Sweat
2031 Words
“You smell bad, you i***t,” Eli whispers, wrinkling her nose while looking at me over her shoulder.
“You have a nose behind your head?” I rant back.
“Haha,” she sarcastically laughs. “so funny.” Then she frowns. “Just don't touch me.”
“Not that I would.”
She just looks forward while we slowly get near the gates. There's still a trace of girlishness in her. Or she just wanna play the character—I don't care. I just wanna get out of here and eat lunch. I'm hungry as hell! Just a few inches more and we'll be free!
What will I eat? Maybe- “Argh!!” I got pushed from behind!
I bump onto her and she too bumps at the person in front of her. “What the hell's your problem?!!” she yells and slaps me.
“Ow!” I cry in pain, feeling my left cheek with my palm.
Everyone else looks at me and I just look down while behind me, John says, “Oh, Elizabeth! I'm sorry! It's our fault.”
Rolling her eyes, she turns around and leaves with her classmates. She disappears among the crowd. I didn't have a chance to apologize. I turn around and glare at these laughing idiots who pushed me.
“Sorry, man,” laughs Jude. “My colossal stomach was growling and couldn't help but push John!”
They laugh more and more but all I could do is sigh, turn around, and continue walking to get to the place where we always eat our lunch. It's just on the other side of the street and just a minute walk away in the alley. Our place is always at the corner and next to a window because I always take it first before anyone else could take it. We like it here because we've been eating in that same place since our first year in this college. We have so many fond memories of bonding here.
I always feel at ease here. But not right now that I see her eating at the other table with her friends. Why the hell is she here?!! She's looking at me while I eat. I feel uncomfortable! To shake off that awkward happening earlier from my mind, I entertain myself with my friends. They're talking about anime—as always.
We're talking about One Piece in its very long run. It's been two decades and it's still not done. I wonder how Oda—the creator, managed to do it without a break. I didn't even hear him taking a break because he's sick or it's just that I don't know.
Oh, she's leaving with her friends. Phew! I feel more comfortable now.
“So,” says John. “let's go play ball.”
“Okay,” says Ian.
Then the rest of them agree so I don't have a choice but to come with them although I only played basketball recently. I discovered that I like this sport a little bit. Rick is the quickest since he's an athlete. John can shoot from afar. Jude's defense is solid because of his size, and Ian is good under the basket because of his height. I only act as a useless guy who can't score but the one who passes the ball to them so they could.
Before going to the basketball court, we always have to visit Rick's dorm so he could bring the basketball. They let me dribble it on the street on our way to the court. Then why the hell's she's here?!! Of all the places in the world, why is she here?!
She's there sitting on the bench, watching her male classmates play ball. I'm not spotted yet so I hide behind my friends. I think it's no use since she knows them all. As we put our things on another bench far from them, I had a glimpse of her, frowning at me. Why is she making it out like it's my fault? It's just a coincidence, dammit!
The court is occupied by her classmates so John and Rick invite them—our juniors to play 5v5. They know Eli's classmates and they're good friends. I suspect that they're the ones who John asked to come in contact with her.
I don't like full-court games. It's so tiring although they said that my position is less exhausting because, unlike Ian, he has to get from under the basket to another. When the possession changes, he has to walk full-court while I only need to walk from the three-point line to another which is only a shorter distance to travel. But dude... it's still so tiring! Even though Jude is also under the basket and fatter than me, he has more stamina.
They start the jump ball and Ian gets it. They pass it to me and I feel uncomfortable because everyone's watching me. I mustn't mess up and embarrass myself!
Upon stopping before the three-point line, Rick explodes into a sprint towards the basket. I pass it to him and he nails the layup. He's humble and when he gives me a hi-five when he passes by to go the other court. The girls—Eli's classmates, cheer for him. He's popular, after all.
Then we go to our defending positions. I guard this quicker kid and I have played against him a couple of times. He always passes through my weak defense. He crosses over, leaving me behind but Jude won't let him pass. I switch to guard his man until they were forced to shoot it from afar—which didn't go through. Ian rebounds it and gives it to me.
“Ah, my defense is terrible,” I mutter.
“Don't mind, man,” says Jude.
“Okay.”
