Kabanata 22:

Three Points

I wring out the sunscreen on my palms, and spread it out to Devon's wide back. Lumilikha ng alon ang mga kalamnan niya bawat likot at flex ng kanyang balikat.

The basketball players, and the audience were waiting on the bleachers under the summery sun. Devon was eager to get out of the car.

"Stop moving, Dev. Hindi pa naman nagsisimula. Let me finish putting this before you get out."

He was in his red jersey with his birthdate number on the back, his surname over it, and their rare name for their team on the front.

Kinalat ko ang makapal at maputing likido sa balingkinitang parte ngunit maskulado niyang baywang.

"Lower babe." He slightly moaned and chuckled in the midst of my caress to his celiac muscle.

I massaged his abdomen to the ridge of his waist to help him relax before the arduous game.

Mas binagal ko ang pag-hilot at pag-pisil ng matigas niyang pitso pababa sa kanyang pusod.

"That's right, babe. Lower further." mahalay niyang haluyhoy.

Napapapikit siya sa sarap. Tuluyang ng nag-iba ang timbre ng boses niya.

Nakakakilabot ang marinig iyon sa hindi angkop na lugar.

Dinaklut niya ang kamay ko at mas diniin ang pwersa sa kanyang mga kalamnan.

I was straddling his back like a desperate and clinging mammal. My legs were both parted on his sides.

Mabuti at tinted ang kotse. Baka may makakakita sa amin.

Tinampal ko ang maumbok niyang braso. "You also need mouthwash, Dev. Your mouth is getting smelly."

His deep and sincere laughter rang inside his wrangler. He flipped his body, and he pinned me under him. He rested his head on my collarbone.

He closed his eyes for a moment of bristling silence. Whenever he was silent, I find it unusual, and mind-blogging.

He clutched my hand. "Sana ganito tayo palagi. I wish you'll always with me to apply lotion to my skin. Simple things of taking care of me is just beyond the remedy of alcohol."

"Then, we'll make this every day. I'm going to put sunscreen to you every day to prevent your skin from sunburned and red marks. I'm going to remind you to control your drinking habit until your ears bled. I'm going to remind you to put your T-shirt on to avoid getting pneumonia. How about that?" I threaded my fingers with his with one challenging arc of my brow.

"Pero kaming mga matitinong lalaki naghihintay din ng assurance. Balang araw hihingi din kami ng pang-matagalang kasiguruhan. I'm hoping someday..."

Kinalas ko ang aking kamay sa kanya at maayos na umupo sa kabilang seat. Binalik ko ang bote ng lotion sa aking handy bag. Pinahid ko ang natitirang lotion sa aking mga palad, sa aking mga binti, at braso para ilihis ang pag-uusap namin.

"Ay, shit! Ako din ate! Lagyan mo din ako ng lotion sa likuran ko." Michaelangelo chipped in from Devon's seat window.

Pawisang Michaelangelo ang nakadungaw sa bintana. Iyan ang iniiwasan kong mangyari kay Devon. I didn't want him to get sweaty, and drained his energy when the game hasn't started yet.

"Labas na diyan, boss. Magwa-warm up na tayo. Excited is me."

Napangiwi si Devon. "Kaya palaging nakikipag-break mga jowa mo dahil baluktot kang mag-english. Fix your grammar first for a lasting relationship,"

Mikey ignored him, and he tilted his head at me instead. "Ate, ang init-init dito sa labas, pwedeng palagay ng lotion sa likod ko?"

"Come here, let me help you."

Devon grabbed the bottle of lotion from my handy bag. He squeezed the remaining liquid, and applied it all over his upper body.

"Bumalik ka na doon. Ubos na ang lotion." maldito niyang pang-tataboy.

"Boss naman eh." he whined, shaking his shoulders like a child having a tantrum. "Ang sama ni boss ate oh!" Tinutok niya pa ang hintuturo kay Devon. "Gusto ata niya akong masunog sa init ng araw."

***

Everyone was festive like how the sheared triangle lanterns of blue, red, yellow, and orange swaying around the court.

They were a group of women, overjoyed gays in their skimpy shorts, and jersey crop tops holding out their banners for their team, and some were still finding their seats.

Our team cheerers were on the right side of the court with the gigantic drum I had ever seen. It was maneuvered by two boys, and the rest were wearing red bandanas, skirts, and holding pom-poms.

Nagsimula ang laro at nakapuntos kaagad ang aming team.

"Go, papa loves!"

They were referring to Devon.

Devon's team was excellent at the five basic skills. They were fast especially Mikey and Raf. Devon trained them very well.

Mikey was good at stealing the ball. Leonardo and Donatello were excellent with their tactics in defensing. Rafael in passing and rebounding, and Devon for the layup.

The game had no age limit as long as the player was capable and know how to play basketball.

"Akin lang si number 8!"

"Walang aagaw kay number 10!"

Nagtutulakan na sila.

"Lamia ba sa mga players sa red team, mamalhin ta beh! (Ang sarap naman ng players ng red-team, lumipat kaya tayo!)"

