Chapter 29

All this time

On the first quarter, naging lamang ang Savvy because of the Alec whose the halfback of the team, and their quartback lost his focus for the first quarter. I would say that it is my fault but on the other hand, may kasalanan din doon si Mia. Wala akong idea sa poster na binigay niya sa akin, it would be fine kung ang buong team ang nakasulat sa poster but it only pertains to one of the players and it is Alec. Good for Alec because he got some inspiration to boost his attitude on the field but on the other hand, Korg lost his.

The second quarter were almost done at sa pagkakataon ngayon ay nangunguna na ang competing school. Nakikita ko naman ang eagerness from the team na maungusan muli ang kalaban. They could really beat them. Alam kong nasa kondisyon naman sila to win the game, the practice would should pay-off.

"You've been doing that for what, thirty nine times, Alex." My father said.

And I sighed again.

"Forty times," he corrected. He rub my shoulders to calm down my nerves, "it is not your fault, Alex... maybe Korg was really distracted by it..."

"Hope he don't mind that."

He nodded, "sure he will, but we should hope that they win the game."

"Yeah, right."

When the few seconds finally ended, quarter two isn't that good for the team. Half time na at merong performance mula sa glee club. The two teams gone to their own locker rooms para mag-usap-usap at magpahinga ng sandaling oras. Tinawag naman ako ni Gell, hindi ko alam kung bakit kaya nang lumapit siya sa kinauupuan namin ay nagpaalam pa ito sa parents ko kung pwede niya akong isama sa locker room ng team. Pumayag naman sila, nagpumilit naman sina Pee shooter at Bella na makasama pero hindi na dahil hindi rin sure si Gell kung makakapasok kami s aloob dahil private iyon just for the players.

Tumayo naman ako sa kinauupuan ko, while we're heading out, biglang tumakbo palapit sa amin si Mia. Gell stopped and so I am saka lumingon sa kanya.

"Where are you guys going?" she asked.

Napatingin naman sa akin si Gell at binalik ang tingin kay Mia, "team's locker room, why?"

"Can I come?" she says, "please?" she pleaded.

I think Mia left Gell with no choice kundi sumama na lang din sa amin. Hindi ko pa rin makakalimutan iyong nangyari kanina. It was almost humiliating for me. Hindi naman ako against dahil si Alec ang nakasulat doon. Alec is good and he's done a great job on the first quarter kaya wala namang mali sa kanya... but I just thought, I would cheer for Korg.

We're heading our way to the locker's room. There's this awkward atmosphere flying around and I could sense that Mia wanted to have a talk pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin sa kanya. Last night she told me, she has something for me to payback for what favour I have to do on her, but I don't think it will go further than that. Incase she doesn't know what I mean, she need to remember it by herself.

As we came into the locker room, we saw the team in circle talking how they will gonna score up against the other team. After that, they put they hands altogether and shouted in chorus, "Go Savvy! Go Dragons!" they kept giving each other a pat, and as they notice our presence—specifically Korg, stoned his stares on my direction—and I couldn't handle the manifestation I did earlier.

"I'll talk to kuya," Gell said, hatak-hatak pa rin niya ako pero habang papunta kami kay Korg, Alec caught me in his arms at nabitawan naman ako ni Gell saka niya ako hinayaan at tumuloy na lang siya mag-isa kay Korg.

Alec's embrace were full of satisfaction. Siguro dahil naging way niya iyong ginawa ko kanina para ganahan siya to win the game. Alec were vocal about his feeling, I still remember that pero hindi ko alam kung anong ire-respond sa kanya when he's not the person I'm looking forward to see. From Alec's arms, I saw Korg talking to his sister, he was trying to ignore the view. Tumalikod siya sa akin and I think, I really hurt.

But Mia stole the moment at lumapit sa kanya. And I lost the sight of them when Alec lose his hug on me.

His hands were on my both shoulder, his eyes were glimmering and his smiles are flashing his white teeth. He must really be happy.

"I didn't expect you would do that for me, Alex." He said.

I faked a smile, "yeah... but thanks to Mia, she did the poster."

He nodded, looking for Mia but to see that she's talking to Korg and his sister, he didn't mind to call her out. Instead he put his attention back on me. On my peripheral vision, I was looking at Korg and getting to talk to him. I could still remember our exchange of messages last night and now, I'm sure, he didn't expect to see that.

