Just Friends — Audrey Mika

Kabanata 15

A clear indication that you like someone is when they become unearthly attractive in your eyes. All of the sudden, they become out of this world. Biglang ang hirap na nilang abutin, parang hindi siya galing sa mundo mo at natatangi siya kumpara sa iba.

I looked at Iscalade, who was wearing his STEM shirt while turning a ball of baskeball around using his finger. He was laughing with his blockmates. May mga babaing kumakausap sa kanya habang nasa pila sila. He really was popular, wala pa nga siyang ginagawa pero nilalapitan na siya.

I narrowed my eyes. Mukha pa naman siyang tao sa mata ko. Hindi pa naman umaabot sa gano'ng klaseng paghanga ang nararamdaman ko.

But I noticed small details, that's another indication that you might like someone. You are too focus on them that you notice the tiniest thing about them.

I wonder where it begun, me noticing all the small details about him. Like how his eyelashes are longer making his eyes more expressive. Kapag ngumiti-ngiti siya, ang hirap na hindi ngumiti pabalik sa kanya. Kahit 'yata hindi mo siya kilala, you will be fond of him because of how his smile can literally lighten anyone's day.

"Mas naging gwapo po ba si Iscalade?" I asked Paulene whilst walking around the gym, we have time to bond with each other since it's our intramurals.

"Ewan ko? Gwapo naman talaga siya simula pa no'ng una," sagot ni Pau. "I told you, add to cart! Wala namang nagbago kay Iscalade."

"Pero gumagwapo po siya sa paningin ko." I said, bluntly. Bigla namang natigilan si Pau at tumawa. I frowned at her.

"Crush mo ba, Philo? Madalas kasi kapag magkasama nang matagal, nakakasawa na 'yung mukha. Pero kung ganyan ang nararamdaman mo, baka crush mo siya?"

"But we're friends..." and friends don't like each other that way. Crossing the platonic line can be chaotic. At parang hindi ako handang humakbang patungo sa kabilang linya.

I would rather embrace a comfortable life even if it's mundane than risk everything for an uncertain happiness.

Let's be real, who's willing to lose someone so dear to them that they named them the best among all the friends they have? There's a reason why he's my best friend and I don't wanna lose that title just for a fleeting feeling of romance.

✿✿✿

I saw Zafirah staring at me, pissed and as angry as a volcano. Kinabahan naman ako dahil hindi ko alam bakit gano'n ang tingin niya. Although, she always look intimidating so maybe I was putting thoughts into her actions.

"Tapos ka na mag-refill? Gusto ko kasi uminom," she asked as she approached me.

I nodded abruptly. "Sige lang po."

I'm taller than her but she looked more mature than me. It's on her aura, she emits confidence but she look easily annoyed. It makes her prettier, confident girls had that in them. Mas gumaganda sila kapag alam nilang maganda sila.

"I'm also sorry for staring." She cleared her throat, looking flushed.

"Wala 'yon! It's nothing, really. Nagandahan lang po ako sa'yo kaya ano po..." I was flustered. Nagulat dahil hindi inaasahan ang paghingi niya ng patawad.

Hindi naman ako nasaktan o ano. Nagkataon lang siguro na nakita niya ako habang naiinis siya. I shouldn't really think of it that much.

She complimented me back but I was never good at receiving compliments so I left. I just didn't want to prolong the conversation. Hindi ko rin alam bakit hindi ko kayang makipagusap nang matagal sa hindi ko pa masyadong kilala.

"Philo!" Iscalade jogged his way to me, he looked terrific in his jersey. "Manonood ka ng mga laro 'di ba?"

"Attendance po 'yata ang manood..."

"So you'll watch? You'll support me?" his eyes twinkled. Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin. His eyes were tantalizing now. It wasn't even that beautiful before from what I remember.

It struck me, like lightning bolted through my body. This was the feeling I got around attractive people. It makes you feel nervous and conscious, like their presence is a huge disorder for the system.

"Y-yeah," I started fidgeting my fingers. "I actually have something for you."

Nilabas ko ang isang handkerchief. I knew a towel would suffice more but I never found a red one, I wanted it to match with his entire jersey. Ang alam ko kasi ay kasali siya sa mga maglalaro ng basketball, he was eager to play for intramurals.

"Thank you, Philo!" he sounded so grateful, agad niya itong kinuha sa akin. He looked at it like it was an expensive piece of clothe.

He honestly looked like a lot like Issie, his mannerisms reminds me of a puppy.

"Can I wear it like a bandana?" he asks me, still looking like a puppy. Agad naman akong tumango, I extended my hand to him.

"I'll put it for you po..."

He smirked — no, it was a smile but the way his lips curved always make it look more devilish.

