•MAINE•
"Meng! Meng! Meeeeeng!"
"Ano ba RJ parang sira naman to eh. Katabi lang kaya kita!" I told him. Nasa room kami ngayon, doing our seatwork. Palibhasa wala pang 10 minutes natapos na siya kaya nangungulit na siya.
"Where are you planning to go to college?" he asked, almost whispering. Hindi pa kasi tapos sa seatwork yung ibang classmates namin kaya hindi kami pwedeng masyadong mag-ingay. "Kasi kung saan ka, dun din ako."
Napalingon akong bigla sa kanya. "Are you serious? What if sa State University lang ako?"
"State Universities are good too, Maine. They may lack facilities but students are well taught there. UP is one. Bagay ka dun."
"Well.. I'm planning to apply pero kinakabahan ako. I heard from my sister na mahirap daw yung exams."
"Then I'll help you," he said. "We'll go to review classes together."
"Talaga? You'll do that?"
"Oo naman," he smiled and pinched my cheeks. "You might want to try Ateneo, UST and DLSU if you like. I'll help you."
I answered the last question in our seatwork before turning back to RJ. "Mahirap yata sa Ateneo eh," I told him. "Kinakabahan ako."
"Maine, I believe in you. Kaya mo yan," he held my hand and squeezed it lightly. "Medyo mahirap nga sabi ni Kuya Dan but you can do it. Sabi ko nga sa'yo, I'll help you with the reviews."
"Talaga?" I asked him.
"Talaga." he assured me. "Basta sabay tayo okay? Pwede tayong pumunta sa mga schools together para mag-inquire."
"Can we do that after the division meet? May mga games ka pa right? Tapos ako may cheerdance pa. Speaking of, how's your training?"
I heard him sigh. "Frustrating. Marco got injured at our game yesterday kaya medyo hirap kami since siya ang center. Muntik pa nga kaming matalo kahapon. Coach Ayo's not pleased with the team's performance."
I gave him an assuring smile and squeezed his hand lightly. "It's not your fault naman, RJ. You did and you are doing your best in handling the team. Kaya niyo yan. Coach Ayo may not be that pleased with the team's performance but I know he's proud of you guys. Especially you," I flicked his nose a little. "He sees the potential in you. Ang galing mo kaya."
He smiled at me. "Thanks, lo-" sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Okay na yung alam nilang kami ni RJ but please lang, no petnames at school. "Maine! Maine nga sasabihin ko."
I tapped his chin lightly. "Good, good."
"Teka, may training kayo later?" he asked. I nodded. "Ouch, kami din. Akala ko pa naman may babe time tayo after our training."
"OA nito. Cheerdance competition na in two days, RJ. Kailangan na namin maplantsa ng bonggang-bongga yung routine."
His forehead creased. "In two days? Hala, may game din kami nun. What time yung compet?"
"Three pm sa Sports Center."
"Shit, may 3pm game kami sa kabilang school."
"Di ka makakanood?" I asked, my voice probably sounded so sad kaya hinawakan niya yung kamay ko. He promised me last week that he'll watch the competition kaso sumabay naman yung game niya.
"Gagawan ko ng paraan okay?" he assured me. "Mamaya na tayo ulit mag-usap, nandiyan na yata si Ms. Alleje."
***
I was in the middle of our training when Gio called me and told me that RJ got into a fight at the gym. Napatakbo akong bigla sa gym and there I saw Jeffrey throwing a punch on Tristan pero humarang si RJ, pinipigilan silang dalawa na nag-aaway. Siya tuloy ang nasuntok. Now, it's him lying on the ground, clutching his stomach. Namali rin ata yung bagsak niya because I saw him twitch his left foot. I ran towards him. "RJ?" I asked him. Inalalayan ko siyang tumayo, kami ni Pao, and we let him sit on the bleachers. "RJ saan masakit?"
Tinuro niya yung left rib part niya. I tried to press it pero konting diin pa lang, nagreklamo na siya sa sakit. I faced Jeffrey and Tristan. "If something happens to RJ lagot kayo sa'kin," Inalalayan ko nang tumayo si RJ para dalhin siya sa infirmary. I asked Kevin to take charge while Paolo and I bring RJ to the infirmary. Wala kasi si Coach Ayo, may kausap daw sa phone.