"You were a big help for me tonight, Alex," he grinned, "we could've done the first quarter if it wasn't your help."

"You did the thing, I just cheer you guys up." I gave a half smile.

"But it is the best thing you did... like you for me." He reach out for my hand but I immediately drew my hands from him, he notice it and I don't look at his eyes again. "Win the game, Alec..." I said and left the locker room.

Dumiretsyo naman ako sa labas at napasandal na lamang ako sa dingding kasabay ng malalim na paghinga. I'm still hanging around my head, ni hindi ko alam kung paano ko na haharapin si Korg ngayo'y pansin niyang may kakaibang kilos si Alec sa akin. But I hope he wouldn't mind that... and maybe who does care? Hindi naman niya ako gusto and he shouldn't been distracted to me.

Saglit lang ay nagtatakbong lumabas si Mia. I heard her sobbing, tinawag ko pa siya pero hindi na niya ako nilingon. Something happened between her talk to Korg. Hindi rin katagalan ng may lumabas mula sa locker room, akala ko si Gell na kaya natigilan ako ng biglang si Korg ang lumabas doon. He looks at me pero nilapagsan niya lang ako. I was about to call his name pero parang nanuyo ang lalamunan ko and haven't got the guts para gawin iyon. Tinamaan ako bigla ng shyness.

Hindi ko pa rin naman pinalagpas ang pagkakataon, I couldn't sleep for the night kung hindi nagiging panatag ang loob niya sa akin. I call him, "K-Korg!" my stuttering voice shows how nervous I am.

He just stopped walking back to the field, he never looked back, but I'm glad he stopped.

"Break a leg, Korg. Win this game." Malumanay ang pagkakasabi ko, ni hindi ko alam kung papansin niya ba ako.

"You should tell that to your boyfriend." He calls out and run back to the field. Nabingi ako sa salitang sinabi niya, dagdagan pa iyon ng mga team mates niya na nagsisigawan palabas ng locker room at tumatakbong papunta sa field. Para akong lumutang sa kung saan. My brain couldn't digest what he said.

Sumunod naman si Gell palabas, she took my hand at sabay na kaming bumalik sa bleachers. Pagkarating namin doon, Bella and Pee shooter ask what happened pero naging tahimik ako sa usaping iyon. Even my parents didn't bother to ask, ayaw lang siguro nila akong kausapin this time dahil nasa public place kami.

Hinanap ko si Mia sa upuan niya kanina pero wala na siya doon. Maybe after she run away ay umuwi na nga siya. Hindi ko naman binalak tanungin kay Gell kung anong nangyari. She just only told me that her brother understands the situation. Anong ibigsabihin niya doon? Did he really understand or he did misunderstand everything he have seen earlier between me and Alec?

When the half time are over, nagsimula na ang third quarter. This time, I can see the determination of Korg to win. Kung kanina ay nawawala siya sa focus niya ngayon ay bumalik na iyon. Kung ano man ang nasa isip niya ngayon, it should stay the same way at sana hindi niyang isip na kami ni Alec where there is nothing in between.

Naramdaman ko naman ang siko ni Dad kaya napalingon ako sa kanya, "did you talk to him? He owns the game now." Aniya, hinawakan pa ni Dad ang buhok ko saka ginulo. I'm finding it hard to fix my hair dahil ang pangit kapag nagiging buhag-buhag kaya naman itinali ko na lamang ito.

Gusto ko rin sanang sabihin kay Dad na hindi ko nakausap si Korg and it wasn't me who motivated him to put his focus on the game. Siguo may sinabi si Gell to make up his mind, lalo na sa nangyari kanina. At sa tuwing mapapatingin si Alec sa direksyon ko, he would give flying kisses and my friends were giggling about it. Napapansin din iyon ng parents ko which they are really in their verge of questioning me. And by what Alec's doing, tinitingnan siya ni Korg sabay iiwas ng tingin.

The third quarter ended up tied. Naghahabulan lang ang dalawang team at kung lalamang na sa huling quarter ang Savvy ay sila na ang mananalo. The last quarter started, and for the few minutes ay makikita na ang aggressive attitude ni Korg. He's really defying everyone—even his team mate na si Alec.

"Woah, what's happening?" Pee shooter said.

