Captured by Love

20

The loud drums, enthusiastic cheers, clappers, banners and shirts to represent their supporting team. The whole arena smells and feels competition because today, UAAP Basketball season officially starts.

I took few shots of my school's team while they were praying led by Kib followed by the captain's pep talk.

Lahat sila halatang excited pero seryoso at ready na maglaro, "Let's go........" simula ni Jeron.

"Archers!!" they all cheered.

Tumakbo na sila palabas ng dug out, narinig ko na din kasi ang cue nila.

Game started.

Maganda ang simula ng team namin, dominant pero pagdating ng 3rd quarter mabilis na nahahabol ang mga lamang. Nilabas muna si Andrei, nakaupo lang siya pawisan habang hawak ang bote ng gatorade.

4th quarter and 5 minutes left on the clock, tied at 72 all.

Tumawag ng time out si Coach Ayo, hindi ko sila naririnig dahil nasa kabilang dulo ako para maganda ang shots pero halata sa kanilang lahat na hindi sila papayag matalo.

Seeing Andrei's focus and determination made me like him even more. The love of this man for the game is just commendable, lahat naman sila bias na lang siguro ako dahil gusto ko siya. I could hear Aljun and Jollo singing hashtag in love pumapagibig and it made me chuckle.

Pinasa ni Andrei ang bola. Naka-three points si Jeron, naghiyawan ang lahat. Lamang na kami ulit, last two minutes and my team still has a 2-point lead but they can't relax yet. Ben stopped Jose from shooting the ball in, nakuha ng La Salle ang possession.

Hawak ni Kib ang bola, dinribble yun tumingala ako para tignan kung ilang segundo na lang may 1 minute pa. Pinasa na ni Kib ang bola kay Andrei, pumwesto sa 3point line and shoot.

The deafening screams and cheers together with the buzzer indicates that the game is finally over, La Salle got their first win today. Napatalon pa ko sa kinakatayuan ko but had to stop myself dahil kukuhanan ko pa sila ng photos. I think I got a good shot of the last point of Andrei, maya ko na irereview.

Pagtapos kumanta ng school hymn pumasok na lahat ng dug out, sumunod na ako dun. Nakita ko agad sila Jollo nagtatawanan lumapit ako, "Guys picture!" ngumiti agad sakin sila Jollo, Ricci, Aljun at Justine.

"Congrats!" bati ko, they said thanks tapos inasar na ko kay Andrei. Hina-hanap ng mga mata ko si Andrei pero hindi ko siya makita.

"Hanap mo ko?" I suppressed a smile when I heard his voice, even without looking I'm sure it's him.

Hinarap ko siya, "Congrats!!" I said to him. May inabot siya saking bote ng tubig na kinuha ko naman.

"Salamat. Antayin mo ko ah, sabay tayo umuwi." ngiti niya sakin, hindi na ako nakapagtanong kung bakit sakin siya sasabay dahil tinawag na siya.

"Drei tubig mo!" habol ko, nakalimutan niya yung pinahawak niyang tubig.

"Sayo yan, baka nauhaw ka kakacheer sakin eh." he finished his statement with a wink. I was left still standing with a burning cheeks.

"He's so weird." I said staring at the unopened bottle in my hand. I shrugged, opened the battled water and drink from it.

"Infairness, uhaw nga ako." mahinang sabi ko dahil almost ubos na ang laman ng bote isang inuman lang.

Ilang minuto pagtapos humupa ng kilig ko nagsimula na akong mainip. Ni hindi sinabi ni Andrei kung saan kami magkikita o saan ko siya aantayin.

Nakakainis ah, isip ko. Sakto namang nagvibrate ang phone ko mula sa bulsa ko.