Heart Beats Again

It's A Deal

[Lea's POV]

"You need to swing your racket freely, parang ganito lang." Ipinakita ko kay Eli kung paano mag-forehand.

Mabuti na lang at may tennis court ang clubhouse sa subdivision nina Cy. Dalawang oras ang schedule namin para makapag-practice si Eli.

"You got that?" Eli nodded while holding her racket tightly. "Oh, sige. Ikaw naman." Pumunta ako sa gilid at hinagis ko ang bola na katamtaman lang ang layo mula sa kanya. The ball got in but she just hit it without spinning the ball.

"You need to give your ball some spin."

I gave her some drills to make her forehand a lot better. Naka-bend lang siya at nasa iisang pwesto lang, sunod-sunod kong binibitawan ang bola at nakakahanga na mabilis niyang nakukuha ang tinuro ko.

"Break muna bago tayo mag-proceed sa backhand." Tumango siya at tahimik na naglakad papunta sa bench para uminom ng tubig.

She's quiet just like her brother or maybe nahihiya lang siya? I have seen her loud and naughty when she's with her friends.

"Hindi ko inakalang interested ka pala sa lawn tennis," sabi ko bago umupo sa bench.

"Idol kita. I've watch almost all of your matches and I can't help but to admire your wits when it comes to tennis. You're amazing. It must be great being you." Napakurap ako at napaawang ang aking labi. I was too stunned to speak for what she said. Tumawa ako at hindi pinahalatang na-overwhelm ako sa kanyang compliment.

"Pinapalaki mo talaga ang ulo ko. I'm not as amazing as you think I am."

"Because you have no idea how amazing you are, how you inspire a lot of people to be like you. Me... I want to be like you, ate." Parang gusto kong umiyak sa sobrang tuwa. Her words touched every part of my soul and I felt grateful.

"You can surpass me if you want to."

"I don't think that's even possible. You're friend with Eion, right?" Tumango ako. "He likes you?" I grinned with her follow-up question. "No, we're just friends. Barkada kami, I bet you also know Pia, Eva and Ron." Tumango siya habang abala sa pagpupunas ng pawisang leeg niya.

"What about kuya? May relasyon ba kayo?"

"W-wala. Hindi naman kami gaano ka-close para matawag na friends, so we're just basically schoolmates. Tsaka, he has Pauline. I bet na nagkakamabutihan na silang dalawa." Parang may alambre sa gilagid ko dahil sa aking sinabi. Mas gusto ko na lang isipin na meron nga kaming relasyon ni Cy... kung pwede lang.

"No, they're just friends. I actually like you for Kuya Cy." Nagsimula na namang humarentado ang puso ko dahil sa kanyang sinabi. Gosh, those words are coming from Cy's sister, herself. Tanggap na ako ni sister-in-law.

"Masyadong ambisyosa, mahilig magpaganda at mataray si Ate Pauline... she has all kinds of personality that Kuya Cy hates pero ewan ko kung bakit naging magkaibigan sila."

"Maybe because they're both smart." Kibit-balikat ko bago inabala ang sarili sa pagtingin ng bag ko para lang hindi mahalata ni Eli ang pamumula ng magkabilang pisngi ko.

"Ikaw? Gusto mo si Kuya, noh? Kita ko kaya kung paano ka tumingin sa kanya kanina."

Paano ba ako tumingin? Kita niya ba ang hugis puso sa mga mata ko? Mukha ba akong bakla na gustong tumili kanina?

"Oo, gusto ko ang kuya mo, umamin na kaya ako sa kanya."

"Really? Ano ang sagot niya?" Natameme ako sa tanong niya. Wala akong maisagot kasi wala namang isinagot si Cy!

"Your love is unrequited. Ouch, that hurts, ate." Umakto ito na parang nasasaktan na ikinangiwi ko.

"Break is over, magpa-practice na tayo ng backhand." Pupunta na sana ako pabalik ng court pero nanigas ako sa aking kinatatayuan dahil sa sinabi niya. "Tutulungan kita kay kuya." Hinarap ko siya at pilit na pinoproseso ang kanyang bulalas. "You love him, don't you? I'll help you but you'll also need to do something in exchange."

This is getting exciting and I can't help smirking. I don't know what kind of game she's playing but honestly, i'm ready to risk anything to get this deal done.

"In exchange of what?"

"You'll help me with Eion." Nalaglag ang panga ko dahil sa kanyang kondisyon. "W-with Eion? Seryoso ka ba diyan, Eli?" Determinadong tinango niya ang kanyang ulo.

"Gusto mo si Eion?" Itinango niya muli ang kanyang ulo. "Seryoso? Si Elliot Nathaniel Baldwin ba yung tinutukoy mo?" Ni hindi man lang siya kumurap nung tumango siya ulit.

"Hoy, Lily Elizabeth, ano ang nakita mo sa tukmol na 'yun at gusto mo?" Hindi ako makapaniwala. Ang inosente at matalinong si Eli ay gusto ang kaibigan kong pinaglihi sa sama ng loob.

"I don't know. I find him attractive especially when he plays volleyball."

"He's not a volleyball player anymore, he plays badminton. Alam naman ng buong school kung paano siya nag-quit sa team."

"The rumors are true then? Na nag-quit siya dahil pinagkaisahan siya ng buong team."

"Sadly, yes. You know Eion's personality... ayaw ding magpaawat, so he decided to leave."

Pinipiga pa rin ang puso ko kapag naaalala ko yung mga araw na umalis siya ng volleyball team. We all cried with him and I could feel his pain... he felt wronged and he got traumatized from playing sports that involves teamwork. Eion was a mess, he gave up his dream and up until now, he lost his sense of belonging... his purpose and now, he plays badminton out of boredom. I know how much Eion is forcing himself to love badminton at aaminin man niya o hindi, alam kong nami-miss na niyang maglaro ng volleyball.

"So, is it a deal?"

"Your offer is tempting pero hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala, how can you like Eion? He's a cold devil." Kahit nga ako ay naiirita sa pagkasuplado at ignorante niya.

"Why? Don't you find him attractive?"

"Yes, he's attractive but not as attractive as Cy?" Napangiwi siya at umaktong nasusuka. "Seriously, Eli? Nasusuka ka? He's your brother and you look like him."

"Eww, give me a break!"

"Fine, it's a deal!"