Chapter 7

I rushed down the building. 

I'm almost ten minutes late. Exact 7am ang usapan at exact 7am din ako nagising.

Nice one Jethro

Nakapatay ang alarm ko tuwing Huwebes kaya di ako nagising sa napag-usapang oras. 

Nadatnan ko si Belle na nakatayo sa lobby ng groundfloor, naka-jogging pants at plain white shirt si Belle. I'm expecting a supershorts though, her usual table tennis attire. Sabagay di naman 'to training kaya bakit pa siya magsusuot ng ganun. 

Siguro ay nangangalay na ang kamay niya sa patuloy na pagpapatalbog ng bola sa raketa.

"Good morning," bati ni Belle habang patuloy sa ginagawa. 

"Good morning." balik ko.

Umupo ako sa upuan ng lobby. Tinititigan ko lang si Belle na patuloy sa ginagawa niya. 

Nagpakitang gilas pa nang salit-salit niyang pinapatalbog ang bola gamit ang forehand at backhand ng mabilis. She made it look so easy. Bihasa ang kamay niya sa pagtiempo sa bola.

Nahulog ang bola sa wakas. Di ko sigurado kong sinadya niyang i-miss ang bola o sadyang nahulog.

Dinampot ni Belle ang bola at initsa sa akin sabay sabing, "Hintayin lang natin si uncle."

Saka ko palang nalamang makakasama pala namin si Benjamin.

"Kasama siya?" pangongompirma ko. 

"Pinilit ko siya, ayoko namang puro business nalang ang inaatupag niya. Kailangan niya rin ng ibang libangan." sagot niya.

Libangan ba kamo? Tingin ko ay meron na siyang ibang libangan at alam kong magugulat ka sa libangan niyang yun. Magugulat ka kung sino ang libangan niyang yun!

 Napangisi ako sa biglang naalala.

"Ano... handa ka nang matalo?" me being sarcastic. Alam kong wala pa'ko sa kalingkingan ng kakayanan ni Belle at alam kong kakainin ko din mamaya ang sinabi ko habang pumupulot ng bola.

Tinitigan lang ako ni Belle kasabay ang mga pilit na tawa.

Maya-maya ay dumating na si Ben. Naka-sweat pants na kulay abo at kulay maroon na fitted shirt. Mas nagmukha siyang bata sa suot niya. His outfit  enunciates his great body. His body is the cross over of dad bod and hunk bod. Not going to lie but I also had my eyes on his muscle down under. Quite a big package.

"O Tara na!" ang excited na si Belle.

••••••••••••

We decided to walk. Katabi lang ng University ang multi-purpose hall ng Sta. Isabel kung saan kami maglalaro. Walking will be a good warm up.

Nababalot ng makapal na fog ang paligid. Tingin ko ay dapat nag jacket kami dahil sa lamig. Ito ang tinatawag kong sleep weather. Masarap matulog sa mga ganitong klaseng panahon pero ito... maglalaro kami. Ayoko namang tanggihan si Belle na panay ang tanong sa'kin ng ' Kelan tayo maglalaro?'. Ewan ko ba, parang di nagsasawa si Belle mag table tennis. Siguro ganun talaga pag gusto mo ang isang bagay ay di mo pagsasawaan katulad ng Pines Park na ni minsan ay di ako nagsawang puntahan.

Tahimik kaming naglalakad, siguro dahil sa lamig. Kung di pa unang nagsalita si Belle ay mananatili kaming tahimik.

"Tingin ko mali ang forecast sa radyo kanina. Ang sabi ay 18 degree celcius ang magiging temperatura ngayong araw pero pakiramdam ko ay mas mababa pa to sa 18."

"All I know is that it's too cold. Dalawang klaseng temperatura lang ang kaya kong maramdaman, ang malimig at mainit." ang lamig na lamig na si Ben.

Base lang sa pakiramdam ay malalaman namin kung may bahagyang pagbago sa temperatura at dahil hindi taga-rito si Ben ay di niya kaagad mapapansin yun.

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad. Magkasabay kami ni Belle habang nasa likuran namin si Ben. 

Nagku-kwento si Belle sa akin ng mga librong nabasa at binabasa niya.

"Kung gusto mo ipapahiram ko sa'yo ang mga librong natapos ko nang basahin, magugustuhan mo ang iba dun."

Nirekomenda niya sa akin ang mga libro ni John Green na Paper Towns, Looking for Alaska at the fault in our stars.

Sa tanang buhay ko ay di pa ako nakatapos magbasa ng kahit isang libro. Ni hindi ko natapos basahin ang mga nobela ni Jose Rizal na Noli Me Tangere at El filibusterismo maging ang Ibong Adarna ay di ko nakalahating basahin.

"Sige susubukan kong magbasa." Di siguradong sagot ko kay Belle. 

•••••••••

"May bibilhin lang ako." Paalam ni Belle. 

Pumasok siya sa convenient store.

