A Game of Luck//Kobe Paras FF

Epilogue

"Bakit natatabunan ka na ng bandages, pare?"

Naputol ang aking mga iniisip dahil sa tumawag sa akin. I felt silly when I realized that I was already smiling a bit.

Nilingon ko sila James na natigilan sa paglalaro ng basketball, ngayo'y nakatingin na rin sa akin, hinihintay ang sagot ko. Ricci raised an eyebrow, nang matapos ang ilang segundo ay hindi pa rin ako sumagot.

"Tinamaan kasi ako kagabi," I finally answered. My thoughts went back to her.

Pulang pula ang mukha niya while her eyes looked swollen. There were traces of tears on her face at medyo nagulo naman ang maalon niyang buhok. The car's lights made her look more heavenly than she already was.

She looked like a weeping angel, while I, a helpless mortal.

"Mister? Are you okay?"

Even her voice sounded perfect. It was the perfect blend of soft and menacing that I liked, especially when she had enough of me.

"Tatayo ka ba diyan o sasagasaan ulit kita para talagang kakailanganin mong madala sa ospital?"

She further proved to be more than just a pretty face. Sa gabing iyon, ikinwento niya sa akin ang dahilan kung bakit umiyak siya. The amount of stuff she sacrificed para lang maipatuloy ang pagkakaibigan nila ng lalaking iyon. But in the end, she was hurt.

I badly wanted to do something para matulungan siya. Galit na galit ako sa Carlo na 'yon for disregarding this girl's feelings! It was then when I knew that something was up with my heart when it comes to her.

The constant need to protect her and shower her with affections started then. Kahit na estranghero kami sa mata ng isa't-isa.

"Lakas siguro ng tama!" naabutan kong ani ni Ricci na sinundan naman ng tawanan ng iba. Naiiling na lamang ako habang pinagmamasdan sila, knowing how accurate they were.

Because that night, hindi niya lang ako tinamaan gamit ang sasakyan but she also did it figuratively.

I tried so hard to fight the feelings. I really did. Lalo na't nasa gitna kami ng basketball season at kinakailangan ang buong focus namin.

That's why after the loss against ADMU, hindi na ako nagulat na pinatawag ako ni Coach Bo.

"Alam mo namang kinakailangan natin ang buong focus at atensyon mo," wika niya.

Hindi ko itatangging sumagi nga sa isip ko ang ibig sabihin ni Coach Bo sa gitna ng game. But hearing him say it made me feel more compelled to do so.

Even if it meant hurting her. Even if it meant hurting the both of us.

Sa oras na binitawan ko ang mga salitang iyon ay ginusto ko na agad itong bawiin. Parang binibiyak ang puso ko habang tinitingnan kung paano sinakop ng realisasyon ang mukha niya.

I wanted to hug her tightly and tell her I was joking. She'd get mad at me then pero kalaunan, when she thinks that I'm not looking, ay mapapangiti naman.

The smile that I've grown to love more every day.

She's managed to silently creep into my heart and snatch it away, without me ever knowing. At ngayong alam ko naman ay hindi na ako nagreklamo pa, because I enjoyed every second with her.

Mas lalo kong pinagsisihan ang desisyon nang nasundan kami ng talo. I knew it was a hopeless case, na mas mapapanatag ako kung alam kong nandiyan lamang siya sa tabi ko.

I regretted that decision more when I almost lost her, twice! Abot langit ang kaba ko nang malaman kong nalagay sa panganib ang buhay niya.

I never want to lose her. I used to roll my eyes everytime I read those posts about how they can't live without their significant other but now, I don't think I'll ever be me kung ganoon nga ang mangyayari.