

"Tomorrow," sagot ko. "Malapit na ang league. Kailangan nilang maghapit sa training lalo pa't ilang linggo silang walang ensayo dahil sa pagbubulakbol nila."

"Well, good luck with that."

Good luck and a lot of patience is all that I need.

"For God's sake, Erzo, basketball player ka ba talaga? You haven't finished half of the total laps yet!" sigaw ko habang hawak ang megaphone. Sa lawak ng field, kailangan ko ito para madinig nila ako.

"But I'm tired! I still have hangover!" sigaw niya. Umupo siya sa damuhan at sumimangot.

"Alam mo namang may training kayo ngayong umaga, bakit ka uminom?!"

Oh, God. Nag-uumpisa pa lang kami sa training ay halos mapaos na ako kasisigaw.

"At nasaan si Gio?!" Kumukulo na talaga ang dugo ko! "He's the captain. Dapat siya ang unang nandito!"

"Calm down, Lian, he's on his way," sabi ni Bogs habang nakangisi. 

I won't believe him. Hanggat wala rito si Gio, hindi ako mananahimik. 

"Call him." 

Lahat sila ay napatigil sa kanilang ginagawa at napatulala sa 'kin. 

"What? Wala ba siyang cellphone?" Inilagay ko ang aking mga kamay sa 'king baywang. "I need to drill in his mind that he has to be here."

Lumapit sa 'kin si Jin. Kinamot niya ang kanyang batok. "I don't think it's a good idea to call him at this hour."

Tumingin ako sa aking relo. It's already 8 AM. Anong oras pa ba niya gusto? 

"Why? Is he going to kill me? I'll be the one to do it first if he didn't bring his ass here!" 

They all flinched. It's surprising how they looked so scared. Is it because of my temper? Or because I wanted to call Gio?