"Love without risk is an impossibility, like war without death." - Alain Badiou

We have been playing for almost 2 hours and I can say that she's quite a good player especially on Par 3 holes. Sarah is a certified birdie hitting those holes less than one stroke on the declared Par. She wasn't really bluffing when she said that she was not good with golf but because she is a pro with Par 3. And she got me there! Hindi ko dapat minamaliit ang kakayahan niya. Now, kakapanalo lang nila from the previous hole which was a Par 6 hole. Magaling pa rin kasi ang kanyang lolo kahit mas matanda ito kaysa papa. Napag hahalataang may ari ng golf course dahil sa angking galing.

They are 1+ which means kailangan naming ipanalo ang next hole so we can all square the match. They're up by 1 but there are still two holes left to play and we need to win the next 2 holes or else I might suffer an ending that I dare not want.

"Kayong dalawa na ang tumapos ng laro. There are two holes left nalang, kaya niyo na yan at magpapahinga muna ang mga oldies." Her grandfather announced while arranging the club in the golf bag.

Agad siyang nilingon ni Sarah with an apparent bright smile on her face. "Don't worry Papop, I won't give her a chance to square. Leave it to me."

"So competitive, huh?" His grandfather commented.

"Takot yatang matalo si Sarah, sir." I said with a hint of laughter.

"I didn't know that golf has become your thing na apo?" Her nanna asked out of curiosity.

"Ngayon lang Nanna. Mukhang minamaliit kasi ako ng isang pro golfer dito." Sagot niya naman.

They only laughed at Sarah's predicament pero pati ako ay napapangiti narin. Unbeknownst to them, na labis ang kaba naming dalawa on how this match would turn out. Wag lang sana talaga kaming matalo. I really need to win this one. Just this match Lord! I begged The Almighty.

"Oh simulan niyo na, we will just watch over." I grandad suggested.

"Give them time Freddie, mukhang kinakabahan ang dalawa eh. Ayaw talagang magpatalo sa isa't isa." Masayang tugon naman ni Mama dahilan para mapanatag ako ng konti.

"Never akong magpapatalo po, matalo na ako sa mga susunod kong laro ng golf till the end of time basta wag lang talaga to. Not this time!" I said with full conviction.

"Daming sinasabi. Bring it on!" Sarah said, challenging me to beat her.

I immediately changed my club for this hole. Shit! It's a par 3 hole pa, kung saan sobrang galing ni Sarah. Ah bahala na, I believe in you, self. We can do this. I positioned myself on the tee while doing the perfect posture and ready to take the swing.

*swing sound effect

"Nice shot, Tanch. It made it to the green." My grandad shouted as he clapped his hands.

Now, it is Sarah's turn. She seems so confident because this is where she's very good at. Agad siyang pumwesto sa tee at ready na ring mag swing ng biglang humangin ng malakas.

*swing sound effect

"Oh shoot! Bakit biglang humangin! Ang pangit ng swing ko!" Pagrereklamo niya.

"Baby, parang hindi umabot sa green. Kaya pa yan. Bawi ka nalang sa next stroke." Sagot naman ng Nanna niya.

We moved to the position of our ball. Since siya ang mas malayo so she got to do her next stroke first. After her, ay agad naman akong sumunod.

*swing sound effect

"Bang! It's birdie! Yeah!" I shouted in excitement.

"Wow! Galing Tanch! Such luck huh?" Rinig kong compliment ng lolo ni Sarah.

"So I guess, it is all square now, Julio?" Sabi naman ni lolo ko.

"Maybe, but we will see. Baka my luck din ang apo ko." Sagot naman ng lolo ni Sarah

Nilingon ko is Sarah and the irritation in her face is very visible. Naiinis talaga ito dahil sa palpak niyang swing kanina dahil sa hangin. And it even got worse when I got the birdie in this whole.

*swing sound effect

Lumundag naman sa saya ang puso ko when the ball reached beyond the flag. She will have this hole in 3 strokes. Thank you Lord! I silently whispered.

"All squares." I smiled at her.

She smiled in return. "Swerte mo ngayon ah. You still got the chance. Ngayon this will be the do or die hole." Pagpapaalala niya sa akin.

"Yeah! May the odds be ever in our favor." I told her, as I tried to remain calm so I could focus on the next hole.

"Why don't we make it a little exciting?" She asked out of nowhere while we were walking our way to the next hole. The oldies already went ahead kaya kami na lang ang nahuli.

"What do you mean?" I asked her at bigla siyang napahinto sa paglalakad and then she faced me.

"Let's have another bet." Masaya niyang sabi. Teka parang kinakabahan ako dito.

"Sure. What is it?" Agad kong sagot.