Nag-antay kami ni Ben sa labas. Naka-pamraso parin si Ben at halatang giniginaw.

I gave him a concern look.

He looked back, smiled and say, "Masasanay din ako." 

Ben has a nice smile just like Belle.

"Mag uncle nga kayo." I whispered to myself.

"Huh?" Narinig ni Ben ang bulong ko.

"Ah wala, sabi ko masasanay ka din."

Bumitaw si Ben sa pagkapamraso at ikiniskis ang mga kamay sa braso.

"Kumusta ka?" tanong niya.

"Huh?" Malinaw kong narinig ang sinabi niya medyo nagulat lang ako na nangangamusta siya kaya ganun ang naging sagot ko.

Lumapit si Ben, "Kumusta ka?" nilakasan niya ang boses.

"Ahhh ayos lang ako. Ikaw?"

He just nodded back.

Lumapit siya sakin at bigla akong inakbayan. I felt the exact sensation when he squeezed my shoulder in the park.

Napatikhim ako.

Keep calm Jethro!

"The way you look at Belle..." hindi pa man siya natapos sa sasabihin ay napalingon ako sa kaniya. He's not looking at me. He's looking straight at the grocery's entrance.

", I know that look. Does she know?"

What?!

I startled and can't pick a word to respond.

What I felt towards Belle is just a pure friendship. Yes, sometime I think about Belle in a different way but Am I that obvious??

"She is special to me." I said calmly.

"She is." He replied.

Now I felt uncomfortable. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa inaakbayan ako ni Ben o dahil si Belle ang pinag-uusapan namin. Siguro parehas.

Ilang sandali lang ay lumabas si Belle na may bitbit na malaking brown paperbag. Inabot ni Ben ang paperbag na hawak ni Belle para bitbitin.

" Thanks uncle!" 

We continue to walking.

•••••••••••••

"Mang Emil!" sigaw ni Belle.

Napatigil ang matanda sa pagpipintura at lumingon. Kumaway ito nang makita si Belle at bumalik din kaagad sa pagpipintura.

"May training kayo?" tanong ni Mang Emil nang malapit na kami.

"Magpapapawis lang Mang Emil." sagot ni Belle.

Dinukot ng matanda ang susi sa bulsa at hinagis kay Belle.

"Ikaw na bahala." pagbilin ng matanda.

Dalawang palapag ang multipurpose hall. Ang ibabang palapag ay function hall at ang itaas naman ay gawa para lang sa table tennis na may apat na magkahilirang tables.

Unang naglaro si Belle at si Ben. As I expected for a beginner, flying balls everywhere. I felt bad for laughing secretly but even I tried to supress it, I just can't. Belle is demonstrating him the proper service and recieving but all he did was smashing the ball.

"Control uncle," wika ni Belle.

"I never expected this to be this hard." dissapointed Ben.

"Control is the key uncle, make sure the ball hits your table first and bounce on my table." pagpapaliwanag pa niya.

This time Ben is really focused. His eyes on ball, making sure it bounces on the proper places.

He's learning and improving.

"Good uncle!"

Ben is now enjoying.

Seeing Ben's face, serious, gave me an idea of how enthusiast he is in everything he do.

"Di ako ganyan kagaling nang unang laro ko," sabi ko.

"He can beat you though." sabat ni Belle.

"Sa tingin mo?" me partly shocked.

Really Belle? You don't have to drag me just to praise someones skill.

"I see." I said prentending to be unbothered.

After hearing us praising him, " I guess I'm ready for the real game." he said.

Woah! so you really think you can beat me?

Sinalo ni Belle ang bola.

"Okay lets start the real game!" she blared.

"Tingin ko kailangan ni Jethro ng drillings." he said.

Oh really? You think I need drillings to beat you? yabang!!

"Kahit 'wag na." me being prideful.

My hands are really eager to beat him.

Itinapon ni Belle ang bola sa akin. I took her place over.

"Game! Five balls," pag anunsyo ni Belle.

I cupped the ball in my hand preparing for a service. I slowly opened my hand revealing the white Nitaku ball ready to be smashed. I took a deep inhale and released an intense exhale. The ball slightly moved by the air I've released. I threw the ball in the air, high above my head. My other hand is gripping the racket in a slanting position. The ball fell when it reached its maximum height.

Everything is in slowmotion.

The racket is the tiger silently waiting for the prey to be in its perfect calculated point before he attacks. 

The ball is the prey, falling and waiting to be devoured when she's in the vulnerable spot.

Now the perfect momentum has come. The way my body motions in the air is dramatic. 

Then boom!!!

The most unanticipated chop was witnessed!

The ball vigorously hits my table. I can see both of them, the look of awe. After hitting it, the ball rocketed in the air, high as a bird flying aimlessly.

The ball fell...

And there was a moment of silence.

"Nice try." Belle said apathetically. "Make sure it hits the opponents table next time." dagdag pa niya.

