Ipinalibot ni Adi ang tingin sa buong lugar. Draft day and she was fidgeting the entire time. Kasama niya ang mga magulang ni Zed, naghihintay tulad niya. Sabay-sabay silang nagpunta sa events place, kabado... lalo na ang asawa niya.

Bago sila umalis ng hotel, matagal silang nasa kwarto, nakaupo sa kama. Magkahawak kamay, pinag-uusapan na kahit ano man ang mangyari, marami silang plano sa susunod. Makuha o hindi, handa sila sa kung ano man ang magiging resulta. Malungkot, pero tatanggapin.

Bago rin umalis, siniguro ni Adi na maayos ang necktie ni Zed. She remembered teaching herself how to fix a tie before marriage. It was just a simple gesture, but always loved doing it for Zed... as much as how he loved combing her hair.

The board lit up with the first pick. It was a player with good statistics and a 6'7" center. Tumango si Adi, deserved. Bihira ang ganiyang height, malamang na pag-aagawan.

The second pick was a point guard with Adi also knew. Zed kept mentioning this player, someone good and fast, and deserved to be picked on top.

Naalala ni Adi na pinag-usapan nila ni Zed ang tungkol doon. Kaya may takot, alam ni Zed na maraming deserving.

Adi was calm, waiting... not until she heard Zed's name for the third pick. Time stopped, voices near her echoed, but she couldn't find her own. She roamed around, found Zed, who stood up... looking at her, smiling, before heading towards the stage.

Zed fixed his tie and walked toward the stage, and Adi bit her inner cheek, smiling. Every step looked like a slow motion as she remembered Zed's sacrifices. Early morning practice, bruises, injuries, hospitalization, crowd-cheering, buzzer-beaters, and every fast break.

She watched how Zed smiled in front of people, the camera, and everyone, when the commissioner handed him a folder with his rookie contract.

Mula sa LED screen, naka-flash ang malaking picture ni Zed katabi ang career highlights nito.

Meanwhile, Zed smiled politely at everyone, shaking hands. The flashes were blinding, and everyone kept talking... but his eyes roamed to see Adi, who was staring at him... smiling.

He was chosen third.

Not first. Not second. But enough.

Enough to begin.

Zed took a deep breath, letting the feeling settle. For him, for Adi, for their family.

Mahaba pa ang program dahil ilang round pa, pero nakampante na si Adi at nakahinga na nang maluwag. Nabasa niya ang messages ng parents, kapatid, at brother-in-law niya para i-congratulate si Zed. Nanonood pala ang mga ito sa TV at naghihintay tulad niya.

Nabasa rin niya ang post ng university para kay Zed, ang comments ng mga supports, at masayang posts ng teammates nito sa Eastern U. Even opponents from different universities congratulated him.

Brands supporting Zed posted, too!

Naramdaman niya ang pamumuo ng luha sa mga mata niya ngunit pinigilan niya. May oras mamaya, hindi puwedeng masayang ang full glam niya at baka masira ang mascara niya. Mamaya na lang.

Nilingon niya ang parents ni Zed na nag-uusap at masaya sa naging resulta, lalo na ang daddy nito. As a former PBA player, Zed's dad knew how hard it was and would be. Maraming itong naipayo kay Zed, marami ring ipapayo pa sa mga susunod. Zed had a good support system. Bukod sa kaniya, suportado ng mga magulang nito lahat.

Nang matapos ang program, nagpunta sila sa isang restaurant para mag-dinner. Adi gave Zed and his parents some space. Masayang nag-uusap ang tatlo. Sasagot lang siya kapag tinatanong dahil ayaw niyang agawin sa mga magulang ni Zed ang saya sa na-achieve ng anak.

Zed's her husband, but he was a son first.

Nag-decide silang mag-stay pa ng isang gabi sa hotel para na rin makasama ni Zed ang mga magulang nito na uuwi na rin kinabukasan dahil kailangang asikasuhin ang farm. Isang sasakyan lang din ang gamit nila kaya kahit sa sasakyan, maingay.

Their phones were off. Zed didn't want to be distracted, either.

—

Pagpasok sa hotel room at nang maisara ni Zed ang pinto, maingat niyang hinila si Adi papalapit sa kaniya at mahigpit itong niyakap. It was a long day of waiting, doubts, and nervousness, but inside the room... everything felt settled and calm.

"Congratulations," Adi murmured and hugged Zed back. "Ang pogi mo sa stage kanina."

Zed chuckled and hugged Adi tighter. "I looked for you earlier, and thank you kasi palagi kitang nakikita. From the very first UAAP game... and now."

"And I'll also gonna be there when you decide to retire," Adi assured. "At dahil trophy wife na ako, puwede na akong hindi mag-work 'tapos manonood na lang ako palagi ng games mo?"

Humiwalay si Zed sa kaniya at naningkit ang mga mata. "Alam kong hindi ka makakatagal na walang work, but if you decided you don't want to work anymore, kayang-kaya ko na tayo."

Si Adi na mismo ang nagtanggal ng butones ng damit ni Zed pati na rin ang necktie na ipinagmamalaki niya. Nag-order din siya ng Japanese food at naghanap ng available na vanilla cake kahit na gabi na.