I swallowed hard. Of course, the small details again. Noon ay hindi ko naman ito napapansin pero kahit 'yata ang bilang ng buhok na nalalaglag sa kanyang noo ay nabibilang ko na.

Inabot niya sa akin 'yung panyo. He bend his knees because he was a lot taller than me, hindi ko siya abot. I wrap the handkerchief around the above area of his forehead. All the time, I was avoiding his eyes that were intently looking at me.

"I-it's done," I tried to put a small smile but my heart was thumping so hard against my chest.

"Thank you," it's the way he smiled again. Hindi ko alam kung ngisi ba ito o isang ngiti. It always looks too playful.

"Win for me po," I mumbled but the way he lifted his lips for a grin made it look like I shouted it.

"Roger that," he replied briefly before departing from my sight.

Iscalade made me notice those small things. It's when you're so interested with something that even the small parts matters.

I decided to watch a few games, kailangan pa kasing manalo ang STEM laban sa ABM para makaharap nila ang HUMSS. We won against TVL, kaya naman hinihintay ko na lang ang results ng laban nila Iscalade at sana nga ay manalo sila.

"You won!" I clapped my hands upon seeing the announcement that STEM and HUMSS will be the ones who will be playing for the next game.

Inabangan ko siya sa bleachers. Inabot ko sa kanya ang gatorade na hawak ko at agad naman niya itong kinuha upang uminom. Nakasandal ako sa railings habang pinapanood siya. After putting the lid back, he beamed at me.

"I won for you," he winked, getting his towel to get rid of the sweats on his face.

His face indeed deserved a thousand songs of praises. Bakit ngayon ko lang ba ito nakikita? I'm pretty sure I have already noticed he's good looking! Pero pati naman ang mga kaibigan niya ay hindi lugi sa aspektong 'yon. What makes him so special that I need to remind myself every second that he's almost perfection incarnated?

"Anong oras ang next game po?" I diverted my attention. Isa pang 'ang gwapo ni Iscalade' na lalabas sa utak ko, hindi ko na talaga alam ang gagawin.

"Mamaya pa naman," he responded and looked towards his team, kanina pa sumisitsit sa kanya.

"Mamaya ka na magpa-pogi sa kalaban, Iscalade! Kapag panalo na tayo," his teammate dribbled the ball on the floor.

"Kayo talagang mga STEM, nanghihina pagdating sa mga HUMSS!" sigaw nung isang kasama niya.

He only laughed at his team and turned his attention to me.

"Punta lang kami ng locker room, Philo. Magpapalit lang ako. See you later, love..." he bit his lower lip and chuckled lightly. "Love ka ng parents mo."

I nodded my head, sinundan lang siya ng tingin habang papaalis na sila ng court. Agad siyang inakbayan ng mga team mates niya at ang isa pa ay ginulo ang kanyang buhok. He was playing along with them.

✿✿✿

They had breaks while I watched the other games. Malapit na magsimula ang laro ng HUMSS at STEM kaya naman pumasok na kami sa court habang nagw-warm up pa lang ang mga players. The crowd was much wilder compare to the previous games I went to. Mas malalakas ang cheers ngayon dahil hindi ko marinig ang tugtog habang may warm up pa.

It was also surprising to see tarpaulins and cartolinas with Iscalade's pictures and his name imprinted on it. It wasn't a big deal to cheer for your strand, pero kahit ang ibang mga taga-HUMSS ay meron din para kay Iscalade.

"Iscalade! Galingan mo! Para sa future natin!" Hagikgik nung may hawak ng tarpaulin.

"Iscalade! Si Charity nga pala," another one shouted pulling her friend on her side. Nahihiya naman itong nagtakip ng mukha pero nakasilip pa rin sa direksyon ni Iscalade.

Kumaway lang si Iscalade sa direksyon nila, agad na silang tumili na para bang binigyan sila ng basbas na maging bulate sa sobrang ligalig nila.

Wow, his impact on people is really something. I always knew he was popular, pero ngayon ko lang naramdaman kung gaano siya kasikat para bigyan siya ng ganitong klaseng atensyon.

The game started and it was already intense. The squeaking sounds of their shoes rubbing on the floor gives everyone adrenaline. Hindi pa nakatutulong ang mga hiyawan ng dalawang kampo para sa mga players. Red and yellow thundersticks were being waved in the air, showing the support for the teams.

I was watching the game intently, ang mga mata ay nakatuon kay Iscalade. He was apparently the shooting guard base on his position on the court. Kadalasan siya rin ang gumagawa ng three point shoot para sa kampo niya.

Nasa kalagitnaan kami ng laro nang biglang bumagsak si Iscalade sa sahig dahil sa pagbangga sa kanya ng isang player ng HUMSS habang mags-shoot dapat siya. Everyone reacted violently.

"Foul po 'yon, ah!" I leaped out of my seat. "Siniko po si Iscalade!"