"Poks, utang na loob wag ka nang magpabigat. Di ka namin kaya ni Maine eh!"
"Paolo! Ito naman wag mo nang pagalitan!" I told him as we walked towards the infirmary. Nakasalubong namin si Coach Ayo.
"Anong nangyari kay Richard?" he asked. Kinuha na niya sa'kin si RJ para alalayan siya.
"E coach, nag-away po kasi sina Jeffrey and Tristan. Aawat sana tong si Poks kaso nung susuntok na si Jeffrey, siya ang natamaan," Paolo said as we entered the infirmary. Binaba nila si RJ sa bed when Doc Kim arrived.
"What happened, Richard?"
"Nasuntok daw ni Jeffrey tapos namamaga yung paa," sagot ni Coach Ayo. "Please check him, Kim. See if he has broken bones or anything then please let me know. Babalikan ko lang yung mga bata sa gym."
Lumabas na si Coach Ayo and Paolo sa infirmary while I sit down with RJ. Mukhang masakit pa rin talaga yung tagiliran niya eh.
"Maine, diba may training din kayo today?" Doc Kim asked as she checked RJ. Tumango ako sa kanya. "Hindi ka ba pagagalitan ni Lena?"
"Magsosorry na lang po ako mamaya, Doc," I told her as I held RJ's hand. "Hindi ko po kasi kayang iwan si RJ eh."
"Ako nang bahala dito, sige na bumalik ka na doon."
"Pero po—"
"Wala naman siyang broken bones, swelling lang since napalakas yung suntok ni Jeffrey no?" she asked RJ and he nodded in reply. "And namamaga rin yung left foot mo, RJ. You have to rest lang and lagyan ng ice para mawala yung swelling," she turned to me again. "Maine, you have to go back to your training."
"Last question na po, Doc Kim. Can he still go back to training? May game po kasi sila in two days."
"I'd have to say no to that," she said. "Since napalakas yung suntok sa kanya and it's still swelling, baka hindi rin niya kayanin magtraining. I'll let Coach Ayo know that he has to sit out for at least one game. Basta rest lang and yung ice para maging okay siya."
"Sige po, Doc," I turned to RJ and pressed his cheek. "Balikan na lang kita ha? Pahinga ka na muna diyan. I'll get your things na din sa locker. I'll text your dad na din to fetch you here okay?"
"Okay, sige."
•RICHARD•
True enough, Coach Ayo didn't let me play for today's game because of my left foot. Sabi ko naman sa kanya na kaya ko, but he insisted on letting me sit out kasi ayaw naman daw niya na mapwersa yung mga paa ko.
Though the good side of having this injury is this. I get to watch Maine and the cheerleading team's competition. Clad in her complete uniform and her team's official jacket, she paved her way towards the bleachers where I sit with her family and our friends. My sisters Mary and Angel are here with me too to watch her compete. Sayang nga lang wala sina mommy at daddy to watch her. Di bale, kukuha naman ng video si Mary para ipapakita namin kina dad mamaya.
"Nay, tay! Buti nakarating ho kayo!" sabi niya habang nagmamano sa parents niya. She pressed a kiss on her mother's cheek as well. She saw her siblings sitting above her parents. "Ay, akala ko sina nanay at tatay lang nandito."
"Manonood kami kasi titingnan namin kung malalaglag ka," Coleen told her. "Lampa ka pa naman minsan."
"Ako lampa? Di kaya!" she turned to me and sat beside me. "Kamusta na paa mo saka yung tagiliran mo? Okay na ba?"
"Okay na po, Ms. Maine. No need to worry."
"Ano bang nangyari dito kay RJ, Meng?" her mother asked.
"E nasuntok ho ng di sinasadya. Tapos namali ng bagsak, medyo natwist ng konti yung paa. Buti nga po hindi grabe yung sa paa niya eh."
"Okay ka na ba RJ? Maglalaro ka pa naman ng basketball," her father told me.