Yes, that was a service error but at least I hit the ceiling, that would give Ben an idea of how much power I could give in paddling the ball.

"Four balls left," she look at me, " and yes di pa ito ang actual game."

I smirked.

I toned down my energy and competetiveness.

Kahit naman di ko galingan mananalo ako dito.

Ben and I started to play. The first point is of course mine. Napansin kong seryosong seryoso si Benjamin. Being kind as I am, I let him score sometimes.

His game face though, as if he's in the olympics. I like how he's beatiful face becomes serious. Kinda cute.

I can't stop taking a glance on him. Nagsisimula narin siyang pagpawisan.

The first set was in my favor. I just enjoyed the second set and let him have some more points. I gave him high balls and give him some intentional service error. I promise it's intentional. I let us tie a score once or twice just to boost his confidence.

I like how happy his face become when he gets a score while there was I, enjoying watching him play. Para siyang batang natutuwa sa paglalaro. 

I'm generous but not generous enough to let him win a set. Overall, it was 3-0 in my favor.

Ben seems to really enjoy table tennis. Seems like he doesn't want to rest and play some more. 

Belle let us play after I won but this time, without scoring.

Ganito naman talaga ang gusto ni Belle, ang maglibang ang uncle Ben niya. Ng ibang libangan. Naiinis parin ako sa tuwing naaalala ko ang gabing yun.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay 'di na nakatiis si Belle at sumali na sa laro.

"Jet magdoubles kayo."

"Sige." sagot ko kay Belle. I changed court.

Ben and I was on the same table.

I explained the mechanics on how to play doubles to him. He got it quickly.

I'm catching his smell again. His scent proliferates everytime he moves. 

Gusto ko ang amoy niya. I think, aside from the smell of powdered coffee, it's my new fave thing to smell, Ben's natural scent.

•••••••••••••

The whole game was just Belle instructing Ben what to do, Ben's errors, and just me catching his smell everytime he moves. I think I'm addicted to it.

We got tired.

We sat on the long single bench on the side of the room.

We snacked potato chips and some toasted bread. Belle realized that she hadn't bought water so she went out to buy.

Now its just me and Ben. It's the second time we've together, just us.

Nakatingala si Ben habang nakasandal ang likod sa pader. Hindi ko alam ang iniisip niya pero sa tingin ko'y malalim. 

His face is really hard to read. Perhaps it's his eyes, they're really hard to read. Or maybe it's just his default face.

Should I ask him?

"Sabi mo nandito ka para sa business?"

"Yes," he's still looking at nowhere.

"So...how's your family?"

He looked at me. He looked a bit shocked.

"How can you say I have family?"

"I don't know. You have?"

He sighed and look up at nowhere again.

"I had." there's a sudden sadness in his voice.

I felt sorry for asking. I shouldn't asked maybe it's to personal.

I can't let him hang in that state so I have to change the conversation. Maybe I could crack some joke or talk something happy.

"I used to believe that I came from pineapple when I was a kid."

Binaling niya ulit ang tingin papunta sa akin. 

"I was nine years old. May tamin kasing apat na pinya sa garden ng foundation noon. Tatlo sa apat na pinya ang may bunga, ang isa wala. Ayun... naisip kong doon ako galing."

A smile broke on his face.

I continued, "Naalala ko pa nun, grabe yung iyak ko nang kinuha na ni Miss Cynthia ang tatlong bunga," natatawang sabi ko, " akala ko kasi mga kapatid ko sila. "Di ko alam kung saan ko nakuha ang ideya na may mga sanggol sa loob ng pinya."

He laughed.

" On that same day, Miss Cynthia told me everything."

" Ano naramdaman mo nang malaman mo ang totoo?" tanong niya.

" Ang totoo niyan, ni hindi ako umiyak o nalungkot man. Mas napanatag pa nga ako dahil nalaman kong wala naman talagang sanggol sa loob ng pinya,"

I glanced in his eyes and smile.

" lumaki akong kuntento sa foundation. I'm still fortunate I think. Mas mabuting sanggol ako nang ipinasok sa foundation. It would've been sad If I experienced a real biological family before entering the foundation. " pagpapatuloy ko.

"Yes it would've been sad." he muttered.

I guess that's enough to change Ben's mood. I made him laugh.

" You know what?," He said.

I looked at him and he looked back. Our eyes met. His eyes are now brighter. Wala akong balak ibaling sa iba ang tingin ko at sa tingin ko'y ganun din siya. We stared at each others eyes, and he said, 

" I like you." the words casually came out of his mouth as if he didn't even think about it.

Did I just hear him saying 'I like you?' . If I heard him right, then what did he mean. He like me what?

My personality? the way I look? He likes my story?

Don't let me hang on this Ben!

Ako ang unang bumitaw sa pagtitig. Patago akong napatikhim dahil sa narinig ko.

Maybe his reason for saying is 'wala lang'? or maybe not, I dont know.

We suddenly heard the floor squeeking. Belle is approaching, holding the water she bought.