hello hello! i added a little note at the beginning of the story, explaining its background and what the filimon sides is about. super sorry, nakalimutan ko pala maglagay ng explanation huhu. totally my bad ♡

Bryan Emanuel is a basketball varsity star. Literally, everything I know about Blueberry could only be summed up into a single sentence. He and I went to the same university and crossed paths more times than I could count, but that was it. To each other, we were just some face in the crowd. 

While Blueberry was bringing home trophies, I was helping people bid goodbyes. People cheered for his triumph, while people called for my demise. We breathed the same air, but we were worlds apart.

"Tree, nakikinig ka ba?"

I flinched when his fingers suddenly started snapping right in front of my face. Agad ko itong tinulak palayo at naupo na lamang ako nang maayos sa silya.

"Sorry, I didn't get much sleep last night." Napahikab ako't naglibot ng paningin sa paligid ng greenhouse. Wala akong ibang nakikita kundi mga bulaklak at halaman, pero wala akong ibang nararamdaman kundi ang mga lamok na pasimpleng dumadapo sa mga braso ko. "Ugh! Kung alam ko lang na dito tayo magkikita, dapat nagsuot na lang ako ng sweatshirt."

"Gamitin mo muna 'to." He suddenly took off and handed out his denim jacket.

His action made me pause and stare right at him.

"Huh?" He flashed a confused smile and handed the jacket closer to me.

"Instead of Blueberry, can I just call you Willie Junior?" Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata.

"Lalatagan mo talaga ako ng pickup line?" He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.

"Hindi ko kasalanan na mabagal ka maka-gets ng joke." I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow as well.

Blueberry frowned, and I did too.

With heads tilted and eyebrows raised, none of us broke eye contact for a minute or two. It felt as if were were having a staring game—more like glaring game—and none of us were willing to lose.

"Hindi pa sumasakit ang leeg mo?" He eventually asked.

"I'm indestructible." I grinned, trying to ignore the throbbing at the back of my neck. Ambigat pala ng ulo ko.

"Talaga lang ha?" He smirked, but I could tell he was also just trying to hide the discomfort. In fact, nagsimula nang mamula ang mukha niya.

"Teka, sali ako sa laro n'yo!" Pareho kaming napaikot ni Blueberry nang bigla na lamang may nagsalita.

Isang lalakeng estudyante rin. Hindi ko alam ano ang pangalan niya, pero namumukhaan ko siya. Hindi kalakihan ang university namin, after all.

The guy was smiling, but as we made eye contact, he quickly tilted his head, mimicking us. "Anong premyo sa pinakamatagal na ganito?"

"Janus, sinusundan mo ba ako?" Biglang umayos ng upo si Blueberry kaya tinuwid ko na rin ang akin. Pasimple pa akong napahaplos sa leeg kong bahagyang sumakit.

The Janus guy also straightened his neck, looking astonished over Blueberry's reaction. "Teka, ba't parang galit ka?"

Kahit ako ay nagulat din. Naging seryoso kasi bigla ang pananalita at eskspresiyon sa mukha nito.

Blueberry let out a loud sigh. Wala siyang ibang sinabi. Basta niya lang nilapitan at inakbayan ang kaibigan niya, at saka sinama paalis.

"Teka, ikaw si goodbye girl 'di ba?" Panay ang lingon sa akin ni Janus, litong-lito habang kinakaladkad siya paalis ng kaibigan niya.

Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako. Naisip kong siguro nga, mahirap talaga para kay Blueberry na malaman ng ibang tao na humihingi siya ng tulong sa akin. Besides, it's not like I have the best reputation. I would only hurt his.

Kinuha ko ang bag ko mula sa silya. Palabas na sana ko ng greenhouse nang bigla na lamang pumasok ulit si Blueberry, nag-iisa.

"O, aalis ka na?" He smiled, looking confused.

I shrugged. "Akala ko umalis ka na, e."

Blueberry shook his head, letting out a soft, gentle laugh. Nakakainis dahil kung makatawa siya, parang sa isang commercial. Masyadong papogi. "Tulungan mo muna akong magpaalam sa coach ko."

