Hello! Ang tagal ko ring hindi naka-update. 😂
Enjoy!
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It was a tiring day for Cassiopeia dahil sa naganap na training nila ngayon. Puspusan na ang training nila dahil by next week ay magsisimula na ang University league and she's really excited for it. She didn't stay to her unit tonight at deretso siyang umuwi ng bahay nila. It was exactly 7PM ng makauwi siya at saktong kasabay niyang umuwi ang Dad niyang kakababa lang ng sasakyan rin pagkapark sa garahe ng bahay nila.
Cassiopeia rushly step out from her car para batiin ang ama. She smiled. "Dad!"
Tawag atensiyon niya rito. Agad namang natigilan ang ama pero mabilis itong lumingon sa kanya at napangiti ng makita siya. "My baby girl!" She stopped midway from running, her Dad is at it again. Unti-unting napapanguso sa tinawag sa kanya ng ama. Kung noong bata siya gustong-gusto niyang tawagin siyang ganoon pero iba na ngayon. Her Dad sometimes called her like that tuwing lumalabas sila kasama rin ang Mommy niya. But with other people hearing it, bigla itong napapalingon sa kanila...lalo na sa kanya. Although she received a cute comments sa mga nakakarinig but she felt kinda embarassed about it.
Ang Daddy na lang niya ang kusang lumapit at natatawa itong napatigil sa harap niya. "Nauwi ka yata baby girl. Akala ko bukas pa." Cassiopeia just sighed sabay iling at hinayaan nalang ang ama niya.
"Yes, Dad. I can be late tomorrow since pinapatawag lang kami tomorrow for the meeting sa league next week." Tumango naman ang Dad niya sa sinabi niyang iyon at kasabay narin silang pumasok ng bahay.
Saktong pagkapasok ng bahay at ng matuon ang mata niya sa dining ay naroon ang Mommy niya, already preparing their dinner on the dinner table kasama ang dalawang kasambahay.
"Hon." Tawag atensiyon ng Dad niya rito na mabilis namang ikinalingon ng ina niya. "Hon! Cassiopeia anak!" Masiglang tawag pabalik ng ina niya at naglakad ito para salubungin sila.
Nangingiting tinignan ni Cassiopeia ang mga magulang. They didn't change. She can still see the spark in her parents. Nag-aaway naman ito minsan pero iyong mga mababaw lang tapos biglang naglambingan. Baliw din kasi minsan ang parents niya.
"Mommy, Daddy. Sa kwarto muna ako. Magbibihis lang." Pagpaalam niya rito.
"Sige, anak. Balik ka kaagad. Kakain tayo."
CASSIOPEIA SMILED UPON receiving a text message from her ultimate textmate.
'You still awake?'
Mabilis siyang tumipa ng reply at kapag kuwan ay umayos na nang higa sa higaan. It's 11 already in the evening, nanood lang saglit ng palabas sa TV kasama ang parents sa living room na panay harutan lang naman ang ginawa ng mga ito.
'Yes. Umuwi ako sa ngayon bahay eh. Balik din naman akong school bukas.'
Mabilis namang nagreply ang ang ka-text. 'Wala ka bang pasok bukas?'
'Wala. Excuse kami tomorrow. May meeting kami for the league next week. Then training afterwards. Last day nalang eh dahil rest day daw namin sa weekened for the preparation for our game.'
Nakangiting bumuntong hininga naman si Cassiopeia. Her heart feels happy just by having a light and comfortable coversation with someone who she barely knew...totally a stranger to be exact. The one she is texting with have a saved name on her phone, Mr. Unknown.
At first, binalewala lang naman niya ang mga mensahe nito. She didn't know him, hindi rin ito nagsabi ng pangalan but she have a little information about him...kung ito nga ba ay totoo. Mr. Unknown is from her school as well, lalaki daw ito and he have a crush on her according to his confession on her a year ago. Yes, isang taon na niya itong textmate. Hindi naman sa madalas silang magkatext. Cassiopeia felt like the one he is texting is harmless. At kahit kailan hindi naman ito nagkulit para magkita sila.
