Two
"Four laps for skipping practice yesterday, Golveo." I groaned when I heard what coach said. Nakalinya kaming lahat at suot ang varsity vest namin. Vernon chuckled beside me. Agad ring umayos nang tumingin sa kaniya si Coach.
Kieran was beside coach and was drinking his water. He smirked when he recapped the bottle.
"Yes, coach." I said accepting my punishment. Inaasahan ko naman na magkakaroon ako ng iilang laps sa court. We usually take 3 laps and more push ups on the court before playing. Kapag nahuli o sinadyang hindi mag-practice, a lot is to be expected.
"And 60 push ups, Zoe."
Nanahimik na lang ako. When coach signalled us to warm up, I did our routine. We usually have 10 warm-up exercises, depende sa gusto ni Coach. Sometimes we hold the ball as an equipment. Nang matapos kami sa warm up ay may maikling laps na tatakbuhin.
Nakisabay ako sa pagtakbo sa kanila. When they were done, I continued jogging around the court. It was big enough for both basketball and volleyball. Sa kabilang side ay nandoon ang volleyball team ng school at nag-d-diving drill.
"Sige pa, Golveo!" I heard Vernon shouted. Narinig ko ang sunod-sunod na tawanan ng iilan naming kasama. Some girls in the volleyball team turned their heads on me. Nakita ko 'yong pinsan ni Vernon na si Justice at nakikitawa kasama si Mallorie sa may bleachers. Siguro ay manunuod na naman ng laro at makikitawa.
The boys were already starting with the practice while I was sweating bullets while running. Nang matapos ako ay sumunod ako sa push ups na pinapagawa ni Coach sa akin.
"Do you still want to play on the next game?" rinig kong tanong ni Coach habang nagp-push up ako. I raised my head a bit, panting.
"Yes, coach."
"Then don't skip practices like these. You're one of the best players, Zoe. Kieran's good since he's the captain but I most likely recommend you to play on every game since you're a frequent scorer."
I don't really care about the score. I just enjoy playing and scoring is just a bonus. I chose basketball because it's what we all love to do. Sina Vernon at Kieran ang madalas ko talagang kasama kapag naglalaro lang sa bahay. I was close with my cousins on the mother side. Sa father side naman, halos babae ang nandoon kaya hindi ko masyadong kasundo. My sisters vibe with them.
Nang matapos ako sa aking parusa ay nagpahinga ako sandali. I joined the practice later on. Tinatawanan pa ako ni Vernon dahil hindi pa simula ng practice ay pinagpapawisan na ako.
"Damn those sweat, Zoe!" He chuckled.
"Shut up." Inagaw ko sa kaniya ang bola. I swiftly dribbled the ball feeling it slipping away from me. Napamura ako nang maagaw iyon ni Vernon sa akin. He went to the other side and I tried to catch up on him.
Naagaw ng kasama ko ang bola at ipinasa sa akin. My palms were sweating so I chose to pass the ball again.
Pumito si Coach. "Golveo, what are you doing?!"
"Pasmado!" Si Vernon iyon at tumatawa pa.
"Walang nakakatawa, Bevacque." Suway ni Coach kay Vernon. I smirked a bit and started guarding my opponent.
Natapos ang practice namin na pawisan ako. Si Vernon ay tawa nang tawa dahil sa kapalpakan ko ngayong araw. I couldn't hold the ball properly as if I was losing focus.
"You want to go to the pub? Pampawala ng pagod lang," aya ni Vernon sa amin ni Kieran.
Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Kieran. "Sure." The latter replied.
"Fine." Sagot ko nang bumalik ang tingin sa akin ni Vernon.
Nakisabay sa amin sina Mallorie at Justice sa paglabas ng gym. They said they wanted to go to the pub too kaya pinagbigyan na namin. Medyo gabi na kaya isasabay na lang din namin pauwi ang dalawa.
"Zoe's so lame today," maarteng sabi ni Mallorie tungkol sa aking laro.
Tinawanan iyon ni Vernon. "Diba, Mal? Ang sabi pa niya kahapon okay naman pala raw na wala siya sa practice. Mukhang siya nga ang kulang sa practice."
