Chapter 3: Dante

As soon as I got home, Tita Rizza, my mom's only sister, my auntie, and my teacher, greeted me with her dead glaring eyes. I'm currently residing at their house in the meantime while I'm still studying here. 

Living with them was quite alright, quaint and homey, unlike what I was used to in States. The only good thing I have liked about my situation was that as soon as I stayed here, Tita Rizza treated me like her own son, like how a mother should treat her child. It is just sometimes; I keep reminding myself that she's really not my mother.

I sighed.

Umupo ako sa sofa malapit sa kanyang kinauupuan. Bago pa makapagsalita si Auntie Rizza, inunahan ko na siya. "I told you Auntie, I don't need a tutor." I slumped my back on the couch and closed my eyes for a minute.

"Anong hindi mo kailangan Dante? Nakita mo ba ang grades mo? Paano ka makakaabot ng scholarships sa grade mo? Alam mo na noong simula nang iniwan ka sa’kin ni Ate naging responsibilidad kita."

Oo nga, iniwan ako rito ng nanay ko mag-isa sa lugar na hindi ko alam. "Akyat na po ako. Magbibihis lang po ako."

"Hindi pa tayo tapos mag-usap, Dante," galit na galit niyang sinabi.

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at lumingon kay Tita Rizza. Clenching my fist, I gritted back, "Ako na pong bahala tita. I'll make it up to win the championship and earn my scholarship."

I noticed how her back slumped as soon as she realized it. "Dante, hindi kasi iyon ang punto ko. Nag-alala lang naman ako na baka hindi ka makakakuha ng scholarship sa maganda school dahil sa grades," paliwanag ni Tita. Lumapit siya sa akin at hinaplos ang aking braso. "Pamilya mo kami hangga't nandito ka sa bahay ko, okay? Kaya aalagaan kita hangga't kaya ko," dagdag nito.

I stooped my neck down. I gripped tightly on the strap of my bag as the words from her lips run through my ear like a vanishing wind. 

She sighed, releasing her soft palms on my shoulders. "Pero kung ayaw mo, hindi naman kita mapipilit. Nasasayangan lang ako dahil heto lang ang magawa ko kay Elena, para matulungan ko silang maglola."

Matulungan? Napakunot ako sa ulo. "Bakit tita? Tulong? Siya?"

She slighlty nod. "Nagtanong kasi siya sa akin noong isang araw kung may trabaho akong alam na pwede niyang pasukan para makatulong sa kanyang lola. Uliran na din kasi siya. Sympre napamahal na rin sa akin ang bata, kaya eto hangga’t sa akin makakaya, gusto kong makatulong sa kanya. Matalino pa naman at masipag." Iniwan niya ako sa sala, tumayo siya sa kanyang kinauupuan at pumunta sa kusina.

"Sige Dante, umakyat ka na at magbihis," dagdag niya habang nagaayos ng hapunan.

Umakyat ako sa hagdan at sinarado ang pinto. I didn't change my clothes. Instead, I plummeted down on my newly made bed, feeling really bad.

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Pagkatapos ng araw na iyon, hindi natuloy ang tutoring session namin. Hindi na rin ako pinilit ni Auntie Rizza. Alam ko naman na 'it's all my fault.’ I felt sorry for what I did, knowing how she badly needs it. However, I just can't handle the fact that I have to go with this tutoring session.

Kaya ko naman. Ayoko lang.

I was wrong about what I knew about her. When she walked out that day, I was pretty astonished, knowing she has the guts to do that. Hindi ako makapaniwala na isang Elena Payton kilalang tahimik, cold at uptight ay may character din pala. She's small, may look closed off to everyone, however, she's definitely someone whom you can never judge by its cover.

I only knew her by name until now, as I have never thought I would come to meet her in such an unpleasant circumstance. Coincidentally, as my eyes passed down the view, I saw her walking along with her only friend as they went back to their respective rooms.

Under the bright setting tone of the hazy afternoon, I noticed how fair her skin compared to others. Elena was petite while her long wavy hair scrunched up in a ponytail, waving against her straight and tense back. Yes, she was pretty, but not the kind of girl I would go with. As far as I knew, Melai, a band geek, was the only friend that Elena got. Not that I know everything about her, she was just pretty much popular among the guys because no one could even deny her appealing beauty. Yes, she may be pretty, but she was too uptight and cold for guys to even handle her rather dismissive personality.

And because of it, I don't want to get involved.

Tinapik ako ni Anthony at umupo malapit sa tabi ko. "Ano pre, ba't mag-isa ka lang dito? "

"Nagpapahangin lang. Mainit sa loob ng cafeteria." Nakaupo kami sa bench malapit sa track field, nagpapahangin habang hinhintay matapos ang lunchtime.

