Half a Heart ☑️

Chapter 16

(A week Later)

"Another point for number 1, Othello Seavey! That's the match point for their team!" ang boses ng commentator mula sa mikropono. I was sitting on the tent of our team just right before the first court and was cheering for them. Ello insisted on their Coach na dito raw ako dapat uupo kaya ayun, wala akong nagawa. Naiwan naman akong mag-isa rito.

Marami-rami rin ang taong nanunuod dito sa court namin kung ikukumpara sa kabilang court. Maybe it's because of Manvel and Ello-they are literally the heartthrobs of this league since people, bystanders, and students, even from other universities were there to hype up the game.

This is a league to be played through elimination games and there are only four participating teams-one from Seavey University, the other from the Neighboring District: the Place where I came from, and 2 visiting teams from other provinces. Elimination games are played between two schools at kapag natalo ka na sa first game ay talo ka na sa buong league. Which also means na kapag nanalo ka ay maghihintay ka nalang ng mananalo sa kabilang game at kayong dalawa na ang sa finals maghaharap. It's just a one-day league kaya pinabilis nalang nila ang system.

We were playing against a visiting team-St. Isidro University. The game is fine since sobrang galing naman palang maglaro nina Manvel at Ello. Para silang ibang tao sa loob at maganda ang kanilang chemistry as teammates. Mas matangkad din kung tutuusin ang dalawang 'to kesa sa kinakalaban nila.

A whistle was blown. "Time out for St. Isidro Blue Hawks. Seavey Maroon Knights, however, is a point away from bringing their team back to the Finals of This Year's Men's Beach Volleyball Invitational after three consecutive years of placing Third. Stand by and let's hear it from them!"

Talaga? Ngayon pa talaga sila tatawag ng time-out ha?

Agad namang naglakad sina Manvel at Ello papunta sa tent nila at sinundan naman sila ng coach. Once they reached the enclosed walk-in tent, I immediately get two face towels and handed it on them. Ako na ang nagboluntaryong gawin to para kahit papaano ay may magawa naman ako para sa kanila. They both took it and the coach personally talked to Manvel. He was giving some instructions, while Ello was left with me.

I smiled at him and snatched the towel in his hands and instead, did the wiping for him. "That was a great down the line hit. I am not gonna lie about that."

"I know. And I deserve a reward for that," ang sabi niya at nag-pout pa sa akin. Bahagya naman akong napaatras dahil sa kanyang ginawa. Timingnan ko rin ang dalawa pang tao dito sa loob ng tent at nag-uusap pa rin sila. Nevertheless, I'm not gonna give even just a peck for him.

"Mahiya ka naman kahit minsan, Ello," ang pabulong kong sinabi sa kanya.

He looked at me like I said the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "Alam mo namang hindi kita ikakahiya, diba?"

Sa ilang segundo lang ay naging worry ako sa aking nasabi. "I know. I didn't mean to say that. But, at least not here. May ibang tao pa, oh!"

"So ako ang kinakahiya mo?" it was obvious that he was just playing at me. Pero syempre hindi ko rin naman siya ikakahiya. We are not in an actual relationship, yet. Pero I just wanted to reciprocate what he's been treating me.

"Naku, naku. Nahiya pa kayo eh tayo-tayo lang naman ditong tatlo. Lumayas na si Coach to remind the line's men of their work kase may mga questionable calls kanina," ang sabi naman ni Manvel. It's been a week since Ello told him about our mutual feelings and Manvel really respected that. He's so supportive that, I think, Ello and him are now bavk being friends.

Kaya wala na akong pinalampas pa at binigay ko na ang hinihingi ni Ello. Pero sa pisngi lang. He looked disappointed, but regained it and smirked at me. Wtf?