Smashed

Prologue

Prologue #smashedsrs

"Ang ikli ng shorts mo. Magpalit ka."

I didn't stop drinking from my insulated flask in baby pink despite the unasked opinion beside me. Kaya nga shorts, e. Hindi longs. Hay, nako.

"Ano? Multo ako rito?" nanggagalaiti nang sabi ni Zeo. "Kanina pa ako nagsasalita, wala kang sinagot. Mula no'ng dumating ako, hindi mo 'ko kinausap!"

Hindi pa rin ako nagpatinag kahit parang sasabog na siya base sa ginamit na tono. He arrived just minutes ago, not an hour ago as how he made it sound.

I capped my flask with zipped lips and eyes fixed on it. Hindi ako kumibo nang ipatong iyon sa bench saka nagpunas naman ng sentido gamit ang dalang face towel.

"Rivi!" tawag sa akin mula sa court.

Zeo was even the one who turned his head first. Nakita ko ang pagkagulat sa mukha ni Baren. Maybe he was unaware that I was with a brute. A brute who had the audacity to glare at him before darting a sharp gaze back to me.

"Oh? Siya bagong lalaki mo?"

I kept my stoic expression. "Wala na tayo, Lizeo," diretsong sabi ko, hindi man lang siya dinapuan ng tingin at nilagpasan na rin. I meant for this to be a productive day and talking to him was a waste of time.

"Fuck you," I heard his fed up growl.

Nagbahagi ang mga labi ko. Muntik na akong mapatigil sa paglalakad dahil doon. But I composed myself to appear completely unfazed.

"Fuck you, Rivi!" may kaunting lakas na sabi ni Zeo.

I didn't have to turn my head to make sure that my ex-boyfriend just walked out right after that. Sa pagsunod ng tingin ni Baren sa kung saang dako ay nakasigurado na ako.

"I heard him drop the f-bomb directed at you," he pointed out in displeasure as soon as I neared him.

I smiled sheepishly.

The others were absorbed in their own dealings. Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi nila narinig kung paano ako murahin ng lalaking iyon. Because the ground could just swallow me alive if that so. That was sort of scandalous.

"Break na kami n'on," I told him, sounding a little defensive.

Hindi niya naman kilala si Zeo. But just for him to be informed that I wasn't that stupid to remain in a relationship with a boy like that.

Inabot niya sa akin ang raketa ko na ipinahawak kanina. "I'm surprised you were even in a relationship," he noted with a grimace.

Napanguso na lang ako dahil hindi makaimik.

Hindi naman kasi ganoon si Zeo noong nililigawan niya pa lang ako. He got absolutely far from the Zeo who were still trying to get my attention before we became official. To cut it short, he changed.

What was it with some partners that they'd tend to have either drastic or mild change in their behaviors eventually after being official?

Kung ako, nagbago naman din siguro ako simula noong maging kami. Pero hindi tulad ng naging changes ni Zeo. Not that I was saying changes were unnecessary, but some changes were just out of the line.

"Net drills," tukoy ni Baren sa sunod naming gagawin.

Inisip ko kung narinig niya rin bang pinagkamalan siya ni Zeo na lalaki ko. If so, I'd feel the need to apologize for it. Pero mukhang hindi naman.

Senior high school classmates lang kami ni Baren. Ni hindi nga rin kami close noon. Pair lang talaga kami sa iilang gawain sa training ngayon.

I didn't have an upcoming serious competition. I just wanted to blow off some steam, so I tagged along with them. My recent relationship with Zeo drained me out to the core.