Captured by Love

3

3 weeks have passed since my last interaction with Andrei buti na lang saktong lagi siyang excused sa class because of their upcoming games. And no, hindi ako pumunta sa training. Hindi ako tumuntong ng gym during those 3 weeks dahil ayaw kong makita ang malakas mang-trip na lalaki na yun.

But now I'm here kasi kailangan kong gawin yung promise ko kay Julia na kukunan ko siya ng photo for her new display picture. At kapag sinuswerte ka talaga ang aga dumating ng basketball team, nasa bleachers lang sila tahimik na nanunuod ng training ng volleyball.

"Uy si Fafa Andrei!" Siniko ako ni May at inirapan ko siya. Simula nang naikwento ko ang tungkol kay Andrei naging feeling cupid na siya kay Andrei at sakin.

"What about it?" I tried acting cool kahit alam ko namang aware si May na iritable ako sa lalaki na yun.

"Ay taray, 'what about it' canadian accent! Shala!" Inirapan ko na lang si May para manahimik na siya. I focused on taking pictures, ilang minuto na ring tahimik ang buhay ko dahil busy si May sa phone niya. I opened my data connection para magwifi na lang siya at tigilan na ang pang-iinis sakin tungkol kay Andrei.

"Ang init." Reklamo ko, nilapag ko muna ang camera sa gilid at kumuha ng panali and tied my hair. Tumingin ako sa paligid, and no I'm not trying to check on Andrei just want to see kung may iba pang taong interesting na pwede kuhanan ng photo. Defensive ni Ateng, says my alter ego.

Talagang iniwasan kong tingnan ang pwesto ng basketball team ayaw kong makita ang ginagawa ni Andrei baka masira lang ang araw ko but did you ever feel that someone's watching you? So yun nga, I felt it and unconsciously tinignan ko yung direction na yun and I saw him. Nakangiti siya sa akin at mukhang niloloko siya ng mga kasama niya.

"Uyyy picture daw sabi ni Fafa Andrei!" I zoned out, nagising lang ako nung siniko ako ni May.

"Hayaan mo siya, ang lakas talaga ng trip niya." Agad kong inalis ang tingin sa kanila at kinuha ang phone ko.

"Eh bakit biglang pinapawisan ka lalo?" Puna ni May na may halong pangloloko, I opened my phone para lang mawala yung awkwardness. Ano ba Ernestine, get a grip.

"Mainit kaya nga ako nagtali." Depensa ko, tumango tango si May pero halatang hindi siya convinced.

"Mainit naman talaga eh!" Mataray kong sabi ulit at saka binaba ang phone para kunin ulit ang camera ko. I was about to start shooting pero natigilan ako sa remark ni May, "Mainit nga siguro pati yung pisngi mo namumula eh." Napalunok ako.

"Tama, mainit kasi." I responded softly although I know May's not buying it.

May eventually stopped giving me that silly look, malapit na din kasing matapos ang training ng volleyball. I am putting the camera inside my bag when someone approached us.

"Hi, you're Ernestine Tiamzon right?" Tell you honestly, I really find it weird whenever someone I don't know, knows my name. Wala lang, pakiradam ko tuloy lagi may kasalanan ako sa kanila. Labo lang eh.

"Uhm.. yeah, that's me. Bakit? What can I do for you?" I asked smiling at the petite chinita girl in front of me.

"Please don't get weirded out, my name's Angel." She giggled and I was worried because she might get a wrong impression of me baka I cringed pala or what when she came up to us.

"Ay no. No naman. You're all good. Nice to meet you Angel, call me Tin. I know my name's kinda mouthful" I told her, lighting things up. She has a very friendly vibe, not intimidating na parang kapag nakausap mo siya friends na kayo agad.