Inikot ni Zed ang bola sa kamay niya habang pinakikinggan ang coach nila para sa laro mamayang hapon. Wala namang practice, gusto lang niyang mag-shooting. Saktong dumating ang teammates niya at sumali sa kaniya.

Pangatlong laro na nila ngayong season. Wala pa silang talo at gusto nilang i-maintain ang winning streak para sa bonus na ibibigay sa kanila ng university, bukod pa sa mapapanalunan nila.

Zed was looking forward to this game. They would be competing against their rival university and he was excited to win. Isa pa, mahigit isang linggo silang pahinga at walang laro kaya makakapag-relax siya sa mga susunod na araw.

He was the player of the game last week. Double triples, too.

Ine-enjoy na lang din niya. Ayaw niyang ma-pressure para sa sariling laro dahil gusto niyang mag-step up ang teammates niya. Gusto niyang makita kung ano ang iiwan niya, kung sino ang susunod sa yapak ng ilang manlalarong nauna na sa kanila.

Isa pa, gusto lang niyang maging masaya ang huling playing year niya sa university na unang nakakita ng potential niya. Malaki ang utang na loob niya, kahit na ilang school ang sumubok na kunin siya, hindi siya umalis.

"Sabay-sabay na tayong magpunta sa arena mamaya," sabi ni Coach Eric. "Walang magkokotse. Sa coaster mamaya, panoorin natin ulit ang laro ng HNU noong nakaraan para mas maging familiar tayo sa strategies."

Magaling ang kalaban nila. Hindi pa kasama sa top four, pero considered as underdog. Tahimik, pero lumalaban sa dulo.

Nag-shower siya at sumunod sa mga kaibigan na tumambay muna sa headquarters ng varsity na nasa loob din naman ng university para magpahinga. Naisip niyang umidlip muna sandali dahil maaga pa.

"Kuya." Naupo si Jed sa tabi niya. "Alam mo kagabi, nag-uusap kami. Next season, for sure, mami-miss ka talaga namin."

Sumimangot siya at natawa. "Para namang hindi n'yo 'ko makikita."

"Siyempre iba kapag nakakasama ka naming maglaro. Iba kapag ganitong tambay," ani Jed sa mababang boses. "Puwede bang sa susunod, sumama ka pa rin sa 'min? Hindi ka naman siguro makakalimot kapag nasa profe—"

Mahina niyang binatukan si Jed dahil sa mga pinagsasabi nito. "Malamang! Hindi talaga. Para namang ano. Walang magbabago at saka para ko na kayong mga kapatid rito kaya imposible 'yang sinasabi mo."

It was true. Even he was having a hard time thinking he would leave soon. That after this season, he would be celebrated... honored... and he was ready. He really was, just sad.

Pumasok sa loob ng quarters ang coach nila para ipaalala na sabay-sabay silang pupunta sa arena at wala munang gagamit ng sasakyan. The game was crucial, so they had to watch and study even on their way to the arena.

"Yes, Coach." Everyone responded simultaneously.

—

Adi panicked when she saw the thread from a social media group. One of her female students showed her something that made her heart drop. The entire thread was about her.

Some were inappropriate thoughts about her, how attractive she was, fantasizing about her, stolen photos of her, and stories about her.

Malalim ang bawat paghinga niya at nararamdaman ang pamumuo ng pawis sa magkabilang gilid ng noo niya pati na ang panginginig ng kamay niya. She was aware that some students would talk about her, but not to this extent.

"Also, Miss Adi..." Tumingin sa kaniya si Trisha, isa sa mga kumausap sa kaniya. "May kumakalat na rin po na parang... meron kang something sa isang student mo. Adviser ka raw po niya sa thesis and you guys have–"

Literal na napatitig siya sa mga estudyanteng nasa harapan niya at napaisip kung sino ang puwedeng gumawa niyon sa kaniya. She had three thesis advisory and her mind couldn't comprehend what she just heard.

"Nakuwento po kasi ng friend namin from Finance. Same circle of friends sila and naging topic ka," pagpapatuloy ni Trisha. "Miss Adi, noong narinig namin iyong sinabi nilang may deeper relationship kayo ni Richard Saverdes, hindi kami makapaniwala kasi—"

"W-Wala kaming..." Adi's heart started pounding. "Wala akong ginawang ganoon. Hindi..."

Adi couldn't say a word. Her voice felt muffled and started hearing statics. Imposible at alam niyang magugulo ang lahat kapag mayroong ganoong kumakalat. Gusto niyang magsalita, pero hindi niya alam kung paano ipagtatanggol ang sarili niya.

