While we’re resting a student council approached us. “Excuse me Echo, you’ll have a basketball game after 1 hour and 30 minutes with Charlie. Please prepare for the game.” He said and left us.
Hindi naman sila makapaniwala at hindi agad sila nakasagot. They just stood there.
Tinapik ni Keith ang mga balikat nila. “There’s Fabian, Claud and Graig. We can just change players if you ever feel tired in the middle of the game.”
They all nodded. Kinuha na namin ang mga sling bags and bottles. We decided na sa court na lang kami magpalipas ng oras.
Binato ng face towel ni Ivo si Ayer na nakaupo. “Hoy, pagod ka na Ayer? Hina mo lods.” Asar niya.
Binato ito pabalik ni Ayer. ”Luh, asa! Nag iisip kasi ako.”
“Nag iisip ka pala Ayer.” Singit sa kanila ni Deborah kaya nag tawanan sila.
Ayer looked at her. ”Hindi ko kasi gets yung sinasabi ni Brice na strategy eh.” He said and clicked his tongue.
Lumapit naman samin si Aldo habang hawak ang bola. “Anong strategy sinasabi mo? Dinescribe lang naman ni Brice play style nila, ah?”
“Huh? Walang Strategy?” Takang tanong sa kanya ni Ayer.
Aldo shook his head. ”Wala.”
Napasabunot naman si Ayer sa buhok niya. “Kaya pala wala akong maisip eh!”
Natawa naman kaming lahat dahil sa kanya. Even Earl na nag pra practice ng shooting sa 3 point line ay narinig kami.
Their game against Charlie will start any minute. Nakapwesto na silang lahat sa gitna ng court. They’re just waiting for the referee’s whistle for the jump ball.
“Tapikin mo Ivo!” We shouted dahil si Ivo ang tatalon.
Tumingin naman siya samin at tumawa. We saw Ayer near him na pinupunas ang kamay sa sapatos. Until now, I don’t know it’s purpose.
Ivo jumped and managed to tap the ball. Aldo ran to get the ball and immediately passed it to Keith.
Keith dribbled it between his legs, trying to shake his opponent. He dribbled past him and passed the ball to Ayer.
Ayer with his layup, the ball went in.
We stood up while clapping our hands. Shouted their names and some teasing.
Their opponent managed to shoot the ball in the three point line.
“Earl, turuan mo nga!” Sigaw namin muli.
Earl stopped in the three point line, bent his knee and jumped.
“A three point shot coming from Rossi!” Sigaw ng commentator.
The game continued at sigaw at asaran lang ang sinisigaw namin. Mas naging heated na rin ang reactions ng mga audience at commentator.
“Zalora, pumasok! Sumides step tinira pasok!” Said by the commentator.
“Nice block galing Ivo!” Again.
“Uy, magandang pasa coming from Keith!” Again.
Tuwang tuwa ang commentator sa mga plays na ginagawa ng Echo. Kahit hindi rin namin kaklase ay napa palakpak dahil sa kanya.
It’s the first time I saw Keith moving a lot. Nag laro niya kanina sa volleyball pero hindi naman tumatakbo iyon. Ngayon, he’s running and scoring points especially threes.
I’m…. We’re confident we’ll win these.
Tuesday na ngayon and I could feel the sore on my legs. I’m just dragging my dead-like body papuntang hall. Iniwan pa nga ako ni Blanca dahil na late ako.
Well, as an athlete of a sport called Sleeping, I already expected this. Walang exercise at activity tapos mag lalaro?
I’m sorry body.
I pushed the door at lamig ang bumalot sakin. Nakabukas ang aircon sa hall kasi dito gaganapin ang games for billiards. Gaya rin kahapon, second game ang Echo laban sa Charlie.
I tried looking for my Echos but I failed. I sent a message to gc but no one saw it. I roam around the hall pero wala pa rin talaga. I went to the bulletin to check kung may game ba talaga kami and I saw that we really have a game.