It was their tradition to eat sushi or anything comforting whenever they achieved something. Nothing fancy like the five-digit bill earlier from the streak... just a few pieces of California roll were perfect.

Just like how they were more than six years ago.

Nakaupo silang dalawa sa carpeted floor, sa tabi ng glass wall, at nakapambahay. Nakaharap sila sa city lights, pinag-uusapan ang nangyari sa draft.

"Ang daming posts about you," ani Adi nang maalala ang mga naka-tag sa kanilang mag-asawa. "Hindi mo babasahin?"

Umiling si Zed at tumingin sa kaniya. "Bukas na. Dami namang time. Ganito na muna tayo, tahimik lang."

Katahimikan pagkatapos nang maingay at maliwanag na ganap sa maghapon. Iyon ang kailangan nila. Pareho silang nakatitig sa kawalan at pinakikinggan ang mahinang tugtog mula sa TV na iniwan nilang nakabukas.

"Kanina, habang nakatingin ako sa 'yong paakyat ng stage," Adi stopped for a second when her voice cracked. "Naalala ko 'yong araw na naisip nating magpakasal. It was just a random day, and we decided we would get married at 18. Nakakatawa pa rin."

A smile crept onto Zed's lips. "We were so sure and planning to ruin our future just to be together. We were so excited, wala na tayong pakealam sa ibang tao. I was so into you, I really don't care about basketball anymore."

"Are you really willing to give it all up for me back then?" Adi gazed at Zed, eyes pooling with tears.

"Oo... hanggang ngayon naman, eh. Basketball is temporary. You were right about this," Zed said lowly. "You are not."

Adi chuckled and let a lone tear roll down her cheek. "But look at us. Nasa pro league ka na, I already experienced what it was like to teach, and I'm into a new venture I never expected to take. D-Do you think we're doing good? I mean—"

"Sobra-sobra pa," Zed immediately cut Adi off. "We're stable, we're together. Sabi nila, hindi sapat ang love para mag-stay ang dalawang tao. Hindi ako naniniwala, eh."

No words from Adi, who rested her head on top of her knee.

"Kasi kung walang love, hindi mo naman pagtatrabahuhan ang isang bagay para sa inyong dalawa," Zed squinted. "If you don't love a person enough, you wouldn't go through everything just to be with her, give her what she deserves, and do things just to be together. Love is enough for a person to do things, para mag-effort, para matupad kung ano ang gusto. Love is a strong foundation for everything. That's just me."

Adi stared at Zed, realizing she had been hearing and reading different versions of love. Some say love wasn't enough, love would never be enough.

Based on Zed's words, love isn't just a feeling. It was a choice... also a practice and she agreed.

If someone truly loves a person, there's respect. Honest, even if it's uncomfortable, loyal not just when it's easy, and putting in an effort even when tired and unsure. Adi thought deeply. If those are missing, it wasn't love. It would be attachment, convenience, fear, or just... habit.

"Naalala ko ang sinabi ng mommy ko," pagpapatuloy ni Zed. "Bago tayo ikasal noon, kinausap ako ni mommy. Na maraming nagsasabing love isn't enough kasi emosyon lang ang pinagagana. But emotional love fades and collapse under pressure."

Adi smiled and nodded.

Zed exhaled. "I hope love is enough for us, Audrey."

"I remember your parents' message to us," Adi stared at Zed sideways. "Communication, compromise, accountability, and growth. We need that, Baby."

Tumayo si Zed at lumipat sa likuran ni Adi. Sumandal kaagad siya sa dibdib nito habang nilalaro ni Zed ang wedding ring na suot niya. They started young, finished their degrees, chased their dreams together. There was a huge setback—Adi wanted a break due to exhaustion, but never again.

She was so lost, she almost lost her person.

"I'm sorry about the two years, Zed," Adi sniffed. "Sorry kasi naging makasarili ako. Na sinarili ko lahat ng pagod, na huminto muna ako sa kung ano ang meron tayo."

Zed kissed the back of her head. "It's okay. Basta huwag na nating ulitin. I benefited from those two years, too. We met different versions of ourselves. Nakilala ko ang sarili ko noong wala ka. Nasanay na rin kasi tayong palaging magkasama kaya parang hindi natin alam kung ano tayo outside this marriage."

"I didn't like it. It was dull," Adi admitted. "I was successful on my field, but it was lifeless and boring, and I hated it."

"Hindi ko rin gusto," Zed laughed bitterly. "I didn't like the version without you in it. Ang tahimik, but it improved my three-point shooting, so my career benefited. Sa sobrang lungkot, nag-practice ako nang nag-practice."

Adi smiled widely and kissed Zed's cheek. "It was a much-needed break, pero huwag na uulitin. I like sleeping beside you and taking showers with you.... and sex, too."

Sa sinabi ni Adi, malakas na natawa si Zed. Walang silang balak ngayong gabi kung hindi magkuwentuhan. No sex, just talking about what would be next. They wanted everything slow now.

No more fast breaks... no more reckless and breathless. Everything would be planned, patient, and chosen.

—
T H E X W H Y S
www.thexwhys.com