Chapter 40

sinandal nya ang ulo ko sa braso nya at pinaglaruan ang mga daliri ko habang nanunuod kami ng meteor shower.

"I'm addicted to your sweet scent" he uttered. He sniffed my head and I got concious.

"Nag pawis ako, wag mo ako amuyin" inulit nya lang ang pagsinghot. "Ang bango mo kaya. Its addicting" inangat nya ang kamay ko at hinalikan iyon.

"None of the million words in this world could describe the way you make me feel" napapikit ako nang halikan nya ang ulo ko, tila ba may humaplos sa puso ko at nag init ang sulok ng mga mata ko.

"I don't want you to rush things, Azrielle. I know you still love him. Moving on and falling in love again takes time and process, lets just go with the flow okay?" I nodded my head as a response.

"Akalain mo yun, dadating din pala yung araw na malaya kong mahahawan yung kamay mo, yung mahahalikan ko 'to" he kissed the back of my hand. "Yung masasabi ko sa'yo na mahal kita."

"I'll do everything to win your heart, kukupalin kita hanggang sa mahal na mahal mo na rin ako" he chuckled.

My heart, my fragile heart told me my truth, the truth that I've been denying for so long.

I like him. I have feelings for him. That's my truth.

"Coltrane, asan ka?" Narinig ko ang spike ng sapatos at tunog ng bola.

"Dito lang sa gym, baby. Do you need something?" Wala, I just miss you. Syempre hindi ko sinaboses ang iniisip ko, kasi for sure aasarin nya na naman ako.

"Wait for me." Aniya. "Rest muna, see you later" rinig kong sabi niya sa mga team mates nya.

Malapit na ang sem break at busy sya sa inter school. Umupo sa tabi ko si Amerie at tinaasan ako ng kilay.

"Asan si Coltrane? Hindi ako sanay na wala sya at hindi nakapaligid sa'yo ha? For a month halos bakuran ka" umirap lang ako. Totoo naman, for a month na nangliligaw sya sa akin lagi syang nasa tabi ko.

Kapag lunch, kapag palabas ako ng room andyan sya para sunduin ako, hatid sundo nya rin ako everyday. He's basically a part of my day.

Nilibre ko si Amerie noong araw na sinabi ko sa kanya na nangliligaw nga si Coltrane, nag spa at pamper day kami maghapon ng araw na iyon. She's cool with it and she's happy for us.

"Oh speaking of the poging soon to be boyfie" napatingin ako sa entrance ng canteen, papasok sya at sinusuklay ang buhok gamit ang kanyang daliri.

He smiled at me and my heart raced in an instant. Humawak sya sa balikat ko at bumati.

"Hey, did you eat lunch already?" Umiling ako, I'm actually waiting for him. "Hindi pa, ikaw kumain na?" Umiling rin sya. Nag presinta syang mag order kaya sya na ang pumila.

Amerie had to leave because her groupmates called her for a meeting.

"Vacant mo mamaya diba? Watch me play please?" Tumango ako at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain namin.

He's really sweet pero hindi nawala ang pagka kupal nya, and I love it.

"Stay here, don't ever talk to someone." He grinned and ruffled my hair. He handed me his duffle bag.

Nakita kong papasok ng gym sila Angeline at Eros, my heart constricted but I shrugged it off. I'm cool with it already, may kaunting kirot lang.

Napalingon ako nang may marinig akong sumitsit, Coltrane smiled at me and winked. Napangiti nalang rin ako at pinanuod syang mag shoot.

Three points.

First quarter of the game palang pero nagpaulan na ng tres si Coltrane, he's really good! No wonder why he's the MVP!

"Lakasan nyo pa cheer kay Coltrane, para mapansin nya tayo" sabi ng babae sa likod ko, pasimple ko silang nilingon. Lima sila at todo palakpak kapag hawak ni Coltrane ang bola.

Lumamang ang kalabang team mula sa ibang department, last one minute left at nag time out ang kalaban.

