Adi sat two rows behind the bench, watching quietly. Maraming manlalaro sa court, pero hindi niya inaalis ang tingin kay Zed. Gusto niyang panoorin kung paano ito kumilos at maglaro dahil minsang nagtatanong si Zed sa kaniya tungkol sa perspective niya.

Mas naging seryoso itong maglaro.

Simula rin nang maglaro si Zed sa professional league, wala siyang larong hindi pinanood live. Adi also started wearing black, just to blend in... to be invisible... as if loving a professional basketball player required her to disappear just enough not to distract fate.

After her past issues, Adi wanted to be insivible from the public eye. Mahirap, dahil marami pa ring nakatingin. May ilang naghahanap kung sino ang kasama na si Zed at kung ano ba ang ginagawa niya sa buhay.

Then, nobody would fuss about what she does cos she was just a college student... and it became different after graduation. Some started having interests in her career and entire life decisions.

Noong mag-decide siyang mag-quit as a professor, may ilang nagsabing quitter siya. One issue, she was labeled as a quitter. When she decided to go to school and teach again, more opinions.

Nag-quit pa, babalik din naman... as if one decision was permanent... and they acted as if her changing decision was a crime. Some should understand that the only permanent thing in the world is change.

After the issues, when she decided to fight back and fought herself with a case, she was again labeled as someone with a stinky and lousy attitude... as if defending herself after disrespect was not allowed.

At least she moved forward and learned how to finally fight back. She needed to, for herself and for Zed. Hindi siya papayag na madadamay na naman ang pangalan ni Zed dahil sa kaniya kaya siya mismo, kailangan niyang asikasuhin ang sarili niya.

She wasn't a public figure, but her life was connected to Zed regardless.

Currently, she enjoys school so much and working at the university. All the programs, courses, and certificates she took taught her a lot, and she was looking forward to helping others, too.

She also started with awareness about autism. Ito ang naging focus niya at ikinatutuwa niyang nakasuporta lahat sa kaniya.

Ibinalik niya ang atensyon kay Zed nang marinig ang buzzer. Zed didn't look at her when he walked towards the bench to talk to their coaches.

Actually, every game... he never did.

Not because Zed didn't know she was there, he always knew, but because this version of him needed the tunnel vision. A player who cut through noise, lights, and pressure.

Zed belonged to the league now, not just to Adi.

The buzzer sounded, and the game moved fast. Men ran and collided like it was nothing. Bodies hit the floor and got back up without apologies. Ganoon palagi at madalas niyang naaalala ang video ng pagkabagsak ni Zed.

It was one of Adi's greatest fears. Ayaw na niyang maulit iyon.

Sa bawat laro ni Zed, hindi puwedeng aalis sila ng bahay na hindi nauupo sa kama, magkahawak kamay, at sabay na ipinagdarasal ang kaligtasan nito sa loob ng court. Adi even do silent prayers everytime Zed played his heart out.

Malalim na huminga si Adi nang makitang hawak ni Zed ang bola. Mabilis itong tumakbo, kontrolado, nililingon kung kanino puwedeng magpasa ngunit walang bakante. Pinotrektahan nito ang bola habang mabilis na inililipat sa magkabilang kamay.

Adi knew this was one of Zed's favorite moves. Him dribbling the ball while staring at his opponent, waiting for the shot clock to reach five seconds, moving one step backward, and taking a three-point shot.

The ball went in, and the crowd went crazy.

Adi, on the otherhand, smiled. She didn't clap loudly, just a silent, proud moment.

Halftime and Zed were on fire. Adi could see that. He finally gained the confidence he once had when he was still in the university. This time, the coach leaned into Zed, hands on his shoulders, saying something nobody could hear but could feel.

Responsibility.

Expectation.

Adi had a mix of emotions. More on... pressure.

Less than thirty seconds, tie game. Zed got the ball from a teammate and kept on holding the ball, eyes scanning, and waiting. The shot clock bled red.

Bahagyang umabante ang nagbabantay kay Zed at naisip kaagad ni Adi na maling pagkakamali. It was one of Zed's trick.

One risky jumpshot went in, and the crowd exploded.

Nakatayo si Adi, nakatitig kay Zed, at mabilis na mabilis ang tibok ng puso niya.

Tumingala si Zed, nakatingin sa numero, at nakita ni Adi kung paanong bumagsak ang balikat nito nang makumpirma ang pagkapanalo.

Adi smiled, but her chin vibrated. She was beyond proud. She couldn't scream, not even clapping... but knew this wasn't just another game.

This game was Zed's arrival.

Nang tumunog na ang final buzzer, nanalo ang team ng dalawang puntos. Nagkasiyahan ang lahat, maingay, ngunit nanatili siyang nakatingin kay Zed.

