Song: River- Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran 

Soon

Tila parang isang himala ang nangyari dahil nasungkit nila Zach ang inaasam na pagkapanalo.

He made a good pass to his other team mate kaya naman ay naungusan nila ng puntos ang kalaban. I'm so happy because they're going to compete in Super Bowl!

People can't stop celebrating with their win. Hindi parin bumababa ang kasiyahan dito sa buong stadium. People are so happy with their win.

Zach and Ian chest bump each other when the game finished. They were both smiling so wide! I'm so happy fo them!

From UFL to NFL they're still the best buddies and that never changed.

May lumapit namang isa sa mga production team sa akin.

"Hi! Zach wants you to get on the field." Aniya. Bahagya akong nagulat sa kanyang sinabi.

I nodded at hinanap ang daan patungo sa daan na papunta sa field. Iginiya niya ako sa mga upuan malapit sa team ni Zach. They were still celebrating while I awkwardly waited for them to finish.

Maraming tao na bumabati sa akin. Kahit ang ibang team mates ni Zach ay di nagpapalampas sa pagpapapicture.

Cheerleaders started to flock at them and joined their celebration. I keep an eye on Zach who's still celebrating.

Some cheerleaders tried to get his attention pero hindi ito pinapaunlakan ni Zach kahit tingin man lang. He's busy celebrating with his best friend. Better luck next time, girls.

Nagawi naman ang tingin niya sa akin. His smile turned bigger.

Nagsimula siyang maglakad patungo sa akin. Hawak-hawak niya ang kanyang helmet sa kanang kamay habang ang isa ay ginamit niya upang pasadahan ang kanyang buhok.

Damn... hot.

May lumapit namang muli na cheerleader sakanya. Napalingon siya rito. Alam na alam ko iyong tingin niya na ibinibigay niya kay Zach. Alam na alam ko iyan.

I saw a lot of girls doing that to him before.

She said something to him that is not audible in my place. Umiling lamang siya. The cheerleader looks so disappointed.

Did someone ask him on a date again?

I chuckled with the thought. Talagang maraming may tipo kay Zach na kahit babae ay nagagawa nang ayain siyang makipagdate imbis na siya ang magtanong dito.

He walked towards me again. Tumayo ako galing sa pagkakaupo upang salubungin siya. Marami namang camera ang tumutok kay Zach ngayon nang makita kung saan siya patungo. Everyone's watching him.

When he got near, he closed the gap between us.

"Congra–" beforeI can even congratulate him he already pressed his lips into mine.

Kitang kita ko naman ang sunod sunod na pag-ilaw ng camera kahit saan. Saglit lang ang naging halik niya. When he pulled away, ngumisi siya sa akin.

Ang tingin ko naman ay nagawi sa mga tao sa likod niya. 'Yung cheerleader na kausap niya kanina ay halatang gulat na gulat sa nakita.

Habang ang ibang team mates niya ay nakangiti sa amin. Even Ian. He seems so happy for his best friend.

"Congratulations!" Ulit ko.

Ngumiti siya. He licked his lips and bite his lower lip. Natawa siya ng bahagya.

"I'm so inspired to play because I know you're watching." Aniya.

"Kahit naman hindi ako nanonood, magaling ka parin."

"Today was different, though."

Pagkatapos noon ay nagpaalam siya upang mag-ayos ng sarili. Iniwan niya ako sa isa sa mga kwarto sa loob ng kanilang locker room. He doesn't want me seeing other guys naked.

He doesn't need to worry about that! I'm not even interested to other guy's bodies unless it's his.

Duh?!?

Pumasok siya nang walang saplot sa katawan habang pinapatuyo ang kanyang buhok gamit ang towel. I looked away.

It's been a while... Zach's abs.

Mas lalong gumanda ang katawan niya ngayon. Gawa na rin siguro ng puspusang training niya. Umupo siya sa tabi ko. Nilagay niya naman iyong towel sa kanyang batok.

"Come here." He motioned me to sit on his lap.

I was hesitant at first pero wala na rin akong nagawa nang hilahin niya ako palapit sakanya.

He smells like aftershave. Ang mainit niyang bisig ay agad na bumalot sa katawan ko. He rested his head on my shoulder.

"Are you going to stay with me tonight?" He asked.

"Do you want me to?"

Mabilis niyang inalis ang pagkakasandal ng kanyang ulo sa aking balikat. Tiningnan niya ako ng maigi. Nag-hihintay na sabihin ko ang salitang "joke".

"I want you there everyday." He sounds really disappointed. I chuckled.

"You know I can't leave Ryan alone."

