To Have and To Hold

Chapter 5: Bridge

Nagising ako ng maaga ngayong umaga para sa final training namin para sa darating na Intramurals this week. Medyo kinakabahan pa rin ako, even though nakapasok na ako bilang official player ng team. Akala ko wala akong makakausap dito, pero salamat talaga kay Aly, siya yung naging kausap ko; kahit di ako comfortable minsan dahil sa fact na nagkakagusto yung best friend ko sa kanya.

Sinimulan naming ang training namin warm-up hanggang sa maging intense yung training. Nag mock-game pa kami para alam namin yung possible strategies namin sa game, at paano namin paututumbahin ang kalaban.

Nang natapos na yung training namin, tinawagan agada ko ni Chris. Sabi niya, pupunta siya dito sa saan kami nag t-training ngayon para dalhan niya ako ng facetowel at sports drink. Timing din, dahil nakalimutan kong magdala ng face towel, nilabas ko lang siya sa drawer ko pero di ko naipasok sa duffel bag ko. Nilapitan ako ni Aly and we just chit-chatting about things. Di ko inaasahan na magiging topic namin yung on the way na ngayon,

"Hey, Carrie! What do you think about Chris?" Aly asked curiously.

I was immediately dumbfounded with the question, "Why are you asking my thoughts about him?" I clarified her question.

"Its not what you think, diba mag best friends kayo since you were in Elementary diba, so yung pagmamahal niyo ba umabot hanggang next level, o hanggang mag best friends lang talaga?" she said.

I scoffed with her reply. Yes, I like him; is it considered to be "pagmamahal"? and if it is, then yes umabot siya hanggang next level, hindi lang magkaibigan. The love has always been one sided.

Gusto ko sana siyang sagutin sa ganoong sagot but I refused to say so. I just shook my head in response to her curious question.

"I have a little crush on him. Is it okay for you? Di ka ba mag seselos or something?" she asked for my permission.

I felt a bang on my chest. Medyo masakit. Sabi ko na nga ba, she is interested with him. I mean, who wouldn't? He might be childish sometimes but he's an ultimate gentleman. If nalaman niya to, paniguradong kikiligin yun at magsisisigaw sa tuwa.

I just acted na hindi ako nasasaktan. I just acted by laughing it out, and sinabi ko sa kanya, "I am not his keeper. You can like him whenever you want. Besides, hindi naman siya mahirap mahalin or like magustuhan,"

She was just extremely happy of how I responded. I just wished I said the truth, I regretting saying those things. Supposed to be we will continue talking about him and his interests but a voice called me, and I'm pretty sure it was Chris.

"Pagong!" I looked back, and he was waving at me, raisng a paper bag. Probably it was the sports drink and the face towel he got for me. Pagkarating na pagkarating niya, Aly said she'll go ahead kasi andyan na sundo niya.

Sus, I bet she was just shy to interact with her crush.

I smiled at him and waved back. "Ang tagal mo naman ata unggoy. Saan ka ba galing?" I asked him with my arms crossed.

He chuckled and pinched my cheeks, "pumunta ako sa bahay niyo para kumuha ng face towel. Sabi ni tita, nakalimutan mo raw and di ka sumasagot sa tawag niya, kaya ako nalang nag volunteer para puntahan ka dito. Tsaka, bumili na din ako ng sports drink sa convenience stor for us para ma regenerate yung energy mo. I bet you gave your all sa training,"

I immediately opened my phone and saw my mother's name sa mga list ng missed calls. "Yep, I was out training when she called me kaya di ko nasagot. But thank you for bringing me these, I need it." I smiled. "Thank you din pala sa sports drink. Kilala mo talaga ako no?"

He just patted my head. "Yes, ikaw yung taong ginigive yung 101 percent, kahit minor or major. We just know each other's farts, you know." He chuckled. I just laughed with his response.

"Saan punta mo ngayon?" He asked while getting my things sa bench.

I shrugged. "Magpapalamig and I'll eat breakfast, I guess? Di pa ako kumakain eh, aside the sandwich and the sports drink na hinanda ninyo ni mom," I answered.

Kinuha niya yung braso ko. "Samahan na kita, sa Jollibee na tayo. Closed pa mga malls eh, besides ito yung pinakamalapit," he said.

I felt how my heart skipped because of what he said and what he did. We are always like this, but why would I feel this way now? Is it because he's always here?

Nang dumating na kami sa Jollibee, naglinya na kami para mag order. Nasa kabilang counter si Chris. He told me na iisahin na yung order pero di ako pumayag. I just don't want to split the bill in half. Ang hassle, and if he'll offer to pay the food again, nakakahiya na for my part.

Timing naman, kami na dalawa agad yung next. We just stood by our counters and told each other's orders.

"One piece spicy chickenjoy with Large Coke. With Fries and Sundae na rin," I said. But, parang di rin ako yung nagsalita. We looked each other and laughed. Same order din pala kami.

"Mag jowa po ba kayo, Ma'am?" the woman by the counter asked.

"Hin---"

"Bagay ba, ate?" inakbayan ako ni Chris and he was smiling playfully to the woman by the counter. My cheeks are burning! Pula na pula na ako sa ginawa niya! I didn't expect that! I thought he would deny but why would he do that?

The woman gave us two thumbs up. "Oo naman! Pero mga bata pa kayo, enjoy life muna," she said while giving us what we have ordered. "Enjoy!"

We just smiled and said, "Thank you, Ate!" and we went to a table sa second floor. Ang tahimik kasi doon. You know I am still afraid with people. Kay Chris lang ako comfortable.

"Kamusta naman? Hindi ba nakakapagod training niyo?" He broke the silence and asked habang kumakain kami ng chicken joy.

I sighed, remembering the training we had for the past weeks. "Nakakapagod, syempre. But we need to do it for the team, you know." I answered.

"and.... How's Aly?" he smirked.

I was shocked by his sudden question. I remembered what Alyssa said to me earlier.

"I have a little crush on him. Is it okay with you?"

"Carrie? Pagong? Yohooo?" Chris said, snapping back my senses.

"Sorry, I was thinking about the training. Anong tanong mo ulit?"

"Don't think about the training anymore. Besides, you are giving your all for this game. I know you contributed a lot for this team," he cheered me up.

I sighed, and faintly smiled. "Gusto mo bang maging tulay ako for you and Aly?"

Kahit na masakit, gagawin ko. I should be happy for him.

His eyes widened. Parang di niya inaasahan na lalabas yun mula sa mga bibig ko. "Are you sure about that? I mean, its okay if you don't. Baka maabala ka pa," he said.

I shooked my head and laughed nervously. "No, besides, you are my best friend, sino pa ba ang magkakampihan dito, tayo lang naman dalawa diba?"

He was still in dazed. Di pa niya ata naaabsorb yung offer ko sa kanya. He eventually shifted his face to a happy one.

"Do what makes you happy, Chris. I won't be a hindrance for the both of you." I finally said. I felt a huge bang on my chest. I thought I was punched for a hundred times when I said that. I'm sure I'll regret this one. For sure.

He smiled. "Okay. Thank you, Carrie ha? You are the favorite best friend in the entire universe!" He laughed. Sinubuan niya ako ng fries na may dip ng sundae, our favorite. Kinain ko na din yun and smiled. "Wala ka namang ibang best friend bukod sa akin,"

"sus, kahit na! Best friends make the good times better," he said, waiting for me to answer back.

"and the hard times easier," I faintly smiled. 

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I'm planning to have every chapter short. Around 1,300-1,500 words lang. Yun lang naiisip ko on the spot eh.