Adi didn't bother waiting; she knew Zed was busy... but across the court, through the cheers and noises, their eyes met.

Zed didn't smile at her, but he breathed out. That was enough. Adi knew that the league saw him as the player.

But later, when the chaos finally subsided... he would come back as her Zed again.

And that would be the only victory Adi wanted.

Hinayaan na muna niya si Zed na mag-celebrate ang mga kasama. Nanatili siyang nakaupo, pinanonood ang pag-alis ng mga tao sa arena.

She started to reminisce.

Adi could still remember Zed's first game. They weren't boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but classmates. It was inside the university gym, and he was just getting started. Sobrang bago, actually... na parang nangangapa rin sa kung ano ang gagawin.

Noon, hindi naman niya ito napapansin. Zed was undeniably good-looking and talented, but Adi was focused on her studies. Plus, they were young.

But Zed found his way to her. By making himself noticeable to Adi by respecting her boundaries and giving her a chocolate bar for her brain.

Chocolate bar kasi raw nakakatalino.

Zed had no dirty ways, but spoke through love letters. No public gestures or making Adi comfortable with publicity, but by giving her notes expressing his attraction and love.

They were each other's first, hoping to be the last. All plans and goals were together.

Paglabas ni Adi sa arena, bumili siya ng popcorn at naglakad papunta sa parking lot para hintayin si Zed. Madilim ang kalangitan ngunit maliwanag ang siyudad at maingay. Inobserbahan niya ang mga nanood ng league at masaya ang mga ito sa pagkapanalo ng team nila Zed.

A smile crept onto her lips, knowing Zed was earning what he deserved. He knew he needed to prove himself after all the feedback about his gameplay.

Some were supportive, some weren't, and it was okay.

Samantalang habang nasa salamin si Zed dahil katatapos lang niyang mag-shower, pinatawag siya ng coaching team sa isang kwarto para kausapin. Gusto na sana niyang lumabas dahil alam niyang naghihintay na sa kaniya si Adi.

"Yes, Coach?" aniya habang nakaharap sa mga taong tumutulong sa kaniya.

"You did great earlier, Almazan," sabi ng coach niya at kinamayan siya. "I am expecting more. Marami pa tayong laro, maraming pagkakataong magawa mo ulit 'to. We're looking forward to seeing you play with confidence. We know we chose the right person."

Yumuko siya at tumango. "Thank you, Coach."

"Let's do this again, Almazan," dagdag nito at ngumiti. "We're glad to have you."

Muli siyang nagpasalamat at tuluyang nagpaalam. Bitbit ang gym bag, nakasalubong niya ang mga teammates na tinanong kung gusto niyang sumama sa dinner, pero tumanggi siya dahil naghihintay na si Adi sa kaniya.

Zed thanked those who watched the games and supported them, even taking a picture with them.

Nang tuluyang makapagpaalam, nakita niya si Adi mula sa parking lot, kumakain ng popcorn. Tumingin ito sa kaniya, inalok siya, at ipinakita ang milk tea na binili.

"Galing naman talaga!" Adi tiptoed and kissed the side of his lips.

He encircled his arm around Adi's waist and kissed her lips instead. "Thank you for watching the game, baby," he murmured and kissed his wife's shoulder. "Okay ba laro ko?"

Adi gave him a thumbs up, a wide smile, and a nod. "Sobra. Ang dami kong fast break kanina, but you were better with waiting. Napansin ko lang. Both are good for you, pero iba dating mo kanina while dribbling than waiting for the red shot clock."

Zed chuckled. "I used to think that..." he exhaled. "If I slowed down, I'd lose it."

"I know fast breaks feel powerful," Adi gazed at Zed and softly exhaled. "But I realized while watching that you don't have to always be like that."

Tumayo si Zed sa tabi ni Adi, nabalot sila ng katahimikan nang mag-ring ang phone niya. Pareho silang tumingin sa screen, it was Jed... calling.

Just two rings, Zed answered, and a different person talked. He gazed at Adi, frowning.

"By, a bartender. Okay lang ba sa 'yong sunduin natin sandali si Jed?" tanong niya. "He's passed out in a bar and—"

"Oo naman." Kaagad pinagpag ni Adi ang kamay habang kausap pa rin ni Zed bartender para sabihing papunta na sila.

Zed insisted on driving, and Adi was holding the phone for maps. Hindi sila pamilyar sa lugar. It was a new bar along the Metro. At ang ipinagtataka nila, ano ang nangyari? Jed wasn't the type to get drunk himself until he passed out. Malayong-malayo sa pagkakakilala nila.

Si Zed na ang pumasok sa loob ng bar at naghintay si Adi sa kotse. Alam niyang pagod na ang asawa niya at nag-usap silang magdi-dinner sana, pero hindi naman nila pababayaan ang kaibigan.