Napalingon ako muli sa audience when I heard the noise coming from plastic bottles. Sila na yun for sure. Lumapit pa ko and I saw them on the last row of the hall.
“Hoy Aiby! Late ka na, maglalaro na si Brice kalaban Delta.” Sita sakin ni Blanca nang makalapit ako sa kanila.
They all looked at me. “Wehh, purkit sportsfest nag papalate.” Parinig nila sakin.
“Brice, si Aiby late oh. Sumbong mo kay Miss Corpuz!” Sigaw nila kay Brice na naglalagay ng chalk sa cue stick niya.
Tinalikuran lang kami nito kaya natawa kaming lahat. I sat beside Aldo dahil wala na kong ibang pupwestuhan. Brice’s game will start any minute.
“Pwede ba tayo sumigaw sigaw?” Ely asked.
Deborah looked at her. “Oo naman!”
Tinaas ni Claud ang bote niya. “Kanina pa nga tayo nag hahampas ng bote eh, wala naman sumusuway.”
“Oo hindi yan. Cheer lang natin si papa Brice.” Ayer showed us his fist. Tumango tango naman sila kaya tumawa na lang kami.
The game started at kalaban ni Brice ang mag bre-break shot. A solid ball fell into the pocket. Nag try pa uli ito pero hindi na pumasok ang bola.
From the looks of Brice, I can tell that he’s secretly solving inside his head. This study maniac!
Brice bended and we prepared our voices. The ball went in and we shouted.
“Angas naman!” Sigaw ni Ayer at gigil na pinag hahampas ang dalawang bote na hawak niya.
Tumayo naman si Ely at Deborah. “Brice yan eh!”
We all clapped our hands and laughed because Brice gave us a death glare. As if his glare can stop us.
He shot again and the ball went in. 3 balls. 4 balls. Lahat na shoot!
Now, tahimik kaming nakatingin kay Brice for his 5th strike. He pulled his arms while his eyes never looked away.
His 5th ball went in!
The commentators are talking too very fast, shocked by Brice’s shot. The audiences are going crazy. Brice’s opponent is just standing still while his hands are on his head with parted mouth.
Natawa ako nang lumingon ako sa mga alaga ni Brice. Napatayo, nakanganga at hindi makapaniwala.
Speechless.
Isang bola na lang at 8 ball na lang ang titirahin niya.
“Hmp! It’s just a chamba.” Pagtataray ni Twilla. Natawa naman kami dahil kanina pa niya hindi ina-acknowledge ang mga bolang napasok ni Brice.
“Magaling pala tumira si Brice eh.” Aldo whispered at siniko si Keith.
Keith chuckled. “Not when I’m his opponent though.” and shrugged.
“Yabang! Hindi ka naman magaling mag billiards eh.” Singit sa kanila ni Earl.
Rave rolled her eyes. “Oh shut up Earl. Wala kang karapatan sabihin yan kay Keith kung sakin lang natalo ka na.”
Napangiwi naman si Earl sa sinabi ni Rave. “Eto naman, nireveal mo ko. I’m just teasing Keith.”
“Oh, then I’m just teasing you too.” Rave smiled at him habang napatulala naman sa kanya si Earl.
I leaned closer to Earl. “Don’t worry, Earl. If Keith can teach you to shoot. I can teach you to move…...”
“...a woman’s heart.” I added.
Umayos ako ng upo and giggled.
I look back at Brice na tinitira ang last ball niya before the 8th ball. Nakapwesto na siya at sinisipat ang bolang papatamain niya.
His time is clicking pero hindi parin siya tumitira. He gently pulled the cue stick at tinira ito ng mabilis. Tumama ang bola sa kanto at sumakto sa loob ng pocket.
Is it a trick shot?
Napatayo na naman ang boys at pinaghahammpas ang mga bote. My mouth even parted! Everyone is going wild because of Brice, balak ba niyang hindi patirahin ang kalaban niya?
