Something Wonderful (Complete)

Chapter One

IT WAS Hermi's birthday and he was out with friends. They had decided to take his party to a noisy club. Semi-exclusive ang club. The hottest place to be, according to some. Nagtungo sila sa ikalawang palapag kung saan naroon ang private and exclusive cubicles. May bar roon na walang ibang laman kundi "good stuff." Medyo mas tahimik sa bahaging iyon kumpara sa ibaba.

His friends looked like they were having fun. Most of them anyway. Mukhang hindi gaanong komportable ang dalawa, sina Jonathan at Isaac. Ang totoo ay pinilit lang niya ang dalawa para may makasama siya roon. Para hindi lang siya ang nagdurusa. He wasn't a cruel friend. It was just his birthday.

Hindi rin talaga niya malaman kung paano siya napapayag sa ganoong klase ng selebrasyon. He had nothing against that kind of fun. He once enjoyed this kind of fun. Sadya lang yata talagang tumatanda na siya. Masyado na lang siyang narindi sa kantiyaw ng ilang mga kaibigan. Pumayag na lang siya para tumahimik na ang mga ito. He told himself it was just one night. He could spend the whole day with his girls after.

The night was too long for him. Hindi na siya makapaghintay na matapos ang lahat.

Inilibot niya ang paningin sa mga kaibigan na nagkakasiyahan. Karamihan sa mga ito ay lasing na. Most of them were with a woman—kahit na ang mga kasal na. Pinigilan niya ang sarili na mapailing-iling. Hindi niya gustong husgahan ang mga kaibigan. Not aloud, at least. He was judging them inside his head. Hindi rin talaga niya mapigilan. He was asking himself how he was friends with the likes of them.

Some had tried to introduce him to some women. Mga babae na kapiranggot lang ang suot at kung tumingin sa kanya ay parang handa na siyang lamunin nang buo. Hindi siya interesado at hindi iyon gaanong maintindihan ng ilang mga kaibigan. He could easily get any woman in bed, they said. Wala siyang sabit and he could have fun all night. Minsan ay mahirap ipaliwanag na hindi siya ang tipo ng lalaking masyadong kaswal ang pakikitungo sa mga babae.

He had needs, of course. But before going to bed with someone, he required something. He had to care for her. They had to have a relationship that could go somewhere. Ang problema ay hindi pa yata handa ang puso niya sa ganoon. Hindi siya handang makipagsapalaran.

Idagdag pa na masyado na siyang abala sa buhay para pagtuunan ng pansin ang ibang mga bagay. Bukod sa pagiging professional basketball player, he had accepted endorsements. He had to make sure he had enough for his daughters. Noong ginagawa pa lang ang bahay niya ay wala halos siyang offer na pinapalampas. He had done shampoo and soap commercials. Kahit na hindi siya gaanong komportable sa pagpapakita ng skin. Mabilis na nasundan ng men's facial wash at energy drink commercials ang mga iyon. Pagkalaon ay mayroon na rin siyang hotdog, ice cream, canned tuna, milk and chocolate commercials. Napadalas din siya sa mga magazine spreads. He became the most visible athlete outside the court.

Sa sobrang kaabalahan niya minsan ay hindi niya malaman kung paano hahatiin ang katawan.

He was a single dad. He had twins. He wanted to be hands-on as much as possible. Wala na ang ina ng mga ito pero gusto niyang siguruhin na magiging sapat siya sa ilang pagkakataon. His late wife would want him to be there for the girls as much as possible. Anumang libreng oras niya ay napupunta kina Dreasia at Denisia. Hindi iyon sapat at madalas siyang nagi-guilty dahil doon. He always wished he could be there more for his girls.

Kaya muli niyang naitanong ang sarili. Ano ang ginagawa niya roon? Bakit wala siya sa bahay at pinagmamasdan ang pagtulog ng mga anak?

"Dude, you've become so boring," anang isa niyang kaibigan, halatang lasing na sa paraan ng pagsasalita. Humagikgik ang babaeng nakadikit dito. This said "friend" was also a teammate. He was very much married. Dapat ipanalangin nito na walang makakita sa kanila at makakilala. Sana ay wala ring gaanong mag-abalang kunan sila ng mga larawan. Dahil kapag kumalat sa Internet ang larawan nitong kasama ang ibang babae ay sasakit na naman ang ulo ng mga taga-PR. This particular friend was great inside the basketball court. They had a good teamwork going on. Outside the court, not so much.