"I'm just not in the mood yesterday."
"Not in the mood pero nakipag basag ulo." Si Kieran ang nagsalita.
I scowled a bit. Bakit ba ako pinagtutulungan ng mga ito?
Tinulak ko ang patagong pinto ng pub. Isaac was at the counter and wiping the glasses. Nilibot ko ang tingin sa dim-lighted na lugar. As always, the pub always emit a mysterious aura whenever I enter. Kaya gusto ko rito kasi hindi palaging marami ang tao. It looks exclusive but not really exclusive. If you find this place, then you're welcome.
"What's up, guys!" Lumapit sa amin si Isaac. He asked what's our order once we've settled.
"Ikaw, Zoe? Root Beer or isang Nori?" He grinned.
"Nori?" pagtatanong ni Mal. "Like the Japanese sea weed?"
"Oo, Nori." Isaac grinned more. "Bago sa menu."
"Shut up, 'Sac. Root Beer lang ang akin."
Tinanguan niya ang sinabi ko kahit nakangisi. "By the way, hired na siya sabi ni boss. Baka bukas pa magsisimula."
"Sino, Isaac?" usisa ni Kieran.
"Cute na girlfriend ni Zoe."
"She's not my girlfriend," tutol ko. "I just helped her yesterday."
"So kaya ka nakipagbasag-ulo ay dahil sa isang babae?" Vernon grinned. "Interesting."
Inulit ni Mal ang sinabi ni Vernon at humawak pa sa ilalim ng baba. Justice was giggling and saying the same thing.
I scowled more. "Tumulong lang ako."
"I bet she's supeer cute kaya ka tumulong," gatong ni Mallorie.
"Sinabi mo pa," Isaac seconded.
Nahilot ko lang ang sentido sa pagkakaisa nilang lahat. Today is not my day, alright. Bakit ba nila ako pinagkakaisahan?
"She's not my type." Nasabi ko na lang para tumigil na sila. But the looks that Mallorie and Vernon were giving me say that they don't want to listen to me anymore.
Oh come on. I rolled my eyes and did not bother. Titigil din naman sila kapag hindi nila kilala o nakita.
When we were done at the pub, bumalik kami sa school para maghintay ng sundo namin. Manong Ayda was the first one to arrive that's why I had to take Mallorie and Justice with me.
Iisang subdivision lang naman kaming tatlo. Vernon and Kieran were cousins and they were both neighbors. We weren't really blood related pero dahil noong una palang naman ay masyadong close na ang pamilya namin sa kanila, some people would say that we were.
Some of them would somehow get confused who's cousin is who. Si Mallorie ang pinsan ko sa mother side. Si Justice ay pinsan ni Mallorie sa father side. Vernon and Kieran were Bevacques. May iilan pa silang pinsan na lagi rin naming kasama kapag bakasyon but they were two years or a year ahead of us. Kami na lang ang natitira sa Senior High School. We were already Seniors and graduating, too.
It was Friday the next day. Ganoon pa rin, may practice . When you're a certified athlete of the school, you'd be restless on practice since they want the best. I skipped practice because I know, when I'm not in the mood, I wasn't the best. Minsan ay pinapalusot ako ni Coach but most of the time, he wants me to stay on the bleachers and watch.
I was fueled to practice today because I had a sloppy practice yesterday. Vernon was more fueled to annoy me about Nori but I won't give in to that.
Why were they curious, anyway? It's not the first time that I had a girlfriend or a crush or liked someone.
Vernon whistled. "Someone's energetic today!" aniya sabay tingin nang patagilid sa akin.
"Someone's being annoying today." I uttered and started warming up.
Mabilis ang practice namin ngayon. We have Saturday practice so we don't need to actually do an overtime play. Natatagalan lang naman kami dahil kailangang linisin ang gym kapag natapos. It will be our duty to clean everything from the bleachers down to the floor. Kapag may iba kaming kasama sa practice, say the cheerleaders, they'll be helping us too.
"Hoy, Zoe. Saan ka pupunta?" Vernon had put his heavy arm on me as I walked towards the exit.
"Uuwi na." Iritado kong sabi at inalis ang kaniyang kamay sa akin. He was still holding a mop and I was sure he hadn't even washed his hands.
