Epicenter Tape #2: Point in Time

#PIT12

#PIT12

"'Yon, hindi nakapag-perform si Ajax dahil sobrang sakit ng tiyan niya." Tawa ni Tanner habang nagkukwento tungkol sa mga hindi niya makalimutang pangyayari kasama ang mga kaibigan.

I laughed. "Malakas pala kumain 'yon!"

"Hindi ba halata sa laki niya?" aniya. "Hmm, sa bagay, fit si Ajax kahit malakas kumain."

Yeah, I noticed that. Ajax isn't as muscular as Hesperus, Eris and Tanner with guns and worked out body. He's slim but manly like Kees, they have muscles but not really that bulky. Kumbaga, sakto lang ang pangangatawan at sapat sa kanilang height. Kees looks like a K-Pop artist, hindi nga lang siya Korean pero iyon ang naihahalintulad ko tuwing nakikita siya.

"Nag w-work out ba siya?"

"Sometimes kaso tamad kaya paputol-putol," sagot niya.

"He had no sports? Ever?"

Nakakataka lang, hindi sila mahilig sa sports talaga. Kung sport lang pagba-banda, iyon ang kanila.

"Dati, he was playing basketball but he didn't take it religiously—he said." He chuckled.

"And you? Wala? Kahit Sipa lang?" sarkastikong balik ko at pasimpleng sinulyapan iyong dala niyang guitar case pagitan namin.

He shrugged. "I played baseball with my father."

"What happened now? Still playing or?" I asked curiously.

His lips curved a bit. "I don't like it now."

Napakurap-kurap ako. "Can I ask why? Dahil ba sa pagbabanda? Or you hate it now?"

"Hate is a big word but..." he sighed with a little smile. "I just simply forgot how to play it because I hate who taught me."

My forehead creased, nakuha noon ang buong atensyon ko.

"Papa mo?"

He pressed his lips and nodded.

"Yup."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita, ayaw ko namang makitsismis doon. Baka kung ano pang isipin niya pero interesado akong pakinggan kung bakit. Bakit kaya galit siya sa Papa niya? I then think about why I hate my parents, baka ganoon din ang sitwasyon niya?

He didn't speak again. He doesn't wanna talk about it obviously so I won't touch it.

We were spending the time at the court; we played basketball without condition and only for fun earlier, magdidilim na ang kalangitan pero wala pa akong balak umuwi at hindi rin naman siya nagbabalak—mukhang pagod pa mula sa paglalaro namin. My cellphone kept on ringing by Mom's calls that I wasn't answering, I am calmed down about what she intentionally forgot but I still wouldn't attend her party. It's not mine, I'll just act later until tomorrow so she won't suspect. She also texted that I'll be having a rehearsal tomorrow morning with my eighteen roses that made me really cringe.

I stretched my arms up with entwined hands when Tanner's not talking, tumingala ako upang tingnan ang nagdidilim na kalangitan at marahang binagsak ang sarili sa sahig ng court para panoorin na lamang ang mga nagliliparan na ibon sa itaas. A set of doves with different colors, flying to their one route together. I love to see how free they are, I couldn't help but smile at the thought that I'd be of legal age tomorrow. I've always wanting that! Being a minor was too limited in this country and I don't want limitations for anything I want to do.

Tanner yawned and looked at me sideways before he turns to where I'm looking at. Nilipat ko ang mga mata sa kanya at pinagmasdan siyang tinatanaw ang kalangitan.