Chapter 15: Boy's Locker Room
NANA'S POV
Malapit na ang school intramurals, sunod-sunod na ang practice sa iba't-ibang field ng sports like tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball etc.
"Highschool pa lang si Lydon, active na siya sa basketball game. Marami na rin siyang games na pinanalo at nung pumasok siya sa Manhattan, dun na nagsunod-sunod yung wins niya at ilang beses na ring nabigyan ng award as MVP. And since he got the looks and big buffed body, naging maingay din yung name niya sa internet and some of his photos were featured to some sports magazine." Wynwyn said.
"Magaling din siya sa swimming pero as part lang yun ng hobbies niya, balita ko ngayon, yung cheerleader ng school and Lydon are dating."she added.
"Cheerleader?"I asked.
"Wait, browse ko lang yung pics nung girl." Wynwyn said.
"This." Inabot niya sakin yung iPad niya. And may ininom si Wynwyn na medicine.
"What was that for (medicine)?" I asked.
"Pain reliever, sakit kasi ng arm ko kaka-spike."
"You okay?" I asked.
"Sure. Couz, wala nga pala akong pocket, palagay nga muna nito sa bulsa ng jeans mo."
She handed me the medicine. I kept in my pocket. I looked at the iPad, there these pics.
"Small world."
"Small world na naman? Dati si Mr. Vargas, bakit, kilala mo ba siya (cheerleader)?"
"The one that made my senior prom memorable." I smiled.
"What? I don't get you Nana huh?"
"She's Brianna Meneses, my schoolmate."
"Cousin, you sound a bit mad, huh? Parang alam ko yang binabalak mo."
"Well, I think Brianna wouldn't recognize me for the second time. I have changed a lot, I'm the new Nana. The one who kicked my poor @ss off by that brat Brianna back on my senior year. Lydon's next, sumabay pa talaga."
**BOYS' LOCKER ROOM**
"I've missed you so much. Kelan ba matatapos yang practice mo?" Brianna on the boys locker room.
"Babe, malapit na try out, labas ka muna dito, puro lalake na dito."Lydon said na nagbibihis from his sweaty jersey and shorts.
"But babe, hindi ko na talaga matiis na hindi ka makita eh."
"Bawi ako mayang dinner. I promise."
"My kiss?"
"Come here, after this you'll go, okay?"
They kissed. Flirt Brianna.Where am I? I'm hidden. Sinisilip ko lang sila sa maliit na awang ng carton box na pinagtataguan ko. Ang daming boys dito sa locker room, buong team nila Lydon dito. The Timberwolves. kakagaling lang from basketball practice. Smells stingy. Lalabas na dapat ako sa locker room kanina nung bigla silang nagpasukan. Dammit! Ugh. How long will it takes waiting here? They were all naked since it's locker room, oh that's I guessed.
"84-83, Timberwolves on the lead!!"guy 1 shouted.
"Gago. That was close pre! Angas din ng kabilang team, lalo na yung #09" guy 2 said.
"Sino? Si Adrenas"guy 3 said.
"Siya nga, iba siya dumipensa. Balita ko sa dati nyang university, siya yung wagas mag-3 pointshoot."guy 4 said.
"Ano na? Dating gawi?"guy 5 said.
What's with that dating gawe? Jesus, I smell a bit fishy about their conversations. How long they'll spend time chatting in the locker room when they can do all stuff out? I wanna go out from this dusty carton box. Geez, if I wouldn't get out maybe I sneeze to death and get caught.
"Kating-kati na kong magpadugo ng nguso."
"Man, mas malupit kung gilagid paduduguin mo!"
"Hey, relax lang guys. Painitin muna natin ang laban saka natin sampolan." Lydon said.
OMG. it's Lydon's voice. Sampolan? Aren't they sporty or what? Couldn't they fight a match fairly? This is something I should find out further.
Tumahimik na sila. Tapos nang magshower. Hell, I was 5 minutes stuck in here. I can't hear any sound. Clear na yung mga plastic long bench na inuupuan kapag magbibihis. Sarado na rin lahat ng lockers. It's time for me to get out.
I carefully walked in full silence as I went on my pace but I accidentally made a sound. I bumped into the metal locker.
"Lumabas ka na." I was hella stunned. It was Lydon's voice and only a huge 30-door 7 feet high locker is the boundary between us. I was caught off guard. But not really until he finds out I'm here. 4 meters ang lapad ng locker.
"Lalabas ka o ako ang kakaladkad sayo?" his voice is getting louder and full of authority. His getting nearer I was taken back. Dammit! Where should I go? Nakasagad sa wall yung dulong left side ng locker at isa lang ang exit kung saan siya dadaan ngayon sa right ko. Ugh. I can see his shadows going near to me.
"Stalker ka ba? No way you can hide. Lumabas ka."
Ugh.. step back..Step back Step back.
I know what would happen to me after I heard their evil plan to the #09 player, pwede ko silang ireport sa dean's office. Kung dati na nilang ginagawang manakit sa ibang player na hindi alam ng school, what more to a person like me eavesdropping lang.
I can see his shadows carrying a long metal tube, nonetheless he'll hit me that.
Step back..Step back..Step back..Tumalikod ako. I was caught off guard.
LYDON'S POV
May iba pang tao dito, ayaw pa niyang lumabas, wala na rin naman siya pwedeng daanan, dito lang sa pwesto ko. Kinuha ko yung pinagputulan ng tubo ng tubig.
"Stalker ka ba? No way you can hide. Lumabas ka."
