SPIKING THE PAIN (Varsity Series #1) (PUBLISHED)

23

Kaunti na lang at mananalo na ang Malinao University. They are up to two sets to none and only nine points is what they need to grab the game. Adding the fact that they are leading the scoreboard. 16-8 is the current score. This will be a sure win for them.

We are just watching from the bench, watching their plays for the championship— I mean, we won't let the opponent later snatch to us the final's ticket. That's already reserved for us.

We will do everything to take that ticket. Hindi dapat masayang ang training namin.

I looked at Meg who is sitting in my right. "If we win later, what will be my prize, Meg?"

Even though the crowd is too loud, she still heard me. She looked at me, too.

"Anything you want, Trish."

I smiled. Hinawakan ko ang kaniyang kaliwang kamay na may suot na singsing. I still can't believe that she accepted it.

"Well, I will have you as my prize, Meg. Ayos na ako sa 'yo." I chuckled.

Tumaas ang gilid ng labi niya. "Kahit naman hindi ka manalo ay makukuha mo ako."

Nakagat ko ang aking labi dahil sa kaniyang sagit. Nagpigil ako ng tawa. Grabe, hindi ko akalaing sobrang open minded ng girlfriend ko.

Time flies fast. As expected, Malinao university won the game. Hindi ko na nga halos napanood ang laro nila. Sabi pa naman ni coach ay pag-aralan namin ang palo ng team captain nila para malaman namin ang kahinaan niya. Kaso. . . as far as I witnessed. His spikes were almost flawless. Mayroon ding variation ang atake niya kaya kahit natatapatan ng blockers ay hindi pa rin siya mapigilan. Minsan ay down the line, minsan din ay crosscourt, at masasabi kong alam niya gamitin ang kamay ng blockers. Power ang atake niya kaya minsan ay napapalo niya na sa attack line na bumabagsak ang bola.

Like me, his asset is his height, but I am different because I spike the ball fast and I am thankful that I have a very good connection to Josh. Isang signal ko lang sa kaniya na babaan ang set ay gagawin niya kaagad. He really has a good ball handling.

Hindi ko namalayan na wala na pala kami sa court. 

"Meg, 'di ba gusto mo rin mag-travel?"

Narito kami sa isang kuwarto kasama ang teammates ko na may sari-sariling ginagawa. Nakaupo kami ni Meg sa puting monoblock. Siya ay gumagamit ng kaniyang cellphone nang magtanong ako.

Nilingon niya ako.

"Hmm," tango niya. "Bakit?"

"Papayagan na kitang libutin ang mundo."

Nanlaki ang mata niya; ang pagkagulat sa mukha niya ay kitang-kita. Matagal na kasi siyang nagpapaalam sa akin about sa bagay na iyon kaso ay hindi ko siya pinayagan.

Yes, that's one of the things she wants to do, but now she can't do because she wants to fulfill it with me and I never let her tho.

"Talaga?"

"Hmm. Hahayaan na kitang libutin ang mundo. . . basta ako ang magiging mundo mo." I chuckled.

Her face turned red. Nahampas niya na naman ako sa braso. "Tsk! Akala ko pa naman." Saka siya ngumuso. Mas lalo akong natawa.

Inakbayan ko siya. "Joke lang. Pero totoo, Meg. Hahayaan kita. . . just wait me finish my college and we will travel, okay?" I then kissed her hair. Naramdaman ko ang kaniyang pagtango.

"Pupunta lang akong CR."

Humiwalay ako sa pagkakaakbay sa kaniya. Tatayo na sana ako nang hawakan niya ang aking kamay para pigilan ako.

"Iiwan mo ako rito?"

Nangunot ang aking noo. "Bakit?"

"Wala akong kasama," nakangusong aniya.

Napatawa na naman ako. Naupo ako ulit. "Nandito naman ang teammates ko, ah? Wala ka bang tiwala sa kanila?"

Napatungo siya. "Hindi naman sa gano'n."

Nangunot ang aking noo. "Ahh! I knew it. You want to go with me to the CR, aren't you? Don't tell me—"

Natigil ako sa aking sasabihin nang hampasin niya na naman ako. "Aray," daing ko pero natatawa.

"Kung ano-anong naiisip mo."

"You don't have to worry, Meg. Ikaw lang naman ang kasama ko sa naiisip ko." Mas lalo akong natawa nang samaan niya ako ng tingin.

Nag-peace sign na lamang ako sa kaniya. "Hehe. Joke lang." 

Muli na akong tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo. "Sige na, Meg. Mabilis lang ako."

Nang tumango siya ay lumabas na ako sa kuwarto. Dumiretso na ako sa lokasyon ng CR ng school. Pumasok ako sa loob at saka dumiretso sa urinal. May umiihi rin sa kabilang dulo kaya roon ako dumiretso sa kabila. Doon sa corner. Isa iyon sa urinary etiquette. Kapag may umiihi rin, 'wag doon umihi sa tabi niya unless the urinal is full.

I washed my hands when I finished. Saka ako lumabas ng banyo.

Didiretso na sana ako pabalik nang may makita akong nag-uusap. Pamilyar sa akin ang kanilang boses kaya kahit hindi ko gustong makinig ay napilitan ako.

Nagtago ako sa gilid. Narito pa rin ako sa bukana ng banyo tapos may hallway na pagkatapos. naroon sila sa kanan ko. Mabuti na lamang at hindi nila ako nakita noong mapalampas ako nang kaunti.

I am not a gossiper. It's just that what they are talking is about volleyball and it caught my attention.

"Please, coach Dan. Ibalato mo na sa akin ang taon na ito."

My temple knotted. It's coach Renz's voice.

"Please. Tell your players not to play the way they usually play."

I heard another coach smirked. "Sigurado ka ba diyan sa sinasabi mo, coach Renz?" coach Dan asked.

"Sigurado na ako, coach. Please give me this. This will be my last coaching year and I want to end this with a championship."

I can't see their faces. I don't know what emotion they are showing but I am sure of one thing; coach Renz was asking something from him and he was begging.

"I can't do that, coach. My players will prove that they are the best. We can't afford to lose to your players— to your players who still need more training. They can't win over us if they will play weak like what they showed the last time. They still have to undergo training. They are still weak." 

Nagpanting ang tainga ko. He doesn't have a right to say those words. He's a coach so he must know what to say and what to not in a players like me.

How unprofessional of him.

I can't stop myself but showing up. "You don't need to belittle us just to tell that your team is the best, coach Dan. You can lift your team without dragging others."