"Okay na po, tito. Naagapan naman po agad."
I saw Maine's teammates lining up in front. "Maine, tawag na yata kayo," I held her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Goodluck, okay?"
"Thank you!" she told me and smiled.
***
Our school's team is first to perform for the competition. Sa totoo lang, kanina pa ko kinakabahan kasi alam kong isa sa mga flyer si Maine. Syempre sinong hindi kakabahan kung makikita mong ihahagis hagis yung girlfriend mo diba?
They went on their formation as the music started. Maine, as the team's captain, is placed in the middle, leading the team's cheer.
The crowd went wild as they started their routine. Everybody is cheering for them, even the students from other schools. Their routine is soooo good, I love how synchronized their moves are.
Nabanggit sa akin ni Maine na may apat na pyramids silang gagawin for this routine. Hinihintay ko talaga yon kasi nag-aalala ako sa—
"Ahh susmaryosep Maine!" napasigaw akong bigla when she went to the top of the pyramid. I am so damn proud of this girl, pero kingina nakakakaba talaga na baka malaglag siyang bigla.
Mga ilang beses pa kong napasigaw, napapatingin na nga sa akin yung parents ni Maine kasi mas kabado pa ako sa kanila. E bakit ba. Future ko yan oh, hinahagis hagis lang ng iba. Susmaryosep.
They were forming our schools initials, the cue that the routine is about to end. Maine went in the middle again and waved her pompoms. Akala ko tapos na kasi yun lang naman ang nabanggit niya sa akin, but Maine and her dancing prowess, cartwheeled her way through her teammates and high jumped and formed a prep stunt. The crowd has gone wilder than when the team started.
She went down as the team stood up and paved their way towards the right side of the open grounds. I saw her looking at me and smiled. She was waving at me while walking when she suddenly tripped. But expect Maine to do something crazier, feeling niya yata walang nakakita sa kanya kaya tumayo na lang siya dun and waved at everybody. Nagtawanan halos lahat ng tao sa loob ng gym. Hay, my crazy Maine girl.
***
Nagpaalam ako sa parents ni Maine na bababa para puntahan siya. The awarding ceremony for this competition will start in a few minutes and I want to be there for her. Pumayag naman sila na bumaba ako.
I saw Maine looking at the bleacher's side where I was sitting. Nagkanda-haba na yung leeg niya kakatingin pero wala ako dun. Hahahaha.
I hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek which startled her. "Ay kabayo!" she turned to me and slapped me on my arm. "Ano ba naman, RJ!"
"Alam mo bawasan mo yang kape mo, masyado kang magugulatin."
"Hinahanap naman kasi kita sa taas! Malay ko bang nandito ka pala," I gave her a back hug and let her lean her head on my chest. "Makinig ka na, announcement na oh."
"RJ naman eh..."
"Ano? Inaano ka ba?"
"Ehhhhh... kinikilig ako...."
"Hala siya, baliw ka talaga."
"Our best flyer for this year's Division Meet...
...Maine Mendoza!"
Nagulat pa kami ni Maine when her name was announced. Hindi niya alam kung aakyat ba siya sa stage o hindi na. But I pushed her, she really did well earlier and she deserves the award. Pagkababa niya after receiving it, I pulled her in for a bear hug. "Congratulations, my love," I whispered in her ear. "I am so proud of you."
"Thank you love, thank you sobra for the support," she said. She tilted her head up, looked at me and smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Her teammates cheered her on and then we heard the host again.
"And for this year's cheerdance competition champion...
...St. Paul High School!!"
"Oh my god RJ!! We won!" Maine exclaimed as she and her teammates jumped around, excited on their team's win. I let her go for a minute as they all walked towards the stage and received their trophy. Lahat nakangiti at pumapalakpak. Maine held their trophy with so much pride, and looked to my side and smiled at me. I smiled back and mouthed "I love you" to her.
I am so proud of you, Maine. So proud.
***
A/N: Baka di ko na mapost mamaya kasi may gagawin ako so ngayon na lang haha #YU21 for your comments on twitter! 💛