Napatayo naman kami sa kinauupuan namin dahil biglang nagtulakan si Korg at Alec. Nag-uusap lamang sila kanina at ngayon ay biglang nag-ambahan. Inawat naman sila ng team mate nila. Ang nakakaasar pa doon ay nagcheer ang kabilang school dahil lamang na muli sila. I don't know what's happening to them, nawawala ba sila sa focus?

Muling bumalik ang game, Korg and Alec didn't get to look at each other. Team mate kung team mate lang ang turingan nila. The last quarter were full of suspense and thrill. We were so high that the Savvy will win but the score weren't coping up.

"Go, Korg!" I shouted, out of nowhere.

He found the voice on my direction, he just stare for few seconds until the ball were handed to him. And so he run, this time, he's running for the goal. My hands were sweating, legs are shaking and my chest weren't normally beating. I'm so nervous at the moment. Until, Korg set the record for Savvy.

He scored, Savvy Dragon's team win.

The crowd cheered for their win. Halos hindi rin makapaniwala ang karamihan na mananalo pa ang Savvy because of the few seconds ay maihahabol pa ni Korg ang score. He is really the quarterback. He owns the game. Binuhat ng kanyang team mate si Korg at ang mga cheerleader ay nagsilapitan na rin sa kanila.

The crowd also joins into the team para i-congratulate sila, I stayed on my position. Tumatakbong palapit naman si Gell sa akin.

"Alex, come with us. May celebration on our house."

Napatingin naman ako sa parents ko and they were smiling—and I'm not sure of it.

"Can I?" I said.

Mom nodded, "okay, but remember, avoid alcohol's okay?"

I nodded, "yes, Mom! And Dad!" ngisi ko pa.

They hugged me both, "okay, enjoy and see you home."

They both left the bleachers. At syempre, kasama ko rin ang mga kaibigan ko kaya sabay sabay na kaming pupunta doon sa bahay ng mga Sawyer. Hinatak naman muli ako ni Gell pababa ng field. Huminto kami kung nasaan si Korg. Gell hugged his brother and it's the most precious thing I have seen. Nang umalis sa pagkakayakap si Gell ay sa akin napunta ang tingin ni Korg which is I expected, yayakap din ako sa kanya but on the latter part, someone caught me and swirl me around the air.

Nagulat pa ako sa nangyari and I wasn't expecting this to happen. When he put me down, mas lalo kong kinabigla ang sunod niyang ginawa. He kissed me on my lips. It was roughly two seconds and I gasped when he done that.

Napatitig lang ako sa kanya, tulala. I couldn't even handle my emotion. Bakit niya ginawa iyon? Is Korg watching?

"Sorry to do that, Alex." Aniya, napailing naman ako ng bahagya. "Hey... are you okay?"

Tumango naman ako sa kanya, "oo..."

"This is the best night for me... and you're part of it." He said, "what? Alex? Anong iniisip mo?"

"Ha?" aniko at nilingon siya muli. Umilingin naman ako sa kanya, "wala."

"Sasama ka bas a celebration?"

"Yes, Gell invited me." Aniko, sumingit naman kaagad si Gell at pinulupot niya ang kamay sa akin.

"Can I borrow her for now?" she asked.

Alec nodded, and we immediately took off in front of him pero nang pupuntahan sana namin si Korg ay naglalakad na ito pabalik sa locker room. Susundan ko sana pero pinigilan naman ako ni Gell kaya hinayaan ko na lang iyon. Lumapit naman ako sa mga kaibigan ko at naguguluhan na sila sa nangyayari.

"Girl, dalawa na 'yan, sino ba talaga?" ani Pee shooter.

Umiling ako sa kanya, "walang dalawa Pee shooter... it was Korg all along."

"Really, Alex?" nanlaki naman ang mata ko nang marinig ko muli ang boses niya. I thought he can leave me alone for a minute pero mukhang sinundan pa rin niya ako. Dahan-dahan naman akong humarap sa kanya, and I can't see the joy in his face earlier we have the talk. "All this time, si Korgian pala?"

"Alec..." I call him, he just smirked.

"Nevermind," and just like that, he just left. I look at my friends and just shrugged off, and now, I don't know what to do. I didn't mean to hurt those two people. Did I hurt them? Wait... I really don't have any idea how this works. I should've stayed homeschooled.