Head Over Heels For Ezzio (Villaverde Series #1)

Chapter 18

Paris

"Z said he's driving you home. Hindi ka pala sasama sa victory party?" tanong ni Sam nang makalapit siya sa'kin. Nakatayo ako malapit sa bleachers at hinihintay si Ezzio. Nagbibihis pa kasi siya sa locker room.

Umiling ako. "Hindi, e."

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to join their party. Bukod sa nakakahiya, nag-text din kasi sa akin si Mico na kailangan na raw naming umuwi ni Venny. He didn't say why. Kaya ayon, nilapitan ako ni Venny kanina lang at sinabing uuwi na raw siya. I was with Ezzio when she turned up. Nag-insist ang lalaki na ihatid na lang kami pauwi pagkatapos niyang magbihis, pero humindi si Venny. And so, she decided to go home first while I stayed here to wait for him.

Halos kalahating oras na rin ang nakalilipas matapos ng pagkapanalo ng Wolves at unti-unti na'ng nagsisiuwian ang mga tao. Samantala, nagpaiwan muna kami nina Sam para hintayin sina Z. Sam and the rest were planning to go straight to the party while Z said he'd catch up after he drives me home. Hindi na lang ako umapila pa. Besides, I wanted to have some time with him alone because I had something to give him.

"Okay, then," ani Sam. Eksakto namang lumabas sina Ezzio at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa amin. Napalingon sa gawi nila si Sam bago ibinalik sa akin ang tingin. She smiled. "It was nice watching the game with you, Paris. We should hangout sometimes."

Napangiti na rin ako. Sam really wasn't that bad. Ang bait niya rin naman pala. Sa tingin ko nga magkakasundo kami kahit mukhang wala kaming maraming pagkakapareho.

Matapos noon ay tumakbo na siya para salubungin sina Raynold. I was surprised to see her hug Ray the moment she reached him. Mukhang miss na miss niya 'to o ano.

Are they...?

Bago pa ako makapanghula ng sagot para sa tanong na iyon ay nalapitan na ako ni Ezzio. He was now wearing a plain black shirt with a pair of jeans.

"Tara?" he asked. Agad akong tumango. Ayaw ko na kasing magpaligoy-ligoy pa. It was past 7pm already. Hindi malabong pagod at gutom na siya. I didn't want to hinder him from going to their party any much longer.

Sabay sabay kaming lumabas ng campus pero nang makarating sa parking lot ay agad rin namang nagkawatakan. Most of his friends were going the other way. Hence, we spent a few seconds bidding one another goodbye. Medyo natuwa ako dahil kahit papaano, parang nagiging kaibigan ko na rin sila. Lalo na sina Sam.

Soon after, me and Ezzio were the only ones making our way to the other side of the lot. He was by my side. Hindi ko napigilang ilabas ang pagkamangha ko sa laro habang naglalakad. Ni hindi ko naisip na baka sobrang daldal ko na.

"Nakaka-enjoy rin pala talaga ang football, 'no?" I started. "Bagong-bago siya para sa'kin pero sa tingin ko nagugustuhan ko na. I might watch another game next time."

Ezzio just kept quiet. Napansin ko rin ang maiikling salita at sagot niya sa akin simula pa kanina. Hindi ko naman masabing galit siya dahil maayos naman ang pakikitungo niya sa'kin. He just seemed a bit... off. Siguro ay dahil sa pagod.

"At ang galing noong si #15! Yung si..." I tried to remember the name of the player but I was having a hard time. "Si..."

"Asuncion," Ezzio filled in for me. Matabang ang pagkakasabi niya noon. I grinned.

"Oo, 'yon nga! Ang galing nung pagkasipa niya noong bola!"

Hindi man lang siya sumagot. We ended up walking quietly. My lips protruded. Nagdadalawang isip ako kung pupurihin ko rin ba siya. Well, I wanted to do so. Dahil sobrang namangha rin naman talaga ako sa kanya ngayong araw. To me, he seemed to be the greatest player on that field.