05

I'm having dinner with my dad and with his trainees, and this is my first time. I was sitted beside my dad so there is a vacant sit beside me, Grey didn’t hesitate to grab the chair and took a sit. It’s like I want someone to sit beside me it’s just ah… nevermind.

They we’re talking about their games which I can’t relate but then it didn’t get me bored coz it was my favorite sport they we’re talking about. They we’re talking until the food was served.

Different kind of food was served, at talagang nakakatakam ang mga ito. I served myself a steak and also got my self a chicken stew. I also served my dad steak and chicken stew.

“How sweet of you anak, thank you.” he said and caressed my hair. I smiled sweetly and mouthed ‘you’re welcome daddy.’

“Ang sweet talaga ni Anastacia.” Drex suddenly said, napangiti lang ako.

“Ang swerte naman ni Grey.” napanguso pa si Rimo, I smiled awkwardly.

“Here, eat this. It’s delicious.” napatingin ako kay Grey mg bigla niya akong binigyan ng shrimp, I don’t know kung ano ang tawag ng dish na yun basta it has corn.

“Ah..” I hesitated first to tell him baka mapahiya siya but then nagulat ako ng magsalita si Ethan.

“She doesn’t eat Shrimp, especially corn.” he said without taking his eyes off his foods. I was literally shocked well most of them we’re shocked also, at ang nakakapagtaka dad was not one of them. Dad was just chilling and peacefully eating his food.

“She prefers to eat salad with mayonnaise.” dagdag niya pa.

I was so shocked when he said that like...how did he know? Only my parents and closest friends know about my likes and dislikes. How come he knew about it? Nakita kong nag-igting ang panga ni Grey but he maintained and relaxed himself.

I want to question why did he knew about it, I also want to question dad but then parang naka zipper ang mga bibig ko and there are no words coming out.

The dinner went smooth after that, they we’re just talking about their game this year. They even want me to join but then I’m a girl. Hanggang sa makauwi ako hindi parin talaga mawala sa isip ko ang mga tanong na bakit niya nalaman iyon and why dad don’t even react about it.

Because of my confussion I even posted a photo and tweet on my social media accounts. A photo of the city lights with a caption, ‘confused’. And a tweet saying ‘I feel like there is something, I’m confused.’ kung saan saan na naglakbay ang isip ko and then notiications started to flood.

People started to comment and even shared it. They thought it was about Grey but they we’re wrong. Sabi pa nila, pakasalan ko na daw si Grey, edi sila na umuna sa altar sabing ang bata ko pa e.

Naintriga din ang mega bruha kong mga friends so they messaged me sa group chat namin.

Hanna: Know niyo na ba ang news about bonniegirl????

Pia: Confused daw si ate girl, owemji what is happening na ba????

Saf: Confused probably because of what she feels,hmm.

: Sinong confused? Gosh.

Hanna: Mapagkunwaring nilalang. Wag ka nga! Chika mo nalang oy.

Pia: Come on girl, spill the te...opx

: Fine so eto na nga, I had dinner with dad’s trainees and Ethan was there.

Hanna: Owemji? Nag propose din ba siya?!

Pia: Haba ng bangs mo bonniegirl

: Gaga hindi! We we’re eating then Grey put a shrimp with corn in my plate, diba? I don’t eat shrimp and corn kaya 'yon Ethan suddenly said na hindi ako kumakain non. I’ve never told anyone about it, except nga lang sainyo.

Hanna: Maybe he’s a stalker!? Omg baka gusto ka din bonnie, the feeling is mutual talaga.

Pia: Gusto mo rin pala si Ethan?! Bat hindi ko alam?!? Hmp!

Hanna: Obvious naman sis

: duh, I don’t like him kaya! Tsaka ano ba. Iba yung pinag uusapan natin yung about sa 'bat niya nalaman yung mga ayaw ko'. Nakakapagtaka lang, even dad didn’t react.

Saf: Dig deeper, Bonnie.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Saf, what does she mean? Dig deeper? Should I background check him kung ganon? Hmm or maybe I will know him in my own way.

Kinabukasan maaga ako sa school at talagang tunay na himala, sa aga ko don, pati friends ko wala pa.

 Nakaupo lang ako sa chair ko ng biglang dumating si Ethan. Ang formal niya manamit, naka long sleeves polo at pants talagang wala ka pang makikitang gusot sa suot niya. He’s wearing his earphones at sa phone lang nakatutok ag mata niya. Napansin niya sigurong nakatingin ako kaya nilingon niya ako at tinaas ang kilay. Napahiya naman akong ngumiti at umiling.

Ang tahimik naming dalawa nilalaro ko lang paa ko at napalinga linga sa paligid. Ewan ko kung bakit kaming dalawa lang ang nandito. Ganito pala ang feeling ng maaga ka sa klase, Mabuti pang matulog na muna. At dahil nga inaantok pa ako I took a quick nap.

I thought I was falling kaya napabalikwas ako, causing my chair to out balance. Akala ko sa sahig ang landing ko, but instead I landed on Ethan’s arms.

I look at him straight in the eyes, gusto kong tumayo pero parang ayaw ko. Ano ba?! Anastacia are you out of your freaking mind?! He looked at me too. Parang nalulunod ako sa titig niya. I don’t really understand what I felt.

“Pusta late nanaman— Woah umagang kay lan—

Agad akong napatayo ng matuwid at kunware abala sa damit ko, gosh. Pati kilos ko hindi ko na alam.

“Magandang umaga guys, um haha. Geez. Hali na nga kayo.” hinila sila ni Pia papunta sa mga chairs nila. Saf looked at me without emotion in her eyes. But I can tell that she’s happy and I don’t know why. Bumalik na din ako sa upuan ko.

