Thanks to Nicole De Jesus for the cool cover! :""")

Chapter 48

Saturday 

I walked inside my room. I saw him sitting beside my bed, holding his notes. Exams na namin sa Monday at kahit si bebs nasa kabilang kwarto, kasama si Marcus. Nag-aaral kaming lahat. Studying hard even we don't have to dahil nung fixed 70% incentives namin dahil nung sports fest.

"Hey."

I saw his fast look on me, "Come."

I obeyed him at agad na tumabi niya. Sumandal ako sa dulo ng kama. I sit straight, avoiding to do something bad. I think he's mad at me... Well I've been thinking of that since Thurday night.

And I can't figure it out because he's not giving me signs that he's mad at me. He stayed the same or was I just guilty? Why am I even guilty? Did I effin do something wrong?

This is hard.

"Ito." Hinawakan niya yung notebook sa harap ko.He tilt his body, facing me a bit. "He usually added this to his pre-test and say it alot on his lectures so probably isama niya din sa exams."

"Yeah. Lagi kong naririnig sa kanya yun." I awkwardly replied fast.

"Ito yung mga nahabol ko habang nagle-lecture siya, pero don't rely on this too much. Base sa first two exams niya, gumagawa siya ng bagong meanings with his words."

Understand not Memorize, he always says that.

I nodded as if I really understand everything. I don't know why my hands are even trembling. Ano bang ikinakakaba ko? Ano bang kinakatakot ko? He's just the normal self. Siya yung OC-study pal ko.

Mamaya he'll turn into a very serious Gatorade.

After study, it's either he'll be a snob, cool boy or the playful one.

Those sides of him, unexpectedly gusto kong makita.

"Gatorade, ano kasi,"

"Who are you talking to?" Mas kinabahan ako sa sobrang sungit ng tono ng boses niya.

"So—Sorry." I forgot that I should call him, Lance or L.A. Nawala sa isip ko. It's not easy since I've been calling him Gatorade noon palang. Pero I remember calling him Lance or L.A before nung nalaman ko na yun ang pangalan niya.

He stooped his head down a bit, giving me a glance of his head. Longer black roots. Now that I'm staring, I wonder what his hair looks like before or what he even looks like with black hair. No blue.

"Di ka naman nag-aaral e." Nagulat ako nung maramdaman ko ang daliri niya sa dulo ng ilong ko.

Tumungo ako at tumingin sa notes. He caught me again. Since that encounter with Russ, I'm having a hard time to concentrate whenever he's around. I can't tell why. I think I'm being too paranoid.

With that, nahampas ko ang noo ko. 

Natataranta niyang tanong, "Bakit mo hinahampas ang noo mo?"

Binend ko ang tuhod ko at ipinatong dun ang noo ko. Ye, so stupid I hit my forehead with his notes. Nahawa na ako sa weirdness ng mga tao sa paligid ko. I'm getting so frustrated. Ni hindi ko alam kung anong dapat maramdaman ko.

"Please don't be mad at me." Niyakap ko ang tuhod ko. I don't want to look at him right now. "Sorry. This is really stupid."

"What are you talking about?"

"Kasi di ko alam. Naguguluhan ako. I thought that you're mad pero you're just the usual Gato—I mean Lance. And I'm thinking if I should be really treated that way? Di ba parang may kasalanan ako?" I shook my head. Mas hinigpitan ko ang yakap ko sa legs ko. "Don't mind me. I'm just being stupid, again."

Then I heard chuckling.

"Alexa," Iniwas ko ang sarili ko sa kanya nung naramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang balikat ko. "Alexa, look at me."

"Wag." Para akong nakukuryente pag nararamdaman ko siya. Nahihiya pati ako.. At, hindi ko alam kung kaya kong titigan ang mata niya ngayon.

He sighed, "Gusto mo ba talaga akong magalit sayo?"

Gusto ko nga ba siyang magalit sakin?

"Syempre hindi."

"Stupid ka nga." Natatawa niyang sabi. Nakaka-offend yun ha."Tunghay na."

I shook my head, "No."

"Still the hard-headed brat, Alexa."

"Don't care. At least, it's still me."

"I know." Ginulo niya yung buhok ko. "Alexa.."