I grimaced. "Maghugas ka nga ng kamay mo."
"Sure," he smirked. "Saan nga ang punta? Sa cute gee-ef?" He laughed.
"None of your business." I rolled my eyes and went outside.
Hindi pa naman madilim. I decided to take a walk around the campus until I found myself in front of the pub again. I checked on my wristwatch.
The corner of my lips lifted.
I was on time this time, huh?
I pushed the secret door open. Like it used to be, the pub gave me again a mysterious feeling but this time a little different. Unang bumungad sa akin si Nori na nasa isang table na at nags-serve.
Her eyes landed on me as I entered. It was as if time went to run slowly as I stared at her bi-colored eyes. Sandaling nagtagal iyon bago niya inilipat ang tingin sa kaniyang customer.
I sat on a usual one-seater chair. Separate ang pang-maramihan sa pang-isahan para hindi magulo. There were already three customers in there. Nang dumagdag ay pang-apat ako.
Sinenyasan ko si Isaac na lumapit sa akin but he just shook his head saying he's not available. Kumunot ang noo ko. Not available? He was just standing there at the bar.
"May I take your order?" Nagulat ako sa biglang pagsulpot ni Nori sa tabi ko.
I bit my lower lip at our closeness. Agad akong sumandal sa maikling backrest ng upuan. It was too small for my size but I chose to sit here..so,
"The usual..." I said without thinking that she was new. I got drowned by her heterochromic eyes that when she gave me a questioning stare, I went back to my senses.
Kumurap ako. I chuckled at my silliness. "A root beer, Nori." I said as my eyes trailed on her name plate.
Nandoon ang pangalang 'Ava' sa kaniyang kaliwang dibdib. I told her the other day that I couldn't call her using that name because it was the same as my mom's.
She smiled warmly at me. Pati ang kaniyang mga mata ay sumasabay sa ngiting iyon.
"Iyon lang ba?" she gently asked, raising her notepad a bit to take note.
"Iyon lang." I uttered and motioned my head.
She nodded and told me that she'll be right back. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin. I noticed that her hair was a bit different than the other day. Ngayon ko lang napansin. That's why she looked a bit different because she got bangs that made her more Korean in the looks and her face becoming even smaller.
She looks good on the pub's uniform, though. Hindi masyadong maikli sa kaniya but she looked like those in the anime movies. She turned out like an animated mysterious female character, especially with her heterochromic eyes.
Agad kong iniwas ang tingin sa kaniya nang mapalingon siya sa akin. I cleared my throat and pretended that I was interested at the fake poster plastered in the wall.
When she came back with my order, I muttered a small thanks on her. A few minutes later, customers went in. Nang matingnan ko ang aking relo ay six o'clock na. I was only halfway on my drink.
I was watching her secretly as she walks around, serving people with her smile. Minsan ay napapabalik ang tingin niya sa akin and she would smile like we were friends.
"Magdadagdag ka pa ba?" she asked without hesitations when she stopped over my small table.
Umiling ako sa kaniya. "Just give me the bill." I licked my lips. "Anong oras ang out mo?"
"9:30. Sabi ni Isaac sa akin ay may pumapalit naman daw for night shift kaya ilang oras lang ako rito."
Tumango ako. "Will you be okay going home on your own, then?" I asked carefully.
Sandali siyang nag-isip. I was able to look at her heterochromic eyes again. Her electric blue orbs would somehow shine while the brown one got drown on the dim light.
I smiled a bit. Cute.
"Okay lang naman ako siguro. Baka makasabay ko lang din naman si Isaac kapag lalabas."
Tumango ako. Umalis siya sa harapan ko at lumapit kay Isaac na nasa cashier. Isaac gave her a piece of paper as my bill. Bumalik siya dala ang mahabang box.
I put my money in there. I put a tip for her service. First time niya ngayon. It will serve as a good luck for her.
"Ingat sa pag-uwi, Zoe..." she whispered when I stood up.
Natigilan ako pero agad ding ngumiti sa kaniya. She was looking away, maybe embarrassed that she told me that.
"I will. You take care, too."