"Ano pre dota tayo mamaya?" tanong ni Anthony sa akin.

"Nako pare negative ako. May practice kami mamaya." I waved my hand.

Asking again, he patted his hand on my shoulders, "Malapit na ba competition niyo?"

I nodded. "Yup. One-week na lang."

"Sino katapat?"

I shrugged. "Ridgeson Highscool." Honestly, I don't even care who will be up against us this season. I play because I love playing, and I think that's all that matters. Competition just ruins it.

"Sure win," he grinned and slapped me hard on the back.

Narinig ko ang barkada na tinatawag kami sa likod. Sumigaw si Rafael, "Oi, mga gago tara na! Tama na iyang date niyong dalawa!" Natawa kami ni Anthony.

Tumayo ako sa aking kinauupuan at tinapon ko ang bote at ang paper meal box sa basurahan. "Tara, want to go inside?" I asked him.

"Yup. Sure." Anthony nodded and stood from his seat.

"Nga pala," Out of a sudden, he asked. "Anong nangyari do'n sa inyo ni Elena?" He knowingly smiled.

Napakunot ako ng noo. "Kami ni Elena?"

 I laughed and added, "No dude, you got it wrong. Tutor ko lang siya."

"Kelan ka pa nagka-tutor?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Si Auntie nag-suggest. Kaya ayon wala akong magawa, pero hindi rin naman natuloy. Apparently, she was pissed from what I did," I informed him.

Natawa siya. "Gago ka talaga, pre kahit kailan. O sige maya na lang pre," sinabi niya at pumasok sa loob ng classroom.

"Sige, sige." Ina-apiran ko muna siya bago pumasok sa loob.

As soon as he opened the door, I  winced when I noticed Elena on the corner with her head on the book.  

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I passed the ball on the right where Rafael is currently located. As soon as I saw the ball bouncing towards him, I turned around near the goal spot.  Hinintay ko bumukas ang blindspot sa goal at sinipa ko ng malakas ang bola papunta roon. Tumalon ang bola at dumeretso ito sa loob ng goal. The triumphant joy rose through my lips as soon as I heard my teammates screaming with excitement. 

I breathed in and smelled the rainy wet grass of our playing field. At that moment, I gazed at the sky above us for a minute looking at how different it looks from the other day. I noticed the warning signal of the dark and dim-lit sky, like rain was about to pour heavily any minute.

After a couple of minutes, I heard faint footsteps coming right towards me. I turned around to look at the root of the sound and saw Rafael approaching me. He held his arms to me and I instantly grabbed it to prop myself up.  

"Iba ka talaga pare," sabi sa akin ni Rafael at inakbayan ako.

"I'm just lucky," sagot ko.

Dagdag ni Kevin, ang aming goalkeeper. "Pre, 'wag mo nga kaming lokohin." At sinuntok niya ako sa braso.

I awkwardly smiled. "Suwerte lang talaga."

Pagkatapos noon, narinig naming tinawag kami ni Coach para sa lecture at strategy para sa susunod na kompetisyon. Umupo kami sa mga bleachers habang nagtuturo si coach tungkol sa strategy at techniques na kailangan namin ma-ipraktis.

Kumuha ako ng tubig sa bag at ininom ito habang nakikinig sa kanya.

"Okay guys ready?" sagot niya habang hinihintay niya lahat makaupo.

Tumango kaming lahat. Kinuha ni Coach ang kapirasong chalk at nagsimulang gumuhit sa blackboard.

"Manaban, Garcia, Tan at Floresco, defense kayo, dapat alam ninyo kung saan dadaan ang bola. Alisto palagi." Turo ni Coach sa kanila habang minamarka ang mga pwesto nila sa formation.

"Gillesania, Alejandro at Diaz, alam niyo na ang gagawin. Switch the Attack," dagdag niya sabay marka sa black board.

"Yes coach," tugon ni Diaz sabay apir kay Alejandro.

Tinuro ako ni coach. "Sa iyo muna Gillesania, pasa mo kay Alejandro o Kay Diaz, pagmalapit ka na sa goal." Sabay turo ni coach sa kanilang dalawa. "Sabay ipasa niyo ka Gillesania."

We nodded. After that, we practiced doing Coach’s strategies until we got it right. We kept practicing for quite some time until dawn breaks us. When we noticed how dark the clouds were, we decided to call it a day. I then immediately went to the shower and take a hot shower.

