Poignant Rhythm of Affection

Chapter 2

"Galing 'yon doon sa stock ng mga bola. Aksidente na nahulog, tapos hindi inaasahan na gumulong palapit sa'yo," sabi ni Coach.

"But don't worry, Gale. I am currently working with their coach for the possible action to impose for the possible people involved."

Kanina pa ako natulala sa kawalan.

I didn't know where the guy went. Naiwan niya 'yong earphone niya. Ni hindi man lang ako nakapagpasalamat sa kaniya.

I just woke up from a deep sleep after the incident happened. Yes, I'm still here at the NorthU's clinic. We're just waiting for grandma to arrive.

It's past 4pm.

"Where's Galeena?" Later on, I heard my grandma's voice.

"Good Afternoon, Ma'am." My coach greeted her.

Lola's serious voice immediately turned to coach.

I can see how scared the coach was. I can't blame her. Nakakatakot talaga si lola lalo na pag seryoso. Her aura screams authority, isang tingin pa lang nanlalambot na mga tuhod mo sa takot.

She's just protective though. Behind that look is the loving lola we know.

I smiled at her widely, like nothing happened.

"Lola, it's okay! Let's go home?"

Pareho silang napabaling sa'kin. Kumunot ang noo ni coach, like she's confused why I'm suddenly fine. Meanwhile, grandma began walking towards me.

She looked at my whole body, checking my condition, then sat beside me.

"Are you okay? Your sprain, is it bad?" She asked a bit critically and glanced at the coach, glaring at her.

Tumango ako at ngumiti sakanya, assuring her that i'm all fine. Great pretender, Galeena.

I can't move my feet, masakit siya pag ginagalaw. Hindi ko rin maalis itong nakakanis na lungkot na nararamdaman ko.

"Medyo masakit siya kanina pero okay na lola!" I gave her a thumbs up.

"Wait here. I'll just talk to your coach." She told me. She's serious.

I gave the coach a faint smile and looked at her in a 'don't tell her' way. Suminghap siya bago tumango at lumabas.

"Lola, It was just an accident okay? Don't be harsh on her." I held her hand.

"Don't worry, apo, I'll just talk to her."

"Lola..." I'm trying to calm her. "Lola, please? I wanna go home." I look at her sadly. Lumambot ang tingin niya, bago tumango.

"Okay, we will." She looked at coach one last time before calling manang. "Sinda, call the driver."

'Di kalaunan umuwi na rin kami.

My heart jump up a bit when I heard the announcer announce the name of the 1st place, it was our school.

Nanonood ako ng livestream ng competition. I was sad, yes. No, I think it's more than that. I've been preparing for this competition besides the fact that this is my first competition as a member of the school's dance troupe. Kaya sobra sobra talaga ang panghihinayang ko.

I think I needed to watch this. I didn't want to embrace the bitterness within me. I didn't want to think about bad things. I watch the competition to remind myself the efforts and sacrifices my teammates and I had made for this competition.

Nakatulugan ko na ang pag iyak ko kagabi.

Lola insisted that they should be accountable for their negligence. Galit na galit si lola that she wants them to pay.

Gaano man kalungkot ang nararamdaman ko, hindi ko pwedeng hayaan na lang na mangyari 'yon. Lalo na't aksidente lamang ang nangyari.

Mahabang usapan bago ko siya nakumbinsi na palalampasin nalang. Actually, I can't tell if she really was convinced. Labag man sa loob niya pinalampas niya pa rin.

Instead of isolating myself, I chose to get some fresh air. I certainly don't want to invite negative thoughts. So I kept myself busy.

Nakaupo ako ngayon sa bench sa may garden ni lola. Nagpa-alalay ako kay manang kanina.

May bandage pa rin 'yung sprain ko, masakit pa rin siya at hindi pa rin ako makapaglakad ng maayos.

I received a lot of messages from my friends and teammates. Lara and lola also tried comforting me.

Napatingin ako sa gate nang tumunog ang doorbell.

Binuksan ni manang ang gate. Nakakunot ang noo ko nang makitang may inabot sa kanyang paper bag.

Did Lara order that? But she didn't tell me.

Sinara ni manang ang gate at dumeretso sa pwesto ko.

"Gale, Delivery raw." Inabot niya sakin ang paper bag.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa pagtataka.

"Did Lara order these manang?"

"Ang pagkakaalam ko ay hindi naman siya nag-request niyan. At tsakaang sabi naman ay para sa'yo raw 'yan."

Binalingan ko ulit ang paper bag, may tatak ito na galing sa isang cafe.

Binuksan ko ang paper bag at tiningnan ang laman nito. It was a frappe and a box of cookies. Kinuha ko 'yung notes na nakalagay sa ibabaw ng box.

