The smell hit first — garlic, vinegar, and frying oil that never truly left the air.
The carinderia was half open to the street, humming with radio static and passing jeepneys.
Steam fogged the glass display of viands: adobo, kalderetang kambing, giniling and tortang talong — the usual after-game heaven.
Riki ducked under the tarp, shoes squeaking on the wet concrete.
He grinned like he owned the place.
"Ate Bebang! The heroes have arrived!"
Ate Bebang didn't even look up from the sizzling pan.
"Heroes pay extra, Riki. You think glory buys rice?"
Bong raised his hands. "What if it comes with exposure?"
"Then expose yourself to the bill," she shot back.
Laughter rolled across the narrow space — Flowstate, all crammed around a long aluminum table.
Their jerseys were still half-tucked, hair damp, sneakers dusty from victory.
This was their court too — no lights, no bleachers, but the same heartbeat.
From behind the counter, a small voice said, "Ma, they're noisy again."
Ate Bebang turned, smiling despite herself. "Let them. Noise means business."
The voice belonged to a boy — Arin, about seven years old, peeling garlic with fierce concentration.
He was perched on a stool, tongue poking out as he tried not to crush the cloves.
Riki leaned over. "Hey, little man, learning the secret recipe already?"
Arin looked up proudly. "I'm gonna be the best cook in the galaxy."
Bong laughed. "Galaxy? Start with the barangay, bro."
Arin shook his head hard. "Nope. Galaxy. I'm serious."
Thea smiled faintly. "Dream big, kid."
He nodded solemnly. "Bigger than big. I'll cook for everyone. Even aliens."
Ate Bebang flicked his ear gently. "Aliens can wait. Wash your hands first."
The whole table laughed, even Teo — quiet, tired, but finally smiling.
It felt lighter here.
Scene: The Game on TV
"Hey, hey!" Jax pointed his spoon at the small wall-mounted TV near the counter. "Governor's Cup highlights!"
The volume was too loud. The image barely clear. But everyone leaned in.
On screen: Iron Tide — the team that had just sent Flowstate to the losers' bracket.
Marco "Wave" Herrera, smiling like a movie star. Tank Cruz pounding his chest after a rebound.
Riki leaned back, mouth full of rice. "He still looks like he moisturizes before every game."
Thea, arms crossed, didn't look up. "He's good. Let him have his moment."
"Yeah," Riki said, chewing. "I'll take it back next week."
The screen cut to the next match: Iron Tide vs. Steel Vipers.
Crowd noise filled the carinderia. Even Ate Bebang leaned on the counter to watch.
Wave crossed over Venom Lao, step-back three — swish.
Bong whistled. "Bro's got style, I'll give him that."
Teo watched quietly. "But he doesn't defend."
Kio smirked. "He doesn't have to when he scores like that."
Steel Vipers answered back — Tower Chan with a block, Venom with a floater — and-one.
The carinderia erupted. A few tricycle drivers clapped. One yelled, "Foul 'yon, ref!"
By the final minute, everyone had stopped eating.
Wave dribbled, spun, fadeaway — bucket.
Iron Tide 56 – Steel Vipers 54.
Bong slammed the table. "No way! Again?!"
Riki raised his glass of Mountain Dew. "To villains who don't die easy."
Jax clinked his fork against it. "And heroes who eat before they train again."
Scene: Strategy and Banter
Thea flipped a napkin and started writing matchups.
"Next bracket's out," she said. "We're up against Crimson Sharks. Iron Tide gets Midnight Hawks."
Riki groaned. "Sharks, huh? They play like angry piranhas."
Bong leaned in. "At least we're not facing Wave yet."
Drei, quiet till now, spoke up. "We will. Eventually."
The table fell silent for a second. Drei's tone wasn't cold — just certain.
Thea glanced at him, then at Teo. "We'll need more than rhythm next round. Teo—"
Teo looked up. "Yeah?"
"Your passing. Use your size to move the ball. The Sharks bite at isolation plays."
Riki grinned. "So, triangle, huh?"
Thea smiled. "Triangle. Flow. You know the drill."
Arin peeked from behind the counter. "Triangles don't win basketball!"
Riki pointed his spoon dramatically. "They do when they're neon pink!"
Arin laughed so hard he nearly dropped the garlic.
Scene: Closing
Rain started again, tapping on the tin roof.
The TV flickered off as the power dipped for a second.
Flowstate stayed, eating and arguing, laughter and clatter filling the night.
Outside, puddles mirrored the glow of passing headlights.
Inside, the rhythm of spoons, laughter, and plans played on —
a different kind of practice, quieter but just as vital.
Ate Bebang collected the plates. "You boys better win next time."
Riki saluted with his fork. "For the galaxy's future chef."
Arin waved his garlic peeler. "Don't lose! I'm naming my first dish after you!"
"What dish?" Thea asked.
He grinned. "Flowstate Fried Rice!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
Even Drei cracked a rare smile.
And as the night carried on —
the smell of vinegar and steam mixing with the sound of rain —
it felt less like a break and more like the start of something.
Another beat.
Another rhythm.
End of Chapter 14 — "Kanin, Kambing, at Coverage"