"Pag nanalo ako sa next hole. I get to ask one request from you. Just one. Aside pa yun sa napag usapan natin kanina. So if manalo ako dito, you're out of my life and I also get a chance to make one request from you." Pagpapaliwanag niya.

"Deal, but if I win this match. I'll have two requests from you. As simple as that, saka ko na lang sasabihin kung ano yung request na yun." Sagot ko naman sa kanya.

"Deal." She shortly said.

"By all means, let's go ahead." I answered as we continued to walk through the next tee box.

She nodded in my direction while she said. "On your lead ma'am!"

Ang pormal at ang bait yata ng pakikitungo niya sa akin ngayon. This day is so unusual of her, huwag naman sanang ibig sabihin na mabait siya because this could be the last.

There's no way na papayag akong matalo! "Let's manifest it myself na mananalo tayo!"

I whispered to cheer myself up.

|

"What the hell!" I cursed loud enough for Sarah to hear.

Her face painted a triumphant smile that she immediately hid.

"What's wrong Tanch?" She asked innocently.

"Sinadya mo ba to? This is another Par 3 hole. Paano akong mananalo nito sayo?" I retorted in disbelief.

She just brushed off my accusation and instead, she gave me a bright smile. "Hindi ako ang may gawa ng golf course na to so how can I? Diba?"

I frown at the thought na mas lumiit ang chance kong manalo against her because of this f*cking Par 3 hole. "Whatever!" I said irritatingly.

"Shall I go first while you compose yourself?" She asked innocently. If I didn't know better, she's enjoying my discomfort.

"Go ahead!" I shortly replied.

I watched her as she prepared for her game winning posture.

Lord! Please! Just don't make it to the green. I plead silently as I close my eyes to try to calm myself so I can focus on my swing.

*Swing sound effect

I forced my eyes to open upon hearing that she already took her swing.

"Excellent Apo! Just outside the flag!" I heard her grandad shouts in excitement!

Just by the announcement of her grandad, she turned her gaze to me with a very triumphant smile. "It's Birdie again! So, are we about to bid our goodbyes?"

I swear in an instant I can feel our future fading away again in front of me.

You're in trouble Tanch! She's winning this game and there's nothing you can do about it.

I whispered to myself.

With all the strength I have, I decided not to answer her anymore and ignore her instead. I walked past her and positioned myself in the tee, ready to take the swing of my life.

Kayo na pong bahala Lord! Heck! Asa naman if tutupad ako sa usapan. I will keep coming back to your life Sarah, no matter what.

I told myself before hitting the golf ball.

I didn't bother to check how the swing goes or if the ball made it to the green.

*Swing sound effect

"Holy smokes! It's Eagle!" I heard my grandad shout in excitement.

"Ha?! What?" I asked in disbelief.

"It's Eagle, my child. What a lucky swing you've got! Congratulations!" Sarah's grandad exclaimed.

And me, still in a state of shock. I can't believe it. It's Eagle! It's Eagle! It's Eagle! It's Eagle! It keeps repeating in my head. And when it started to sink in, I just can't help but jump in extreme joy.

"I won! I won! I mean we won!" I exclaimed.

"Wow! Congrats dear! What a match!" I heard the oldies.

"Thank you!" I answered.

And then I faced the woman who remained silent for the entire time after I took my swing.

"And you." I smiled at her. "You owe me something."

She just forced a smile. Disappointment is visible in her face. Ayaw niyang ipahalata na hindi siya natutuwa sa resulta ng laro. After all, this is not just a friendly game for the both of us.

"Tuwang tuwa ah. Swerte ka lang ngayon, huwag kang mag mayabang diyan." She retorted at me.

I smiled wolfishly. "Hindi naman masyado." I told her as I walked closer to her. Ayaw kong marinig ng mga grannies namin ang sasabihin ko sa kanya. "It's just a date and two requests. It's not too much to ask, dearest Sarah G." I whispered to her but not without blowing some hot air.

She was about to say something, probably, something about what the contract states. But I immediately cut her off before she could say anything. "6PM tonight, I'll pick you up at your house. That's the first request. Goodbye my Sarah G, see you later." I told her.

I didn't bother to wait for her reply and went straight to my grannies to bid my goodbye.

"I have to go na po. Goodbye!" I said as I kissed them both in the cheeks.

"Sir, Maam." Pagkuha ko ng attention sa aming mababait na host. "Thanks for having me. I did have fun. And you've got a beautiful place." Pagpapaalam ko naman sa grannies ni Sarah.

"Anytime, Hija. Balik ka sometime soon." Sabi naman ni Nanna.

Wow ha Tanch! Nakiki Nanna kana ngayon!

Bulong ng baliw kong utak.

"Definitely, ma'am. Goodbye po!".

