At Sixteen

Chapter 18

On the second day of the city meet and we immediately have a match my first game is doubles and thank God we won our first match, after our game with the doubles I have my first match in singles with the opponent with the district 4 and thank God I also won. After a game there's another game, I get tired on playing one match on another but I enjoy it every time we won but we lose on our round with the doubles of district 7. I was jumping with smile when I won my single match with district 2, well I can say district 2 is my hard opponent this. I jump out loud and when I turn I saw someone sitting on the bench taking pictures, is it she? I shake my heads out, why would I expect that she'll come here?

I walk back to my bag to have a drink and fetch my towel to wipe my sweat away when someone hug me at my back that is why I stop on what I am doing, it looks like I've been nailed on the ground. Who is this person? I felt uncomfortable when someone hugs me on my back.

"Miss me?" masayang saad nya sa akin and my heart beats so fast, it is really her.

"Da-dalaney?" I nervously ask her and she release her hugs on me.

I slowly turn around and I saw her smiling, I glaze to the bench and I saw the same person I saw a while ago, damn why did I imagine it was her in fact it was a guy. I gave back my glaze on her and I saw her wearing a big smile on her face, I felt relief when I saw her. The longing I kept on her for a very long time have been remove but I also felt regret but is it ok to cheat on your own promises right?

"Yep, missed me?" masiglang saad nya sa akin and I just smile at her.

"Parang nakakita ka ata ng artista ha, hindi ka nakaimik ah." Saad nya sa akin and patuloy lang akong nakangiti sa kanya.

Andami kong gusting sabihin sa kanya pero hindi ko magawa. I'm happy seeing her, I want to hug her tightly and rest my life with her but it was wrong. Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla nyang hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ako at napatingin lang ako sa nakangiti nyang mukha sa akin.

"Hey are you scared of me? Don't worry ok you'll be safe on my arms ok, keep that on your mind." She said and filch a kiss cheeks kaya nagulat ako kaaya agad ko siyang hinampas.

"Paano kung may nakakita." Saad ko sa kanya and then she laugh.

"Now you are alive." She said to me, I just rolled my eyes on her and I get my towel on my bag.

Agad kong pinunasan ang mga pawis ko, habang nagpupunas ako ng pawis ay nagulat akonang bigla nyang hawakan ang magkabilang pisngi ko at priness ang dalawang pamay nya na nakalamapat sa aking magkabilang pisngi kaya nagilat ako sa kanya.

"Can you come with me?" she ask to me and I raised my shoulders as an answer, I didn't know if what time is my next game.

"gufhhsfgad." I murmured kasi hindi ako makapagsalita ng maayos kasi hawak nya ang magkabilang pisngi ko kaya binitawan nya iyon at patuloy pa rin sa pagngiti.

"Hindi ko pa alam, teka tatanungin ko muna ang schedule." Saad ko sa kanya at tumango naman siya sa akin.

Tumakbo ako papunta sa umpire para tanungin kung may laro pa ba ako. Well hindi naman masang sumama sa kanya kahit sabihin pa nating I promised na iiwas na ako sa kanya pero I can't help myself and I'm hurting myself.

Pagkarating ko sa umpire ay agad kong tinanong ang schedule ko and sabi nya fighting for championship raw ako bukas ng umaga and wala na raw akong iba pang game ngayon kaya pwede na raw akong mamahinga, kasi ang nakaschedule ay mga lalaki lang tutal sila naman daw ang pinakamarami kaya aasahang sila rin ang huling matatapos. Bumalik ako kay Dalaney na nakaupo sa upuan na katabi ang bag ko, she look at me while smiling and I gave her a thumbs up. Agad naming kinuha ang mga agamit ko at tinulungan nya akong buhatin iyon papalabas ng café at nagulat ako nang bigla nya akong hinila pasakay ng kanilang sasakyan.

"Saan ba tayo pupuntang dalawa?" nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya, she smile too me and held my hand.

"Well napagisip kong puro nakikinig na lang ako sa iyo at hindi ko pa napapakilala yung totoong ako kasi puro buhay mo na lang eh at baka time na rin sigurong makilala mo talaga ako. Hindi bilang yung Dalaney na nakikita mo parati sa rooftop na tila tambay, yung takot kay Amega at yung photographer na lagi mong kasamang manood ng sunset at stars." She said while holding my hands and I felt guilt setting myself away from her.

"Dalaney." Tawag ko sa kanya and she look at me.

"Bakit?"

"I'm sorry-"she cut me off.

"Yeah I understand nabigla ka." Saad nya sa akin and I felt hurt for her, binitawan nya ang aking kamay at hinawakan nya ang aking mukha ng magkabilang kamay nya.

"But promise me, wag mo na akong iiwasahan ha, kahit hindi ako ang pipiliin mo I will stay by your side and I will not let anyone hurt you ok." Saad nya sa akin and I nod to her, she smiled and kiss me on my forehead and she hug me.

"I'm sorry kung nabigla kita at minahal kita." She said while hugging me, I smile knowing the fact how idiot am I and how much she love me; I hug her back.

"I'm sorry for setting boarders between us." I said to her.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas nakarating na kami at napunta kami sa isang bahay, sa buong byahe ay hawak nya lang ang aking kamay at nakasandal ako sa kanyang balikat. I will mark this date as I cheated on myself and following my heart without any conceptions and regrets.

Bumaba kami sa sasakyan at hinila nya ako papasok ng kanilang bahay, sa pagpasok ko sa bahay nila ay agad na bumungad ang chandelier sa kanilang bahay at isang putting grand piano pero umagaw ang aking paningin nang makita ko ang isang malaking family picture na nakasabit sa kanilang pader, nakita ko ang dalawang batang babae sa picture. Agad ding nawala ang atensyon ko ron nang hilain ako ni Dalaney paakyat ng second floor at napatigil sa isang kwarto.

"Are you ready to know me?" she ask to me and I smile to her as a respond

Behind this door is what the real Dalaney is.