Giap Solomon's POV

I went towards my duffle bag to get some water, after our two-hour football practice. We get to freshen up once every 45 minutes, pero I can't get enough of water coming down my throat during those breaks. I like drinking water, obviously.

"Gather around, Team!" tawag ni Coach Luigi Estrella, ang football coach ng Kenford Academy.

I looked for one of my towels inside my bag and wiped my sweat with it.

Lumapit ako at nakipagtapikan pa kay Ram na kasabay ko sa paglalakad. "Mukhang ganado ka, ah!" he joshed, bedazzling me for a flicker of seconds.

"Jerk! I'm freakin' tired!" I replied, only to hear his laugh.

"Okay, okay! As you all know, first game natin sa Friday. So, we need to practice twice as hard as we usually do. Kaya naman di ba, team?" He scanned our faces with a hopeful smile.

"YES, COACH!" we bellowed.

"Great! So, no more distractions until we win all three games. Clear?" His glance lingered a second longer in me, before shooting looks at the others.

Narinig ko ang impit na tawa ng ilang teammates ko, lalo na ni Ram. I looked at them only to see the grinning face of Julian, who shook his head with both hands on his waist.

"Dude, pinaparinggan ka yata ni coach, pfft!" si Ram. I elbowed him on his side. "Ahhh!" he squeaked, holding that part I attacked.

Nakuha namin ang atensyon ni coach, and of course, the whole team. "Anong nangyari sa'yo Evaristo?" He asked, scanning Ram's body.

"Wala, coach. Ayos lang ako!" He replied, but coach still eyed me.

"Makinig kayong dalawa. Lalo ka na Sandiego," he uttered, pointing his index finger at me. "We need to win this sports fest, kaya seryosohin niyo 'to. Huwag puro pa-cute."

It was my teammates' cue to break in a guffaw. Tumatawa sila habang nakaturo sakin, shaking their heads. "Pa-cute ka pala, dude!" Ram commented, kaya hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong pabiro siyang sakalin ng towel kong puro pawis. "Dude, dude! Giap, joke lang! Joke lang, bro!" He surrendered his arms up in the air.

"Oh, tama na 'yan, Sandiego, Evaristo. Baka ma-injure pa ang isa sa inyo." It took me a moment before I could let go, laughing. "As I was saying, pwede mong isama sa first game natin yung pinopormahan mo, Sandiego."

Nagtawanan na naman sila at napasimangot ako.
"Coach naman," I lamented. Tumawa pa siya habang umiiling at isinuko rin ang mga kamay.

"Okay, fine, fine. Basta team, galingan natin! Work hard for everyone we love," Ngumiwi ako nang tapunan pa ako ng isang nanunuksong tingin ni coach after saying the last word.

Ano bang alam niya? Tch.

Natapos ang practice namin for the day. Maaga pa kung tutuusin, dahil 2:47 pa lang ng hapon. We usually finish 15 minutes after dismissal, pero the team's management let us have the rest of the Friday afternoon for ourselves. We have already been training really hard these past weeks, anyway.

"Dude, tara kain! I'm starving." Nilingon ko si Ram, who is also putting his things back in his duffle bag. I finished arranging mine kaya isinakbit ko na rin 'yon sa balikat ko.

"Pass." I started walking away from him.

"Makikipag-date ka lang yata, eh!" He teased, but I just held up my middle finger without looking back. "Hoy, Giap hindi ako magpapalibre! Promise! Tara na!" He frowned, but I didn't give in.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad papunta sa parking lot, until I saw a familiar girl sitting on one of the concrete benches facing the sunken garden. Nakatalikod siya sakin and seemed busy doing something on her notepad.

I decided to approach her but was halted by what I heard.

"...And you can't see me wanting you the way you want her. But you are everything to me..." she sang the whole line with her eyes closed, almost if she was the original artist.

I don't know the song but the lyrics are heartbreaking, and I think I just felt it with her singing. "She's never gonna love you like I want to. And you can see right through me, if you'd only knew me. We can be a beautiful miracle, unbelievable, instead of just invisible..." she continued, just in time for her to open her eyes.

Nagulat siya dahil nanlaki ang mga mata niya and was taken aback for a matter of seconds. She didn't say a word. Instead, she went back to doing something on her notepad.

"Nice voice, Lexee." I gave her a smile. It was true. Her voice is really good, if not, great.

She didn't answer, but she held a
Pp grin. "Stalker, psh." I stood there, unable to process her words for a while.

"What? Hoy, Lexee, watch your words, ah!" I took a seat beside her on the bench. Umisod siya nang konti to give me some space.

"Haha, bakit? Totoo naman, ah! I-deny mo, sige!" She pointed at me using her pen, or marker pen yata 'yon. Nakatawa siya sakin, waiting for my reply.

