Concept of Time

CHAPTER 2

Chapter 2

Kasabay ng ingay na nangingibabaw sa court ay ang malalakas na tawanan ng mga kasama ko. We were heading towards the cafeteria when we heard the wild cheering of crowds on our court, imbis na dumiretso sa plano naming puntahan ay lumiko kami sa kung saan nanggagaling ang ingay para makanood.

We heard sir Del Mundo's announcement to our class, mag-free play na lang daw muna kami since may urgent meeting siya sa La Salle. That's exactly what the class he was supposed to meet right now is doing, we're having a free play kaya sobrang ingay ng mga students na nanonood.

"Init ng ulo nong center ha," tumatawang sambit ni Elle.

Bumaling ako sa gawi ng center, it was Josh, my ex, who's in center position today. Sandali silang nag-usap ni Daven bago siya tinapik nito sa balikat, bumalik na rin kaagad sila sa game kasabay ng pag-posisyon ng kabilang team.

Melfa leaned over me, "Nakita mo na ba 'to?" She asked, bahagya niyang inangat ang phone sa tapat ko para makita ko 'yong nasa screen niya.

No’ng una'y nagtataka lang ako sa ipinakita niya, ngunit ilang saglit pa ay kumunot na ang noo ko nang makita ang laman ng chatbox na 'yon.

It was a conversation of Daven's squad, sandaling bumalik ang tingin ko sa mga naglalaro sa court nang mag-ring ang phone ko.

"Who's that?" Melfa raised a brow at me. Pasimple kong sinilip ang screen ng phone ko before I declined the call, it was just my sister.

"Ate ko," I shrugged. "Baka ireremind lang sakin 'yong pinapadaanan niya." I explained, napansin ko na nakatingin siya at animo'y naghihintay ng kasunod.

"Wala namang problema sa bahay nyo these days?" Her eyes suddenly turned into a worried-look, she's as if hoping that I'll say there's nothing to worry about.

I gave her a smile, reminding her not to think about it that much. "Wala pa..." I softly uttered, bumalik ang tingin ko sa mga naglalaro.

Everything suddenly turned into silence for me, as if the entire court has no crowds that are making loud noises. I can see everyone jumping from their seats, cheering wildly, screaming for the team they support and boo-ing for the opposing team, but everything was just too silent for me to even hear them. All I could hear is my mind that's currently screaming in fear, making up questions, looking for the answers that I've been trying to seek ever since the day things turned upside-down.

Everything's just too tiring...

"Charge!" I heard the crowd's scream, doon lang ako bumalik sa reyalidad at ang una kong napansin ay si Kim. He's supporting his right arm with his left hand, tinapik siya ni Josh sa balikat at sandali lang silang nag-usap bago ito tuluyang bumalik sa center.

Bumaling ako sa kabilang team, they were arguing with the offensive team.

"All ball 'yon, pre!" Sambit ni Dein, he's from the opposing team, the defense.

"Anong all ball, pare?" Daven asked. He dribbled the ball on the ground, letting it bounce towards anywhere without even looking at it.

I shook my head, "Magkakainitan na 'yan," natatawang sambit ko kina Melfa.

"Wala kaming nahawakan sa player niyo," with forehead creased, Dein closed the distance between them.

"Pikon talaga nitong sina Dein," Melfa uttered, rolling her eyes in irritation. "Charge na 'yon, in position na si Kim tapos tinabla niya pa!"

"Pinaglalaban 'yong all ball, mukha bang bola si Kim?" Elle laughed, she obviously find the defensive team stupid.

"Foul na 'yon sa block attempt nila, ipaglalaban pa 'yong clean blocking eh." I bit my lower lip, preventing myself from uttering more.

"Paanong wala, nasaan ba ang mata mo?" Daven asked, his jaw clenched in annoyance. "Foul 'yon tapos sasabihin mong all ball?!"

Dein glared at him, akmang itutulak niya na si Daven nang pumagitna na si Jairus para awatin sila.

"Close!" He uttered in between the two, pasimple niyang hinatak palayo doon si Daven na mabigat ang bawat paghinga habang naglalakad. I can read his lips uttering a cuss.

