I Could Fall

Chapter Four

"Thank you." She smiled and quickly got her bag and left the gym in hurried steps.

Umayos ako ng upo. My feet are almost touching the floor. I'm tall for my age, that's why. It's in the genes. Kaya nga nasa bandang likod ako ng pila tuwing flag ceremony. Most of the boys that are in my grade are smaller than me but I think that's how puberty works. Kapag tumanda ay tsaka lang tatangkad pa ang mga lalaki.

The familiar whistle covered the whole court. I know it's a sign that they'll be taking a break. Sa akin agad dumeretso si Kuya Xavi. He was dripping with sweat and catching his breath. Kagaya nang ginagawa ni Ate Lavie ay inabot ko rin sa kanya ang face towel.

"Thank you," he sweetly said and wiped his sweat with the towel. "Where's your Ate Lavie?"

"Library, Kuya," sagot ko.

He nodded and dropped the towel on top of his bag. Umupo siya sa tabi ko at matapos ay uminom ng tubig.

I secretively searched the gym for Ali's whereabouts. Bigla akong tinubuan ng kaba nang makita si Ali na palapit sa pwesto namin. He saw me looking at him. He smiled at me but I quickly leaned back and slouched to hide myself with Kuya Xavi's frame.

Lalapit siya dito! Kuya Xavi's here!

"Hey." Hearing his voice made me jump a little. My heart was beating fast now. "Hyon, you came."

"You know my little sister?" my brother asked, sounding a bit surprised.

"Yes." He chuckled. "We're friends. Right, Hyon?"

Ngayon ay nakatingin na sila sa akin pareho. Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagpula ng buong mukha ko sa hiya. I feel so embarrassed!

Hindi ako nakasagot at tumango na lang bilang pagsagot. Ayaw ko naman ipahiya si Ali. Sabi niya magkaibigan daw kami!

He was grinning so beautifully. I looked at Kuya Xavi and there's a small smirk on his lips. Sa tingin niya sa akin ay pakiramdam ko, alam niya na ang iniisip ko ngayon.

"Pwede pakibantayan siya, kung ganoon? Punta lang ako washroom," sabi ni Kuya Xavi.

"Sure." Ali nodded and looked at me. "I'll take good care of her for you."

Mas lalong nag-init ang mukha ko kaya nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Kuya Xavi laughed and that made me look at him. He looked amused. Bahagya siyang umiling sa akin at ginulo ang buhok ko bago umalis.

I breathed in sharply when he say beside me. Sobrang lapit niya sa akin. I can smell him and he smells so good! Hindi amoy pawis! Yung mga kaklase kong lalaki, kapag naglaro tuwing PE namin ay amoy na amoy ko ang pawis. Ali's different though. He smells really, really good!

"I'm happy that you're here, Hyon. Akala ko hindi ka na ulit manunuod," sabi niya sa akin.

It's like his words were liquid and my heart is a cup. Everything he says makes it full.

I nodded at him. "Me, too."

Ali chuckled a little and smiled.

Be brave, Hyon. Be brave. I thought and breathed in deeply. "I-I have something for you."

Without looking at his reaction, I took my bag beside me and placed it on my lap. I unzipped the bag and brought out the Gatorade that I got for him. It's the same flavor as the senior brought last time.

"H-here." I handed it to him.

Sumulyap ako sa mukha niya at nakita ang kaunting gulat at tuwa roon. I looked away because he felt like the lit up wick and I'm the wax that's melting around him.