Every Game

Chapter 11

Chapter 11: See you later

Dalawang laro, dalawang manlalaro... Ngunit isa lang ang maaaring manalo. If I win this game, he will lose his mom. If he win this game, I will lose Rafael. I suddenly get torn between two things. I don't know what to do. I want him to win his game but I want to win mine too.

"Mads?" Rocky called my attention when thoughts filled my mind. "I know you get my point. So... It is settled then?"

Why are you giving me so much choices? Why are you giving me every possible advantage in this game? Why can't you be selfish now to own me just like what you used to do? What is with the sudden changed of heart?

"D-Don't you want to see your Mom?" I asked.

"Gusto naman," paunang sagot nito. "Ikaw ba? Ayaw mong malaman ang tinatagong feelings ni Raf sa 'yo? You only need to choose, Mads."

"The irony, Rocky. You want to see your mom but you are giving me a choice so I can break the rule in your game." Tinitigan ko siya nang masama. "I also want you to see your Mom. Can't you see? I am helping you. "

"But you also want to know his feelings for you, right?" He cut me out. "I know what it feels like, Mads. I know how it feels coveting someone's attention. Trust me, I know it more than anyone else around. And I don't want you to suffer just like... I am."

"Why? Why do you care so much to me now?"

"Because maybe..." He smiled. "For the first time in my life, I found someone who sees me. Someone who can feel my presence. Funny. I didn't know I could care this intense to someone."

I looked away and gulped hard when a lump got in my throat.

"Don't be a fool. Matagal na kitang kaibigan," bulong ko. "Unfair. Ngayon mo lang napagtanto."

"Really?!" Namamangha ang boses niya. "So... We are friends now, officially."

Muli akong tumingin sa kanya. Bumungad sa akin ang nakalahad niyang kamay sa harapan ko. Todo ngiti ito habang ginagalaw pa ang kanyang kamay na parang naghihintay.

"A-Ano 'yan?"

"For formality. Let's make this bond official."

I held his hand and he tightened the grip. It was so tight that I could feel how happy he was at this moment. It was so tight that I could feel how scared he was by thinking he might also lose me someday. It was so tight... But no matter how he held me, I kept on loosening the grip.

Pagkabawi ko ng kamay ko sa kanya ay mabilis na umiwas ako ng tingin.

"Deal," I mumbled.

"What?"

Huminga ako nang malalim bago tumingin sa kanya. Alam kong naging makasarili ako para pumayag sa kagustuhan niya. Pero ito ang pagkakataon na hindi ko dapat sayangin. I will just be thankful he came to rescue my dying feeling.

"Let's play two games for now on," I mumbled.

"Deal, Mads."

Matapos ng pag-uusap namin tungkol sa dalawang laro na lalaruin naming ay bumalik na kami sa loob. Sinara uli ni Rockya ng bintana at ibinaba ang kurtina.

"Pwede ko bang puntahan si Kael?" tanong ko.

Kanina pa kasi 'yon sa loob, hindi man lang lumabas. Mukhang nag-enjoy talaga siya sa kwarto ni Rocky.

"Tara," aya sa akin ni Rocky.

Sumunod ako.

Binuksan niya ang pinto. Dilim ang bumungad sa akin na kaunting pinapaliwanag ng malaking screen ng TV. Pagkabukas ng ilaw ay tumambad sa akin ang kapatid kong nakahiga sa kama at natutulog. Kaya naman pala ang tahimik niya.