Paglabas ko ng banyo, nakita kong makulimlim na ang ulap. Dali-dali akong pumunta sa locker at kinuha ang nakatagong paying dito. Napansin ko na isa-isang nagpaalam ang mga ka-team mates ko sa akin.

"Una na ako pre," paalam ni Kevin, habang hawak ang kanyang payong.

Nakita ko si Rafael galing sa banyo. Pinuntahan ko siya at nagtanong, "May payong ka bang dala?"

Tumango siya at kinuha niya ito sa kanyang locker. "Tara na, baka maabutan pa natin sila Carlos," paalala ni Rafael sa akin.

"Sige, sige mauna ka na, susunod ako," sagot ko habang nag-aayos ng gamit.

"Okay. Mauna na ako. Sunod ka na lang pre ah. Hintayin kita sa guard house," sabi niya sa akin at nauna na ito papunta roon.

Sinuot ko ang aking sapatos at lumabas ng pinto pagkatapos nito. After I finished getting dressed, I left my locker and went towards the guardhouse. I gazed upon the clouds and noticed its beckoning rain surge. With that, I grabbed the umbrella from my bag and opened it.  Pagdating ko roon, nakita ko si Rafael kausap ang guard na malapit sa front gate ng school.

Papunta na sana ako sa kaniya nang bigla kong nakita si Elena Payton sa kabilang banda nakatayo habang nakatitig sa malakas na pagbagsak ng ulan. She was leaning on the yellow bright dull wall, waiting, and dreadfully wet from the outpour of the rain. 

I cleared my throat as I slowly walked towards her. I felt my knees buckled a bit as soon as I was closed to her. Without looking and feeling wary, I hesitantly gave her my umbrella. I felt bad for what I did to her last time. I knew I was an ass. A real big-time asshole.

"Payong, oh. Balik mo na lang sa akin." Pagkatapos kong ibigay ang payong, dali-dali akong lumakad papalayo sa kanya.

Napatigil na lamang ako nang marinig ko siyang nagsalita. "Bakit?" tanong niya. Lumingon ako sa kanya at nakita ko ang pagtataka sa kanyang mukha.

I shrugged, answering her with another question, "Kasi wala kang payong?"

Her eyes scrutinized the umbrella that I gave her. Kinagat niya ang kanyang labi at sinagot niya ako na may pag-aalinlangan, "Salamat, pero okay lang. Hihintayin ko na lang tumila ang ulan."

I cleared my throat, fishing my palms on both of my pockets. "Sigurado ka? mag-tritricycle naman ako, kaya sa'yo na lang muna 'to," paliwanag ko.

She hesitantly looked at me. She grabbed the umbrella, fumbling it through her small slender hands. "Um, Salamat. Ibabalik ko na lang sa iyo bukas," pangako niya.

Tumango ako. "Sige." Napahawi ako sa aking batok bago nagsalita muli, "Um, bukas mo na lang ibalik."

Binuksan niya ang payong at lumabas na may pag-alinlangan. However, she accepted the umbrella I gave her and used it against the harsh blow of the rain. I noticed her leaving the guardhouse with my umbrella in her hand. . Nang maglaho siya sa akin paningin, lumingon ako ulit kay Rafael at sa guard. Nakita kong nakatingin silang dalawa sa akin. Paglapit ko sa kanila, tumawa silang dalawa ng malakas.

"Mga gago," sabi ko at sinuntok ko ang kanyang braso. 

"Ano 'yon pre?" asar sakin ni Rafael habang tumatawa.

I shrugged again. "She didn’t have an umbrella, so—binigay ko ‘yong sa akin."

He smirked, looking surreptitiously at me. "Talaga lang ah? Parang iba eh."

"Tigilan niyo na nga ako," hiyang-hiya kong sinabi. Kinuha ko ang kanyang payong at binuksan. "Tara na nga, baka hindi na natin maabutan sila." Tumakbo ako papunta sa tricycle at sumakay. Hinabol ako ni Rafael at umupo sa tabi ko, basang basa.

"Gago ka pre, kinuha mo payong ko!" he snarled as he wiped his wet hands on his uniform. 

I smirked devilishly, "Ang tumal mo, tara," tugon ko. Sinenyales ko ang driver at pinaandar na niya ang motor.

Nadaanan namin siya, naglalakad at nakapayong sa ilalim ng ulan. I turned around to look at her. I noticed her gaze towards me, with her cheeks flushed and her wet uniform. 

She stooped her head as soon as she noticed me looking at her. Tumakbo nang mabilis ang tricycle hanggang sa unti-unting naglaho si Elena sa aking paningin.

I turned back, leaning on the wooden seat of the tricycle with utter discomfort from the cold rush of the rainy wind brushing my skin. 

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