High school nagsimula maging kaibigan, noon pa gusto na sya ni Thirdy, pero masyado pa silang bata.
"Why don't we focus on our studies first, graduating tayo, we might not have time for each other." Sabi ni Bea sa kanya.Wala syang choice, para din naman sa future ang naiisip nya.
College na sila, kakaumpisa pa lang ng school year. Sobrang saya ni Thirdy nung malaman nya na sa Ateneo din mag aaral si Bea.
Baka ito na ang chance na ibibigay sa akin ng universe, isip ni Thirdy."Ako bahala sayo while you're here", Thirdy assured her.
"You don't really have to do that, Thirds. Anjan naman sila Ate Ly to help me."
"Kung sabagay, sa training pa lang ang dami mo na time with them."
"But, really, I appreciate your offer. Pwede din naman ako sayo lumapit if may kailangan ako diba?"
"Kahit wala ka kailangan!"
"Sige na, I'll see you later papasok na ako." Bea said, he gave him a hug which was already normal sa kanilang dalawa.
Both lead a fairly hectic life, juggling sports and acads but they still find time to update each other and have a good time with friends. Minsan in between trainings pero malimit before training, hinahatid ni Thirdy si Bea sa gym since nauuna parati ang training nila."Masyado ka na naka focus sa training, Beatriz, hindi ka na talaga magkakaroon ng boyfriend nyan!" Loko ni Thirdy isang araw na nakatambay sila kanila Bea.
"Don't you want to have a girlfriend na katulad ko?" Tanong nya.
Nagulat si Thirdy sa tanong ni Bea sa kanya, naipit na ang tingin nya sa kanya, nakabukas ang bibig.
"Ung mga langaw hindi mahihiya pumasok sa bibig mo." Bea teased, laughing.
"Tama ba narinig ko? Teka, di ako prepared."
"Oh so hihintayin kita na prepared ka?" Tumayo si Bea papunta sa loob ng bahay. Dali dali naman syang hinabol ni Thirdy.
"Teka muna, Isabel, bakit mo ako nilayasan?"
"You look funny, that's why! Forever ka na atang pagong."
"Shut up, di ako pagong." And he kissed her, gently on her lips, his palms on her cheeks.
"Ano, ganyan manligaw ang pagong?"
"Hindi pa, pinaparamdam ko lang sayo what you will miss pag dimo ako sinagot this time." Thirdy said in a pabebe tone.
"Tsss uwi ka na nga! Maaga pa tayo bukas!"
"I'll pick you up tomorrow ha?"
"I have a car, Thirdy, not just because nanliligaw ka bigla ako mawawalan ng sasakyan."
"Eh di convoy."Days... weeks...months...
Basketball championship.
Volleyball championship.
In between their victories, they became a couple. No one knew, they decided it will be best.
"Walang magbabago." Thirdy told her.
"Pinky swear."Together they faced the world, hand in hand with the struggles, ng pagiging estudyante, ng pagiging student athletes. It was almost perfect.
Ung tunog ng cellphone ni Bea hindi na tumigil , alam na nya, nakatag na naman sya sa IG. Sinubukan nya di pansinin, pero lalong sumasakit ulo nya gusto na nya magpahinga. Tiningnan nya muna kung saan nagsimula ung ingay.
Nakita nya nakatag sya sa isang comment ng fan sa IG ni Thirdy, accusing him of using her. Di na nya napigilan, sumagot na sya.My notifs are blowing up and I would really like to rest now.
Pinatay na nya ang cellphone nya, alam nya maiintindihan ni Thirdy un.
Pag gising nya sa umaga, una nyang binuksan ang cellphone nya. 1 message from Thirdy.
"I'm sorry. I love you. See you tomorrow."Nung magkita sila nung araw na un, hindi na nila napagusapan ang tungkol dun, di na nila pinagaksayahan ng oras.
Ilang taon pa, madami pa din ang nagiisip na ginagamit lang nya si Bea, nag desisyon sya para sa kanila, para sa kanya, para sa sarili nya.
"Bea, we need to talk."
"Okay, I'm at home, alam mo wala kami training."Pagkatapos ng ilang oras, dumating si Thirdy, hinarap si Bea. Di alam saan magsisimula, pinabayaan na lang nyang magsalita ang isip nya, lahat ng napagisipan nya sinabi nya kay Bea.
"So, what do you really want to tell me?" She was confused pero hindi iniisip na baka un na huli nilang paguusap.
"I'm ready to sign a contract in Japan. I have to do this on my own and prove to everyone that I can be someone kahit wala ka."
"You're breaking up with me dahil may gusto kang iprove sa ibang tao? Pwede naman isave mo tong relationship na to because others doesn't have to matter."
"I'm sorry, Bei, I have decided. Sana pagbalik ko andito ka pa, sana pwede pa."
"I don't know, Thirdy, wala ako maipapangako sayo. I may be here but there might be somebody else when that time comes."
Tumalikod sya, umakyat sa kwarto, naghahanap ng rason para mauwi sila ni Thirdy sa ganito.
She blocked Thirdy in all her socmeds, she removed any notifications from the news online, anything na pwede magpaalala sakanya kay Thirdy. She felt like dying.4 years
Life went well with Bea, busy with volleyball competitions. None of her friends have ever spoken to her about Thirdy, pinakiusap na nya noon pa.Pandemic
PVL season.
They were allowed to play and compete but with no visitors.
First game.
3rd set lamang ang team ni Bea.
Nasa service area si Bea, nagddribble ng bola, preparing to serve the ball.
"Marry me, Bea de Leon!"
Lahat sila napatingin kung asan galing ang boses.
Thirdy.Naghiyawan ang lahat ng nasa venue. Sa tuwa. sa kilig.
Standing on an empty bleacher, waving at her when she looked his way.
Tumatawa habang tumutulo ang luha.
Pumito and referee.
Time out ni Coach O.
Tinapon ni Bea ang bola sa kung saan at tumakbo sa direksyon ni Thirdy.
Lumambitin."Time to take you home to Japan." Ang huling narinig nya kay Thirdy.
At sa katapusan sila pa din pala.
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Sana masarap ulam nyo kasi ako inaantok na 😩
Proposal idea not mine, sa isang tennis player and fan ata 🤷♀️