“Ang aga Bonniegirl ha, landot mo.” bulong ni Hanna sa akin. Binatukan ko nga ang gaga.

“Natutulog kasi tapos na out balance yung upuan, Mabuti nalang he caught me kundi sa floor talaga ang bagsak ko.” I explained.

“You don’t need to explain yourself.” biglang sabat ni Saf. Napabungisngis naman ang dalawang gaga sinamaan ko nalang sila ng tingin. Gosh pinagtutulungan nila ako.

That morning went kinda little rough because of the preparations for our upcoming sportfest, students we’re busy trying out for their selected sports. Well Safiela started her skating, buti nalang available ito sa school namin. Soccer rin naman kaso hindi kasali ang mga girls, hays. I wanna experience to play in a ground, since last year ko na to dito sa school dahil nga graduating na kami.

Nag try out nanaman ako sa badminton, ayun agad pasok. I was the defending champion for single A girls category.

It was our afternoon break kaya lumabas muna ako to buy snacks, coz I was kind of hungry because of the activities. While walking on the corridor, I saw Ethan reading a book with earphones on his ears. I remember something na kailangan ko pa ngang bumawi sa kanya. So I decided to buy him food nalang.

He was sitted on a bench alone kaya naman lumapit ako at handed him the cheese bread with milk. Nagtataka niya akong tinignan.

“Pa thank you ko, thank you for bringing me to the clinic.” I really tried not to stutter buti nalang talaga at hindi ako nautal.

“I told you, there’s no need.” he replied.

“No no I insisted, come on. Please.” I handed him the foods I bought again.

“I’m full.” he never really accepted it, I want to just leave him but my actions we’re so so so opposite, what the hell Anastacia!

“Sige na.” pamimilit ko pa, tignan niya pa ako na parang he is saying na ‘that’s my final answer’. Gosh.

“Hmm ganito nalang. What can I do for you nalang.” I said, then tiniklop niya ang libro niya at tumayo na at tinalikuran ako, gosh! How dare him turn his back on me!?

“Hey!” but still the gagang Anastacia followed the boy-snobber.

“There’s no need, Anastacia.” sabi niya at nakapamulsang naglakad.

“Ayaw ko magkautang na loob sa iba, kaya let me do something for you.” he stopped for a while and look at me straight in my eyes.

“Play soccer with me.” I was shocked of what he said, did he really ask me to play soccer with him?

“Us, you and me? Like we? Play soccer?” I asked to clear what he said. He stepped forward, more closer to me. Geez this man!

“You and me.” a small smile plastered his face. He turned his back at me, I thought he was going na but then he stopped.

“Meet you at the school ground after the class.” he said at iniwan na ako. Parang hindi pa nag si-sink sa akin lahat.

I was so occupied habang nagkaklase kami, napapatingin ako sa direction niya, naka focus lang siya habang nakikinig sa teacher. Kanina pa din ako tingin ng tingin sa relo ko.

The bell rang, ewan ko pero kinakabahan ako. Ethan didn't moved, he remained on his sit scrolling through his phone. I kept all my things in my bag and just hand-carried some of my books. I was about to head out when I heard his chair creak.

He suddenly got my books and carry it. Napatingin din ang friends ko sa ginawa niya, evil smiles plastered on their faces.

“Ah I can ma—

“Let’s go.” he said at naunang maglakad sakin. Leaving me with my interrogating friends.

“Omg, what is the meaning of that?” Si Hanna agad ang nagsimula,

“Carrying your books? Wew different level ey” Ayun sinundan naman ni Pia.

“Ano ba nilalagyan niyo ng meaning, that was nothing.” I defended myself

“Every move has a meaning, just go and enjoy your day. Don’t let him wait, hindi ka chix” Saf smiled and pushed me away. Napatawa naman sila. Kaibigan ko nga talaga sila. But infairness, Safiela is changing. I hope that’s for good.

I walked my way to the Field and there I saw him, nakatalikod siya sa direction ko and he’s watching at the sky na papalubog na ang araw.

He look at my direction with an emotionless face, but his eyes tells different. I stopped when I was like a meter away from him.

“Why do you want to play soccer with me?” I asked him out of my curiosity.

“We’ll talk about the consequences.” he shifted the topic and walked in the middle of the field and placed the ball in the center. I took my bag off and place it on the bleachers.

“If you win, your paid.” he said, napatango ako while getting myself ready.

“and If you win?” I questioned.

“I’ll let you choose between the two.” he said at hinanda ang sarili, h bended a little showing that his ready.

“The two? What?” I asked. But instead of answering me he whistled and immediately kick the ball swiftly with his foot.

Geez this man! I ran towards his direction and tried to get the ball but then I failed, he kicked it hard and then he scored. The ball was on me, I tried my best para hindi niya maagaw kaagad. I swiftly move my feet left and right then kicked it then I scored.

The fight was intense, palubog na rin ang araw kaya naman medyo madilim na. it was not really my day. Yes, yes I lost the game. I sat on the ground and grab my water bottle. Paying is kind of tiring huh?

He handed me a towel, napakunot naman ang noo ko.

“Don’t worry I didn't used that.” he said so kinuha ko nalang ang towel and wipe my sweat. Ethan was playing the ball on his feet in the middle of the ground kaya lumapit ako sa kanya. It was kind of dark na but then I can clearly see his face.

“You still didn't answer my question.” I said habang nakatalikod siya sakin, he stopped playing the ball and looked at me.

“Why do you want to play soccer with me?” I asked again and walked closely to him, maintaining the one meter distance between us.

“I want to be with you.” diretsang sagot niya, dahil sa gulat hindi ako nakapag-salita.

“Since you lost, choose between the two.” the lights suddenly turned on. I adjusted coz it was too bright.

“Dare you or Date me?” my eyes widened because of what he said.