Mr. Unknown is somehow a stranger friend for her. Sa isang taon nilang magkatext, marami na silang nasabi sa isa't-isa. Like about their lives, their studies, about their friends and other stuffs. Pero hindi naman siya nagpakampanti. Cassiopeia is not sure kung totoong nag-eexist nga talaga itong si Mr. Unknown, wala siyang napapansin na nagmamasid ng husto sa kanya sa school maliban sa mga schoolmates na may gusto sa kanya. Napatunayan niyang mag schoolmate sila nito. Bakit?
Mr. Unkown proved it about seeing her with schoolmates in their school who are confessing on her or the people she is with. Para itong stalker, sa una she find it creepy pero kinalaunan, nasanay na siya. Ibig sabihin lang nun, nakikita siya nito madalas at baka nga nakakasalubong niya lang ito ng hindi niya alam.
Cassiopeia is hoping that someday, she could meet him. Komportable siyang ka text ito. And call? They never call each other. Just text. And she wants him to be her friend for real. She can feel it, itong textmate niya ay isang harmless na tao. Weird, kahit sa text lang at never paman niya ito nakita ay talagang magaan ang loob niya rito and she's always have this excitement feeling tuwing magtetext ito.
Mr. Unknown: 'I saw you in the cafeteria. And you always look so beautiful. You're with Oliver. Nakikita kong madalas kayong magkasama.'
Mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi sa labi ni Cassiopeia. 'Yep. Noong last week lang. He just suddenly asked me to be friends with him. Well, since magkakilala naman talaga kami dati, who am I to say no. Plus, he's a cool gay. Ang saya pala talaga pag may friend kang bakla. He's so fun to be with.'
Mr. Unkown: 'I see. Sayang nga daw at naging bakla siya.' Cassiopeia grinned. Sinabi mo pa. Pero teka---
'Ooy! Don't tell me bakla ka rin? May gusto ka kay Oliver 'no?' Pfft. Gustong matawa ni Cassiopeia sa kanyang nireply.
Maya-maya ay mabilis ring nagreply ang kausap.
Mr. Unknown: 'Of course, I'm not! Ikaw kaya ang gusto ko. Mas gwapo ako kay Oliver y'know.'
Hindi napigilang matawa ni Cassiopeia but at the same time, her heart flinched with it. Mabilis ang kanyang kamay na tumipa ng reply rito.
'Weee? I can't tell. But really, Oliver Wilson is a handsome gay. Ang gagwapo nga nilang magkakaibigang bakla eh.'
Mr. Unknown: 'Psh. Ah, basta alam kong mas gwapo ako sa kanya.'
Napailing nalang si Cassiopeia. A thought suddenly pop in her mind. She felt like sharing it to him...at isa pa, she never told him who she like at hindi din naman nagtatanong ito. And to what her mind is saying, Mr. Unknown, deserves to know.
'Wanna know a past secret of mine?' She typed and hit a send.
Malalim siyang bumuntong hininga at kapag kuwan ay hinablot ang katabing unan para yumakap rito habang hawak parin ang phone.
Her room is filled with pink design. She honestly doesn't like pink that much but she likes to see it in her room. Nasanayan narin naman niya iyon and pink stuffs looks good in her room.
Mr. Unknown: 'Woah. I'm suddenly curious. Shoot.'
Cassiopeia smiled, and a memory of her grade school moments with Oliver reminisce. And she replied,
'I had a crush on Oliver Wilson.'
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Kasabay na lumabas ni Cassiopeia ang dalawang kaibigan at deretso silang cafeteria. Pero nang malapit na sana sila ay biglang natigilan si Red at basta nalang itong nagpaalam para pumuntang Hangout. Hinayaan nalang ni Cassiopeia ang kaibigan, her friend is sometimes unpredictable, mahirap itong basahin.
Hindi gaanong mahaba ang pila sa cafeteria kaya mabilis na tumakbo siya kasunod si Nicole sa isang linyang tanging apat lang ang naroon but such a coincidence, it's no other than the Gay handsome squad.