I shook my head. I heard him sighed again. I peeked nung hindi na niya ako kinulit. Nakita kong kinukuha niya yung phone niya at parang may binabasa siya. Bumalik agad ako sa pwesto ko nung tumingin siya sakin. Nahuli niya ata ako. Tumawa siya e.

"Hanggang 12 PM tayo mag-aaral. By 1 PM, pupunta dito yung designer mo dala yung gown mo. 2:30 PM, you'll coordinate with your organizer." Why is he suddenly reciting my schedule?  "4 PM, sa Art Stuff for a small talk with Matt. And 5 PM, we're going out. Clear?"

"Bakit mo sinasabi yung schedule ko?" Napatunghay ako sa ginagawa niya.

"Again, hanggang 12 PM lang ang study session. 1 PM, designer for gowns. 2:30 PM, coordinate with organizer. 4 PM, small talk with Matt. 5 PM, we're going out."

"Oo, alam ko naman ang schedule ko for this day!"

"Nakuha mo ba lahat?"

"Yes," tango ko.

"Ulitin mo,"

"Ha?Why?"

"Ulit."

Naguguluhan ako sa sinabi niya pero ginawa ko din. "12 PM lang ang study session. 1 PM, yung designer para sa gowns. 4 PM small talk with Matt.."

"Nakalimutan mo yung 2:30 PM."

"Ah." Napakamot ako sa batok ko. "2:30 PM, coordinate with the organizer. 4 PM, small talk with Matt. 5 PM, go out with you."

"Good." Ngumiti siya sakin. "So, balik sa pag-aaral. We still have an hour to go."

Sinunod ko naman siya kahit di ko alam kung bakit. Pakiramdam ko siya ang controller ko at ako yung robot niya ngayon. I even don't get it kung bakit kelangan niya iparecite yung schedule ko. At bakit niya alam ang schedule ko?

Don't tell me na si Mama ang nagsabi sa kanya ng mga yun!

Tsk. I thought that I'll have a rest for this day…wait.

"Wait. Did you just say that,"

"Akala ko di mo mapapansin." He chuckled.

5 PM, we're going out.

Nakita ko yung sulyap niya sakin at pa-cool niyang ngiti nung nalaman niyang nag-sink in na sa utak ko yung sinabi nya. Paraan mo talaga, Gatorade. Hands down na talaga ako sa lalaking 'to.

*

"Hey Matt." I lazily sat down. Tinawanan pa ako ni Matt.

"Naks. You're not here for a long time pero parang mas haggard ka pa sakin." Pang-aasar niya.

"You don't know what I've been doing.." Wala na akong pakielam kahit anong isipin ni Matt sa akin. Humalumbaba na ako at tamad na nagsalita sa harap niya. Forgeting that he's my boss. "This debut thing is driving me crazy."

"Don't be like that, it's still your birthday."

"I just... Ewan!" Tumawa si Matt. Nagulat ako nung inabot niya yung ulo ko at tinapik yun. "You'll come, okay?"

"You really want me to?"

"Of course!" Inayos ko na yung upo ko, since I'm still his trainee. "What's the use of an excellent student without an excellent teacher, right?"

"Wow. Very full of herself, huh Gab?"

"You're also in the compliment, Matt." Tumawa siya at tumango. Inabot ko sa kanya yung invitation. "But really, I want you to come."

"Oo, I'll go. I won't miss it. Besides it's one of my excellent student's big day." I smiled when he copied the excellent word. "And who's that guy over there?"

Napatingin ako kung saan nakatingin si Matt. Si Lance. Lahat tuloy nung mga napapadaan sa labas napapatigil at napapatingin sa kanya. The "Gatorade effect". Sanay na naman ako. And still, Lance is very oblivious of it.

"Ah. Boyfriend ko." Medyo nagulat ako sa sinabi ko. I just cooly said that he's my boyfriend.

"Naks. My excellent student hook up a good fish."

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes.

I really said it.

Weird.

Sinabi lang sakin ni Matt ang pupuntahan kong department. Siya pa rin ang supervisor ko pero hindi na kami masyadong magkakasama since yun pa rin ang hawak niyang department. Napalipat ako sa Media Department at malalaman ko pa lang kung saan section ko pag pumasok na ulit ako.

Di ako makakapasok dahil ng hell week at yung sa debut for a week.

"And Ms. Kitin wants me to give you this." Si Ms. Kitin? Napatingin ako dun sa hawak ni Matt na libro. "She really likes your work."