"Tch. It was an accident." I laughed shortly.

Lumabi siya while shrugging. "Ahhh. Accidentally revealed na inii-stalk mo 'ko, haha!" She cachinnated.

"Tch," I stood up and started facing the direction of the parking lot. Bigla naman akong pinigilan ng isang braso ni Lexee.

I eyed her, only to see her eyes half open while beaming at me. Para siyang nasisilaw sa liwanag, though indirect naman ang sikat ng araw sa amin.

"Aalis ka na?" She covered her eyes with her hand, shielding them from rays of the sun. "Joke lang 'yon. Samahan mo muna ako dito." I stared at her blankly. "Please?"

I heaved a sigh before going back to my spot. "Ano ba 'yang ginagawa mo?" I asked, eyes focused on the words written in style on her notepad.

She smiled and showed them to me more. "Eto? Calligraphy art. Marunong ka?"

"Hindi. I don't even know that it exists." Ngumiwi siya sakin. "What?"

"Bakit ka nag-eenglish? Psh, hindi ako sanay." I simpered.

"Alam mo kung bakit?" My brows went up and down, twice.

"Mm?" Hindi siya nakatingin sakin nang i-utter 'yon. She was doing her art.

"Kasi gutom na 'ko! I'm tired pa with training." I didn't know where I got the nerve para ngumuso habang nakahawak sa tiyan ko, looking at her.

"Psh! Tara kain!" Inayos niya ang mga gamit niya at naunang maglakad.

*****

"Magaling ka pala kumanta?" Napatigil si Lexee sa paghigop ng chocolate shake niya sa straw.

We are at the nearby coffee shop. Naglakad lang kami kasi ayaw niya daw lumayo sa Kenford. Wala na rin silang classes this time dahil may meeting naman ang entire SHS faculty.

"Talaga, tingin mo?" Her eyes sparkled, as if hearing the compliment for the first time. I nodded. "Haha, thank you! Antagal ko nang di naririnig 'yan, eh."

"Will you sing for me?" I don't know what's gotten into me when I asked for that. Maybe it was for the reason that I'm enjoying the glow and joy in her eyes when I complimented her singing.

Nangunot ang noo niya at bahagya pang napanganga. "Seryoso ka?"

"Oo, bakit?" I shot her a puzzled look.

"Bakit?" Her expression showed shock and incredulity. It's as if I'm asking her for a miracle.

"Anong bakit? Haha!" I took a small piece of the cheesecake I ordered before smiling at her.

"Bakit mo 'ko pinapakanta?" tanong pa niya ulit, naguguluhan talaga.

"Wala! I just wanna hear your voice." Napanganga ulit siya at bahagya pang napalunok. She suddenly looked uncomfortable.

What is she thinking? Weird.

"Is this your first time getting asked to sing?" I asked, hoping to hear her say 'No' in response.

She swallowed, before shaking her head violently. "No, of course not. Nakakagulat lang na bigla mo 'kong pakakantahin sa harap mo."

Tumawa ako. "Eh kasi, ngayon lang naman tayo nagkakilala, right? Ano? Will you sing for me ba?" I shot her an impatient look.

"Haha, next time." Lumabi siya and laughed.

I shrugged. "Okay." It wasn't a big deal for me. "Anyway, bakit parang napapadalas ang pagiging loner mo?" Sumama ang tingin niya sakin kasabay ng pagnguso.

"Psh, tsismoso ka, 'no?" She rolled her eyes. "Busy yung best friend ko, eh. Wala akong ibang kasama, well, except...you." Itinuro niya ako gamit ang fork niyang may konting cake pa sa tines.

May diin sa 'best friend?' Hmm.

"LQ kayo? Haha. Ang sama ng tingin sakin nun kagabi, e!" Suminghal siya at sumubo pa ulit ng cake niya. "Kayo ba?"

Bigla siyang naubo nang malakas. I hurriedly gave her some water to ease her feeling. I was shaking my head while patting her back.

Nabanggit ko lang ang 'kayo,' nasamid na. Tch.

"Alam mo, ang tsismoso mo talaga!" Uminom ulit siya ng tubig, masama ang mukha. "Si Patricia? Sino siya?" I was flustered.

Hindi agad ako nakapag-react because it took me by surprise na alam niya ang existence nung babaeng 'yon sa buhay ko. "Stalker ka rin pala, e. Tch." Humalakhak siya.

"At least aminado ako! Eh ikaw? Hahaha! Oh, sino nga si Patty?" My eyebrows crossed.

Patty? Who the hell?

"Sinong Patty?" Lumabi siya, hindi naniniwala.