"Miss Adi, medyo kalat na rin po kasi talaga siya. Iyong sa inyo raw ni Richard. Kagabi lang," ani Mika. "Meron na ring post sa isang malaking university page kanina, parang anonymous post siya tungkol sa 'yo na masyadong malapit sa students na boys kaya ka pinag-uusapan."

Mika was in the middle of showing me the anonymous post when the dean's secretary knocked on the room, telling her that the dean wanted to see her. Nagpasalamat siya sa apat na babaeng estudyanteng kumausap sa kaniya at pinaalis ang mga ito bago inayos ang mga gamit na bibitbitin niya.

"Is it about the..." She faced Ma'am Leona, the dean's secretary.

Leona nodded. "Yes, Miss Adi. Nakarating na po kasi sa higher-ups, and they wanted to settle this because the issue is na public. The dean wanted to hear your side before taking it to the higher-ups and deciding."

Adi understood what Leona meant. She was ready to prove herself. While walking, she thought about her interactions with Richard. Maayos naman ang pakikitungo nito sa kaniya at wala rin naman siyang maalalang pagkakataong naiwan silang dalawa lang. Isa iyon sa iniiwasan niya sa kahit na sinong estudyanteng makakahalubilo niya.

Lahat ng meeting, sa faculty o sa classroom na mayroong ibang kasama. Hindi niya hinahayaang walang makakikita sa kaniya kausap ang iba. She was careful; she knew that. She had to. She was already walking on eggshells, and this issue could blow up.

Hindi puwede.

Inside the dean's office, Mr. Gagate explained to her the severity of the viral post online about her being in a relationship with a student. The post was careless, and people started believing how disgusting she was. Without knowing the full context, some started labeling her as a groomer... someone who uses her position, and even calling her names.

"You know I will never do that, Tito Jon," Adi's voice shook. "You know I would never."

"I know." The dean agreed. "Hindi rin ako makapaniwala na mayroong ganito. Nag-explain na 'ko sa mga boss tungkol sa situwasyon mo and they need to investigate. Ang alam ko, pinatatawag na rin sa office si Richard dahil pangalan niya ang lumabas. Pinatatawag na rin ang ilang estudyanteng nasa thread. This wouldn't be easy, Audrey."

And the dean told her that one of these days, she would be summoned regarding this issue.

Sa pagkakataong ito, nagpaalam na rin muna siya kung puwede bang huwag munang pumasok sa ilang klase niya sa hapon dahil gusto niyang magpahinga. Kahit na wala siyang kasalanan, parang wala siyang mukhang maiharap sa mga estudyante niya. Naramdaman niya ang panghihina.

Pagdating sa faculty room, nag-stay siya sa maliit na coffee room at naupo sa sulok. Walang ibang tao, na ipinagpapasalamat niya dahil ayaw niyang sagutin ang kahit na anong tanong.

Isang tao lang naman ang naisipan niyang i-message... nagtanong kung puwede ba siyang magpasundo dahil hindi niya kayang magmaneho.

One message, Zed called... asking if she was okay. She honestly said she wasn't... because it was the truth.

"Can you... pick me up?" she breathed.

"Nakakotse ka ba kanina?" Zed asked lowly.

"Oo."

"Okay," Zed responded. "Mag-cab ako papunta riyan, kotse mo ang gagamitin natin."

Naramdaman ni Adi ang pagtulo ng luha niya at pilit pinigilan ang pagsinghot para hindi nito marinig ang boses niya. "Thank you," bulong niya bago pinatay ang tawag nang hindi hinihintay ang sagot.

Tumingin siya sa relong suot. It was twelve noon, lunch time, and most students would be outside. Gustuhin man niyang lumabas papunta sa sasakyan niya at doon na lang maghintay, hindi niya magawa. She couldn't deal with the stares and more murmurs. She had enough.

Meanwhile, Zed was inside the cab, and his coach messaged him about not following the rules. Posibleng mabangko siya mamaya dahil mas pinili niyang hindi sumabay sa team. He knew the consequences, but he had his priorities.

Sinabihan siya ni Jed tungkol sa kumalat na post. He read it and knew why Adi called. Kung hindi siya makapaglalaro, tatanggapin niya.

Pagbaba sa harapan ng gate ng South Therium, pinapasok siya ng guard at binigyan ng visitor's pass. Students looked, he didn't care. Deretso siyang naglakad papunta sa building kung nasaan si Adi. Nakita niya sa parking lot ang sasakyan nito, sa harapan ng iba't ibang kainan sa loob ng campus.

Everyone looked. Zed was wearing a white t-shirt with Eastern U print, black jogger pants, a backward baseball cap, and red basketball shoes. Nakayuko itong naglalakad, nakatingin sa phone, at panay ang type.

Some murmured. Of course, they all knew about him and Adi. Everyone saw them together, so the post didn't even make sense.

