Against All Boundaries

Chapter Eight

"Uh, I just want to warn you." Maya-maya ay sabi sa'kin ni Ezrhael.

"Warn me about what?"

"I have a lot of really crazy bastards of friends. Baka lang hindi ka nila tantanan." He glanced at me while we were walking in same pace towards the court. He eyed me carefully studying my reaction.

Parang nakaramdam tuloy ako ng kaunting pag-aagam-agam dahil sa sinabi niya.

Naalala ko nga naman ang maiingay niyang mga kaibigang lalaki.

I'm sure sila-sila rin ang magkakasama sa basketball team and that means they were already in the court by now!

"Uh, hindi ko naman kailangang mag-pakita sa kanila." I said it still even if I know that would be impossible.

"They'll see you though, is it okay with you?" Maingat pa rin ang pagkakatanong niya sa akin habang bumibili siya ng energy drink at isang bottled mineral water and crackers.

"I'll be fine. It's my descision afterall. Don't worry."

"I don't want you uncomfortable."

"I won't be. But I guess . . . That's kind'a inevitable." Kinagat ko ang labi ko.

He licked his lips before responding. "We can evade that." He said meaningfully. Voice laced with obvious concern.

"I wanna see you play."

That made it final.

He seems to like the idea of me, wanting to see him play ball.

Napanguso siya at nagtago ng ngiti.

Tahimik naman kaming pumasok sa court. I almost thought actually that we won't be noticed but somebody spotted us anyway right even before I get to choose a good seat.

"Oh, ayan na pala si Octavio eh!" Malakas na puna ng isa pang matangkad na lalaki. Maputi ito at may itsura rin. Katulad ni Ezrhael ay maganda ang pangangatawan.

"Aba, nagdala pa ng babae! Matinik kang tunay, Pierre!"

"Shut up." Ezrhael seemed annoyed pero hindi naman siya totally galit.

He then shifted his gaze to me.

"Will you be alright? I can not guarantee you that they'll stop teasing eventually. Baka mas lumala lamang mamaya." Magkasalubong ang mga kilay niya habang tinititigan ako.

Ngumuso ako at pabiro siyang inirapan.

"I thought we're already done talking about this?" Pagpapaalala ko dahil mukhang nakalimutan niya na naman.

"I just wanna make sure you won't be uncomfortable." Inayos niya ang mga gamit ko pati na rin ang snack na binili niya kanina.

"I'll be uncomfortable, but there's no really stopping that, so don't bother." Pabiro kong dinaplisan ng aking hintuturo ang kaniyang ilong na may perpektong tangos.

Nagsalubong lamang lalo ang kaniyang mga kilay. 

Hindi yata tumatalab ngayon ang mga arte ko sa buhay.

Hmm.

"Where are your things? Ilapag mo rito para sigurado akong dito rin ang balik mo." Pagbibiro ko pa.

Saka lamang yata siya tinablan. Bahagya siyang napanguso at kinuha na nga ang isang itim na backpack sa may hindi kalayuang puwesto.

"Wala naman akong ibang pupuntahan . . ." He trailed off as he was handing me his bag. "Ikaw lang."

Pinigilan ko ang ngiti ko kahit masakit sa panga.

"Tss." Kunwari ay matalim ang aking tingin sa kanya. "Where's your towel?"