"Sus, kunwari pa hindi alam! Si Patty! Si Patricia!" I eyed her stoically. "So, ano nga? Girlfriend mo siya? Ha?" pangungulit pa niya.

"Ex?" I replied, placing my thumb on my chin, while looking up.

"Ngek! Bakit patanong?" I crafted a fake laugh.

"I don't know if we've broken up, honestly. And I don't want to talk about her." I averted my gaze. Ayokong malaman niya ang totoo kong nararamdaman ngayon.

Nanlumo siya bigla, pero tumango rin. We ate in silence after that, though the mood is light between us. We may have both fallen into a deep thinking, of different things, of course kaya walang nagsalita sa aming dalawa.

Nakalabas na kami sa coffee shop and we're on our way to Kenford when she spoke. "My best friend and I fought last night."

Napatingin ako sa kanya, but she wasn't doing likewise. She holds a sad smile, her lips pressed against each other a little tighter than natural.

"Is it because of me?" I asked, rearranging the duffle bag on my shoulder.

"Hmm, dahil sa'yo, sakin, sa kanya. Everything's a reason." She chuckled shortly. "Normal naman sa 'min 'yon kaya okay lang...sana." she added, her voice cracking.

"Why not?"

"We said some things. Basta, mahirap i-explain, haha!" She let out a sigh, possibly trying to get the thought off of her system. "Anong gusto mong kanta?" she suddenly asked, startling me subtly.

Hindi ko napag-isipan kung anong song ang gusto kong marinig mula sa kanya, because my request earlier is also unprecedented. Masyado lang akong naaliw sa excitement niya kanina.

"Yung kantang...made-describe yung feeling mo ngayon. Because maybe you can't explain it in plain sentences." Biglang nagliwanag ang mukha niya, showing me her amazement dahil naisip ko 'yon. She smiled and pondered after.

Malapit na kami sa gate ng campus when she cleared her throat. I waited.

"You have a way of coming, easily to me.
And when you take, you take the very best of me. So I start a fight 'cause I need to feel something," I know I couldn't mistake the emotions I see in her eyes.

They reeked of sadness, highlighted by her sparkling tears on the edges.

"You do what you want, 'cause I'm not what you wanteeeed..." she sang, as she threw me a glance. Bigla siyang ngumiti while wiping her tears na noon ay tumulo na pala sa mga pisngi niya. "Haha, sorry! Hanggang dyan pa lang ang kaya kong sabihin, eh." She scratched her head, an instinct when something can't be clearly explained.

I gave her an understanding smile, as I reached for her hair. Ginulo ko ang buhok niya as a sign of comfort, only to hear the annoyingly familiar sound of voice behind me.

"'Yon! Dyan ka magaling, Sandiego!" I pursed my lips before facing Ram, who is holding a grimace while looking at me. "Pass, pass ka pa dyan!" He started walking towards us.

Sinulyapan ko si Lexee and saw her get confused, eyeing Ram quietly. "Bakit andito ka pa?"

"Bakit? Niyayaya kita kaninang kumain di ba? Sabi mo pass ka--" he took sight of Lexee who's looking at him, puzzled. "Ay sorry, hi Gianna! I'm Ram," he held out his hand to her.

Bigla namang napalitan ng pagkabigla ang reaksyon ni Lexee, at napapahiyang tinanggap an pakikipag-kamay ni Ram sa kanya. "L-Lexeen, I'm Gianna Lexeen."

Biglang tumawa si Ram and nudged me on my shoulder, raising his eyebrows twice. "Finally, we meet, Gianna. Hehehe!"

Tumaas ang kilay ni Lexee. Kanina lang umiiyak pa 'tong babaeng 'to, ngayon ready nang mag-taray.

Mood swinger, haha!

"Ah, hehe. Y-Yeah, nice to meet you too. Finally," she glanced at me, questioning me with her eyes. "Ah, a-aalis na rin ako, Giap, R-Ram. Pinapauwi na ako, eh. Hehe."

She raised her phone na hindi pa niya hawak kanina, gesturing something from it. Gusto kong tumawa dahil obvious na wala namang calls or text messages sa kanya, gusto niya lang talaga lumayo sa'min ni Ram.

Loko kasi,'to. Tsk.

"Ah, Gianna! Ihahatid ka na nito ni Giap! Oh, bro hatid mo na! Dali!" Itinulak-tulak pa ako ni Ram palapit kay Lexee habang nakangiti.

"Naku, hindi na! M-May sundo ako! Huwag na, G-Giap, hehe." She smiled at me awkwardly, napakamot naman ako sa ulo ko. "So, una na 'ko? Bye, Giap, R-Ram," she held up her hand at us before walking towards the parking lot, not looking back.

