Chain of Restrictions

Kabanata 5

Care

Today's Wednesday, we are currently riding the car heading to USC. We are wearing our P.E. uniforms, nakuha namin ito Friday, last week.

I looked at Kuya, who is busy with his phone, playing mobile legends. I can't really say that I move on about what happened that day, I just can't seem to forget how flustered I was.

"Holding what's mine."

After he whispered those words, I went out from his hold and looked at him, shocks written all over my face. I mean, how can he say that?

His face reaction changed as his laughter echoed all over the room.

W-Why the heck is he laughing? What's funny?

He stopped laughing and he looked me in the eyes, I saw a glimpse of emotion on it but he blinked, 'tas biglang nawala.

Why does he keep on hiding his emotions? And the fact that he's really good at it, is scaring me.

"Why? Tutuo naman diba, you're my sister, so you're mine." I then realized what he meant. I felt my heart clench.

Wait, what am I expecting anyway?  

Awkward akong tumawa ng mahina, I misunderstood him. Well, did I really though? Ngumiti ako sa kanya na nauwi sa ngiwi, mabilis akong tumalikod at lumabas sa kwarto niya.

I looked at Hugh again and I wasn't expecting that he was already looking at me, when our eyes met, a smile formed in his lips. I smiled back, shrugging this ridiculous idea that's trying to corrupt my mind.

"Ma'am, Sir, nandito na po tayo." Saad ng driver namin, lumabas naman agad ako, I checked my wrist watch, 6:45 am, maaga kami ngayon. Nagsimula na akong maglakad and I can feel Hugh walking beside me. 

"Today's PE, are you going to play volleyball?" Hugh suddenly asks in between the silence. I looked at him and saw him waiting for my reply.

"Yup! Plano ko rin sumali sa club. I already told Dad about it." He just nodded at my response. While on the hallway, I saw the two girls! Sila yung nasa library, I saw them went inside our room.

I actually saw them at my class the day after Hugh's incident in the Library, which confirmed my thoughts. Sila rin ang unang ngumiti sa akin no'n and I also smiled back. Today, I planned to befriend them!

I hurriedly went inside the room along with Hugh, I saw those two girls sitting just near our chair. Lumapit si Hugh sa akin at kinuha ang bag ko, parang alam niya yata ang gusto kong gawin.

He went to our chair at nilagay ang bag sa upuan ko, he lazily went on his chair and as always take his nap. I then continue my way to the girls.

"Hi!" I excitedly went to them and tried to strike a conversation. They looked at me surprised that I approached them, these girls look so pretty up-close.

"I'm Danaleigh Salvernon, pwede ring Dana or Dan." Pagtuloy ko sa pagpapakilala. The girls have this friendly vibe around them, and they look very close to each other.

"I'm Kreia Esquivel! And this bish over here is Mika Okajima." We started having this conversation, we easily clicked I can say.

Mika has this japanese features, long black silky hair, oval brown eyes, small nose, fair skin, she's very pretty and cute. Napansin kong mahilig siya sa anime hindi dahil japanese siya, but because she finds anime guys hot.

Kreia is half korean, she has these monolid eyes, fair skin, she has this natural brown hair. She's a bit attitude but she knows how to controls it. Bagay na bagay sa kanyang magandang mukha. I also noticed that Kreia is gossipy, while Mika is kind of timid, but even though they have differences, nagkakasundo naman sila.

Our PE teacher brought us to the School Play-Grounds, a field where we can do our physical education class.

"Who knows how to play any sports?" Sir Danico asks, as he holds his whistle that's hanging around his neck.

"Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, mga ganyang laro. Sino dito?" Hugh then looked at me, I know what he meant. Many of us raised our hands which actually surprised me. 1A is the top section, so I thought kaunti lang ang gaanong sporty.

Mika also raises her hands, she then notices me and a grin then is visible on her lips. I hand gestured asking how about Kreia, she hand gestured a no. Well, I thought Kriea is the sporty one cause she's lively.

Guess we can never tell a person's nature.

"Okay put your hands down, so it's going to be like this." Sir Danico continued. I looked at Hugh, marunong kaya ito mag basketball, magaling din mag shoot. So what's stopping him? Lumingon si Hugh sakin ng maramdaman niya ang mahinang pagsundot ko sa kanya, mahina lang kasi baka mauiit 'yong nangyari nung first day.

