COURTING MISS PERFECT

8 - HUG

"Ang halimaw mo Xander!" biro ni Karl na may kasama pang pagsiko. "Pwede mo rin kaming pahawakin ng bola, marunong din naman kaming magshoot!"

"Gago!" I cursed at saka inisang lagok ang mineral water na hawak ko.

"Pabayaan mo na lang siya Karl, pabor satin 'yung ginagawa niya. Di tayo mapapagod.." hirit naman ni Adrian saka nag-apir ang dalawa.

"Hindi pabor satin 'yun.. can't you see, pangalan na lang niya ang naririnig kong isinisigaw ng mga chix.. Tsk!" iiling-iling namang turan ni Blake.

"Chix ka na naman.. patay ka na naman sa babe mo!" sita naman ni Karl.

"Inggit ka lang.. dedma ka pa rin kasi ng bebe mo!" tugon naman ni Blake.

Maya-maya'y nagrambulan na 'yung dalawa. Natigil lang sila ng sinaway ni captain at nang magsimulang magbigay ng instructions si coach. 

I scanned the crowd for the nth time. Wala siya, wala na naman si Rish.

This past few weeks halos hindi ko na siya nakikita. Madalang na rin siyang sumagot sa mga messages ko, maging sa tawag ay hindi rin ito sumasagot. Hindi ko rin naman ito naaabutan sa mansion nila.

I'm trying my best in this game pero mukhang mababalewala rin pala.. kasi wala siya.

I sighed.

Life.

"Blake!" humahangos na turan ni Trisxh habang tumatakbo papalapit samin. "Congrats!" nakangiting bati nito sabay kurot sa pisngi ni Blake. "Kahit wala kang masyadong ginawa, congrats pa rin!"

The game ended na halos hindi ko namalayan. At ngayon nga'y papalabas na kami ng gym mula sa men's locker room.

"Grabe naman babe, naka-2 points naman ako. Isinakripisyo ko ang gwapo kong mukha para lang ma-foul at makapag-free throw! Effort 'yun babe!"

"Oo na.. sabi mo e! Hoy Xander, anong nakain mo, grabe ka ah.. maka-Rukawa wagas!" baling nito sa'kin. 

I just shrugged.

Naramdaman ko naman ang pag-akbay ni Karl.

"Napansin mo rin pala, akala mo finals na kung makapaglaro no?" - Karl

"Inspired lang 'yan.." singit ni Adrian. "Siguro, m usapan kayo ni Airish, kapag nanalo tayo, sasagutin ka na ba niya?"

They laughed and teased me, I just smiled at them.

"So, asan si Beshie?" Trisxh asked at muling natuon ang atensyon nila sa'kin.

"I don't know." I answered as I tried to act cool. "Ice cream?" 

Nakakaunawa naman silang tumango as they alternately tapped my back.

It's 8 in the evening, nang maghiwa-hiwalay kami. I decided to walk, kesa sumabay kay Karl. Just want to think while walking.

"Hey.." It's Rish, standing in front of me, I automatically stopped on my track. "You did well." 

I frowned.

Inilabas niya naman ang cellphone niya at ipinakita ang video ng game kanina.

"I asked Kuya Larry to watch and record the game for me."

I nodded, unable to find the right words to say.

Kanina lang, hinahanap ko siya pero ngayong nasa harapan ko na, para naman akong tanga.

"Uh..anyways, dumaan lang ako to congratulate you." turan nito na tila nakakaramdam na rin ng pagka-awkward. "Mauna na ako." 

What am I doing?!

Tsk!

"I miss you." I uttered nang dumaan siya sa tapat ko, napahinto naman siya sa paghakbang. "I miss you a lot Rish."

She stared at me and I'm staring back at her.

"I.. Uhm.." napapakunot-noong saad nito. 

I patted her head and smiled.

"I know, you miss me too." I assumed and smirked.

Natawa lang naman siya.

"C-can I hug you?" I whispered. 

Hindi naman siya tumugon at nang babawiin ko na sana.. naramdaman ko ang paglapit niya. 

And in a split second, I just realized that she's really hugging me.

She's hugging me.

My Rish is hugging me!

Mga ilang segundo pa akong natulala bago ko nagawang yakapin siya pabalik. We're hugging each other in the middle of the road and it feels right. 

'Yung pangungulila, pagtatampo at sama ng loob na nararamdaman ko when I'm feeling that she's taking me for granted this past few weeks.. lahat 'yun unti-unting naglaho.

What a magical hug!

"Thank you." that's the first word between us after that hug. "Thank you for coming."

"I missed the actual game."

"It's okay. I know you're busy. And now that you're here, it means so much to me." I smiled, the sincere one.

Umiwas naman siya ng tingin at bahagyang napatingala.

"I missed your Literature presentation, Ms. Charisma's birthday, your foundation week and your games during the Elimination round." she started. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the idea that I'm taking you for granted."

"Hey, I told you right, I know I'll never be your priority. I understand."

"Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin na dahil naiintindihan mo.. hindi ka na umaasa right? Your still disappointed kapag walang text, walang tawag.. walang Airish kang nakikita." 

"But I know---"

"One day, I know susukuan mo rin ako Krisz. You will realize that loving Airish Kaite Montiveros was not a good idea after all."

I stopped walking.. but she didn't mind at nagpatuloy maglakad mag-isa.

Looking at her back like this brings so much pain.

I didn't like the view.

"Rish.." I called her but she didn't stop. "Rish!" I shouted. "I’ll never give up! I'll wait for you even it takes forever, I'll never stop loving you!" she stopped. "Just promise me one thing Rish, promise me that you'll hug me like what you did a while ago.. hug me Rish. Hug me so that I can forget that I'm in pain! Will you hug me forever Rish?"