And just like that I went straight home para sa dinner date namin mamaya ng babaeng pikon dahil talunan.

"Nakakainis! Arrgh!" Sigaw ko sa sobrang frustration dahil natalo ako sa match play namin kanina.

Sobrang swerte lang ni Tanch dahil naka eagle siya sa last hole. Kung hindi lang siya inulan ng swerte ngayong araw, for sure ako na ang nanalo. It's just outside the flag yung tira ko kanina.

Tanggapin mo na lang na talo ka. Get dress para matapos na yung isa niyang request sayo.

Sermon naman ng sane part ng utak ko.

"Well tama ka. Date lang naman yun. I can suffer for her company tonight, para bukas di na ako guluhin ng babaeng yun." Pag kausap ko sa sarili ko.

|

"Okay na ba to?" Tanong ko sa sarili ko while checking myself in front of the mirror.

Ano ka ba Sarah! Tama nga yan. Nakailang palit kana ng suot. My mind reprimanded.

Yes, naka ilang palit na ako ng damit para to make sure that I will look great tonight.

Don't tell me, that you're trying to impress Tanch in date night? Dagdag pa niya.

"Duh!" I answered as I tried to shove off that idea. "Never!" I told myself.

Eh bakit ang tagal mo diyan?

I just raised my brows because I can't find the right reason kung bakit nga ba ako nag kaka ganito.

I am still applying some lipstick ng may biglang nag doorbell. It should be her, about time at mag 6PM na nga.

I went downstairs to check if siya na nga ba ang dumating.

"Antagal mong bumaba! Halatang sobrang pinaghandaan tong dinner date natin." Bungad sa akin ng isang Tanchellie Lobete the moment our eyes met.

I was about to answer her back but I got distracted with her beauty. She looks like a hot badass chick in her white t-shirt and black leather jacket and denim pants that are perfectly paired with boots.

"Eyes up here, ma'am." She said with a grin in her pretty face.

Wow Sarah ha! You keep complimenting Tanch! Baka iba na yan huh.

"Sorry. So tarah na?" Pag anyaya ko sa kanya.

"No! Change!" She firmly answered.

I give her a meaningful look. Hindi ba ako maganda sa suot ko ngayon kaya gusto niyang mag palit ako.

"Don't I look good in this dress?" I asked her in disbelief.

She released a small sigh. Napansin niya atang nainis ako sa sinabi niya.

"Don't get me wrong. You always look gorgeous even if you wear plain clothes. It's just that I can't let you wear that kind of clothes when that is our ride." She told me while pointing at her ducati monster 797.

"Wow! Hindi mo naman kasi sinabi agad. Okay, I'll change. Mahilig ka din pala sa bikes." And with that, niyaya ko siyang pumasok sa bahay ko, para makapag palit na rin ako kaagad.

Mabilis pa sa alas cuatro ako nakabihis. She got me excited with this date night because of her choice of ride. Ang galing niya!

"Let's go." Sabi ko sa kanya the moment na naka baba ako.

She only smiled at me while she said. "Looks like someone is excited for this date."

"Asa ka pa!" I replied with a forceful smile.

"Okay, dahil ready kana. I want to clear things up for you. This dinner date is my first request." She stated.

"Yes. I get that. So let's get going." Pag mamadali ko sa kanya.

"Wait! And for my second request. You will do all my bidding for the rest of the night."

Para akong nabingi sa sinabi niya. "What? Do all your bidding?"

"Oopps. Ako ang nanalo dito so ako ang mag dedesisyon. Whether you like it or not." She insisted.

"Whatever!" I answered habang padabog na naglakad palabas ng bahay. I think she really planned all of this.

"And for the bidding, you will call me "love" for the entire night." She said with a visible triumphant smile on her face.

"You f*cking kidding me!"Nakakainis talaga ang babaeng ito.

"I'm afraid not! At sa bawat pagtawag mo sa akin sa pangalan ko or anything other than "love" may katumbas itong parusa. One kiss sa bawat pagkakamali or for missing out." Dagdag pa niya.

I thought I would enjoy this so called date night with her. But it seems I landed myself in another trouble here.

"You bloody lost your mind!" Galit na sabi ko sa kanya.

She only laughed with my outburst. "And I intend to collect all the kisses at the end of the night."

I rolled my eyes at her. "You wish! Ni isang kiss wala kang makukuha sa akin."

"I won't be so sure if I were you, my love. Because I intend to make love to your sinfully tempting lips at the end of this night." She said before she rode on her bike.

While I stand frozen from where I've been standing about her sudden declaration...

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako mas matatakot sa banta niya ba or in the fact that I would let her take liberties with my body again because of the very fact that I still do feel something for her even when I tried to deny it to myself...