Catching a Prince

Chapter 23 - The Message

THE MESSAGE

Excited ako. Second day kasi ng Provincial Meet. Because I was the varsity muse, kasama ako ng team sa pagpunta nila sa venue and I didn't have to go to school.

Pero nagtaka ako when I saw the team on the bus at lahat sila sad. I realized agad kung bakit sila sad when I boarded the bus. Nawala yung smile ko.

Wala si Mike.

"Coach, nasan si Mike?" tanong ko agad kay Coach Peralta.

"Wala e," sagot ni Coach. "Pinasabi lang ng father niya na hindi siya maka-karating."

Parang nawalan agad ng sigla ang katawan ko. I thought, bakit? May problem ba? May sakit ba siya?

"Coach, may sakit ba si Mike?” I asked. “Bakit hindi siya makakarating?"

Nag-sigh si Coach. Yung face niya, an expression of disappointment and disgust. "Ewan ko ba. Wala namang valid reason. Sabi lang nung father niya, may bad influence daw sa mga kasama natin."

Nag-jump up agad yung eyebrows ko. Bad influence? I asked myself. Kay Mike, may bad influence? Hello! Wala kayang nakaka-influence kay Mike. Respected, admired, and beloved kaya siya ng lahat.

But then again, naisip ko yung sinabi ni General. May bad influence daw? Hindi kaya ako yung bad influence na tinutukoy ni General? Hindi kaya may nakapagsumbong na naman sa kanya about how sweet we were yesterday?

Baka nga.

Pero napaka-petty naman noon! Sisirain ba ni General yung chance ng team to win the gold medal just because of his damn pettiness? Hindi ba niya alam how important Mike is to the team? Abnormal ba siya?

"Hindi ako makapapayag na may mamagitan sa kanila ng anak ko, Dalen... Palayuin mo ang apo mo sa anak ko..."

Napailing na lang ako sa memory na yon. That was what the general told Lola when he visited us. It was a complete power trip. So disgusting!

Damn you, General Laroza! I just told myself.

Bumaba na lang ako ng bus. Nawala na yung interest ko to watch the games. What for? I asked myself. Wala naman si Mike. Si Mike lang naman ang gusto kong mapanood maglaro.

"Arlene!" tawag sa kin ni Coach Peralta.

Nilingon ko siya. I was already out of the bus.

"Saan ka pupunta?"

Nag-shrug lang ako ng shoulders. "Papasok na lang ako, Coach."

Lalo siyang nalungkot. "Ha? Bakit naman?"

"I just lost interest, Coach. Besides, wala naman si Mike."

"Pero kahit wala si Mike, may chance pa naman ang team na manalo."

Tiningnan ko lang siya seriously. "May chance ba talaga?" tanong ko.

Napayuko siya. Hindi siya nakasagot. Alam ko, hindi rin siya sure. Si Mike ang star player and captain ng team. Without him, parang walang backbone ang team.

I just shook my head and walked away.

                                                            ♣  ♦  ♥  ♠

It was twelve o'clock noon. Nakaupo ako sa favorite spot na inuupuan nina Mike sa school, under the mango tree. Wala si Mike. Sina Joy and Leo naman, I was sure na kumakain pa sila ng lunch, just like most of the students at that time.