Running After The Dusk

31

Halt

"Olfato."

Kasabay ng pagbigkas ng announcer ang malakas na sigawan sa loob ng court. "We won!!! We won, Kleo!" I stood up, hugging Kleo from the side. Sabay pa kaming tumalon habang iwinawagayway and maroon at black na balloon which symbolises the color of their school.

"Ay! OA, school ko nanalo hindi school mo." Bumitaw siya sa pagkakayakap at marahang pinalo ang braso ko. I giggled before sitting down. "Sorry, na carried away lang." I fixed the strands of hair blocking my forehead, arching my head to check Vino at his spot.

"Aren't you supposed to come down and congratulate him?" Kleo stood up first, patting the portion where dusts fell from her clothes. When she noticed I wasn't standing, she turned around and gave me a questioned look. "Ano, aarte ka pa? Gusto mo siya pa pupunta dito? Ganda mo girl ha!"

"No, it's not like that." I looked at the place where girls are gathering up and taking pictures of Vino together with my friends. Masyado silang marami at parang nakakahiya naman kung makikisiksik kami ni Kleo. "There are a lot of girls there, nakakahiya."

"What?" She turned her face away to the place where I was looking. Dali dali niya akong hinila patayo kaya naman muntik na kong masubsob sa mini barricades sa unahan. "Ay sorry hehe." Kleo helped me stood up well. "Nagjowa ka pa ng basketball player kung hindi mo rin pala susuportahan."

I looked back at her. "Isn't my presence enough? Hello? considered as support na to kasi nanood ako."

"Hello din? Anong saysay ng panonood mo kung walang congratulations? Besides, Miggy and Cyrus are surely waiting for us."

I arched my head to check them on their spot. Hindi ko na sila maaninag masyado dahil natakpan na ng mga babaeng nagkukumpulan. I guess most of them are asking for pictures or kung hindi naman ay chit chats lang with the players.

Don't get me wrong, I've been friends with a bunch of players from Chev kaya everytime we won a game, this is always the drill after. I couldn't blame them naman kasi almost all the varsity from Chev are good looking.

"Ayaw mo talaga bumaba ha? Sige walang sisihan kung maunahan ka ni Leiane." Kleo turned back after picking her shoulder bag, she didn't even bother to look at me for a second to check me out. What a self centered bitch.

She even has the audacity to tell me na mauunahan ako ni Leiane. It's not like I care? Or maybe I do? Ugh, whatever! Pero what if she did nga? Nakakainis naman kasi si Kleo, why do I feel like all her predictions will come true?

At isa pa, bakit napakahina ng konsensya ko pagdating kay Vino? Bahala na nga!

"Kleo!" I shouted, hindi pa siya nakakalayo and I'm sure she heard me pero hindi pa din siya lumingon. "Kleo!" I shouted again, but this time I know it was much louder kasi tumingin sakin ang iilang estudyante.

"Fuck." I have no choice but to pick up my bag and chase her. She was obviously teasing me kasi when I come near her she would walk faster.

"What the hell, Kleo!" I held her arm para makasabay ako sa paglakad niya.

She turned at me. "See? Conscience can kill." Hinila niya ako hanggang sa makarating kami sa lugar kung nasaan ang place ng Olfato.

"Bakit parang mas dumami?" Kleo was tiptoeing.

"I told you, we should just wait there." I even hopped to see them pero kahit anong gawin ko e hindi ko sila makita. I don't have any idea who or what to blame this time. Si Kleo ba dahil pinilit niya ko magpunta rito o yung height ko dahil hindi ko sila makita?