Air Ball

XVIII: Almost There

JILL

"Ano ba yang ngiting yan, chubs? Creepy mo a." Kim commented.

"Maka-creepy ka naman!" I reacted. "Are you excited for the next game?"

"I'm always excited pag may game." He answered while making sure the laces on his kicks are tied well.

"Pero mas excited ka this time?" I continued to give him that knowing smile which he commented as creepy.

"Oo. San Beda yun e." He replied. Really, after all the matchmaking I did he's going to be elusive? What a friend.

"And?" I asked with a hopeful voice but my patience was already wearing thin. Lol.

"Magaling kasi sila." He snickered. He knows exactly what I want to know.

"Kim Lo naman, alam mo naman anong gusto kong marinig na sagot e!" I whined like. "Para namang 'tong chix o."

"Alam mo naman sagot ko e. Bilang ikaw naman may pasimuno nito." He answered.

"Anyare sayo dyan, Chubs?" Kevin, who was running around the court for warm-up with Aljon, asked.

"Eh ito kasi si Lo pa-chix e." I pointed at Kim who laughed at me.

"Pinipikon ka lang niyan." Aljon chuckled as he messed with my hair.

"E napikon ka naman." Kevin laughed.

"Buti pag nag-aasaran kayo ni Teng hindi kayo nag-aaway. Pareho pa naman kayo." Kim commented as he stood up and did some stretching.

"Speaking of." Aljon remarked. I was busily writing on my notebook so I just waited for him to continue. When he didn't, I looked up and was surprised when I saw Jeric making his way towards us.

"Oy bakit nandito ka?" I asked him in a siga voice while he was still on the other side of the court. It was still early so the only people who were here were me, Kim, Kevin, and Aljon.

"Bakit, bawal ba? Court mo?" Jeric replied in the same tone I used. We were at a court somewhere in Pasig, preparing for a tune-up game.

"Sinabi ko ba? Nagtatanong lang e." I told him.

"Ang sweet niyo pala sa isa't-isa no?" Kevin teased us.

"May lakad kayo diba?" I remember him telling me last night that he's going to lunch with Ate Alyssa.

"Mamaya pa." He said as he checked his watch to confirm. "O."

"Ano yan?" I asked as he held the huge paper bag in front of me.

"Malamang para sayo." He replied, still with the bantering tone.

I took the bag from him and the Tigers nudged me to open it. A teddy bear was half-drowning in a sea of assorted chocolates.

"Feeling mo sweet ka na nito?" I teased him. Jeric really enjoys surprising me randomly. There are days when a bouquet would pop out of nowhere, or a shirt from my favorite store, or a pizza box.

"Sweet naman talaga ako e." He answered as he kissed my cheeks. Expectedly, the other three guys cheered.

"Edi ikaw na!" I said to him. "Thank you."

"Lakas mo sakin e." He winked at me. Hay, Jeric.

"Paps! Wala namang agawan ng moves." Aljon joked.