"He called the foul with little contact?!" Naiiritang tanong ni Eresh.

"Nagtatanong ka ba o nagkukwento? Nakita din namin, teh." Yeng hissed, crossing her arms on her seat.

I stood up, tumatawang humakbang na ako palayo sa kanila. I'm planning to head towards the cafeteria, nagugutom ako.

"Huwag kang magulo," I heard Elle's laugh. "Ay, Riya! Saan ka pupunta?"

I stopped on my track, sandali akong lumingon sa kanila. "Sa cafeteria, hindi tayo tumuloy kanina 'no!"

"Omg! Sasama ako, sandali lang." Eresh stood up in just a second, akala mo naman maiiwan.

Malaki ang bawat hakbang niya palapit sa akin, tinuloy ko lang ang paglalakad nang nasa tabi ko na siya.

"Are you going later?" She asked me out of nowhere, binabasag ang katahimikan.

"I have to go somewhere," I heaved a sigh, dinadama ko na lang ang hangin na sumasalubong sa bawat hakbang ko.

She chuckled, it's as if she doesn't believe me. "I know, but is it really not because you just want to avoid him?"

"Is that a question?" I asked her, chuckling. "You know that my decisions have nothing to do with him... at least not anymore."

"I believe you," she glanced at me for a second before pushing the cafeteria's door open.

Months ago, the decisions I made were because of him. Palaging siya ang dahilan ng bawat desisyon na pinipili ko dati, but then I realized that my choices won't stop right there. There's more to life than that.

Naabutan kong binabayaran na ni Eresh 'yong kinuha niyang juice kaya inabot ko sa kanya 'yong kinuha kong Chuckie.

We paid for our drinks before heading out, dumiretso na kami sa room to get our stuffs since our last class for today was sir Del Mundo's subject which he wasn't able to attend.

"Didiretso na ba tayo kina Sam?" I heard Elle asking the girls.

Sandaling nag-isip si Melfa bago tumugon, "Sa bahay muna tayo nina Gab, magbibihis lang ako."

Speaking of Gab, kanina ko pa napapansin na tahimik siya. I reached out for my notebook and pen, nilagay ko na 'yon sa bag ko before closing its zipper. Isinakbit ko rin agad 'yon bago lumapit kay Gab, something seems off today.

"Hey," I uttered, trying to get his attention. "How's your day?" I raised a brow, tama ba 'yong tanong ko? Ghad!

"Almost ending," he laughed. "Charot! Okay naman, 'yong sayo ba?"

Sandali ko siyang pinagmasdan, his eyes won't lie and it's telling me something different from what he just said.

"Boring," I chuckled. "Susubukan kong makahabol mamaya sa birthday ni Sam."

"Sige, I'll tell the girls." He smiled at me. "Keep safe sa pupuntahan mo, okay?"

I just nodded at him before bidding a goodbye, isang yakap lang ang binigay niya sa akin bago ako magpaalam sa iba naming kaibigan.

I went home straight after preparing myself for tonight's birthday celebration. Trixie had been calling and sending me messages since earlier this day, binilisan ko na ang pag-aayos sa sarili bago lumabas.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad palabas ng bahay habang inaayos ang pagkakasakbit ng bag ko, napatigil lang ako nang maabutan ko si mommy sa dining room.

"You're heading to?" She raised a brow at me, waiting for an answer.

To escape this house...

I gave her a small smile, "I'll just attend a friend's celebration." Maikling sambit ko. She just gave me a nod just as I've waited as a sign for me to go.

Sumalubong ang malamig na hangin sa akin, the skies began to dim, hudyat na wala nang araw na makikita mula sa likod ng mga ulap dahil ang mga bituin at buwan na ang magsisilbing liwanag dito.

They still signify pain and escape for me, the darkness enfolds my mind as the moon reflects my eyes. I felt a pang on my chest, I held it to stop the pain I'm feeling. Mapait na napangiti na lang ako kasabay ng malalim kong paghugot ng hininga.

When will this be over?

I felt my eyes tearing up which is why I composed myself right away. Maybe one day, I'll find my home.

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