BIG SHOT #1: RICKY

Big Shot #1: Ricky ❣ Chapter One ❣

Inevitable

I found a spot at the parking lot. It’s close to the entrance.

Lucky!!

I parked my car and took my key out of the ignition. I pulled out my iPhone and looked at the screen.

Tin

Text message

I shook my head and sighed exasperatedly.

Yesterday was not enough huh!

I groaned.

It’s still way too early for this sh!t!

With that in mind, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and tapped my fingers against the steering wheel.

I don’t know what I’m going to feel. I feel a bit light headed.

This meeting is going to be interesting. That’s for sure.

A scream outside my car snatched me out of my reverence.

I looked at the benches near the entrance and noticed a group of people.

An air of authority is around them. They seem confident. These students must be in the “popular crowd” or “in crowd” or “elite kids”, whatever you want to call them.

All men are wearing a varsity jacket while women are in their cheerleading uniform.

A bunch of jocks and cheerleaders.

How typical.

Tinuon ko nalang yung atensyon ko sa jacket na suot nila.

A varsity jacket huh.

Basketball.

Ricky!

Bumalik sa isipan ko yung nangyari kahapon.

Yesterday was so awkward-to say the least. Thanks to an important phone call nagkaroon ako ng rason para umalis agad at iwan sila.

Ricky still has that look and aura. And unfortunately, hindi pa rin ako immune sa gwapong pagmumukha nito. I feel like a freaking high school all over again. Only this time, I’m more mature and a lot wiser.

Napatingin ulit ako sa grupo na malapit sa may entrance.

Memories of the past flashed in my mind.

Have you ever wanted something so bad, na kaya mong gawin lahat makuha lang yon?

I hopelessly in love with this man na kahit ano kaya kong gawin makuha lang ang atensyon nito. 

And I’m staring at him right now. 

Napabuntunghininga nalang ako habang hindi ko inaalis yung pagkakatitig ko sa mukha nito.

I’d often catch him staring longingly at her at wala akong magawa kung hindi and titigan lang din to habang nakatitig to sa iba.

Ricky must be a masochist or something.

And maybe, may pagka-masokista din ako.

Scratched that maybe. I’m definitely a masochist dahil sinong tanga ang titingin sa mahal nito habang nakatingin sa ibang babae.

I don’t know how many times I told myself to stop. Na gumising ako sa nagsusumigaw na katotohanan na hindi ako ang mahal nito. Pero sabi nga nila, natuturuan ba ang puso?

He’s obviously and hopelessly in love with her. Alam ko, sya lang yung nakikita nito.

For god’s sake. He’s not even throwing me a single glance kahit anong tagal kong gawing pagtitig sa mukha nito. Hindi paba yon patunay na para lang akong hangin sa buhay ni Ricky?

Pathetic? Damn right, I’AM!

I don’t think I even exist in his own little world.

And I had enough!

 “Let’s date..” I blurted out.

He whipped his head in my direction.

Finally!

“Pardon?” 

“Let’s date!” I repeated and this time, without any hesitation.

He stared at my face na para bang yung sinabi ko “let’s fvck!”

I rolled my eyes upward.

Even I’m hopelessly in love with this guy, hindi ako magsa-suggest na maging fvck buddy nito. I’m classier than that!

Ok. That’s a lie! It’s really damn tempting but I’m still a minor.

And I don’t want him to go to jail because of my stupidity.

After a few minutes, he burst into laughter. “Rain. You’re kidding, yeah?” He shook his head in amusement. “You’ve got me there.”

I clenched my fist so tight and just stared at his face with unwavering resolve. “Do I look like I’m kidding?” I asked, raising my eyebrow.

He stopped laughing and stared at my face like a deer caught in the headlights.

I swallowed the lump on my throat.

You can do this Rain! Konting push pa.

I cleared my throat. “You love my sister, right?”

His face turned serious.

“You love her but she’s in love with my best friend.”

I heaved a deep sigh and looked straight into his eyes.

I gave him a pointed look. “And my sister feels uncomfortable around you.” Ok! That’s another lie. But I need to say something. So sue me!

It’s now or never Rain! No turning back!

“I can help you with that. Just say yes.” I added, shrugging my shoulders nonchalantly kahit nagririgudon na yung puso ko sa sobrang kaba at antipasyon.

===========

Two months! 

Ricky has been my boyfriend for two months now. He said YES that day.

My mood brightened when I saw him sitting at one of the benches here in campus ground. He’s definitely waiting for me kahit sabihin pa na busy to sa panonood ng mga naglalaro ng basketball sa may court.

He’s really a ball maniac.

I sat beside him and grabbed his arm. “Ricky.” I greeted him, kissing his cheek affectionately. “Did you wait long?”

He smiled. “Nope.” Tinitigan ako nito.

My heart skips a beat. Hindi na yata darating yung araw na hindi magririgudon yung puso ko sa kaba tuwing makikita ko yung gwapong mukha nito.

Ricky cupped my face and kissed my forehead.

I let out a dreamy sigh.

Ricky stands up. “Let’s go?” Aya nito habang inaabot yung kamay ko.

This is our daily routine. Ang pagsundo nito sakin kada uwian.

Our relationship? It’s getting better and better every single day.

We talked.

We laughed.

We kissed.

And I really thought, we are progressing.

That’s finally….

 We are getting somewhere.

That we are getting there…

Until that fateful night when my sister and my best friend broke up.

A knock on my window pulled me back into reality. I looked outside my car and found Natalie smiling down at me.

Thank God for distraction.

I sighed.

I grabbed my bag and get off my car, saka ko lang nakita na may kasama pala si Natalie.

He’s all smile and he’s quite handsome. Pero hindi yon yung nakapagpukaw sa interes ko, kung hindi yung varsity jacket na suot nito.

Another jock.

One of Ricky’s crowd. I’m sure!

Natalie gave me a brief hug and kissed my cheek dahilan para maputol yung pagtitig ko sa jacket ng boyfriend nito.

“You’re early.” nakangiting bungad nito.

Nagkibit balikat lang ako at tinignan yung suot ni Natalie. A cheering outfit. Nilipat ko yung tingin ko sa mga kamay nito. A pom-poms.

I looked up at her face.  “I need to go to the library for my research.”

“Bummer! Aayain sana kita para manood sa practice namin.” Nakanguso na sagot ni Natalie habang winawagay-way yung pom-poms na hawak nito.

“No offense but dancing and cheering are not my style.” Natatawa na binalingan ko nalang yung kasama nitong lalaki. “Your boyfriend?”

“Oh, yes.” Natalie wrapped her arm around her boyfriend’s waist. “This is Dave. Dave honey, remember the transfer student I’m talking about?”

Dave nodded his head as his smile got broader. “You must be Rain. Nice to finally meet you.”

I nodded back. “Same here. Kasama ka sa basketball team?” Turo ko sa jacket nito.

“Yup. And speaking of basketball…” He paused and leaned down at Natalie’s direction. “I need to go honey. The team is not in their usual spot, mukang nasa gym na sila.” Turo nito sa lugar na malapit sa entrance kung saan ko nakita yung mga naka varsity jacket.

“I’ll pick you up later.” Sabay halik nito sa mga labi ni Natalie.

Great! Another happy couple.

Natalie pushed Dave’s shoulder in a playful manner. “Go and get them, tiger.”

Dave winked at Natalie. “You betcha.” Nilingon ako nito at sinaluduhan bago to tumakbo palayo samin.

Bakit mas lalo yatang lumiliit yung mundo naming dalawa ni Ricky?

Both of my friend’s boyfriends are basketball players.

Looks like meeting him again is inevitable!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29