It says,

'Get well'

Napakunot ang noo ko. I'm sure it's not from Lara or anyone at home. My friends?

Nagpahatid ako kay manang paakyat para kunin ang phone ko.

I sat on my bed and began massaging my friends.

GC

You sent a photo.

Is this from you guys?

CutesyandDemure:

Nopeee

OMG, admirer????

FuturePPopDan- :

From your coach?

BasherniSelena:

Yown, Dalaga na bata ko!

I know it's from you guys.

Stop it.

BasherniSelena:

Hoy gagi hindi nga😭✋

If it wasn't from my friends. Then, kanino galing 'to?

Nagkibit Balikat na lang ako at binuksan ang cookies. I smiled when I saw the cookies, they had a smiley face in each cookie.

I also smiled. This cookies are so cute and looked tasty! Bahala na kung sino nag bigay.

Baka naman may lason 'to? Natigilan ako sa akmang pagkagat. I smiled. Edi maganda!

I laughed at that thought. Easy. I was just kidding.

Kumuha ako ng isa. Napangiti ako nang matikman ang lasa niya, this is a nice, yummy cookie! Napatango tango ako nang matikman ko rin ang frappe nila.

While eating, I opened my phone, particularly in my social media accounts. I replied to the messages I haven't replied to. I said my thank you's and appreciation for their concern.

Nang mabusog. I decided na tabihan ng cookies si Lara. I'm sure she'll love this.

At hindi nga ako nagkamali.

"Ate! I think we need to know where this cafe is located. You should definitely buy more of it!"

Pinuntahan ko yung location na nakalagay sa paper bag. Luckily it was just near NorthU.

Nagsabi kasi si Lara na dalhan ko raw siya ng cookies and drinks nong cafe bago ko siya sunduin.

"Okay, Ma'am. So you ordered two boxes of Gingerbread, one box of molasses cookies, and one of each spanish latte and vanilla cream frappuccino."

While waiting, I was amazed with the interior of the cafe. Malapit lang sa school kaya halos punuan talaga.

I was standing beside the counter, it was near the door that said 'staff only'. I was gazing the designs near the door kaya naman napabaling ako nang bumukas ito.

With his brown, not-so-singkit eyes, fair skin, clean haircut, and neat uniform, he had a light, approachable aura, yet with just one look, he seemed so distant, almost out of reach.

He's wearing NorthU's uniform.

Natigil sa akmang paghakbang nang makita ako. Pareho kaming gulat at hindi alam paano i-approach ang isa't isa.

Nauna siyang nag iwas ng tingin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Nanghihinayang talaga ako na hindi man lang ako nakapag pasalamat sa kanya pagkatapos ng nangyari.

I was about to approach him when I heard my name kaya nabaling ang tingin ko sa counter.

"Miss Galeena"

"uh" sumulyap ako sa likod ko. "Thank you," Then I turned to the counter and I smiled.

Kinuha ko ang order at bumaling sa entrance ng cafe kung saan siya lumabas kanina.

Nang makalabas luminga linga ako, hinahanap kung saan siya nagpunta. At nang makita 'yong suot niya kanina na uniform ng NorthU dali dali kong ibinigay kay manong yung ibang order ko at kinuha yung isang box ng gingerbread.

"Manong, i-park mo na lang po sa dati 'tong sasakyan. Maglalakad na lang po ako papunta."

"Ba-" hindi ko na pinatapos si manong.

I immediately turned to the man walking across the street going to NorthU.

Nakatitig lang ako sa likuran niya habang hindi alam paano siya lalapitan.

Should I tap his shoulder? Hindi kaya mukhang weird?

We are in the middle of walking, on our way to NorthU. Casual lang siyang naglalakad habang ako nakabuntot sa likuran niya.

Huminga ako ng malalim at akmang lalapitan na talaga siya nang biglang may tumawag sakaniya.

"Pierce!" tumigil siya sa paglalakad at ganon din ako.

Pareho kaming napalingon sa kabilang bahagi kalsada. It was the guy I saw he was with outside the gymnasium that day. He's wearing the same uniform Pierce is wearing.

Business Administration. That's what is in their ID lace.

Nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Nagdadalawang isip kung itutuloy pa ba ang binabalak kanina. Maybe next time, huh?

I was in the middle of thinking about whether I should continue thanking him and giving him these cookies or not, when suddenly I heard my sister.

Kita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko sabay na pag baling namin sa kapatid ko na galing rin sa kabilang side ng kalsada. She's with manang sinda.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at bumaling ulit sa dalawang lalaki. They stopped talking, unknowingly looked at my sister after her loud shout, then they both looked behind them, where I was standing and where Lara is looking at!

Kaya agad akong tumawid papunta kay Lara at dali dali siyang kinarga dala ng pagkataranta!

Wrong timing, Lara!

...