"Tsk, tsk. Dude, hinay-hinay sa pagtitig. Hindi siya masyadong maganda," I glared at Ram after hearing that. Hindi ko nagustuhan ang narinig ko mula sa kanya, because Lexee is my friend.

I started walking towards the parking lot, not bothering to wait for him. He tried to keep up to my pace, pero nasa likod ko pa rin siya.

"H-Hoy, dude! Joke lang! Eto naman, di na mabiro!" He yelled, but I didn't look back. "Hoy, hintayin mo 'ko! Lover boy!" I shook my head, unable to name the thoughts circling 'round in my head.

Lexee is just my friend, and nothing more.

Nothing more.

France Timothy's POV

I continued walking towards the front stage, looking stern and unbothered at the same time. Tumutugtog ang malakas na kanta habang rumarampa ako sa entablado, pinanonood ng mga tao sa paligid namin.

Hindi ko alam kung anong title ng kanta, pero may kilala akong siguradong saulo pa ang lyrics noon. I shrugged the thought away.

"Chin up! And...turn! Right! Doin' great, France!" I didn't bother looking at Shamcey, ang baklang instructor namin sa pageant.

Mayroon siyang scarf na nakabalot sa leeg niya, atop her polo and pants. May shades din siya sa tuktok ng ulo niya, while she claps in the air.

Going back, I caught glimpse of the smiling face of Alethea. I beamed at her, dahil first, hindi naman kita ni Shamcey ang mukha ko. Second, her smile's so contagious I couldn't help it.

"For a first timer, I really do think you're great," she commented, scanning my visage.

I groaned, keeping the smile plastered on my face as I grabbed my wrist to arrange my watch there.

"I had to keep up to your performance. You're the star of the show," I shot back. She laughed gracefully, shaking her head.

"Bolero," she remarked, startling me for a while. Medyo slang siya sa pagsasabi noon kaya nagkaroon ng -w sa dulo ng word na 'yon.

Bolerow daw. Tsh.

I stared at her, blessing my eyes with her perfect attributes. Her hair is curly, the kind of curls na makikita sa mga female celebrity. Ang mga mata niya ay grayish ang kulay, may mahabang pilik mata. Her nose is small and pointed, hindi masyadong matangos but fits perfectly on her visage.

Her lips... I swallowed. They're pink and lineless.

"Hey, France!" Her forehead was filled with lines as she snapped her fingers at me. I returned my composure. "We're being dismissed already."

She didn't wait for me as she walked towards the direction of the circling participants. Nasa gitna si Shamcey at nagbibigay ng comments regarding our performance sa stage today. Tinamad naman akong makinig dahil sa pagod, while Alethea constantly nods her head, listening attentively.

I didn't notice that I have been staring at her for a while now, kaya bahagya pa akong nagulat nang tingnan niya ako. "Eyes to the front," she gestured.

Gusto kong makinig pero natatakpan ng kung ano-anong isipin ang kagustuhan na 'yon. I haven't had a good sleep since we began our rehearsals, kaya napapagod na ako.

"France, my driver's this way."

Namalayan ko na lang na naglalakad na pala kami ni Alethea palabas ng hall nang magsalita siya. She smiled and waved before turning her back. Hindi pa ako nakakapag-respond nang tumalikod siya, kaya wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang bumuntong hininga.

I checked the time, and it's already 5:53 pm. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan si Gianna, dahil hindi naman kami nag-usap buong araw. I barely saw her today, maybe because umiiwas siya sakin.

"I lo-o-ve you. Please say you love meee too. These three words--" Pareho kaming natigilan nang makita ang isa't isa.

She was walking behind me, going to the parking lot. I traced her way, at nakita kong galing siya sa part ng Kenford na may coffee shops.

Sino na naman kaya ang kasama niya?

Wala nga yata ako sa sarili ko ngayon, dahil nakalampas na pala siya sakin nang ma-realize ko. Naglalakad siya sa unahan ko habang naka-earphones at naghu-hum na lang ng kanta. Hindi niya ako pinansin at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad.

I took the time to just hang behind her, pero nang malapit na siya sa kotse nila, I stopped her.

"Ian." Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at marahang humarap sakin.

"Oh?" she asked, casually. I was taken aback by her demeanor.

Seryoso ba siya?

Bigla naman akong nasamid at naubo. When I looked up once again, nakakunot na ang noo niya habang nakahalukipkip. "What?" I grunted.

Umiling siya at tumayo nang maayos bago pumihit patalikod. "Pagod lang 'yan. Matulog ka nang maayos mamayang gabi. Mukha kang puyat, psh," she muttered, loud enough for me to hear it.

She went inside their car, as I did in mine. Napailing na lang ako habang nakahawak sa manibela.

She knows me well, indeed.