“Totoo ba?” pagtatanong ng isang estudyante sa classmate nito.
“Yep. Narinig ko kay Dad. The case was so famous 5 years ago.” Sagot naman ng classmate nito.
Nakuha ang attention ni Andrew ng mga nag-uusap nyang classmates sa harapan. “5 years ago” ringed on his ear like an alarm. An alarm that he doesn’t want to hear but still rings no matter how he tries to ignore it. He couldn’t help but listen to what they’re gossiping about.
“He killed three people but since he was still a minor back then, dinala sya sa Juvenile center.” Pagdudugtong ng classmate nito.
“OMG nakakatakot.” Tsaka na niyakap nito ang sarili habang nakikinig sa kwento ng classmate nila.
“Bakit pinalaya?” tanong naman ng isa pa nilang classmate.
“Sabi ni Dad, maganda daw ang records. They think the guy was cured. And you wouldn’t believe it, 90% of the inmates daw including the nurses signed for him to be granted freedom.” Pagtutuloy nito sa kwento.
“But isn’t that a bit risky? Paano kung nagpapanggap lang?” tanong naman ng isa pa nilang classmate.
“I don’t know what’s on their mind.” Sagot naman ng classmate nila.
“What’s the name of the guy?” pang-iintriga pa sakanyang muli.
“Uhm wait.” Napatingin naman ito sa kanyang phone. “Sanchez? Allen Sanchez?”
Andrew stood up from his seat and went to the girl who mentioned the name. “What did you say? Sinong nakalabas?” He asked with a sharp stare.
“Uhh.. Uhm- A-Allen? Allen Sanchez?” pagtatakang sagot ng classmate nya sakanya.
Andrew’s ears are buzzing. How could they let him out? He asked on his mind. He started to walk out from his classmates. He couldn’t think straight.
“A-Andrew, san ka pupunta? Malapit na mag 7:30.” Sigaw nila kay Andrew pero hindi sila sinagot nito. Lumabas na lang ito bigla sa classroom.
He ran out of the building and went straight to the nearest vendo machine. He looked for his coin purse but he couldn’t find it as his hands were shaking terribly.
“DAMMIT!” He shouted tsaka na sinuntok ang vendo machine.
“Where the hell is it?!” He knelt on his one knee then rummaged thru his bag but he couldn’t really find it.
“What the fu-“ agad na napahinto si Andrew tsaka na napalingon sa gilid nya.
“Here.” Sam was holding a bottled water in front of him.
“Vice-captain...” Andrew reaches for the bottled water and stood up.
“What’s wrong?” pagtatanong ni Sam.
“I.. N-Nothing vice-captain. I just felt a little dizzy.” Sagot na lang nito.
“Why don’t you visit the clinic? Baka kailangan mo ng pahinga. Sasamahan kita.” He offered.
“No. Hindi na ako naka-attend ng practice kahapon, baka di ako maka-attend pag pumunta ako ng clinic.” Pag tanggi naman ni Andrew.
“Hmmm… But don’t push yourself, alright? Visit the clinic kung di kaya.” Wika naming muli ni Sam.
“I will… Thank you vice-captain. Babayaran kita dito sa tubig.” Wika naman ni Andrew.
“No no, don’t worry about it. I’ll go ahead, may klase pa ako. See you later!” He then walked away.
Nang makalayo na si Sam ay umupo muna si Andrew sa malapit na bench tsaka na may inabot sa loob ng bag nito. A bottle of medication. He took a few tablets then drank it.
“Allen.” Andrew murmured as he gripped the empty bottled water he’s holding.
*****
"ANDREW!" Agad namang napatakbo si Karl sa direksyon ni Andrew ng matumba ito dahil natamaan ito ng bola sa mukha ni Herbert na tumira ng spike patungo sa direksyon nya.
"Ahh" napahawak naman si Andrew sa ulo nya habang nagsilapit naman sakanya ang mga teammates nya.
"Okay lang ba talaga si Andrew? Kanina pa sinasalo ng mukha nya yung bola." Pagtatanong ni Martin.
"Oo nga pati mga set ni Karl di nya natatamaan." puna naman ni Angelo na isa pa nilang teammate.
"Sorry! Napalakas ata yung spike ko." Pag-uumanhin naman ni Herbert.
"Andrew? Ayos ka lang ba?" Pagtawag pa din ni Karl dito.