Namilog bigla ang mga mata ko. "Wait, you're quitting basketball?"

"Op-op-op!" He chuckled, pointing at me like he was Gary V or something. "What's rule number one?"

I quickly pressed my lips together, trying to hold back my laughter as I raised up a peace sign just between my eyes.

***

Blueberry is quitting basketball? For real.

I may not know Blueberry well, but the thought if him quitting was hard to believe. Basketball was basically his identity. Besides, napakaraming perks ng pagiging isang varsity player. I know lots of students who would bend over backwards just to get into the team.

Why would Blueberry give up Basketball? Maybe he's not quitting the game. Maybe he just got a better offer from a different university? Hmmm . . . Is he migrating to another country? Or did he just lose the passion to play?—I know we had a deal, but shit, I was hella curious!

"Kanina ka pa nakatulala diyan. Please, tell me nag-iisip ka ng paraan paano ako magpapaalam sa coach ko?"

I found myself sitting right next to Blueberry in the same greenhouse. Only this time, I was wearing his denim jacket. 

"Wait, nakasuot ka ng denim jacket kanina kahit naka-sweatshirt ka na?" I poked fun of the white sweatshirt he was wearing, just to change the subject. "Masyado ka bang lamigin?"

Blueberry smiled, with lips pressed together. He then nodded, closing his eyes like some adorable little kid. 

A basketball varsity star who gets cold easily. Nadagdagan bigla ang nalalaman ko tungkol sa kanya.

"Nga pala, naisip ko, para sa coach mo, bilhan mo siya ng regalo. 'Yong lagi niyang magagamit. Maybe a watch or—"

"Ayoko. Hindi ako mabibigay ng regalo." Blueberry opened his eyes as he shook his head. He was smiling, but I could tell from his eyes that something was bothering him.

"Mr. Krabs, ikaw ba 'yan?" Natatawa kong biro sa kanya. "Come on, that's your coach—"

"Nope." Blueberry chuckled, shaking his head again. "No gifts."

I sighed, a little annoyed over how stubborn he's being. "Look, gifts aren't the case kung sa jowa ka magsasabi ng goodbye, but he's your coach, so it would be better if you would give him something. If you're concerned about the money, I'll help you come up with something inexpensive."

"No gifts," he repeated, shaking his head. He was still smiling, but I could tell he was being serious.

Too bad for him, I was serious with my idea too.

"Gifts are important if you're saying goodbye, Blueberry." I turned to face him, staring directly into his eyes just to get through to him. "Leave him something to remember you by! Give him something that will remind him that he once looked after a great basketball player named—"

"But I don't want to be remembered!" Blueberry yelled, leaving me speechless.

His eyes were visibly watery while staring back at me. Above all, the gentle smile on his face was nowhere to be found.

"You don't want to be remembered?" His words were so absurd that I had to repeat them.

Who doesn't want to be remembered? What the hell is wrong with him?—In my mind, I was judging him like hell, breaking another one of his rules.

Blueberry didn't say anything, he just looked at me with a firm and unwavering gaze. His silence was enough of an answer.

"If you don't want to be remembered, what's the point of saying goodbye?" I couldn't help but speak my thoughts aloud. "If you don't want to be remembered, just leave and never look back. People will forget you eventually."

My words were followed by deafening silence. For a moment there, I questioned myself if it was right for me to say them.

Blueberry looked down, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "T-Tama ka . . . "

His eyes blinked rapidly and I could tell he was close to tears. I felt bad a wave of guilt in an instant. I had no idea what was going on with him, but it felt like I made things worse.

"Mali 'to . . . " He flashed his gentle smile, but he was breathing so loud that it was obvious how he was trying so hard not to break down right in front of me.

Blueberry stood up from his seat, still looking down. "P-Pasensiya ka na kung naabala kita. Kalimutan mo na lang na nilapitan kita. Sana huwag mo 'tong sasabihin sa kahit kanino."

All I could do was nod and look down on the ground. I felt so conflicted, but in the end, all I could do was respect his wishes. After all, I hardly knew anything about him.

Blueberry is a basketball varsity star. He gets easily cold and he doesn't want to be remembered. That was all I knew.