If Only You Stayed

Chapter 8

"Atherine, it’s your running competition today, where are you?"

"Oh, shoot!" Napahawak ako sa ulo ko. Parang gusto kong palubugin ang sarili ko sa sahig.

"Leanne!" halos pasigaw kong tawag sa kaniya.

Napalingon siya, hawak pa ang ballpen at notebook. "Ano?"

"Running competition… ngayon pala! Nakalimutan ko!"

Nanlaki rin ang mata niya at agad tumayo. "What the heck, Atherine! Halika na, baka ma disqualify ka!"

Nagmamadali akong nag-ayos ng gamit habang si Leanne ay halos itulak na ako palabas ng classroom. "Good luck! I’ll cover for you dito," sabi niya sabay thumbs up.

Hindi ko na siya nasagot at mabilis na tumakbo papunta sa gymnasium. Hingal na hingal ako pagkadating doon, para na akong sumali sa marathon kahit hindi pa nagsisimula ang laban.

Pagpasok ko, agad kong nakita ang coach namin. Nakatayo siya sa gilid ng stage, nakakunot ang noo na parang ilang segundo na lang ay aalisin na niya ako sa lineup.

“Finally, Atherine,” sabi niya, sabay buntong-hininga.

Ngunit bago pa ako makapagsalita ng sorry, napatingin ako sa lalaking katabi niya. The guy....from earlier. He was watching me intently.

"Oh, by the way," dagdag ng coach. "Meet my nephew. This is Avram."

Kakakita lang namin ah!

So Avram was his name, huh?

Hindi ko naman inaasahan na magkikita kami ulit. Bakit ba siya nandito? Alam ko namang hindi siya dito nag-aaral. Paano ba siya ginawa ng mga magulang niya? His face is so perfect!

May ginawa ka naman pala ganitong mukha lord, bakit hindi mo pa ako sinali?

He was coach's nephew? What a small world.

Parang natuyo ang lalamunan ko at hindi ko alam kung ngingitian ko ba siya o iiwasan ang tingin niya. Pero siya, nakangiti lang ng tipid, at tumango na parang wala lang sa kaniya na magkita kami ulit.

"So, we meet again… dear one," he said casually.

Parang napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Kailangan pa ba niyang ulitin 'yon? Pakiramdam ko tuloy lahat ng tao sa paligid ay nakarinig.

"Y-you—" Hindi ko naituloy ang sasabihin ko nang bigla siyang naglakad papunta sakin at bumulong sa tainga ko.

"Shh, just focus on your game."

Nanigas ako sa aking kinatatayuan. Ang lapit ng mukha niya sakin! Humakbang ako at sumibol ang kaniyang ngiti.

"Avram? Can I talk to you?" Tawag ni coach sa kaniya.

He look at coach and nodded. Hindi ko alam ang pinag-uusapan nila kasi medyo malayo sila sakin. Ramdam ko ang kabog sa aking dibdib. For years, I didn't compete to running competitions anymore because I was afraid of disappointing people who believed in me.

But right now, I'll do it for myself.

“Atherine!”

Napatigil ako at napalingon sa biglaang pagsigaw ng kung sino.

"Raven?" Hindi ko maitago ang ngiti ko ng makita ko siya.

He smiled back, his dimples showing. "Wait, player ka?" He couldn’t hide his amazement. His eyes scanned me from head to toe.

"Uh, kinda." Nahihiya kong sagot. Baka sabihin niya ang yabang-yabang ko.

"What sport?" Curious na tanong niya. "Runner." I said shyly.

"Really? Runner ka? Hindi halata ah! I never thought you have a talent like this."

I flipped my hair playfully. "Well ngayon, halata na."

Napakagat ako sa labi ko para pigilan ang ngiti. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa darating na karera o dahil andun siya, pero sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"Goodluck. I’ll be cheering for you. "He smiled and was about to tap my shoulder when I suddenly felt a hand already resting there.

Nabigla ako at napalingon.

Avram!

Nagtaas siya ng kilay, parang interesado sa eksenang nakikita niya." Your fan?" tanong niya, may halong ngisi habang nananatili ang kamay niya sa balikat ko.

Before I could even answer, another presence loomed beside me. Raven. His gaze immediately dropped to Avram’s hand on my shoulder, then slowly lifted, locking eyes with him.

"Excuse me," Raven said flatly, his tone laced with quiet authority. "She doesn’t look comfortable."

Avram smirked, clearly unfazed, pero hindi rin niya inalis agad ang kamay niya. "Relax, man. We're friends. Her coach was my uncle.

"I didn’t ask for your family tree," Raven shot back, his jaw tight.

The air between them thickened, enough to make my chest heavy. Avram finally raised both hands in mock surrender, stepping back. "Alright, alright." Avram look at me. 'You should prepare now."

My face burned as I rolled my eyes, trying hard to look casual.

Avram chuckled, walking away with that same irritating smirk, leaving me alone with Raven—who was still staring at me, unreadable, like he wanted to ask something but couldn’t.

“Okay, Atherine!” tawag ng coach. “Go change and get ready. Warm up in five minutes.”

Agad akong tumakbo papunta sa locker room. Nagpaalam lang ako saglit kay Raven pero halata ang inis sa kaniyang mukha. Anong nagyari dun?

Habang nagbibihis, hindi mawala sa isip ko ang nangyari kanina. Parang mga baliw.

Pagbalik ko sa track, nagsimula na ang warm-up. Ilang beses akong tumalon-talon, huminga ng malalim, at sinubukang kalmahin ang kaba.

Habang nakapila kami sa starting line, naririnig ko ang hiyawan ng mga tao. Lumingon ako sa bleachers at nahagip ng tingin ko si Raven. He smiled and mouthed something.

"You can do it!" Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari, pero parang nagkaroon ako ng dagdag na lakas.

Bakit ba kasi ang lakas ng epekto niya?

I was really nervous, but him watching… it felt different. Nasa starting line pa lang ako, waiting for the signal, pero pakiramdam ko hinahabol na ako ng sariling kaba. My heart pounded louder than the crowd's cheer.

I could feel his eyes on me—steady, unshaken. I clenched my fists against the track, trying to control my breathing.

Why does it matter if he’s watching? I’ve run this race a hundred times before, but now… it feels like the first.

My coach’s voice faded in the background,  but all I heard was his cheer on me.

“On your mark!” sigaw ng referee.

And in that moment, standing still before the gunshot, I realized…

“Get set!”

I wasn’t just nervous about running. I was nervous about what he might see in me once I start.

“Go!”

And just like the lightning, I dashed forward with a smile.