Sakto sa pagtanong ko, his opponent dropped his cue stick. I don’t know if he’s giving up or just dropped the cue stick because he’s in awe.
“W-What an awesome play by Sir Lewis! There’s a hidden gem inside the university!” Sigaw ng commentator.
“Wooo! Daddy namin yan!” Claud shouted.
“Go Brice!!” Sigaw ni Twilla. Wow, nag cheer na siya ha?
“Echo yan oh!” Also Blanca.
Gigil na hinahampas pa rin ni Ayer ang bote. “Galing mo papa Brice!!”
“Magagalit ba si Brice pag chineer natin siya ng Kaya yan! Hampasin niyo! Itodo niyo! Kabogin niyo?” Biglang tanong ni Ely kaya napatingin kami bigla sa kanya.
“Wala naman siya magagawa pag sinigaw natin yan.” Sagot sa kanya ni Deborah.
Tumango tango naman si Claud. “Tama tama, hindi naman niya tayo mapapagalitan dito.”
They all breathed in and shouted.
“Kaya yan! Hampasin niyo! Itodo niyo! Kabogin niyo!”
Bigla naman napatingin samin si Brice. He looked at us straight and fixed his glasses with his middle finger.
“Uhh, sabi ko nga wag na.” Sabi ni Ely habang kinakamot ang ulo niya.
“O-Oo nga.” Claud agreed.
Natawa naman kami dahil sa apat na to.
Nakita namin pu-pwesto si Brice para sa 8th ball but sadly hindi iyon pumasok. Nag diwang naman ang mukha ng kalaban niya.
The shot went in. And in. And in. And the last one didn’t
Parang alam na ng kalaban niya na matatalo siya kaya umupo na siya. He looked at Brice na kumukuha ng pwesto para matira ang bola.
The 8th ball went in.
Pare parehas kaming napatalon at sinisigaw ang pangalan niya. It’s just his first game but we cheered for him as if it’s the finals already.
We all took a rest sa classroom namin dahil may apat kaming laro today. The basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis.
Mapapanood namin whole game ang basketball pero mag sasabay ang women’s volleyball at ang men’s tennis. After naman non, women’s tennis na.
Nag refill kami ng water bottles and charged our fan dahil mahaba ang laro ng basketball. I can already feel the sore throat.
Oh my, not now. Second day pa lang.
I felt cold on my cheeks and saw a water bottle. “Put an extra bottle in your bag.” Inabot sakin ni Keith ang bottle.
Tumabi siya sa gilid ko.
“What is it for?” I asked him habang nilalagay ang bottle sa bag.
“For emergencies.” He yawned.
Their game against Beta will start kaya nasa loob na kami ng court. Nag sisintas sila sa may kanto. Natatawa kaming girls dahil sila naman ang may hawak na bote ngayon.
“Eto?” Ely raised her bottles. “Hawakan ko daw sabi ni Claud dahil bagay daw sakin may basura.” She said and rolled her eyes.
Tumawa naman si Blanca at pinakita rin ang bote niya. “Sabi ni Ayer eto daw gamitin ko para hindi daw masakit sa kamay.”
“Hmm, sweet.” Sagot sa kanya ni Asra.
“Ako, binili ko to.” Tinaas ni Iris ang bote kakatapos lang niya inumin. Natawa naman kami dahil parang ipinapakita niya na walang nag bigay sa kanya.
Rave pouted. “Sana ako rin bumili. Ang sakit na ng kamay ko.” Tinaas ng onti ni Rave ang kamay niya.
Nagulat kami ng bigla ibinababa ni Earl ang kamay niya. “Sorry but I want to hear your voice more kesa sa mga bote.” Singit samin ni Earl.
Tinarayan lamang siya ni Rave at umalis na ang boys. Pumwesto kami uli sa taas ng bench nila. Nakita na namin silang nasa baba at nag strestretch.
Beta ang kalaban nila.