"You know you'll live alone again once he got married."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Tama nga naman siya. But why does he sound like he wants me to move in with him? E, hindi niya nga sinasabi sa akin kung ano na ba kami ngayon.

Are we official or not?

Hindi naman niya kinoconfirm sa akin. Ayoko naman agad na mag-assume lalo na't nag-assume na rin ako sakanya dati.

"Are you... Are you asking me to move in with you?" I nervously asked.

I felt his lips brushed my shoulder.

"I'm just saying that it might happen in the future. You need to be ready."

Hindi na ako nag-salita. Sinandal niya muli ang kanyang ulo sa aking balikat.

"You know I won't force you to anything that you don't want to do, right?" He said. Parang napagtanto na hindi pa ako handa sa kung ano mang inooffer niya sa akin ngayon. Tumango ako.

"I want to enjoy being your boyfriend first." He continued. Napalingon naman ako sakanya. Nakapikit ang mga mata niya habang nakayakap siya sa akin.

Did he just confirm that we're really in a relationship now? Nababasa niya ba ang mga iniisip ko?

God! Am I that obvious?

Nang lumabas kami ay saktong nakasalubong namin si Ian na handa nang umuwi. Sumulyap siya sa akin at ngumiti.

"So..." He started. "You're back together huh? Is it real this time?"

Zach immediately nodded. "You know how I fucked up that time. So I won't let this go." Naramdaman ko naman ang pag-sulyap niya sa akin.

"It's been a while, Sam." Bumaling si Ian sa akin at yumakap.

I wonder how's things between him and Kelly. They seem to like each other. Or nagbago na rin ba ang feelings nila sa isa't isa pagkatapos ng isang taon?

"Kelly said misses you." Aniya. Tipid akong ngumiti.

"Tell her that I miss her, too."

"She said she haven't speak to you ever since you left."

I bit my lip. I feel bad because I couldn't tell her why I left. She's connected with Zach and I don't want him to know where I am.

Pero kahit hindi ko naman pala itago sakanya ay mayroong magsasabi at magsasabi sakanya kung nasaan ako.

"They're in a relationship now." Sabi ni Zach. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko.

I knew it! Alam ko na sa huli ay sila rin ang magkakatuluyan!

"Oh my god! Really?"

Mayabang na nagkibit ng balikat si Ian at masayang ngumiti sa amin.

"I had the guts to ask her! Hindi kagaya ng iba diyan!" Pabiro niyang binunggo si Zach.

"Do I still need to ask her when I know she wants the same?"

Confident huh?

"Syempre naman! Iba parin ang may assurance!"

Hindi na talaga nag-bago si Ian. Palabiro parin. Tumango si Zach sakanya at ngumisi.

"You don't need to tell me what to do because I'll do it anyway." Lumingon naman siya sa akin.

"I guess Ian doesn't buy our relationship. He thought we are still playing. But we're not, right?" he paused for a moment. Ngumisi ako at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

"This guy said that he needs assurance. So, Samantha... I think you also need an assurance that this time... I'm willing to be your real boyfriend. No more fake relationships. No more fake stories. No more fake feelings.

"You know how much I love you. Heck, I want to show it to you everyday." He's speaking to me like we don't have any company. Parang dalawa lang kaming nag-uusap para sakanya.

I noticed that he's changed. He can talk about his feelings infront of other people now. I smiled. He's trying and I can see that.

I'm so proud of him.

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko. "Will you be my girlfriend, Sam?"

Bago pa ako makasagot ay nag-salita si Ian.

"That made me tear up, bro." He jokingly wiped a tear on his face.

He waited for my answer. Sinabi na naman niya sa akin na boyfriend ko na siya diba? Kailangan niya pa ba ng sagot?

"Gosh! Do you still need an answer?" I asked.

"Of course! I also need an assurance na totoo na 'to this time. I won't let him fool you again." Ian answered for Zach. Siniko naman siya nito. Lumingon siyang muli sa akin. Naghihintay parin ng sagot.

"It's always been a yes, Zach. It's always been a yes." His smiled turned bigger and so is Ian's.

He pulled me in for a hug. "Now we don't have to make up stories anymore."

"Bro, that was good ha? Kala ko proposal for marriage na, e." Siniko siya muli nito.

Lumapit siya kay Ian at may binulong. Parehas silang tumawa.

If they thought that I didn't hear it, they're wrong. I heard it loud and clear.

"Soon, Ian..." Aniya ng ibulong kay Ian.

I acted like I didn't heard anything. I know he's just joking. Kakaumpisa palang ng relasyon namin, I don't think he wants to take it to that level that fast.

Tsaka kapag magkasama sila ni Ian ay lagi silang naglolokohan. That's why there is no way that what he whispered to Ian was true.