Paris
I opened my eyes as my thoughts hung in the air. I slowly turned around just to find myself dumbfounded when I saw who it was.
Jersey #7.
I blinked as a charming smile appeared on his face. He then started walking towards me, and my heart started pounding faster and faster with every step he took. I felt like my feet were glued on the ground. I couldn't move. Meanwhile, the guy, in his grey Hawk Team hoodie and faded jeans, stopped about one step away from me.
It was getting harder to breathe. And the more my heartbeat thumped, the more I realized what was really happening..
I was standing face to face with King Largo. KING FUCKING LARGO.
"You dropped this again," he said and handed me the handkerchief.
'Again'?
Does that mean he remember our first meeting?
The thought brought a wave of joy over me. Alam ko ang liit na bagay lang nito. Pero hindi ko mapigilan ang maging masaya kahit papaano.
To me, it meant that I wasn't a complete stranger to him, after all.
Manghang-mangha ako sa kung gaano siya kalapit sa akin. I even took the time to examine his face. Ni wala akong pakialam kung maisip niya man na ang weird kong tao.
Ah. Those chinky eyes never fail to mesmerize me. Why didn't I notice them awhile ago?
I was lost watching the light expression painted on his face when it suddenly changed into a look of concern.
"Are you okay?"
I blinked for the second time around. Wala nga pala akong kahit anong isinagot sa kanya!
"Y-yes." nauutal kong sabi. "Okay l-lang ako." sagot ko at tumango-tango pa.
"You sure?" paninigurado niya.
The way he eyed me made me feel conscious about how I look.
God, do I even look okay? Ang haggard ko siguro!
'Yon ang mga salitang umiikot sa isipan ko. Masyado akong naco-conscious kaya naman pasimple kong inayos kahit ang buhok ko man lang.
"Yeah," I answered, lacing my voice with a hint of enthusiasm.
He nodded slowly before speaking. "Anyways," he showed me the hanky again. "You dropped this while you were walking over there."
He gestured his hand behind him, which made me look at where he was pointing at.
And that was when I noticed how all the students around us had their eyes on us, both. Well, hindi naman lahat, pero kadalasan. Kadalasan sa kanila ay pasimpleng bumabaling sa amin. 'Yung iba ay umiwas pa nang tingin nang makitang nakatingin ako pabalik.
They watched us with curious, yet criticizing eyes. I hadn't noticed them, but I finally did. So, now, it seemed as if King was the only person oblivious about it.
And I couldn't help but feel like I was in a dramaserye once again. Lahat ng tao nakatingin sa amin na para bang ginagawa namin ang pangyayari sa isang teleseryeng lubos nilang inaabangan.
We had caught their attention. This only proved the fact that not only did the whole student body knew about my 'feelings' for Ezzio, but they also knew about the 'doodle' thing. And that got me thinking..
Does King know, too?
Does he know that I 'POSSIBLY' have feelings for him and it's really him that I 'possibly' like?
The mere idea of it frightened me and, at some point, made me feel down, and then frightened again.
Frightened, because that was the last thing I wanted to happen. And down, because if he knew, maybe that's the reason he was being like this to me. And frightened again, because..
I couldn't let him know about how I feel for him. I just couldn't. But with all the people watching us, I think the truth would soon make its way above the surface, for everyone to see. And this might not be a big deal to others, but it was for me. It mattered. And at this time, it was as if my top priority.
"Thanks." I answered shortly. "I'd be more careful next time."
Just a minute ago, tila ba bakas ang sigla sa boses ko. But now, it sounded distant. Grateful, but distant. And though I noticed the slight puzzled expression King gave me, I still pushed through my act.
Kinuha ko sa kanya ang panyo, nagpasalamat ulit, at agarang umalis. For some reason, I started to have second thoughts. In a heartbeat, it started to grow on me— the idea of letting people think that I do like that star player. I was starting to consider it. I mean, how bad can it be? It's just Ezzio... right?
'And for sure, he wouldn't mind me toying with him just a little because he loves games and girls flock around him all the time. He's used to it!' I thought, convincing myself. Sabihin na lang nating... dadagdag lang ako sa mga babae niya sandali.
I internally squirmed because I could already imagine his ego doubling in size, but I chose to shrug it off. In this moment, I realized that I would rather be talked about liking someone I don't really like, than spill the real truth. So while I walked further, I only had two things in mind.
1. I can't let LMU students think that I like King.
2. OPTION #2
~*~
La Montreal's football practice usually start at 5:30pm. Kaya naman kahit tapos na lahat ng classes ko by 3pm, talagang naghintay ako para lang makausap si Ezzio. We didn't have AFM class today so we really didn't see each other after our conversation at the library. Naisip ko namang hanapin na lang siya but I also thought it would be a waste of energy dahil hindi ko naman alam kung saan siya usually nagpupunta. Might as well just meet him in the place where I'm sure he would be in.
But, aside from all that, I also thought searching the whole school for him seemed a bit too much...