"Oy Oliver, yung BESTIE mo oh."
Napangiti naman si Cassiopeia sa apat na bakla.
"Hi." Bati niya sa mga ito at sinundan naman ni Nicole.
"Baks, keleg na ba?" Natawa nalang si Cassiopeia sa panunukso ni Angelito kay Oliver. They're like that, they like to rease Oliver and her. Which is, hindi naman niya pinapatulan at natatawa nalang...unlike Oliver. He shot a glare on Angelito sabay siko dito.
She really doesn't mind. Alam niyang ganito lang ang mga baklang kaibigan. Kahit kay Red at Blue, ang hilig din ng mga itong tuksuhin ito.
"Anong order niyo? Yung usual ba? Isasabay na namin, girl." Saad ni Oliver sa kanya matapos bigyan ng mataray ng tingin ang tatlong kaibigang bakla na patawa-tawa lang ngayon sa tabi.
Tumango naman si Cassiopeia at kasunod nun ay ang pag-aya nina Angelito sa kanilang dalawa ni Nicole para umukupo ng table...kasama sila. Habang si Oliver naman ang natira sa counter para sa order nila.
"Pa impress talaga yang si Oliver."
"Sinabi mo pa. Minsan lang 'yan manlibre eh."
"Malamang, gagita. Nanditey yung isang future jowa."
Napakunot noo nalang si Cassiopeia sa panay bulungan ng tatlong bakla sa harapan. Sa tabi naman niyang si Nicole ay nakatuon lang sa cellphone nito ang atensiyon...watching a K-drama series.
Dumating ang kanilang order at may kasamang isang server si Oliver. Sa dami ba namang na order nitong pagkain para sa kanila.
-CASSIOPEIA-
Lumabas akong saglit ng gym hall para mag refill ng tubig. Next week will be an exciting week for us. League na eh. Mabilis kong tinahak ang refilling station ng school malapit sa school clinic, the school isn't crowded now since it's already 5PM. Usually, sa oras na ito uwian na nang karamihan but there are some still have a class till 6 or 6:30 in the evening I guess.
"So...you've finally approached her, huh."
"So what."
Napatigil naman ako nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses ba iyon. I halted and went to look on my left side where the quite start of the corridor is. I don't know but I shouldn't ignore it but seeing Oliver and Kent in there suddenly curious me out. Mabilis akong nagtago sa gilid. It's just the two of them...even the doors of each classroom till the end of the hall were closed.
I peeked in and saw how their stares look intensified. They aren't talking anymore...pero yung tinginan nila sa isa't-isa. Alam kong bakla to si Oliver, lalaking-lalaki naman itong si Kent but why I am seeing his manly side infront of Kent now?
I frowned at that thought.
I can still remember how he pushed me to say yes to Kent that time. He was happy...he was smiling.
What's wrong with these two? Hindi naman ito ganoon noong elementary kami. Kahit ngayon, I even heard and came from Oliver's mouth that he have a crush on Kent. More like, he is one of his crushes. Marami siyang crush na fafa daw eh. Parang gaga.
I saw how Kent smirked in front of Oliver. I can't really see back how Oliver reacted.
"Tss. Gotta go. I still have my training. I just went out refill my water."
Doon naman ako naalarma ng magsalita na si Kent. Mabilis naman akong nagtago pabalik. Shit. Kent is coming on his way out here. My eyes instantly roamed around. I need to hide! Baka mabuking akong nakita silang dalawa at sabihan pa ako ng bakla na chismosa.
Humigpit ang hawak ko sa water container ko and saw the bushes I could only hide as of now. Bakit kasi walang ibang napapadaan dito?
Hearing the footstep approaching, mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa bushes ng open hallway na naroon. I couldn't bee seen. Nagmadali naman akong umuklo at nagtago.
