NOPI Chapter 26: I'm sorry

Mandy's POV

The whistle blew and the match officially started.

Kararating lang namin sa gym and for a reason napakaraming tao ngayon. And that reason is? Well, it's because of the game and of course, it's players.

Finals na at ang labanan ay sa pagitan ng team ni Charles, Ed, at pati na rin ang ibang mga seniors versus sa team nila Rod, Rico, Ken at dalawang pang seniors.

"Kyaaaah! Heartthrob Prince, look here!"

"Ken, you're so hot! Please marry me!"

"Shh! Wag nga kayo! Maiistorbo si Rico!"

"Ang gwapo mo Rod! Kaya mo 'yan! Ah! Tumingin siya dito!"

"You can do it! Ed, the magnificent! Kyaah!"

Seryoso? Ano 'to? Pagwapuhan o basketball? Ang popogi ng mga engot eh! Sinadya ata!

Nang makita namin ni Sephine 'yung mga pinsan na nakaupo sa may entrance banda ay tumungo kami dun at nang makaupo na kami, nakarinig kami ng palakpakan kaya naman tinignan ko na ang score.

Charles' Team 9 Rod's Team 26

Nanalaki ang mga mata ko.

"Fck, what kind of a score is that?!" sigaw ko kaya naman natawa na sila Violet sa akin

"Well, why don't you try and ask Charles? He's not focusing on the game. Ang mga teammates niya ang nakaipon ng score na 'yan" sagot niya

"Ha? Bakit naman? Nandito na si Sephine ah. Dapat nga mas humusay pa siya. No one probably wants to look uncool in front of someone they like, right" sagot ni Ynna kaya naman tumango ako

"I know right? He just doesn't seem to be in good shape this time. But he was doing fine earlier though" sagot naman ni Violet

"Tsk. Tsk. Hindi niyo naintindihan ano? Ang dahilan kung bakit wala ang utak niya ay dahil kasama ito ng puso niya. Oh, san ang puso niya? Diba kinuha ni Sephine? Paniguradong kakabahan siya" sabi ni Venus kaya naman nabulunan si Sephine na umiinom ng tubig ngayon sa tabi ko

Hinagod ko na kaagad ang likuran niya.

Hays. She's as clumsy and as silly as ever.

"Kasi nga he's trying his best na bigyan ng space si Sephine. And then here comes Sephine, wasting his efforts of making it easier for her to avoid him," sagot naman ni Icy kaya naman nanahimik kami

Icy talaga siya. Walang preno ang bunganga.

"I'm here to make it up to him," nanlaki ang mga mata namin dahil sa sinabi ni Sephine

Whoah whoah. She's actually starting to stand up for herself.

"I know what I did wrong and I'll apologize for it, trust me. We'll be back to normal after this. I apologize for bringing you guys into this" dagdag niya't tinitigan na ang naglalaro sa ring na si Charles kaya naman nagkatinginan na kami ng mga pinsan ko

Nagngitian nalang kami at agad ding nagtawanan.

We looked like proud moms. Hahaha

*

Sephine's POV

Tinitigan ko lang si Charles habang naglalaro siya.

A top scorer in academics, a great artist, belongs to one of the most wealthiest families in the country, and is the heartthrob prince of Royal Academy.

He's an aloof and introverted type of person to everyone outside his circle of friends, haughty and playful when he's with his friends and my cousins and most specially, he's gentle and patient whenever he's with me. The difference of treatment's really painfully sweet.

Even though he still doesn't know all about my identity, he gave me his love and trust wholeheartedly. Who couldn't fall in love with a guy like him?

Waking up to reality because of the cheers, I stared at Charles' group. Hinahawakan niya ang buhok niya't nagme-murmur. He really was acting strange. He kept making numerous mistakes and his footwork.. well, it's as messy as a drunkard's.

Aalis nalang kaya ako? Okay lang naman 'yung laro niya kanina ah? Am I possibly a distraction?Nagulat ako sa lakad ng tunog ng buzzer.

The second half ended with an unbelievable score of 16:45

Next was the half-time break of fifteen minutes.

Lahat ata ng mga babae sa may kabilang side ng court na kung nasan sila Charles ay mabilis na nag-offer ng tubig, juice at towels para i-encourage sila na galingan pa at para sabihin na kaya pa nila 'yan.

"What's wrong with Charles? Is he feeling sick?"

"It can't be helped! Even Charles can have a bad moment!"