Especially Zed. Jed was like his little brother and wouldn't let anything happen to him.

Mahinang natawa si Adi habang nakatingin sa pinto at pinanonood kung paano akayain ni Zed si Jed na sumusuray at mahigpit na nakahawak kay Zed. Hindi siya sanay na ganito ito at napaisip kung ano ang nangyari.

Mukhang hindi matutuloy ang date nila ngayong gabi at ayos lang iyon. Maraming time at babawi na lang sa susunod.

Bumaba siya para sumalubong at itanong kung ano ang nangyayari at hindi rin alam ni Zed na natatawa dahil humahagulhol ang kaibigan.

"Ikaw, natatawa ka pa talaga," paninita niya kay Zed at nilapitan si Jed. "Ano nangyari?"

Nakita ni Adi kung paanong nalukot ang mukha ni Jed at humagulhol lalo sa harapan niya. "Ate? Ate ko..."

Bumitaw si Jed kay Zed at mahigpit na yumakap kay Adi. Panay ang tanong nito kung bakit, pero iyon lang naman ang sinasabi. Nang bumitaw naman ito, nagtanong kung puwede ba silang dumaan ng fastfood para makakain ng burger steak.

Umirap si Zed at maingat na inalalayan ang kaibigan sa loob ng sasakyan.

They got Jed into the backseat after promising him burger steak, assurances, and a future he couldn't yet see. Once the door closed, the parking lot went quiet again.

Adi and Zed exhaled and stared at each other, chuckling.

"Jed is scared for his future," malungkot na sambit ni Zed. "Hindi niya alam kung ano ang gagawin after university. Kung itutuloy ba niya ang basketball? Takot siya sa future ng basketball, eh. Gusto rin niyang magpunta sa ibang bansa, mag-tryout para doon maglaro. Import, ganoon."

Malalim na huminga si Adi. "Naalala ko tuloy noong ganiyan din tayo, lalo ako. Para akong laging nagmamadali. Everything felt so urgent and loud and falling apart."

Pareho silang nakasandal sa sasakyan, nakatingin sa kung saan.

Zed paused, then nodded. "Fast break mentality. Grab the ball, run as hard as you can, hope you don't trip."

Adi gazed at Zed. "You ever realize, the past few months... after the break... we're not rushing anymore?"

Zed looked at her, really looked. "Yeah. We used to think slowing down meant losing the play."

They stood there, unhurried. No rush to get in. No need to move yet.

"I think we already got what we wanted," Adi said. Nothing dramatic, but sure.

Zed nodded slowly, inhaling the cold air of the evening. "And now we play smarter. Slower. Together."

Nilingon nila ang backseat nang bumukas ang pinto. Nakatingin si Jed sa kanila, malamlam ang mga mata.

"Kuya, Ate?" Pagkuha nito sa atensyon nila. "Burger steak."

Malakas na natawa si Adi habang nakatitig kay Jed na muling naghilik at bumalik sa pagkakatulog. Nagkausap na sila ni Zed na patutulugin muna ito sa condo nila at io-offer kung gustong gamitin ang dati niyang condo na wala namang nakatira.

Jed had been struggling with finances lately. Sagot naman ng university ang accommodation nito ngunit mas piniling kunin ang pera bilang allowance para makatulong sa ina.

Adi offered to let Jed use her unit for free.

Muling nabanggit ni Zed ang problema ni Jed. Na parang palaging nagmamadali sa buhay, sinusubukang maging kumportable, at makatulong sa ina.

"I realized, we're just like Jed," Adi bitterly smiled. "We used to live like everything was a fast break. But now? It's different."

"Slowing down, run the clock, make the right play," Zed smiled. "Isa 'yan sa natutunan ko sa bagong coach ko. Sakto sa pacing natin ngayon."

Adi bit her lower lip. "I guess we already won."

"We did," Zed held Adi's hand. "No more beating the buzzer."

Binuksan ni Zed ang pinto ng sasakyan para pasakayin si Adi bago dumeresto sa driver's seat. Pareho nilang nilingon si Jed na mahimbing na natutulog bago pinaandar ang sasakyan papunta sa fastfood chain, para na rin bumili ng sariling dinner.

Nang huminto ang sasakyan sa stoplight, tinitigan ni Zed ang numero bago bumaba ang tingin sa orasan.

It was the 13th of the month, their supposed monthsary... the number of his college jersey... and his current. May reservation sila, may date sana.

But something more was important.

The car pulled away from the stoplight, and behind them, a new countdown had already begun. Not for them, but for the next story waiting at the buzzer.

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T H E X W H Y S
www.thexwhys.com