Nasa kabilang locker lang siya. Isang pagitan lang ng locker makikita ko na siya. Tingnan ko lang kung saan ang itatagal nito pagkatapos mong lumabas ng locker room. Subukan lang makalabas yung plano namin sa player #09.
Isang hakbang na lang. Light. Switch off.
Fvck! Wala akong makita! Nasa'n na siya?
NANA'S POV
Jesus, the vision is a total black! Muntik na'ko! Humarap ako. I guessed he was 3 meters away from me bago mamatay yung ilaw. I ran fast and dumapa ako, I crawled and saka nakapa yung paa ni Lydon, sakto. No slippers? Basa pa?
I pulled his foot ! He slid out and fell on the floor so when I quickly moved myself away.
"Ack! Shit! Hayop ka! Ack!" he whined. Umatras agad ako palayo sa kanya.
I keep myself not to speak or even make a sound before he recognizes me. Dammit! He whipped the tube in any directions to defend himself kahit nakasalampak pa siya sa ground. Buti na lang nakapagbacklift agad ako and I quickly climbed off the doors of the locker.
"Ack! Anu bang kelangan mong hayop ka! Magsalita ka!" Kung saan-saang bahagi ng locker ang ginawa niyang paghampas, napuruhan yata sa pagkakadulas. My 5 senses were vigilantly working, especially my sense of hearing. Sometimes, you have to keep in mind that any moment you may loss a sense it could be a cause of your loss so you have to practice the alternative.
"T@rantado ka! Wag kang magtago! Ack!"Lydon exclaimed.
Yumuko ako kahit wala akong makita. Nasa ibaba ko lang si Lydon.
"Lumabas ka diyan!" tumayo siya, hawak niya yung tubo saka yung flashlight. Ugh, move out! Ang bilis din niyang makakuha ng flashlight. How? Kailangan ko ng makaalis dito.
"Hindi ka makakalabas ng buhay!"
Pity Lydon, why are you walking like that? And to ask you something, paano mo ko makikita eh sa daanan mo lang pinatatamaan yung flashlight, try mo kaya sa ituktok above locker so you can see how I lay down perfectly like Next Top Model.
A warm liquid shed on my right arm. Ack, smells blood. Nadaplisan ako ng tubo na yun kanina. You'll pay for this, Lydon.
From the top of the locker I whistled.
Bago pa niya ako tutukan ng flashlight, I jumped from the top of the locker, sinipa ko agad yung flashlight and tumalsik sa floor 3 meters away. We can't clearly see our faces justo silhouettes. Dim light.
"Babae ka? Ano bang problema mo sa'kin Miss? Wala ka bang dila? Paano ka nakapasok dito? Magsalita ka!" itinapon niya yung tubo.
I motioned hand 'Nothing'. and kicked the metal tube so it flew right exactly in my left hand. Oh, I'm right-handed but I'll try the left one. You fool, why you release that from your hand, Lydon?
This is the start the real fight. I whipped him right and left. He used his hands to defend himself quickly. Whoah, very defensive not to bruise your bare six-packs abs huh? In fairness among Atom, Wess and Lydon, yours the perfect one.
Sana man lang nagbihis ka muna bago mo ko hinarap. Are you that sure enough na-tight yung pagkakakapit ng towel mo sa baba? Malakas siya, mahusay siyang sumapo ng bawat hampas ko sa kanya. Nag-iingat lang akong macorner niya dahil kapag nagkataon makikilala niya ako.
I turned around and released the tactic I learned before. Beat that! Well, I hit the balls! Like a baseball player won the World Cup. Serves him right, you fool!
"S-shit! Ack!!" he whined. Namilipit siya sa sakit. Your towel's my trophy. I turned back grinning. Ipinatong ko sa shoulder ko yung towel niya and walked forward.
"You'll pay for this! Ack!" he moaned.
Huminto ako sa paglalakad. Hindi na'ko lumingon, silhouettes ko na lang ang nakikita nuya saken. I just raised my left hand,raised my tallest finger.
"Pagbabayaran mo ginawa mo!"Lydon said na hindi na siguro makatayo.
I picked up the flashlight and walked by the door. I released the batteries and I've thrown them like a bride throwing her bouquet of flowers. I went out in the boy's locker room.
I'm getting weird today. I bumped into the loud cheering girls, I covered my face with the white towel. I know I'm not this kinda girly girly type pero lakasan na ng loob akong sumigaw.
"Girls!!! Lydon's alone and naked!!"
With matching talon and turo dun sa locker room. Sumugod lahat ng girls sa locker room. Oh, it looks like girls storming the mall with 100% discount items. Nagkakagulo sila, malakas nga talaga charm ng starplayer na'to.
Hindi naman siguro aabot sa fracture yung kanang paa nya. Quits lang kami, bali braso ko, bali rin sa kanya. Yun nga lang, hindi ko lang sure kung may iba pa siyang suot bukod sa white towel na hawak ko.
Ouch. My right arm. Nilagay ko sa trashcan yung towel. It freakin' hurts. Paliko na'ko palabas, ang ingay naman ng mga babaeng yun, panay pa pagflash ng cameras nila. Nang marinig ko yung boses ni Lydon.
"Sundan nyo sya!" he shouted.
I'm 6 meters away from the boys' locker room. Bago pa tuluyang makalabas si Lydon sa nagkakagulong mga cheering girls, somebody grabbed my arm at ipinasok ako sa isang room malapit dun.
He slammed the door shut. He pinned me against the wall sabay takip ng kamay niya sa bibig ko. I quickly took out the mini dagger from my leg at itinutok ko sa leeg niya.
I rolled my eyes.
"You?"
I gasped. He removed his hand from my mouth.
"Ano sa tingin mo ginagawa mo?"