"He didn't look like someone who's unwell though"

Hindi ako nakapagreak sa ingay ng crowd.

"Unwell my ass! More like wala ang kaluluwa niya ano! Stop embarrassing yourself, you idiot! I couldn't even watch you anymore!" natawa nalang ako ng nakisigaw si Violet sakanila

"Okay, 14 more minute left! It's time for operation Sephine and Charles Reunite!" sabi ni Mandy saka ako hinila patayo

"That's right! Fight poison with poison! Bilisan niyo na! Uutusan ko si Ed na dalhin si Charles sa may backstage" sabi naman ni Venus kaya naman huminga na ako ng malalim saka tinignan ang bag ko

"Will this work?" mahina kong tanong

Hindi ko inexpect na ganito pala ang epekto ko kay Charles. I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable really. Naging selfish lang talaga ako't naguluhan. Grr. Nakakaguilty naman.

"Paano kung bigyan ko nalang din siya ng space at umalis nalang? There's still after the game, right?" tanong ko at sabay sabay naman silang bumugtong hininga

"If you leave, he'll be even more annoying and distracted. Sige na. Tumungo ka na sa backstage. Kapag naibigay mo na, bumalik ka nalang din kaagad" sabi naman ni Mandy saka ako tinulak palabas

"Fine," bulong ko't nagpatuloy nalang sa paglalakad papunta sa back side ng gym na kung saan ay may daan papunta sa backstage

Nang makalusot na ako sa may malaking butas ay agad na akong binigyan ng 'aja' pose ni Mandy saka ako sinabihan ng "good luck" at umalis na kaya naman napakagat na ako ng labi ko't naglakad papunta sa dulong part ng backstage.

"Ano ba, Ed? Anong gagawin natin dito? Magrereklamo ka rin ba sa inasal ko? I just couldn't help it okay? She's here and she's obviously looking at me! I can't help but get distracted and excited at the same time!"

I blushed when I heard Charles.

Paano niya ba nakakayanang sabihin ang mga bagay na 'yan?

"Tsk. Kaya naman pala eh. Over-excited ka kaya ganun ka maglaro! Sus naman! Para namang ngayon mo lang nakita si Sephine eh nasa iisang campus lang naman kayo!"

Boses 'yun nila Charles at Ed. Papunta na siya.

Napahawak na ako sa dibdib ko dahil sa lakas ng pintig nito.

"She's been avoiding me and you know that. It's my fault anyways. Pero ngayon na nandito siya't napakalapit lang sa akin, I feel this strong urge to get close and go to where she i--" natigilan si Charles sa pagsasalita nang makita niya sa napakalawak na backstage

My breathing literally stopped.

And it only returned when Ed laughed at our expressions. Both of us were actually blushing and staring at each other.

"'Yan. Sino ba kasing nagsabi na magsisigaw ka ha? Mag ingat ka nga sa sunod, baka malapit lang 'yung pinaguusapan natin. Tsk. Maiwan na nga kita dyan. You still have 10 minutes left. Ciao~" at agad nang tumakbo paalis si Ed

Susundan pa sana siya ni Charles pero agad na akong nagsalita.

"I'm sorry," dahilan kung bakit siya napahinto

"Huh?" naguguluhan niyang tanong kaya naman hindi ko na napigilan at naluha na

"I'm sorry, Charles, I'm a coward. I.. I avoided you and made you uncomfortable. I'm such.. I'm.. I'm sorry.."

Charles' POV

My heart ached immediately at the sight of her tears.

Natigilan ako sa pag-iisip na baka nagha-hallucinate lang ako pero nang makita ko na ang mga luha niya ay agad na akong tumakbo papalapit sakanya.

"No, no, I'm sorry too. Alam kong hindi mo alam kung paano ako harapin after ng lahat ng nangyari. Kasalanan ko lahat, Seph. Please, 'wag ka nang umiyak" hahawakan ko na sana siya pero agad din akong natigilan dahil baka iwasan niya nanaman ako

"Hmm?" sinilip niya ako't nang makita niyang nakaabot ang kamay ko sakanya ay nanlaki ang mga mata niya

"Sht. I-I.. I'm sorry. It's by impuls-" this time, I was the one who was caught off guard

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Author's Note: Hi guys! If you liked the revised version of the book, be sure to raise your voices and give me your feedback. And if you saw some mistakes here and there, please do tell me. Feedback is important for further improvement and growth. Please do vote and comment! Thanks for reading guys! Have a blessed day! XOXO~