Take Me Home (City Series #4)

Chapter Nine

L

Huminga ako nang malalim habang tinitignan ang iba't ibang volleyball teams galing sa ibang schools. Today's the schedule for the first bracket of schools.

One of the schools we're up against is a private school here in Baguio. Ang magkalaban ngayon ay ang City High at Laboratory High School ng SLU. I'm standing by the back of the court, raising the red flag kung labas ba yung bola o hindi.

"Phases versus Small World? Sino kalaban ng AdSI?" tanong ni Abby, isang teammate namin.

"Patriotic ata?" I answered.

Magsisimula na ang pangalawang set ng City High atska LHS. Panalo ang LHS sa unang set kaya kailangan manalo ng City High kung gusto pa nilang magkaroon ng pangatlong set.

I suddenly caught a glimpse of Z, along with Miggy and Ethan. Naka-volleyball attire rin sila, siguro tapos na yung laro nila. Ang alam ko, sila ang naunang naglaro, eh. Kalaban ata nila ang Berkeley.

Z sat down by the bleachers, watching the game intently while Ethan and Miggy were laughing beside him.

Ever since my birthday, I haven't asked Z about his crush anymore. Mukhang ayaw niya rin naman talaga sabihin, which honestly frustrates me even more. Does he not trust me enough? Is that it?

Nagpa-time out ang coach ng City High, at kumaway si Denise, ang isa pa naming teammate, sa akin. Tumango ako at binigay sa kaniya ang maliit na flag.

I ran towards the bleachers and sat right in front of Z, in between his legs. I handed him my hair tie, which he took. Sinuot niya 'yon sa kamay niya habang makatingin pa rin sa court.

"Cloie Maraño scores again," sabi ni Ethan.

"Grabe, buhat na buhat niya ang team ng LHS, ah? Panalo sila nung first set, eh," sabi naman ni Miguel. "Oh tignan mo, tahimik pa rin si tanga. Nakatingin lang sa crush niya."

"Shut up." Tumawa si Z.

"Cloie's really good looking, though," sabi ni Ethan. "Hindi ba nagkausap na kayo noon sa messenger, Z? Are you guys still speaking?"

Lumingon ako sa kanilang tatlo, at si Z naman ay napatingin rin sa akin.

I don't know why I'm not comfortable with this conversation. Ako nga yung nagpupumilit na malaman kung sino ang crush ni Z, eh.

So.. it's her? It's Cloie Maraño?

"She messages me occasionally," sagot ni Z kay Ethan. "We're both busy."

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Cloie Maraño. She's not that tall, but she's really slim. Morena siya, and her facial features are strong. She's really, really pretty. Malakas rin ang boses niya sa court. Captain ata siya ng team, kaya sobrang buhat na buhat niya ang team nila dahil halos lahat ng palo nakukuha niya. Ang gaganda pa ng mga pass niya sa setter pag yung City High and nag-serve.

"Kung ako sa'yo, ligawan mo na," sabi naman ni Miguel. "Ka-batch naman natin 'yan, diba?"

"Yeah, she is," Ethan answered for Z. "When Z and I spoke to her at last year's Super Cup, good vibes lang siya solid. She's really funny. Z was even blushing, crush na crush kasi niya."