Instead of meeting his teammates, Coltrane went near me and touched my head.

"Inayos ko yang buhok ko ah" banta ko, baka kasi guluhin nya.

"Hindi ka kasi nagch-cheer so sa'yo na ako mismo kukuha ng lakas" narinig na ang buzzer kaya pinapunta ko na siya sa court.

Isa nalang ang lamang, seconds nalang ang natitira. He's dribbling the ball, malayo pa sya pero tingin ko kaya nya mag half court shoot.

"Go Coltrane! Shoot it!" He looked at me sideways before he positioned to shoot the ball.

Buzzer beater.

"Fantastic three point shot from Montreal ends the game" nakipag apir sa kanya ang mga kasama, tumingin sya sa direksyon ko at matamis na ngumiti.

"You cheered for me, thank you"

"Congrats, first game win" he pulled me and hugged me. Napayakap rin ako, napatingin ako sa may court at nakita si Eros na nakatingin sa amin. His jaw clenched and threw the ball away.

Anong problema nun?

Palabas na ako ng gym mag isa, nasa shower room pa kasi si Coltrane. Hihintayin ko sana sya kaya lang tinawag ako ng group mates ko.

To: Coltrane Montreal

My groupmates called me. Wait for me at the lobby.

Text ko, inilalagay ko sa bag ko ang phone ko nang may humigit sa braso ko.

"Let's talk" si Eros.

"Eros, ano ba?" Hinila ko ang braso ko pagkatapos nya akong hilain papunta sa garden.

"Kayo na?" He asked, I arched my brows and crossed my arms.

"What are you talking about?"

"Kayo ni Coltrane." I saw irritation in his eyes. I scoffed.

"Its none of your business, Eros. Wala na tayo, and for the record I'm not the one who cheated while we're on a relationship" his jaw clenched and he scowled.

"Who said we're done? Its a mutual decision, Azrielle. Ikaw ang nakipag break pero hindi ako pumayag, so basically we're still together"

I looked at him with disbelief written all over my face.

"Do you hear your self, Eros? Habang tayo, kayo rin ni Angeline! Hindi ba sapat na dahilan yun para makipag break ako sayo? Base rin sa narinig ko noong nag usap kayo, makikipag break ka na rin sa akin, so why do you want to keep this shitty relationship? To cover up you and Angeline?" He avoided my gaze and balled his fist.

"Find something to cover up your relationship, Eros. Huwag ako, pahalagahan mo naman pagkakaibigan natin" I felt hot liquid falling from my cheeks. Damn it!

"Better if you introduce her to your mom and fight for her, stop bugging me Eros. Not now that I'm happy" my lips quivered as I try to stop my self from crying.

Suddenly a ball landed on his head, napaaray sya at napamura.

"Coltrane, no!" Pigil ko sa galit na galit na si Coltrane. He grabbed his collar and he almost hit him, pumagitna ako at hinawakan ang kamao nya.

"I'm jealous, Azrielle. Yes, I want to keep our relationsh—

"Shut the fuck up!" Napapitlag ako sa bulyaw ni Coltrane. Hindi ko pa siya nakitang ganito kagalit, and I never wanted to see him like this.

"Shhh, calm down. Let's go" paulit ulit kong sabi. He angrily gazed at me, namungay ang mata nya nang marahil ay mapagtanto nyang ako ang kaharap nya. Hinaplos nya ang pisngi ko at pinunasan ang luha ko.

"Let's go" I whispered softly.

He gave Eros a warning look and wrapped me to a hug while we exit the garden. Muntik na, muntik na naman.

His hands balled into a fist while we're walking to the car park. I can hear his loud sighs, probably to calm himself.

He opened the car door for me, I held his face when he's trying fix my seatbelt.

"Calm down" I whispered. He leaned his forehead on mine and exhaled. "I am calm now" he responded. Napahinga ako at napangiti.