Played (Montellano series #1)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Papalapit na ang semi finals kaya nagiging madalas ang pagpapractice nila. S'yempre sa bawat practice nila, nandoon ako para manood. Ako lang yata ang palaging mag-isang nanonood sa kanila dahil ako lang ang hindi naglalaro. Sometimes there are audience but most of the times, I'm the only one on the bleachers.

Hindi naman ako bored dahil paminsang-minsang lumalabas si Rake sa court. Of course they don't play at once. May mga bench players pa rin naman.

"No games tomorrow, right?" Baste asked.

Umiling si Gabo. "Wala. It's Castro's team tomorrow. Are you going to watch?"

"I don't want to. Baka masuntok ko."

"Maybe we should. They're aiming for the spot, right?" si Kai. "You know we should study our potential opponents."

Natawa si Ate. "Wow, you're so serious about this, huh?"

"Let's watch tomorrow. Itali na lang natin si Kuya sa upuan para hindi masugod si Castro." Jett said which made us laugh.

Tinignan ako ni Rake. "Will you watch?"

"Probably," tumango ako. "What about you? They might not allow you."

"Hindi naman ako maglalaro. I'll be in the audience. Besides, tinanggal din ng coach nila si Castro."

"Hindi ba mas posible na sugurin ka ulit niya?" Joseph overheard us.

"Chill, manonood 'yon, hindi susugod. Pwede rin naman akong umalis kung may plano siya na ganoon ang gawin."

Kinabukasan, nanood nga kami. S'yempre kung nasaan ang mga pinsan ko, nandoon din ako. Actually I don't want to watch because I'm worried Rake might get punched again once Hizon sees him, especially that Hizon will not be playing too.

I couldn't focus on the game. Pasulyap-sulyap ako kay Castro na nasa katapat na bleachers kung nasaan ang bench ng players nila. Rake is beside me, watching the game while talking with his friends. Hindi niya pinapansin ang paminsan-minsang matalim na tingin ni Castro sa kanya.

"Bantayan n'yo," I heard Baste told my cousins. "Baka tumawid."

I guess he's watching Hizon too. Naisip ko tuloy na sana hindi na lang kami nanood. They're already good and I'm sure they'll win. Hindi na nila kailangan pang obserbahan ang mga pwedeng makalaban nila.

"Restroom lang," sabi ni Kim at umalis sa tabi ko, kasama si Nica.

Tinignan ko ang phone ko nang tumunog iyon sa isang text. Paulo messaged me to tell me he'll call later.

Ever since that day he called so early in the morning, I tried my best to respond and answer his calls. Kaya lang hindi ko lang talaga kayang sagutin ang lahat ng tawag niya.

It's not that I don't want to, my energy just can't do it. Pag-uwi namin, nakakatulog ako kaagad dahil sa pagod. We always dine out every after the game and my energy drains out because of my cousins. I hope Paulo understands that, besides madalas naman silang mag-usap ng boys.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at sumandal. Nilingon ako ni Rake. I can't focus on the game. I don't think I'll be at peace until the game ends.

"Are you bored?" tanong niya.

"A bit, I guess." sabi ko kahit ang totoo, binabantayan ko lang si Hizon.

Ngumuso siya at nag-isip ng ilang sandali. He glanced at his wrist watch then looked at me again.

"Then do you want to see more of Pampanga?"

Nagtaas ako ng kilay. "May hindi pa ba ako nakikita? We travelled as soon as we got here, right."