"Ito yung book na Hello, Travis."

"Yep. She wants to thank you."

I smiled and accepted the book.

Umalis na din ako dun after nung clarifications. Binigay ko na din sa kanya yung last assignment ko. Nilapitan ko si Lance na kasalukuyan ay palihim na pinagtitinginan ng tao dito. Actually, obvious na obvious na ngang pinagkakaguluhan siya.

Tinapik ko yung magazine na hawak niya at iniharap sa kanya yung libro na hawak ko. He rolled his lollipop first before looking.

"Hey isn't that Kitin's name?" Tumingala siya sakin at tumango ako. "Author yun?"

I shrugged. Maybe? Hindi ko din alam.

I don't know what's between Kitin and Lance but I don't mind. That feeling before, nawala na nga lang bigla e. I feel stupid being so 'in' dahil nung niyakap ni Kitin si Gatorade. Siguro dahil bago lang sakin yung lahat. I haven't met any of Gatorade's friends. Si Marcus at Aly lang.

And the fact that Aly's meet up was coincidence. I haven't formally met any of Gatorade's relatives or friends. At alam ko namang bawal at wala akong karapatan dahil sa sitwasyon namin. Andrei, Lorenzo and Marcus were different story though.

"Let's go?"

"Saan?"

"Beats me." Tumayo siya at kinuha yung isa kong kamay. "Guess?"

"Like there's someone who can read your mind."

He chuckled and shook his head. We're having a date. A date again.

*

*PLING!*

Napatingala ako at pinanuod na lumipad yung bola. Hindi na ako nagulat na dito kami pupunta pero hindi to pumasok sa isip ko. Sports is really his forte kaya expected ko na sa isang sports-related ang pupuntahan namin.

Napapapikit ako sa tuwing matatamaan niya. Walang mintis niyang natamaan lahat ng bola. He's really good, as usual.

"Ikaw naman."

"Hindi ako maalam."

"Nah." Lumapit siya sakin at hinigit ako papunta dun sa base. "Tuturuan kita."

Inilagay niya sa dalawang kamay ko yung bat. Nagulat ako nung bigla niyang tuhudin yung back knee ko. Good thing, nakabalanse agad ako. Inayos niya yung posture ng arms ko at ang tamang paghawak sa bat.

"Aim for the ball." I nodded but I lost my focus nung ibato na ng machine yung baseball. I closed my eyes. At parang nagvibrate yung bat sa kamay ko. "I told you, aim for the ball."

Dahan dahan kong minulat ang mata ko. Hawak nga pa din pala niya yung kamay ko. Nakita kong lumipad yung bola papunta kung nasaan yung mga bolang tinamaan ni Lance kanina. We hit it.. uuhhh. More or less, he hit it.

"Hindi kasi ako maalam."

"Oo.."

What?

Binitawan niya ako at naglakad siya dun sa field kung nasaan yung machine na bumabato ng bola. Kinuha niya yung gloves sa bulsa niya at nilagay yun sa kamay niya. I think, pinatay niya yung machine. Kumuha siya ng isang bola sa basket. 

I gulped when he put his game face on.

What the hell is going on?

"Ah!" Napaupo ako nung bigla niyang binato sakin yung bola. I wasn't prepared for that! "Hey!"

"Galit ako Alexa. Thanks for noticing." He's mad? "Pero hindi sayo. Up!"

Agad akong napatayo at pinagpagan yung pantalon ko. With a minute, napaurong na naman ako dahil sa pagkakabato niya nung bola. Rinig ko yung pagtama ng bola dun sa bakod. Seryoso ang mukha ni Gatorade.

Tinuro niya ulit yung tamang place kung saan ako dapat tumayo. Ginawa ko yung position na tinuro niya. I waited for him to throw the ball. Napapikit ako nung nagposition na siya pero kinakabahan ako. I tried to aim for the ball.

Huminga ako ng malalim at pinanuod kung pano niya ibato yung bola.  Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko nung malapit na yun sa akin.

"Agh." Nabitawan ko yung bat dahil di ko kinaya yung bato ni Gatorade. I hit it but without enough strength.

"Strike 3." I looked at Gatorade. Nagulat ako nung nahuli ko siyang nakatingin sakin. A different look. I can't tell what he's trying to portray. "Will you miss me?"

Will I miss him?