I saw the HUMSS player shoving Iscalade to get the ball from his grip. Mukhang sa sobrang kagustuhan na lumago ang score ay kinailangan niyang saktan si Iscalade.

Nagkaroon lang ng free throw para sa nangyari. Iscalade look like he was in pain, kaya naman umalis muna siya ng court at pinaupo muna. I looked at him and his brows were furrowed. May kumakausap sa kanya na ka-teammate niya. Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin at agad niya akong nginitian, he even gave a thumbs up.

Eventually, the STEM still won. Ang sunod nilang magiging laban ay sa grade 12 naman. I went to Iscalade to check on him, worried that he was injured.

"I'm okay," he laughed. "Malayo ito sa bituka. Hindi rin naman niya 'yon sinadya."

I offered my shoulder, para akbayan niya sana at ako ang magiging tungkod niya. He looked at me with confusion.

"I'll carry you po!" I said, determined. "I wanna help you."

I saw him sighing, but with a smile on his lips. Agad siyang umiling.

Sa huli ay naglakad si Iscalade na medyo iika-ika kahit nakahawak siya sa braso ko. I was concern that he might fall but he insisted that he was alright. Pupunta kaming clinic ngayon para ipa-check dahil kanina ay ayaw niya talaga galawin ang paa niya.

"Ayos ka lang?" may lumapit sa amin na pamilyar na mukha. It was the guy who was with Paulene before, 'yung mukhang artista.

"Yup, Gio. Pwede pakisuyo na lang na bigyan ako ng daan. Medyo masakit kasi 'yung paa ko," Iscalade asked for a favor.

It was our intramurals, kaya naman kumpol ang mga tao ngayon sa hallway. Mahirap nga naman maglakad kapag palagi kang nababangga, lalo na ngayon na mukhang mahirap para kay Iscalade ang maglakad. Honestly, we could just ask for a wheelchair but he refused.

"Got it!" Gio nodded earnestly.

"Thank you for helping my friend po," I extended my gratitude. Agad namang kumunot ang noo ni Gio.

"Friends lang kayo?"

"Yes po." I replied as fast as possible.

Nakita ko naman ang paglukot ng mukha ni Iscalade. I decided to ignore it, baka nasasaktan na talaga dahil sa paa niya.

Agad na tumikhim si Gio para sumigaw.

"Hello po! Magandang araw sa inyo, makikisuyo lang. Magbigay daan kayo. Magbigay daan para sa kaibigan lang." Gio announced, which made everyone look at him. "Kung di kayo kaibigan lang, magbigay daan kayo kasi dadaan 'yung kaibigan lang."

Iscalade's jaw clenched. Halos matulala siya sa sinigaw ni Gio na mukhang tupa nang humarap sa direksyon namin.

It was like dividing the red sea, nagkaroon mg puwang sa gitna para makadaan si Iscalade.

"Sige na, Iscalade. Dumaan ka na. Ikaw lang naman dadaan diyan. Ikaw lang naman ang kaibigan lang." Gio smiled, sheepishly.

✿✿✿

Mabuti na lamang hindi lumala ang injury ni Iscalade sa paa. Pero madalas ko siyang tanungin tungkol dito. I even make sure he eats well and drinks a lot of milk, para makabawi sa buto niyang nasaktan.

I decided to remind him through his social media accounts.

On Facebook, I messaged him on messenger.

Philomena Gracia Valderama:

THINGS TO DO:
🥛 drink milk.
💤 take a good rest!
🎶 listen to good music!
💗 do this, 'cause i care for you!

On twitter, I gave him a direct message.

@philogracia:
Hi Iscalade!
Daily Reminder:
🥛 drink milk.
💤 take a good rest!
🎶 listen to good music!
💗 do this, 'cause i care for you!

I even used my instagram to message him. Kadalasan ay ginagamit ko lang ito para i-follow ang mga authors na gusto ko.

@philogracia:
To @Ladegetslaid
Please don't forget to:
🥛 drink milk.
💤 take a good rest!
🎶 listen to good music!
💗 do this, 'cause i care for you!

I was about to leave the app when I received an immediate response.

@Ladeasafriend philo 😭🥺 niaaway ako ng mga kaibigan ko tingnan mo ginawa nila sa username ko. Payag ka no'n?

@philogracia hala po....

I checked his latest instagram story and saw how pissed he was because of the sudden change of his username. He looked tired as he raised his thumb, while having fake tears on his eyes.

It had a caption of: Ladegetslaid to Ladeasafriend. Lesson learn: never leave your phone, leave your friends instead. 🍃

Ang sumunod naman na story niya ay medyo blurred na version nung nauna.

A caption was added: GUYS SERYOSO PAANO 'TO MAPALITAN DO I REALLY HAVE TO WAIT FOR TWO WEEKS 💀💀💀

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