All Up In My Head [Completed]

7 Safe Cry

Safely Cry

“Arki lang malakas!”

Halos mabingi si Lila sa mga sigawan.

"Engineering na 'yan. Uwi na kayo! Palong-palo ang abs, walo!"

Napaismid siya. Why are these people so vicious?

“Ewan! Sisirin mo ‘ko!”

Nagpantig ang tainga niya sa naririnig.

“Languyin mo ang kailaliman ng aking pagkababae!”

Everyone inside the indoor pool is chaotic. Halos nasa tuktok na nga sila ng bleachers. Parang kailan lang ay pumasok siya dito na madilim ang palagid at mukhang tanga na sumulong sa tubig. During the contest, the whole place looks different. Maaliwalas, malawak at maingay.

“Ang wild naman pala sa swimming tournament, friend.” Shane chortled beside her. May dala itong asul na balloon.

“Ang ingay kamo,” nakabusangot niyang sagot.

There was a little program before everything started. The players got out and the crowd went frantically loud. Napangiwi lang si Lila sa mga nangyayari. She gets it, guys with their twinkling abs.

They lined up according to their designated pool lane. On the third column, she spotted him. Tinanggal nito ang suot na earpods. He looked serious, almost stoic, she can’t even recognized him. Ibinaba na nito ang googles. He propped himself on the platform. Then, the whistle was blown.

“Oh my gosh!”

“Stroke harder!”

Hindi na alintana ni Lila ang ingay sa paligid. She focused only at him, silently cheering. He’s surprisingly swift. It didn’t take too long until he reached the deck. He swam for another lap. Lila didn’t realize that she was already standing, clasping her hand, holding her breath. Bilisan mo, she thought. After a few moments, a celebratory cheers was heard.

He won.

“Tara, puntahan natin sila.”

Bumaba sila sa bleachers. Nakita nila si Patrick.

“Pat!” tawag ni Shane. Ang lakas talaga ng boses nito.

Patrick waved at them. “Nandito rin pala kayo? Nagtext ka sana para nagtabi na lang tayo.”

“Ikaw naman...” Shane giggled.

“Hi...” It’s him, his torso clad in nakedness.

May nakabalabal naman na towel sa balikat nito. But she smiled, making sure not to look down.

“Congrats.”

He grinned at her. “Pre-games lang ‘yon. May UCAF pa.”

“Guys, picture!”

They took group pictures. Shane asked other people to take it for them. Nasapo na lang ni Lila ang mukha. Even other players joined.

“Kayong dalawa naman," ani Shane sa kanilang dalawa.

Hinayaan na lang ni Lila para matapos na. She stood there, her arms on her side, her face awkwardly making a smile. Ewan is beside her, standing still.

“Closer! My gosh! Para kayong mga tuod," reklamo ni Shane.

“Is it okay?” he asked if it was okay to put his arms around her shoulder. She only nodded. Lila held her breath like an idiot when she felt his arms. It was just a few seconds. Ngunit nakuryente agad siya sa hawak nito.

“Oh kami naman ni Pat.”

Buti na lang naging busy si Shane sa ibang bagay or rather Patrick. Hindi na yata makakasingit si Lila. Both are unrivaled flirts.