"L.A..." He looked more tired than me. Feeling ko frustrated din siya. Pero bakit? Ilang beses niyang ginawa yung mannerism niya. Anong meron? Napatingin ako kung nasan yung bat. "Hey, Lance.."

Napatingin siya sakin.

"One more." ginawa ko yung position ng pagtira. Mukhang naguluhan siya. I nodded at him.

Pero imbes na magtanong kumuha siya ng bagong bola at pumosition para sa bato. Aim for the ball. I closed my eyes and looked at him again. Just aim for it.

I, once again, watched him throw it.

With I don't know.. I hit it. I really hit it.

Pareho kaming napatingala hanggang sa lumipad palayo yung bola..

"Should I do the running now?" Napatingin sakin si Lance.

Bigla siyang tumakbo papunta dun sa bola. And that's my cue to reach first base. Binilisan ko ang takbo. And to my surprise, nahabol niya agad ako. Ang bilis niya! A few more step I'll be standing on the first base pero I found myself around his arms.

"You're out."

"Madaya! Di mo rin naman nakuha yung bola e! I'm safe! I'm safe!"

I tried to freed myself to his hug pero ayaw niya akong pakawalan.

"If after this.." Napatigil ako sa ginagawa ko nung narinig ko ang pagiging seryoso ng boses niya.. "Please let your guard down.. Hindi mo man napapansin yun pero madaming taong gustong lumapit sayo."

Madaming tao..

"Anong ibig mong sabihin, L.A?" Dahan dahan niya na akong pinakawalan. Ngayon ko lang narealize na simula nung dumating sila ni Marcus sa aming dalawa ni bebs.. I started to have crazy days. Marami akong nakilalang tao. He suddenly patted my head, "You may not know it, but they like you, Alexa."

"Then do you like me?" He tilted his head. Iniwas ko agad ang tingin ko. "Sorry, a stupid question just came out of my mouth-"

"Hanggang ngayon ba di ka pa rin naniniwala na gusto kita?" That's not the answer I was expecting. "I saw that reaction. Bakit ba ayaw mong mabasa ka ng tao?"

"Eh di ikaw na nga ang nakakakita ng fast expressions ko." Naglakad na ako palayo. I feel weird. Napatungo ako nung bigla niya akong akbayan.

"Should I wear that I like you, Alexa shirt para maniwala ka lang?"

Sinubukan kong tanggalin yung akbay niya pero masyado syang malakas. "Ang gulo mo kasi."

"Alam ko." He smiled at ngayon ko lang nakita ang mga ngiting yun. "But it's better this way right?"

Dalawang bagong side ni Gatorade ang natuklasan ko. Ang galit na Gatorade at isang Gatorade na hindi ko maintindihan. A very uneasy Gatorade pero he still looks cool. I don't know pero bumabalik na naman ang assumption ko na galing siyang ibang planeta.

Sa planeta na may mga bluehead.

Binaba na ni Lance ang braso niya sa balikat ko. At napatigil ako sa paglalakad. Dire-diretso lang siya palayo sakin. Napansin niya siguro na hindi na hindi na ako nasunod sa kanya dahil lumingon siya at ngumiti sakin.

Pagkatapos ng contract, maglalakad na din siya palayo. At with that, he will never look back again.

Hindi ko na siya boyfriend.

"Yes, blue head. I'll miss you." Tumigil siya at humarap sakin. "I will."

Ano nga kayang mangyayare pagkatapos? Will I be ever to socialize with others again? Will I have crazy days again? Pano si Laelle? Will I even see Marcus white teeth again? Will I meet the crazy Francis again?

At yung boxers ni Gatorade.

Cause I know for sure, after this... wala na akong magiging connection sa kanila.

The psycho Nikki.

Andrei's mysterious case.

That Lorenzo punched Gatorade scenario.

Aly's unrevealed secrets from Gatorade's past.

His past girl friends.

And the reason why the hell he was called Gatorade.

I smiled knowing that I can't get any answers with eight days. I bitterly smiled. Bakit nga gusto ko din malaman? Stupid. Gab You already know why. Who am I kidding?

Lumapit sakin si Gatorade at hinawakan ang pisngi ko, "I'll miss you too, baby."

Because you already like that blue head, Gab.

"And yes, I like you Alexa."

I can hear bathump bathump sound inside my chest.  Yeah, I like him. Congratulations. I officially got my own romantic bone now.