After the Chase

Six

#ATC06 Chapter Six

THE CALL ENDED swiftly. Apollo chuckled before standing. Bumalik ulit siya sa harap ng kanyang closet para kumuha ng damit. After changing, Apollo went to his bed and lie down. He picked up his phone to check for Snow's message, pero wala itong ipinadala. He sighed. He was honestly worried about what could Sunshine be thinking about him kung nalaman nito ang pinag-awayan nila ni Artemis. Sana naman ay hindi nito iyon paniwalaan agad.

Nakatulugan niya ang paghihintay sa mensahe ng dalaga kaya inabot na siya ng umaga bago mabasa ang mga 'yon. The time difference between him and Snow suck.

S_now: Sorry I dropped the call. Nasa class ako kanina.

S_now: I can't update you about Sunshine these coming days ha? She's with Dane. They'll go to Seattle and spend the week there.

Agad na kumunot ang kanyang noo.

ApolloNCrdv: Who's Dane?

Dahil late ang kanyang reply ay hindi agad siya nakatanggap ng message mula kay Snow. Apollo checked on the time and when he saw that it was already seven o'clock in the morning, bumangon na siya at naligo. May training pa siya sa basketball at late na siya ng isang oras. Justice and their coach would surely make him regret his tardiness, that was for sure.

After taking a bath and changing into his jersey uniform, Apollo grabbed his phone and bag before going out of his room. Patakbo siyang bumaba sa grand staircase ng kanilang bahay at tinawid ang distansya nito mula sa main door. But when he just passed by the dining, he heard his mom calling his name. Agad siyang bumwelo para matigil ang momentum ng kanyang mga paa mula sa pagtakbo.

"Breakfast?" his mom asked. Nakasilip ito sa may dining.

"Thanks, Momma. Pero late na ako—"

"It's just seven in the morning, hijo." Kumunot ang noo ng ginang.

"Six ang call time," nakangiwing sagot niya.

His mom rolled her eyes. Natawa siya dahil doon. Napansin niyang halos lahat ng mga babaeng nakapaligid sa kanya ay mahilig umirap. Hindi kaya nasasaktan ang mga mata ng mga 'to?

"Late ka naman na, e. Sulitin mo na kaya?" pandedemonyo ng ina. "Sayang 'tong mga niluto ko."

He smirked teasingly. "Bakit ikaw ang nagluto, Momma? Nasaan si Dada?"

"He's still sleeping."

"Pinagod mo na naman yata kagabi."

His mom's eyes widened. He laughed while watching her glare at him.

"We just went out for a date!" she said defensively.

"Alam ko po. Nakakapagod kaya mag-date sa labas." Hindi pa rin niya mapigilan ang pagtawa. His momma looked so cute while blushing.

"Alam mo ikaw, kung aasarin mo lang ako, lumayas ka na lang." Ngumuso ito nang bahagya. "Si Dada mo na lang ang kakain nitong mga niluto ko."

"Good luck sa tyan niya, then," he teased again.

"Apollo, ha? I'm your mom!"

Apollo laughed before going to his mom to give her a kiss. He bid her good bye and tease her once again before going out of the house. He went inside his car and drove it off to school. Nag-park siya sa kanyang rented space at patakbong tinungo ang nakabukas na gymnasium. Humahangos pa siya pagkarating nang ihagis sa kanya ni Justice ang bola.

"One hundred push ups, Cordova," Justice said in a cold tone, making him pout.

"Minus fifty naman diyan, Captain," tawad niya habang nagkakamot sa batok. "Alam ko naman na late ako, e. Wala naman akong dinahilan."