Okay, that's absolutely wrong, Paris. You're head over heels for him now. Kung kailangan mong halughugin ang bawat sulok ng La Montreal para makita lang siya, gawin mo.
An inner voice inside me pointed out, and as much as I hated to admit it, it was right. I was 'head over heels for Ezzio'. 'Baliw na baliw' ako sa kanya. I should do whatever it took to show my 'love' for him...
Ugh. This will need a lot of getting used to.
Padabog kong ibinagsak ang notebook sa kandungan ko dahil sa inis. Siguradong-sigurado ako sa desisyon ko kanina, pero ngayong nandito na ko't nakikita siya sa malayo, parang gusto ko na yatang umatras. To hell with 'liking' that bastard!
My gaze returned to the players running around their area. I was at the football field, of course. 6:30pm na. Nakaupo ako sa isa sa mga bleachers na medyo madilim at malayo sa kung saan naglalaro sina Ezzio. At masasabi kong malayo nga talaga dahil mukhang wala ni isa sa kanila ang nakapansin sa'kin. Which was pretty good because that was exactly what I hoped for. Ayokong may teammate siyang makakita sa akin na naghihintay rito. I wanted to talk to him, but I wanted it to be after their practice. And by after, I mean when all his teammates had gone home already.
And that's because, awhile back, I happened to hear from his 'fanatics' that he was 'so dedicated' to football, he stayed a little longer in the field even when their practice was over.
If I was someone who was into that kind of sport, I would've been amazed. But thing is, I had gotten so used to basketball and it was the one sport I actually understood.
At s'yempre, dahil 'yon lahat kay King.
I was dragged out of my trance when I heard their coach's whistle. Agad akong napatingin sa baba, kung nasaan ang field.
"Alright, well done, team! Well done!" sigaw ng coach nila.
Agad namang nagkumpulan ang lahat. Hindi ko naririnig ang mga sinasabi ng coach nila but I think it was some Pep Talk- Motivating words, comments about their performance, and all that.
Matapos noon, paunti-unting nagsi-alisan ang mga players. Halos lahat ay kinuha ang kanya-kanyang gym bags na siguradong may nilalaman na damit. Naglakad sila patungo sa locker room ng football team. Only Ezzio remained outside.
Ang alam ko, may shower room din sa loob. That's why I was sure they were going for a shower first before heading home. And knowing that they're guys, I was pretty sure they won't take that long, too. So, I waited a little longer.
It only took about fifteen minutes when his teammates started turning up again to bid him goodbye. The last one to do so was their coach.
His voice was a little faint from where I was sitting but I managed to hear him, nevertheless.
"You did excellent today, Ezzio." I heard him say as he patted Ezzio's back. "Keep working on that bicycle kick. You're getting close."
Nakita ko ang tipid na pagngiti ni Ezzio na talaga namang ikinagulat ko dahil hindi ko pa nakikita ang ngiting 'yon mula sa kanya. He was always either grinning or smiling with pride. Meanwhile, the smile he gave off just now was somewhat.. down to earth. And genuine.
Nakakapanibago.
"I will, coach." he answered.
Tumango lang ang coach nila bago nagsimulang maglakad palayo. Pero hindi pa man siya tuluyang nakakaalis ay lumingon siya ulit sa lalaki.
In a loud voice, he said, "But don't work yourself too hard, #13."
For some reason, I felt the weight of their coach's words. I somehow got the idea- that Ezzio was working too hard for their team and they somehow felt sorry for him because he didn't need to work that much. He deserved to rest like the rest of them but he just wouldn't let himself.
Maybe this was what all his fanatics were saying. Maybe they weren't lying when they said Ezzio was so dedicated to football.
A thought came to my mind.
What if it's not just his dedication, though?
The word 'pressure' then followed and I didn't know why I thought of it. Maybe I was just thinking outside of the box but it's a possibility, alright. Him, feeling pressured, was a possibility.
I shook my head. Doon ko lang napagtanto na masyado pala akong nawala sa mga iniisip ko kaya hindi ko na namalayan ang tuluyang pag alis ng coach nila. Ni hindi ko na narinig ang kung anuman ang isinagot ni Ezzio roon.
I sighed.
'Forget it. Just do what you have to do, Paris,' I told myself.
Inayos ko muna ang mga gamit ko bago tumayo at bumaba mula sa bleachers. Hindi man lang ako napansin ni Ezzio kahit nakatayo lang siya sa harapan ng net habang nakatitig sa bolang hawak-hawak niya. He had his back on me.
I walked towards him and even when I stopped just a few feet away, he still didn't notice my presence.
I felt the heaviness and gloominess in the air. The whole field was engulfed with silence. I wasn't sure if I was prepared to break it just yet.
And so, I stood there for a minute, just staring at his dark and brooding figure. He must've been thinking about something so deep. But too bad, I'd have to disturb whatever it was.
Feeling a bit nervous, I took in my breath and readied myself.
Here it goes..
"Martinez."