"Do you like me?" I asked him straightly, there's no need for me to be shy. I already opened myself to him.
"Tsk, kakasabi ko lang na huwag akong pangunahan"
"Jack hindi kita pinangungunahan, I am just asking"
"Then I'm not going to answer you"
"But-" I was about to talk when my phone rang and when I saw the caller bigla akong napaigtad at napatayo
"Shoot! May training pa nga pala ako!" nagmadali na akong tumayo at iniwan na siyang di nag papaalam, I'm sure he will understand since I'm very much late for the training. Pagkarating ko ng rink naabutan ko kaagad si coach kasama ni mommy na nag aabang sa akin. Since last week lagi ko na ulit kasama si mommy sa lahat ng trainings ko.
"Care to explain why you are 20 minutes late?" Mom asked.
"May inasikaso lang po saglit" agap ko while fixing my skate shoes.
"I just hope acads related iyan" matalim akong tinignan ni mommy kasabay ng matang mapang usisa nilang dalawa ni coach.
"Of course mom ano pa bang gagawin ko bukod dito?" sabi ko at tumayo na to start practicing.
"Monette improve your posing!" Coached yelled at me and I did.
"Composure hija" dagdag naman ni Mommy. I'm exhausted, I've been practicing this new stunt of mine and until now hindi ko parin makuha kuha. Unti unti ng nawawala ang mood ko, I need to perfect this iilang araw nalang ang natitira sa akin hindi na ako pwedeng pumalya, not now.
Hours of practicing unti unti ng nawawalan ng tao ang rink tanging kami nalang tatlo ang nandito upang mag sanay.
"I think we should call it a day" tumango naman si Mommy bilang pag sang ayon. Nanatili naman akong naka upo sa bench, I planned to stay here for a while I need to practice more, Its not enough.
"Hija hindi ka pa ba sasabay?"
"Mauna na po kayo" Pinangunutan naman nila ako ng noo ng sinabing magpapaiwan ako
"Monette you need to rest, huwag mong pagurin ng husto ang sarili mo"
"Wag po kayong mag alala hindi naman po ako magtatagal" Tinanguan nalamang nila ako at umalis na, tumayo naman na ako at nag simula na ulit sumayaw. Makalipas ng ilang oras ay ganoon parin, I am still not satisfied with my jumps.
Focus Monette! Napapikit ako ng mariin I took a deep breath and started to sway my body feeling the music, still closing my eyes. You can do this Monette just focus, I balanced and started to spin my body before jumping doing the triple lutz I smiled as I perfected the landing. After that I tried to do the back scratch loop as I did the sitting spin after. Excitement ate me as I did all of my stunts neatly and perfectly.
"Yes!" Sigaw ko at nagtatalon na parang bata sa gitna ng rink, I didn't mind shouting since wala naman ng tao maliban sa akin. I was about to practice again when I saw him watching me intently at the bench.
"Jack!" I said surprisingly.
"You do know its already late"I went near him upang makausap ng malapitan while smiling.
"Sinusundo mo na ba ako?" Nakita ko naman ang pag iwas ng kaniyang mga tingin at pamumula ng kaniyang mga tenga na tila nahihiya.
"Napadaan lang ako, nagtaka lang na bukas parin ang ilaw dito hanggang ngayon" Binigyan ko naman siya ng mapang asar na ngiti. Jack Noah Olivares are you starting to like me?
"Sabi mo eh" agap ko at lumayo na sa kaniya upang magsimula na ulit
"Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?" Inilingan ko naman siya
"I still need to practice" Nangunot naman ang kaniyang noo kasabay ng pagsalubong ng kaniyang makakapal na kilay. Inayos niya ang pagkaka ayos ng kaniyang salamin bago ulit magsalita
"May bukas pa naman"
"I don't wanna waste my time Jack if I can do this right now bakit ko pa ipagpapabukas?" I giggled when I saw his reaction obviously opposing to what I just said. Naka isip naman ako ng kalokohan I hope kagatin niya.
"Have you skated before?" tanong ko sa kaniya na inilingan naman niya. Nagmadali naman akong pumunta sa storage room to get a spare skating shoes na ibinigay ko naman sa kaniya ng makalapit ako.
"I don't skate Monette" He said while the lines on his forehead are still visible.
"That's why I'm here"
"Mag practice ka nalang" I rolled my eyes and gave him the pair of shoes
"Jack wag KJ okay? Once in a lifetime lang to" I said, tinitigan lang niya ako bago humugot ng malalim na buntong hininga at sinuot ang sapatos. I smiled widely when he stepped in, he slipped instantly as soon as he stepped inside the rink, in which I laughed loudly. Sinamaan naman niya ako ng tingin kaya napahinto ako sa pagtawa. I went near to help him stand up, I reached out for his hand which he took immediately.
"Welcome to my safe haven my CPA" I said and wink at him ng mapatayo na siya. Suddenly a ghost of a smile appeared on his lips that so rare of him to see. I guided him as we went to the center rink.
"Just balance your body" I said habang hawak hawak ang kaniyang kamay
"Fuck this is so hard" he whispered to himself but enough for me to hear it.
"Kaya yan!" Sabi ko ng may mapang asar na tono na ikinasaa naman niya ng tingin sa akin. I tried to let go of his hand but he instantly grabbed my hand back for the support.
"Don't let go!" he said "I might fall again" he added while looking at me na ikina init naman ng aking mukha. Ramdam ko ang pagkapula nito dahil sa init. Binitawan ko naman siya sanhi nga ng pagkabagsak ulit sa rink. Hindi ko naman napigilan pa ang tumawa ulit, his face are priceless whenever he's falling. Agad ko naman siyang tinulungan ulit na makatayo at makalipas ng ilang minuto ay nakuha na rin niya ang tamang balanse at tuluyan ng naglaro sa loob ng rink. Halos tawa at hagikhik ang maririnig sa loob ng mga oras na ito. This will be one of my blissful moments with him, I hope the time stops. Pinagtitigan ko naman siya ng maigi when he's not looking. Those beautiful brown eyes and thick eyebrows that I love na laging magkasalubong pag nakikita ako will surely be my serene.
Nakahanap naman ako ng tiyempo upang makuha ang aking cellphone, nakita naman niya ang pag layo ko. Nakangiti naman akong lumapit sa kaniya.
"Anong gagawin mo?" Tanong niya ng makitang hawak hawak ang cellphone ko
"Let's take a picture Jack" I said na agad naman niyang inilingan
"Please?" he sigh and went near me.
Nang makalapit siya sa akin agad ko naman siyang inakbayan at tsaka kumuha ng litrato, When I saw his face on the photo I frowned.
"Ulit! Uso ngumiti Olivares!" I said and took a photo again, but this time my face is shocked when I saw him staring at me intently at the photo. Bigla naman akong nakaramdam ng pagkailang, Yes I know ako ang laging bumabanat sa aming dalawa but when its already him even just by staring he can he makes my heart beat faster effortlesly.
"Uwi na tayo!" Pag aaya ko sa kaniya as I gradually moved away but failed. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me near him.
"J-Jack" Nauutal kong sabi sa kaniya, binitawan naman niya ako and put a space between us. He didn't move a bit and just stared at me.
Five seconds, Ten, Twelve. I break the staring contest and initiated to walk away first. Tinalikuran ko naman siya upang pumunta na sa bleachers para kunin ang mga gamit at makapagpalit na. Ngunit di paman ako nakakalapit ay tinawag na niya ako na ikinalingon ko.
"Monette"
"Good luck" he said smiling and turn his back on me as he started walking away from me.
A wide smile crept into my lips. I will Jack, I will.
