Paper Memories

Chapter 27-II

Chapter 27-II

"Ah, I missed it---I'm bad at this, Hon."

I glance at the basket ball Percival just threw, just like Ralph my boyfriend doesn't have dexterity or hand eye coordination. I sighed, and smiled as I jokingly pat his head. Papaalis na kasi kami pero pinasa pa sa kanya ni Ellie ang bola, si Ellie na hindi ko makitaan ng ngiti." Naglalaro pa kayo, yan baka si Ralph sumubok pa--- let's go to the rooftop already.

"Grabe ka namam, mas-shoot ko naman yan." Ralph denied with so much dramatic offense, pati siya gusto pataasin ang low mood ni Ellie." Just watch and see!

Ellie sighed dramatically, finally smiling." Sige, master niyo na ako!"

I rolled my eyes, I just don't want to see her upset because of he co-athles. Kaya sinundot ko siya sa tagiliran habang ang kabila kong kamay ay nakaangkla sa braso niya." Volleyball player ka po, gusto mo rin maging jack all of trades sa sports. Kulit nito, aabutin ka ng siyam-siyam turuan 'tong dalawa. Not only they look alike, but also both suck at sports."

"Do we really look like each other that much?" Turo ni Ralph.

"Do we now, Hon?" Percival chuckled, not realizing Ralph was serious.

My first love and painting is now side by side again, finally we get to talk about how the look alike. Magkahawig naman talaga sila, pero mas maamo, formal at pino ang expression ng "painting" at "boyfriend ko. Moreover, he could passed as Ralph's kinder older brother due to his more mature mannerism."You sure do, you could passed of as each other twin siblings...Magkalayo nga lang kayo sa ugali--- at parang dun lang."

"Kahit kulay ng mata niyo pareho rin, height, hair color and even your complexion?" Humakbang si Ellie papalapit sa dalawa, even tiptoeing just to have a good look on their face. Ang lapit niya, kahit kay Ralph. Palagi na silang magkalapit." Sigurado kang middle child ka, Ralph? Baka may long-lost twin brother ka pala?"

"Kahit dalawa na ako,i-b-bully lang ako ng Ate ko."

"Can I be the older brother then? Papasa naman ako diba?"

I don't want to feel jealousy towards my two friends.Inalis ko ang tingin ko kay El at Ralph, saka diretsong tingin kay Percival. Balik sa pagpunto ng physical appearance niya. Gusto ko humanap ng bagay na kapansin-pansin. " Y-you two also both have hazel brown eyes... Pero si Percival... Ang bait niyang tingnan... And...Huh? Why don't your eyes have pupils?"

"Ay oo nga, is this a rare thing?" Komento ni Ellie.

"Weird, it makes you look a like uncanny on a closer look." Dagdag naman ni Ralph.

Percival just scratch his cheeks---shyly laughing.

Ngayon lang ulit kami nagsamang apat ulit dahil hindi ko pinapupunta si Percival simula naging strikto sa campus magmula noong drug issue nung isa. Hanggang ngayon nga may tension pa rin sa campus, isa na dun ang co-athletes ni Ellie kaya nga papapalis na kami. Moreover, Percival would sometimes just go off on his own and disappear, being at my house less. He's just here today to personally ask Ralph to be my date at my parents's business party. My first love finally agreed, but only because me and my fake boyfriend begged him to.

The only thing left to do is trust that Ralph would fullfill his promise.

"Ay! Sorry, nakaharang kasi kayo. Binabato ko yan papunta sa storage." A female volleyball player said as soon as her spike landed near us. She's on the varsity. Junior ng bestfriend ko. Si Ellie ang muntik ng matamaan kung hindi lang siya nakaiwas agad." You're all alright, aren't you? You're all about to leave anyway. Buti naman, kapagod din magtrain under ng nagmamagaling na new team captain...""

Ellie bit her lip, kinuha niya ang bola." That's dangerous..."

Her junior just smiled." Masasaalo mo naman yan, pinalitan mo si Capt."

"Halika na, El. Hindi naman daw sadya sabi ng bida-bida mong junior." Agaw ni Ralph sa bola sa kamay ni Ellie, pinatalbog niya iyon sa sahig bago niya hinagis pabalik sa volleyball player. Ah, their old team captain was one of the students that we're discipline because they have been found with drugs. Si Ellie ang temporary captain nila." You see, Miss, if you're so good and Ellie is not maybe trying leading by example and randomly hitting others."

"It's fine, let's go. Sa rooftop na tayo maglunch."Biglang hila ni Ellie kay Ralph, she started pushing the rest of us one by one. The whole gymnasium where we use to play and have fun become suffocating now." Masisira lang ang mood natin dito."

"You okay?" Percival ask softly.

"Hayaan mo na yan, tsk." Ralph hissed.

"They don't deserve you." I was the last one she's pushing, and I won't budge. Nang makita ko ang luha sa gilid ng mata ni Ellie ay nandilim ang panigin ko at napatitig sa team mate niya. But still in the end. I just give in. Walking away like she wanted, if she doesn't trouble then it's a no. " You're too good for them, they don't have right to be angry at you"

She hiccupped, holding in her emotions."...Ikaw, Shin wala ka bang galit sakin?"