The Art of Falling

24: Championship

24: Championship

The arena was packed with people cheering. Students, faculty and supporters. It was the championships, the most anticipated game of the year. CU vs. MIU. I can see the excitement in everyone's faces. There was still a few minutes before the game officially starts but people were already hyped.

The crowd was divided into two colors today. Red for Carlyle and Blue for Morgan. Even me and my friends were all in red. 'Di na ako magtataka kung sumabog kami anytime.

Katatapos lang mag-perform nung mga cheerleaders ng mga university. Nakapwesto kami sa medyo harap. Sadyang pina-reserve ni Caeus yung best seats para sa amin. Buti nga libre kami ng tickets. Sa MOA kasi yung game kaya may bayad. Tapos televised pa kaya nga sabi ko kila mama at papa manuod sa TV.

To show support for Caeus, kumpleto ang Carlyle's Finest. Pati si Kuya Derek na laging may shooting present ngayon. Sa harap namin na row nakaupo sina Ate Faith, Amber at Issa. Sa likod naman namin si Kuya Derek, Kuya Cayden at Xander. Ka-row ko naman si Steph at Carly. Isa sa mga photographers si Hailey para sa newspaper kaya she's covering the game. Kanina nga kinunan niya ng picture yung grupo namin.

Unang tinawag yung players ng Morgan led by their captain Kristoff Guillermo. He had the same smug expression Caeus wears during a game. Dapat ata talaga kapag captain, oozing with confidence. Malakas ang palakpakan at hiyawan ng mga tao. Kalahati ng arena ay supporters nila.

Nagulat ako nang biglang sumigaw ng 'boo' si Carly sa tabi ko. Pumarada sa harap namin yung players ng MIU at kung anu-ano sinisigaw niya. "Boo! Losers! Mga epal! Shit kayo! Fuc-." I cut her off by covering her mouth. Siya lang kasi sumisigaw sa side namin kaya pinagtitinginan siya. Tumatawa lang yung mga kasama namin.

"Bakit galit na galit ka sa kanila?" tanong ko.

"Kuya didn't tell you?" she asked looking calmer now that Kristoff and his team were on the other side of the court. I shook my head.

Biglang sumulpot yung ulo ni Kuya Cayden sa gitna namin. "She used to date that tool. 'Di ba he's your Toffeenut?" sabi niya tapos tumawa ng malakas kahit na sinabunutan siya ni Carly.

"You and Kristoff?"

"Yes. Ugh! Once upon a nightmare." sagot niya na parang sisingsisi na naging boyfriend niya yun. Gusto ko pa sanang makipagkwentuhan kay Carly. Naalala ko kasi yung nakita ko si Kristoff nung Valentine's Day. Tsaka ngayon ko lang siya nakita ganito mag-react. Nakakatuwa. Feeling ko kasi mahal pa niya. Super affected pa kasi siya e.

Nakakabingi yung hiyaw ng mga tao nang tawagin na sila Caeus. Napatayo kami habang pumapalakpak at sinisigaw yung school namin ng paulit ulit. Gaya nung team ng Morgan, tumakbo din sa buong court yung Carlyle players para pumarada habang isa isang sila ipinapakilala. Tumigil sila sa harap namin. Biglang tinalon ni Caeus yung barrier. Sinubukan siyang habulin nung coach sila.

Nanlaki yung mata ko ng tumayo siya sa harap ko. Naririnig ko yung coach niyang sumisigaw. "Celeste! What are you doing? Come back here now!"

Carly giggled and pushed me to stand up. Naramdaman ko nag-init yung mukha. Thousand pairs of eyes were on us. "Gago ka, anong ginagawa mo? Pinagtitinginan na nila tayo."

"For you." sabi niya sabay abot nung varsity jacket niya na pinasa sa kanya ni Kuya Cayden.

"Sira! 'Di naman ako giniginaw. Balik ka na dun. Nakakahiya."

"BG, I'm telling everyone here that I'm yours."

"Balik ka na dun, please. Galit na yung coach niyo."

"I'm not going back until you put this on."

Gago talaga 'to! Gumawa pa ng eksena. "Fine." I snatched the jacket from him and quickly shrugged it on my shoulders. "Okay na?"