"What is it?" He whispered in my left ear, which made me push him back. My face heated, tumaas rin ang buhok ko sa batok, habang bumilis naman sa pagpintig ang aking puso.

What the hell is happening to me?

Inangat ko ang aking tingin at nakita ko ang pagtataka niya nang bigla ko siyang tinulak.

Bakit ba siya lapit ng lapit?

Distance brother! Distance!

You're making me feel weird!

"Y-You're not playing?" Awkward kong tanong sa kanya, heart still going on a rampage. I touched the back of my neck and slowly massaged it. Hugh notices it kaya mabilis niya ring hinaplos ang aking leeg!

"Your neck hurts?" He worriedly whispered using his deep voice, dahilan ng pag-init ng batok ko. I pushed his hand gently away from my neck.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Mainit ang batok mo ah, do you have a fever?" He's looking at me intently waiting for my response, which made my cheeks blush.

What is he freaking doing?! Can't he see I'm panicking?

Iniwas ko ang akong tingin. "No! I'm f-fine, Hugh" Tumalikod ako sa kanya at pumunta kay Mika. He obviously notices that somethings wrong, ang obvious ko eh. I looked back at him at nakita ko siyang nakatingin sa akin, his eyes are showing regret.

Regret?

"Okay so, I want to see your skills! Dahil pipili ako ng kung sino ang pwedeng sasali sa mga sports club. Let's start with basketball." Sir Danico said disrupting our eye contact.

"Oh, anong ginagawa mo dito? How about Vaughn?" Mika asks as she notices me already beside her. I laughed awkwardly and looked away. Tiningnan niya ang mukha ko, when she understands that I don't want to talk about it, she just let it go. So the basketball went on, at kasali si Carter sa napili.

Next is Volleyball, Mika and I stand up, and go to the field where the net is placed. I felt someone's stare, tumingin ako sa likod ko at nakita ko si Hugh na nakatitig sa akin, agad din akong tumingin sa harapan.

Stop staring!

"So there are only 6 of you here so it's going to be 3 vs 3. Mika, Dana, and Katalina. Kayo namang tatlo. The scores up to 3, kung sino ang unang makapuntos, sila ang sasali sa club." Sir Danico assigned us on our teams.

"Hi! I'm Katalina Alvares. I have played volleyball since Junior High, looking forward to our teamwork!" I like her vibe. She's friendly and approachable.

"I'm Danaleigh and she's Mika, I'm also looking forward to this game." I smiled at her and she smiled back. We then went to our side of the net. The other side will serve first.

Soon, I heard the loud blow of the whistle. The ball then went to the sky.

"Mine." Mika shouted and received the ball.  She then passes it to Katalina. Alam ang aking gagawin, I ran to her side as she set the ball towards me. With enough force, I  spiked it. One point for us! We happily  smiled and ran to each other. Agad kaming nagyakapan. Parang nanalo lang sa isang championship kung makareak kami.

Ako ngayon ang mag se-serve, I once again felt the strong stare, I already knew who that is, but he can't distract me now.

I did the standing float serve, then the ball went to the air. Unfortunately, they were able to receive it. Magda-dump shot na sana sila but I was able to catch the ball by actually rolling on the ground.

"Shit." Mahina kong mura ng sinubukan kong gumalaw pwesto ko, nakaramdam ako ng pagsakit ng tuhod at balikat.

"Cover!" I shouted and Katalina immediately received the ball and set it on Mika, Mika then made a spike across the net.

That's 2 points! Panalo kami!

Sir Danico immediately went on me, nang napansin niyang di nako gumalaw sa pwesto ko. But before he could reach me, Hugh was already checking on me.

"Are you okay, Leigh?" He lifted me up slowly but I winced ng matamaan niya ang balikat ko. He looked so worried, may pawis rin na tumutulo sa noo niya. Wow, siya pa pinagpapawisan ah. 

"You're not fine. Let's go to the clinic." He then immediately carried me to the clinic without inflicting me more pain. 

"Next time, take care, please." Dinig ko ang pag-alala sa kanyang tono habang karga-karga ako patungo ng clinic.

________________

sshandi