Hindi gaanong makapal ang bushes na napagtaguan ko and I can still see from here. Naunang lumabas si Kent, he's in his training attire, even have his water container at kasunod na lumabas ay si Oliver. Seeing the two of them together, you can clearly see how the two of them differ. Alam kong gwapo talaga itong si Kent, pero seeing him with Oliver...I must say that...mas gwapo sa paningin ko ang bakla. Hindi rin nalalayo ang tangkad nila sa isa't-isa and the fact how he choose clothes that suits him best..nakakadagdag pogi.
Bakla nga lang.
Pero siguro, if I still like him, feeling ko magiging si Red din ako eh. Pero wala eh, how could I consider pursuing someone like him when in the first place wala na talagang chance. I honestly support Red pursuing Blue, wala namang masama kung si Red yung manliligaw, bakla naman si Blue, feeling binabae kaya okay lang and there's a chance between them. Yun iyong nararamramdaman ko sa kanila eh.
Magkahiwalay na umalis silang dalawa like nothing happened in that corridor. Pero, my though rans deep thinking what could it be...Ano nga bang nangyari? Do I care?
THE WEEK FINALLY CAME KUNG saan magsisimula na ang league. Our basketball boys team are still on the court, playing smoothly against University of Winston. But that's not of my concern. I am happy as I stared on my phone, I both received a text message from Mr. Unknown at Oliver.
Mr. Unknown: I'm in the gym hall watching. And I'll still be here until your game. Cheer up! Make it win. 😚
Oliver: Girl, Fighting!!!!!!!!!!! Mwaaa.
"You're smiling. Who are you texting?" Mabilis kong naitago ang phone ko nang marinig ko ang boses ni Red sa tabi ko. Kailan pa naging chismosa tong kaibigan kong 'to?
Napaayos naman ako ng upo at sinukbit na sa loob ng bag ko ang phone. Nandito na nga ako sa sulok ng locker room ng gym. I then faced Red, and the heck, she's smiling. Indeed, nagiging weird nga ang isang tao kapag inlove. Isang mahabaging example tong si Red.
"Just a friend." Sagot ko sa tanong niya.
"Oliver?" Agad na napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Her smile didn't went off. "How sure are you?" Balik tanong ko naman sa kanya. Minsan lang tong maging ganito tong kaibigan kong 'to kaya susulitin ko na.
"I'm a fortune teller now." Pfft. I didn't held it back, I laughed to what she said. "Iba pala talaga epekto ng bakla sa'yo, Red."
And Red being Red, she didn't felt insulted. Instead, she smiled warmly.
"I guess so." Si Kupido nga naman, ilang arrow ba dito ang pinana kay Red? Ang tindi eh!
"Red! Cass! Tara na, pinapatawag na daw tayo ni Coach sa labas." Parehong napalingon naman kami ni Red kay Nicole. I immediately stood up from the seat at sumunod na sa kanilang dalawa papalabas.
Napatigil naman ako saglit para lingunin ang iniwang bag ko sa upuan.
Mr. Unknown is here. Ito ang unang beses na nagsabi itong nasa gym hall ito ngayon...in advance unlike before na basta nalang itong nagtext na nakita ako or nanood ito ng game namin o kaya nakita ako sa school or wherever I am. Now, this guy...is on the start waking up my curiosity to who he really is.
-
Napamura nalang ako sa isipan nang makitang si Red nanaman ang puntirya nitong kalaban namin. Sanford University didn't change in their play. They are a mess and quite troublesome to play with. It's always been the key players they are playing dirty, making it to suffer a mild or even a serious injury.
I still focused on the game. My sweats even dropping hard now from my forehead. Kanina pa ako nakakatanggap ng masakit na pagsiko nitong nakabantay sa akin. Ang sarap niyang tadyakan sa totoo lang.
I quickened my pace towards Red dahil napapansin kong may masamang balak tong nakabantay sa kanya but I was too late...
I heard the referee whistled for a foul. Mabilis akong napatakbo sa kinaroroonan ni Red. She was tripped!