Hmm... they're guarding Rick well now. I'll clump them together to give John space to shoot. I went to the left side, luring my defender away from John. He goes to where I left so I pass it to him. He fakes, steps to the side then shoots. It didn't go in! I run under the basket and Ian rebounds it. He passes it to me and I give John another chance to shoot. He nails it this time and the girls cheer for him too. I run to defend, passing by Eli and her classmates. They don't notice me. I'm not meant to be the one who shines but just a guy who passes them the ball. It's okay for me to not get noticed.
“Nice pass, man,” says John, giving me five.
“I'm tired now,” I say to him. My chest is heaving after that run under the basket.
“You can do it. We're counting on you.”
“Ugh...,” I groan in exhaustion.
The game went on and on, slowly killing me. My legs and lungs could not keep up anymore. I just let them do all the work while I just pass them the ball. My God! So f*ckin' tired! But somehow... I don't wanna look like a loser in front of her. That's right!
“Just finish this already, John!” I call before I pass it to him, he shoots then it goes in. Yes! Now, I can rest! We win. Phew!
“Demn, senpais,” says the guy I guard. “You guys are unstoppable!”
“That's because we have a good passer,” says John.
I just walk away and I don't believe him. Anyone could've just passed the ball to them. They're the ones who make themselves free from their defenders and I just pass it to them. They even have the attention of every girl who is watching.
I sit on our bench, letting my sweat drip from my chin then down to the ground. I space out from them and they continue talking and the girls also join. I don't like talking with many people because I couldn't keep up with them. All I will do is grin, nod, or laugh although I don't know what they're saying. But because they laughed, I figured out it was probably something funny. So, I laugh. I don't like it though, because it makes me tired. It's better that I sit out of their conversation.
By the way, where's Eli? She's not with them.
I look around and saw her there at the sari-sari store, buying snacks. She's looking this way and gestures at me to go there. I think the others wouldn't notice so I walk casually past them and towards that store. I pull out a single coin from my pocket. She's still talking to the store owner. I proceed in inserting a coin into the water vending machine with a plastic bag to catch the dispensing water.
“Why are you following me around?” she growls, kicking my knee.
“Ow! You're the one who called me here!”
“No, not that. Why are you stalking me? Stop it, man. It's weird and uncomfortable!”
“I'm not stalking you, alright?”
“Then, what do you call this?”
“I've been here for three years, doing the same old routine with my friends. You're new here that's why you didn't know. And you simply accuse me of something I'd never do.”
“Whatever,” she says, rolling her eyes at me before returning to her friends.
I drink from the plastic bag and decided to drink another one. Damn, I gotta get back to my dorm and change. It's still 1:00 p.m. so we still have time. We said our goodbyes and will come back later to practice on the campus again.
Yes... this is the space I need, walking alone on the sidewalk with a steady breeze to cool me off. My friends' dorms are far from me. They have the luxury to spend more time together than I could be with them. Also, help each other whenever they needed. I don't need help though. Almost every task, I could get them done but not perfectly. I just have the mindset of graduating, even without colors. Even if I want to, I can't. Too many topics to memorize. I don't know how my classmates even do it.
A few more minutes and I'll finally get rid of this ickiness I feel with my drenched shirt. Then a hand grabs my shoulder from behind. “Yo!” I don't even need to turn to know who it is.
Sighing, I speak, “What do you want from me?”
“Uh...”
“And don't touch me. I'm full of sweat and you hate this stench, remember?”
“That's right but that was when I was ‘Elizabeth’.” She walks beside me and smiles. “You know what? Take me to where you stay.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Just... leave me alone, okay?”
“Why are you angry all of a sudden?”
“I'm not angry!” Oh, I yelled. With a settled voice, I state, “There's no reason for you to come.”
“Well, you're wrong. I do have a reason or two. And that is-”
“I don't wanna hear it.”
“I want to know where you stay if ever my parents call me all of a sudden.”
The reason why I don't want her to know where I reside is that so she could leave me alone. I feel she's the type that would barge into your place without warning. I hate that. Also, she will disturb my gaming hours.
“I said, no.”
She scoffs and says, “I'll follow you anywhere in town.”
Stopping, I turn around and complain, “Please, I'm begging you.”
“No, I want to know where you stay.”
“Great,” I sarcastically complain before continue walking. I guess I have no choice but to show her.
“And don't worry. I'll help you when you need it too.”
- Writer