Sa hallway, nakita ni Zed si Beatriz, isa sa co-lecturer ni Adi na ilang beses na rin niyang nakilala. Tinanong niya kung nasaan ito dahil hindi na nagre-reply at sumasagot sa tawag niya.

Beatriz was kind enough to bring her to Adi, who was inside the faculty room. Kumakain ang ibang professor na nasa loob ng faculty at isa-isang tumingin sa kaniya. Wala siyang binati kahit na isa. Sumunod lang siya kay Beatriz na dinala siya sa pinakadulong pinto at pagbukas, nakita niya si Adi na nakaupo sa sulok, nakasubsob ang mukha sa tuhod.

Zed thanked Beatriz and asked if he could leave her with Adi. He kneeled to her level, held her hand, and whispered, "Tara na?"

Adi looked at Zed with eyes that had already cried too much. The tears were gone, but their marks stayed.

"Let's go," he said instead, reaching for her wrist, gentle but sure.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Adi sa suot niyang damit at muling sinalubong ang tingin niya. "M-May game ka?"

"Oo," sagot ni Zed na tumango.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Adi at muling namuo ang luha sa magkabilang mata. "P-Pero... sorry, I didn't know. So—"

"Gusto mong manood?" Tinanggal ni Zed ang buhok na nakaharang sa mukha ni Adi. "Kailangan ko ring dumating doon in..." Tumingin siya sa relo ni Adi. "In an hour. Kotse mo na lang ang gagamitin ko kasi nag-coaster sila. Sama ka? Nood ka muna?"

Napansin ni Zed ang pag-aalinlangan ni Adi ngunit tumango ito at sinabing gamitin ang sasakyan papunta sa arena. Maingat itong tumayo at inayos ang sarili bago mulign sinalubong ang tingin niya.

Zed didn't say anything anymore and held Adi's hand. They were hand in hand, walking towards her office table, not minding anyone. Kinuha niya ang shoulder bag nito sa lamesa.

His right hand held into Adi's hand, his left holding her bag.

"Huwag kang yumuko," mahinang sambit ni Zed dahilan para mapatitig si Adi sa kasama. "Wala kang ginawang masama, ipakita mo sa kanila na wala kang dapat katakutan."

"Y-You knew?" bulong ni Adi na mas humigpit ang hawak kay Zed.

"Nabasa ko," sagot nito.

Suminghot si Adi at umiling. "I would ne—"

"I know," Zed smiled. "Bibilisan ko mag-drive, ha? Para hindi tayo ma-late sa game."

Adi nodded and smiled at him. "Thank you."

They walked side by side through the university hallway. They didn't talk. Adi kept her eyes forward, but her grip on Zed's hand was steady. Not tight. Just there.

For the first time that day, her chest felt... calm. The noise in her head faded. The smell of his familiar perfume dominated her nostrils.

Adi stared at their hands. Zed brushed his thumb on the back of her hand as they walked into a place full of eyes staring, watching, and maybe judging... but neither of them cared.

Her footsteps could be heard.

Saglit na huminto si Adi nang makita niya si Richard kasama ang mga kaibigan nito. Nakatingin din ito sa kanila at mukhang naramdaman ni Zed ang higpit ng pagkakahawak niya.

Unknown to Adi, Zed stalked the person Led gave him. Pagkabasa nila kanina ng post, kinausap kaagad niya ang matalik na kaibigan para tulungan siyang hanapin kung sino ang nagpapakalat at kung sino ang estudyanteng ito. It was instant. Almost instantly, he didn't expect he'd get the information he needed in just a few minutes.

He knew that face, and he would deal with him.

Iginiya na muna niya si Adi papunta sa sasakyan nito at saka sinabing sumakay na dahil gusto niyang kausapin si Richard. Pinigilan siya ni Adi dahil ayaw nito ng gulo, pero mas gugulo kapag hindi siya gumawa ng paraan.

Adi took the bag from him and told him to be professional.

Zed chuckled and nodded. Deretso siyang nakatingin kay Richard habang naglalakad papalapit. Inilibot niya ang tingin sa mga taong kumakain sa paligid, sa mga katabing lamesa nito bago ibinalik ang tingin sa lalaki.

He stared at Richard, letting out a small laugh. "Back off," he said lowly but enough for everyone around to hear. "Lawyers will contact you." Tone still even, calm, and polite. "About the issue. About everything."

"Man, it was just a jok—"

Zed calmed himself by breathing. He gazed at Adi, who was looking at him. A joke... sick joke.

"Ako hindi ako nagjo-joke." Ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Richard. "Kasi seryoso ko do'n, eh." Nilingon niya si Adi. "Tapos gagawin mong joke?"

—
T H E X W H Y S
www.thexwhys.com