He took me to Timezone that day.

We managed to win a stuff toy for ourselves at sinabi niya sa akin na itago ko yung gorilla para may sinusuntok ako kapag naaalala ko na may girlfriend na si Kuya Hero.

And even after that day he continued pissing me off as usual sa pang-aasar nya sa akin na umamin na kay Kuya Hero, I noticed that he also continued to look after me each time I end up in an awkward situation.

Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako dun o hindi.

"Nawawala yung score book!" someone announced as I was scrubbing the basketballs clean.

"Paano nawala?" I heard Kuya Hero ask.

No one could answer clearly because it was apparently with one player and then transferred to another and then no one knew it was missing until Seunghyun asked to see it and no one could give it to him.

"Ako na ang maghahanap Kuya" I voluneteered because I knew how important the score book was.

Hindi pwedeng manakaw yun as it contained all the stats of the players.

"Tutulungan na kita" Kuya Hero volunteered but I knew my skill. I would be far more effective looking for the scorebook on my own.

"No need Kuya. Kayo na muna po bahala sa drills nang freshmen mamaya. Ako na maghahanap."

I ran out the gym and started to look around the area, even in the trash cans outside.

You can never be sure with situations like this. May posibilidad talaga na naitapon yun sa basurahan.

"Dara, ano ang ginagawa mo?" I heard Coach Yangoon's familiar voice and looked up from rummaging a pile of trash cans.

Do I tell him I was looking for the score book?

Sigurado ako na lahat kami mapapagalitan.

"Uhmmm...."

"Ito nga pala yung score book. Pakibigay kay Hero at baka hanapin niya. Hiniram ko sa mga bata kanina" he told me and handed me the score book.

WHAT IN THE WORLD -

"Thank you po Coach" I answered as he handed me the book and happily made my way back to the court.

Natigilan ako when I heard GD's voice coming from inside. "Kuya hindi ka dapat pumayag na mag-isa lang si Ate Dara na naghanap nun."

"I volunteered naman pero sinabi niya na siya na lang daw" Kuya Hero replied.

"At saka kaya ni Ate Dara yun. Ni hindi pagpapawisan yun hanapin yung score book" another freshman added.

"Babae pa din si Ate Dara at isa pa, hindi siya robot. Malamang e pati sa mga trash can naghalungkat yun mahanap lang niya yung score book."

"Hindi nga?"

"Mukha ba akong nagbibiro? Kung kilala nyo talaga si Ate Dara, alam nyo na gagawin niya talaga yun. Hindi siya magician na kaya na sa isang pitik e mapapalabas nya yung score book. At saka, hindi ba kayo nagtataka bakit ang ayos lagi nang mga gamit nating lahat dito? Mas meticolous pa siya kesa kay Kuya Hero sa paglilinis nang lahat nang bagay. At saka hindi ba siya din ang nag-a-update nung score book lagi? Napaka-tiyaga nun. Hindi natin dapat hinahayaan na mag-isa lang siya na gawin ang mga bagay bagay lalo yung paghahanap nung scorebook. Mukha lang yung perfect pero nagkakamali din yun no. Sobrang sipag lang talaga niya. Tatanggap na lang ako nang parusa Kuya Hero pero sasamahan ko muna si Ate Dara maghanap."

I heard the squeaks of rubber shoes headed for the door and didn't know if I should just stay put or run.

No one has ever spoken like that about me.

How could he, of all people, know all that?

How did he see the truth behind the mask of effortless efficiency I wear every day?

The gym door opened as my heart began to beat in turmoil and I saw GD look at me in surprise.

"Andyan ka pala Ate Dara!"

"Ah... oo. Kakarating ko lang." The lie rolled off my tongue too easily.

"Nahanap mo na yung score book?"

I nodded.

"Saan mo nakita?"

I found it difficult to look at him directly. Naalala ko na naman kung gaano ang inis ko sa kanya for his tendency to tease me so I never expected I would hear those things from him.

"Nabigay pala nila kay Coach Y. Kakaabot niya lang sa akin."

He reached out a hand and I backed away like I was being attacked by a mad dog.

"Oh bakit ka umatras? May tape na nakadikit sa manggas nang shirt mo, aalisin ko lang."

I looked at my left shoulder to where he was pointing at and true enough, there was a piece of scotch tape on my sleeve.

Tinanggal ko yun and then nagbukas ulit ang entrance nang gym.

"Oh Dara!" I heard Kuya Hero's voice "Nahanap mo na yung score book?"

I nodded.

"Sorry hinayaan kita hanapin yan mag-isa ha. Pasensya ka na minsan nakakalimutan ko na hindi mo din kaya lahat."

I knew I was blushing. "Ano ka ba Kuya. Wala yun. Wala naman talaga. I mean ok na. Ok lang. At saka nahanap ko na rin naman yun ngayon so ok na."

I knew I was stuttering like mad.

He hugged me. "Basta sorry ha. Next time promise, hindi kita basta hahayaan na mag-isa lang gumawa nang trabaho."

Naramdaman ko na may biglang humatak palayo kay Kuya Hero. "Oh ok na yan Kuya, magdi-drills pa kami e."

GD pulled him from hugging me tapos e hinatak niya naman ako pabalik nang court.

"Tara na Ate Dara" he said aloud before whispering for only the two of us to hear "Kilig na kilig ka ha. Pulang pula yung mukha mo oh! May girlfriend na yun baka makalimutan mo."

I pouted at him. "Paano ko makakalimutan yun e lagi mo pinapaalala."

He laughed and then turned to another subject. "Buti na lang ako lang kaharap nyong dalawa. Kung may ibang tao pa, mahahalata ka na, Ate. Iwas na iwas ka sa akin tatanggaling ko lang yung tape sa sleeves mo pero nung niyakap ka ni Kuya Hero, wala kang palag."

"Senior ko siya. Alanganamang itulak ko diba?"

I heard him mutter something.

"Anong sinasabi mo dyan?"

"Sabi ko mag-iingat ka din sa mga ganung sitwasyon na biglang may yumayakap sa'yo. Buti si Kuya Hero yung kanina e kung may oportunistang lalaki na bigla kang yakapin? Hindi ka papalag?"

"Hindi ba sinabi ko na na dahil siya yun at senior ko siya kaya ko hinayaan? Kung ibang lalaki yun hindi naman ako papayag e!"

"Dapat lang!"

Matatagalan nga yata talaga bago ko maintindihan tong si GD.

Lalo ngayon na nagpapakita siya nitong ibang side naman niya na protective sa akin.

"Oo nga! Oo nga! Huwag na nga yun ang isipin mo at mag-focus ka na ulit sa practice! Drills na!" I told him instead in irritation.

Kapag hindi pa niya hininto ito at lalo lang niyang ginulo ang utak ko, babalian ko talaga siya nang buto.

Nakakainis ha!