No one's POV~
It's a final quarter and just a few minutes more remaining bago matapos ang laro. Ladies team of their school is already leading. It's a sure win kaya napabaling ng tingin si Cassiopeia sa katabing upuan ng bench nila kay Red. Hee friend already stood up kaya napatayo narin siya.
"Clinic lang ako, Cass."
"Samahan na kita." Cassiopeia immediately said. Wala narin naman poproblemahin sa laro. Ang laki ng puntos na lamang nila sa kalaban at naroon parin naman si Nicole bilang maaasahang kaibigan sa court. So Cassiopeia followed her friend, Red out of the hall silently.
"Gusto mo magpabuhat? Tatawag ako pabalik ng locker room. Hihingi ako ng tulog sa boys." Hindi na natiis pang sabihin iyon ni Cassiopeia. It may be a mild injury but her friend keeps on limping. Nasa hallway narin sila at rinig na rinig niya ang hiyawin parin mula sa gym hall. Karamihang estudyante ay lahat nasa game events para manood kaya walang tao ang hallway ngayon.
"Nah. It's fine, Cass."
"Sure ka talaga? For sure madaming willing na bubuhat sa'yo." She is sure of that. Kanina nga sa locker room nila sa gym ay may natirang boys team sa kabila at nakita ang kaibigan niyang paika-ika and immediately offered to bring her to the clinic.
But her friend declined kaya responsibilidad niya ito. Her eyes searched around...
"Ako nahihirapan sa'yo Red eh. Wait lang, I'll call for her help--Oh! Is that your Blue?" Ang kaninang pag-aalala sa kaibigan ay unting nawawala. Cassiopeia instead grinned with such coincidence that he saw Blue approaching towards their direction.
Natatawa nalang sa isipan si Cassiopeia seeing how Blue frowned seeing her friend's situation. She can feel it. "You're such a timing." Natutuwang untag ni Cassiopeia ng tumigil sa harap nila si Blue. At hindi na dumapo pa ang tingin ng bakla sa kanya kundi deretso sa kaibigan niya.
Napailing naman siya. The two is talking like she doesn't exist anymore kaya naman,
"Ahemm. Balik lang ako ng gym. Kukunin ko lang bag niya ha. Susunod ako sa clinic. Ikaw muna bahala kay Red, Blue ha? Bye!" Mabilis na kumripas si Cassiopeia sa dalawa. She will give them their moment.
Hindi paman nalalayo si Cassiopeia ng may kamay na bastang humablot sa braso niya being pulled towards the silent corridor. Nanlalaking mata naman siyang napatingin ng mapagsino ang humila sa kanya basta at sinandal ng marahan sa pader.
"B-Baks?" She don't know why she suddenly felt so nervous. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso niya. It's Oliver who's frowning and so close to him. His hands still on her arms holding her gently and his stares were on it. Napasunod tuloy ng tingin si Cassiopeia, she didn't know and didn't realized na namumula pala ang parehong braso niya.
"You okay, girl? I saw how the opponent would slap your arms. Chakang merlat na 'yon. Lagot 'yon saken." Now she felt....so confused.
She can feel it's not just being so suddenly nervous being pulled by but feeling something more of it. I thought I'm used to his presence now...what the heck is this?
"It's okay, baks." Tanging nasabi nalang niya. Oliver glared at her. Napaiwas nalang siya ng tingin. She grew closer to him, they exchange text every night, even sometimes called and enjoyed bits of it. Having Oliver as a friend is so fun. He's like her clown and comedian, hindi ito nauubusan ng nakakatawang topic.
And just now...she felt herself jolted when she was pulled. It's like a sudden little shot of electricity that shook her as soon as he touched her. And her heart, it's still hammering inside her.
THIS IS WEIRD.
I thought my feelings for him was long gone. I never felt it anymore for years now not until what just happened...just now.
I know to myself that I don't like him anymore. But heck, this weird...so weird.
To be continued...
Another light moments. Don't worry, babawi ako sa susunod na chapter. This will be just few chapter glimpse from college days and we'll go to the real world. 😁
-E.M