DV Series: decoding the boys (under revision) ??

28 - finals || edited

"Wala naman akong sinasabi, a." I raised my hands as an act of innocence.

"Yes, but your eyes say so. You're very transparent, in case you don't know," sabi niya.

"Hindi kaya. Magaling ako mag-poker face 'no."

"Sure. Magaling kang magtago when you want to. But most of the time, your eyes are very expressive. They tell everything," she was saying. "And it's saying now how much you like your Gutierez more than you'd care to admit."

OH.

My mouth instantly glued shut sa gulat. Oh, my gods! I certainly DID not expect that. Sa sobrang gulat ko sa sinabi niya wala akong ibang nagawa kundi manahimik na lang. Ngumiti si Ahron triumphantly, knowing she won the conversation.

Badtrip. Ngayon lang ako natalo sa asaran naming dalawa.

Fortunately, tumunog na ang buzzer. And the game started right away.

***

Kinikilabutan ako.

Kahit dito sa audience, damang-dama na ang tensyon among the players. Both teams were seriously good, as in legit na magagaling pero may mga nangingibabaw pa rin talaga. I understood now why Justin was called the miracle rookie of Centrex. Mabilis siya at maagap sa bola. I think most points nga nila dahil sa kanya at sa threes ni Racel.

And speaking of him . . .

Ibang-iba siya. I always knew na field niya ang basketball and that he was damn good at it pero ngayong nakatutok ang atensyon ko sa kanya, it felt like I was seeing him in a new light. Parang lalo akong nagkakagusto. Sheeet. His game face was hot. Bawat pagkilos niya, on-point at accurate. Tapos obvious pa na umaasa sa kanya ang teammates niya for direction. He was the coach on the floor. e's probably one of the best point guards in his time. Akala ko magaling na si Kuya Jacob, pero . . .

Shit, I didn't even want to finish that thought. Basta, iba.

I was completely enthralled.

He was just THAT good.

And this game was keeping me on the edge of my seat.

I released the breath I was holding when Ignatio called for a time-out. The players went back to their coaches.

"Grabe. Nakaka-tense yung laro," I told Ahron. "Ganito ba talaga lagi? Ang dikit pa ng score."

Yeah, Deja Vu. Ganito rin kasi ang nangyari sa laban ng Centrex at Intersci.

"Mas maganda 'yan kung may overtime. Mas magiging intense pa."

Napatingin ako sa Ignatio muna bago sa Centrex. Pagod na sila. Kahit umiikot yung other players at nagsa-substitution naman, yung mga ace players kasi, hindi naman tinatanggal nang matagalan. Racel and Justin had been in the game since the start. Yeah, siguro sanay na sila at malakas na ang stamina nila but I couldn't help but feel worried pa rin.

Bago mag-start ang game ulit, tinapik ni Justin si Racel. May binulong at tinuro.

My heart raced. Oh, gods. Was he pointing in this direction?

Teka, ako ba o si Ahron?

"Babe, sinabihan mo ba si Justin na manonood ka?"

Ahron shook her head.

It happened quick. Racel turned to the audience and ran his eyes around, parang may hinahanap. Sinundan niya ang direksyon ng daliri ni Justin. Ang bilis na ng tibok ng puso ko. I would hide but that was childish and ridiculous.

Racel kept on looking until he stopped. Our eyes made contact. Then a wide, pleased smile spread on his face.

Nagtindigan ang mga balahibo ko. He found me! Fudge, nakita niya kami!