Napakanta ang ilang cheerers namin kasama na ang kabila nang alegrong inangat ni Devon ang kanyang jersey upang punasan ang pawisan niyang mukha.

Kalahati ng tiyan niya ay tumambad sa mga scanner nilang mata.

Devon didn't give them any form of recognition. He was focused on the game. His eyes, ears, and mind were keen on the opponent's moves. He was reading their next course of action. Maybe that was the reason why he's the eye-catching player to the audience.

"Otsodog papa!" may tumalontalon na parang kanggaro.

We could blast the whole court by the loudness of the drum, the shouts, claps, and tramps on the ground.

Devon dunked the ball to the hoop. Bunch of gays, girls, and some random boys launched up from their seats for his outstanding dunk.

"Makalaglag brief si number 8!" sigaw ng apat na bakla.

The blue team was decisively discouraged by their own cheerers. Nasa red team ang buong atensyon nila lalong lalo na kay Devon.

A gay with ash grey hair blew a flying kiss to Rafael.

Blue team was obviously cheering for our team. They were supposed to support their own team. Because of Devon and Rafael's charms they wanted to join our squad with unrehearsed cheering chant.

"Ang gwapo niya talaga."

I darted my eyes to the teenagers beside me. Siguro isa sa kanila ay girlfriend ng ninja turtles.

They were given five minutes break before the final quarter. He immediately ran to the bleacher I was sitting on with the three girls.

"Are you alright here? Hindi ka ba nabagot?"

Babad na babad siya sa pawis. His shirt was drenched. Sila Rafael, Leo, Donatello, at Michaelangelo ay kaagad kinuha ang isa-isa nilang towel at bote ng energy drink.

Inabot ko kay Devon ang plastic bottle ng energy drink at binalot sa leeg niya ang tuwalya. "Bakit ako mababagot? This is insanely fun."

I patted the cloth to this forehead, and inserted another spare of towel to his back and front.

"Buono... It will give me more energy if you cheer for me..."

Ramdam ko ang mabigat niyang paghinga sa aking palad.

"Dev, nakakahiya." bulong ko. "I'm cheering for you silently."

I sprung up and cupped his face. I wiped his sweats, and dried up his hair.

"They're shouting for me, babe. Hindi naman bawal iyon. Making noise isn't embarrassing in this event. Basketball makes the game more fun with loud cheer. Look at them, they wanted to kidnap me out of the court."

He dropped his eyes.

I lifted his jaw, making his eyes gazed at me. "I'm cheering for our team. For you..."

Magulo ang buhok niya. Namumula ang kanyang tenga at leeg. Bahagyang nakanguso at nagsumamo ang kanyang mukha.

"Shout it out for me, babe."

He gathered his team, and planned for the final round.

Nanatili ako sa gilid niya palihim na nag-iisip kung anong isisigaw ko mamaya. Inayos ko ang pagkakahapit ng aking cap.

"Sa akin yung pinakatangkad." Mikey adjusted his shirt.

"Isa-isa kaming dedepensa sa apat." seryosong pahayag ni Rafael.

I thought Donatello and Leo weren't interested in any sports.

Siguro sadyang naging hilig nila ang basketball dahil sa impluwensiya ni Devon.

"Ako na sa three points shot. I know we will win." Devon resolved.

The game resumed. Oras na para ilabas ang maingay kong suporta.

"Cheer up, babe! You better win the game, or else you will not sleep by my side tonight!" I yelled that my throat almost croak.

A smirk crept on his face.

Lahat ng cheerers ng blue team ay napatigil at nagkakarandapang tumakbo sa aming grupo. Ngayon wala ng natirang taga-suporta ang blue team.

Devon positioned in the arc.

"Go! Red Team!"

Marilag siyang nakangiti sa ingay ko. He squared his body. He placed his hand to the bottom of the ball with his fingers spread out.

Sampung segundo nalang ang natitirang oras.

"Shot it, babe! One shoot for two kisses! Three points for one thousand kisses! Choice wisely!" I dragged out my loudest voice.

Devon shot the ball to the hoop. The audience leapt from their seats, shouting the victory of red team. He hastened toward me and elevate me like a trophy, instead of jumping out the triumph with his teammates.

Kinunan kami ng litrato. Supladong hawak ni Rafael ang tropeo. Sumali ang cheerers ng blue team. Marami ang humingi ng picture kasama si Devon at pinayagan ko naman.

Ayaw niya sa una pero napapayag ko kalaunan.

Si Rafael ay tumakbo papalayo nang hinabol ng mga bakla. Hindi niya gustong magpapicture sa kanila.

Sina Donatello at Leo ay kumukuha ng mga litrato kasama ang tatlong babaeng kasama ko kanina.

Pagkatapos ng picture taking ninakaw naman ni Mikey ang ash gray wig ng bakla nagbigay ng flying kiss kay Rafael. Isinuot niya ito. We laughed as he roamed around the court, striking an ironic pose with the sun sparkling his tawny skin.

It was an unforgettable day.

Periedot Spiels