Dahan-dahan namang dinilat ni Andrew ang mga mata nya and stared at the image of a man with a long and silky blonde hair. "Andrew, ayos ka lang ba?" the man asked.
"Em-"
"Are you alright? Di ba maganda ang pakiramdam mo? Let’s go to the clinic." but now the face of the blonde guy was gone and he was now seeing Karl.
"I..." Napaupo ito tsaka na hinawakan si Karl sa braso. "I’m fine."
"Magpahinga ka muna sa bench Andrew." Pag-uutos ni Dale.
Tumango naman si Andrew tsaka na naglakad ito patungo sa bench. Inabutan naman ito ng kanilang manager ng water bottle. Tinitignan naman ito ni Karl. For some reason, he thought Andrew was staring at him differently.
"Alright, another set!" Sigaw ni Dale tsaka na nagpatuloy muli sila sa practice.
Matapos ang isang set nila ay agad na napatingin si Karl sa bench kung nasaan si Andrew kanina pero wala na ito dito.
Their manager told him na bumalik si Andrew sa club room dahil may kukunin ito. Hinayaan na lamang muna nya ito tsaka na tumulong sa paglilinis ng gym. Maybe he’s not feeling well, he thought. Kanina nya pa napapansin na tahimik ito and he was constantly looking around causing para hindi nya masalo lahat ng set nito.
"Karl!" napatingin naman si Karl sa direksyon ni Sam. Nasa may equipment room ito. Sinenyasan sya nito na lumapit sakanya.
Naglakad naman si Karl patungo kay Sam tsaka na pumasok din ito sa equipment room. "Bakit vice-captain?"
Hinila sya ni Sam sa may bandang loob para hindi sila makita ng iba.
"I’m just wondering kung may problema ba kayo ni Andrew." Bulong ni Sam.
"Wala naman po vice-captain. We’re just fine kanina lang umaga. Bakit? May nasabi ba sayo si Andrew?" pagtatanong ni Karl.
"Hmmm... Wala naman. Maybe I’m just worried." Somewhere in Sam’s mind, there was really something different from Andrew from what he saw earlier. For a minute there he thought he was looking at a different person. "I think hindi sya okay."
"I don’t know, we haven’t much talked simula nung nagstart ang practice. But..." Karl hesitated a bit.
"But?" Sam urged.
Napabuntong-hininga naman si Karl. He’s not really good at expressing himself but Sam was different. For him, Sam was the most reliable person that he could trust aside from Andrew. Andrew is his sunshine who gives off energy but Sam was like a moon to him. He’s not a sunshine but he shines when you’re in the dark. He could have probably like Sam as well kung di lang sya nagkagusto kay Andrew.
"Parang lagi syang may tinatago sakin." Karl confessed. "Minsan iniisip ko kung ano ba ko sakanya."
"Did you try asking him?" pagtatanong ni Sam.
"I’m trying." Sagot ni Karl
"Pero di mo pinipilit?" Sam continued.
Tumango naman si Karl.
Sam analyzes the situation as he looked at Karl. "It bothers you, isn’t?" pagtatanong muli ni Sam.
"Yes." Sagot muli ni Karl.
"You know what. It will never work unless you tell him kung anong nasa isip mo. How will Andrew know na nag-iisip ka ng ganyan kung di ka magsasalita?" wika ni Sam.
Maybe it was his fault for keeping silent all the time, he thought. He always wanted to ask Andrew about him but he couldn’t.
Inakbayan naman sya ni Sam. "There’s no harm in trying and speaking your mind. You just have to be sensitive of others. And if it doesn’t work, you can always talk to me. I’ll always lend my ears. Tenga lang ah, hindi katawan ko." Sam teased.
Namula naman si Karl sa pang-aasar ni Sam.
"Karl!" Napatingin naman silang dalawa sa may labas where Andrew is standing and smiling at them.
"Andrew, okay ka lang ba?" Agad namang lapit ni Karl kay Andrew.
"Hmm!" Nakangiting tango ni Andrew habang nakatingin ito sakanya.
"Nag-alala kami sayo." Wika naman ni Sam na lumapit din sakanila.
"Really?" Andrew asked.
"Oo naman!" Akbay sakanya ni Sam.
"What are you doing here? It looks like you guys are having a meeting." Pagtatanong ni Andrew.
"W-Wala naman. Wala." Wika ni Karl.
"Soooo maiwan ko muna kayo lovebirds." wika ni Sam tsaka na tumango ito kay Karl. Tumango naman si Karl pabalik sakanya. “See you!”