Ether of Anarchy (Manchester I - ON HIATUS)

Chapter 7

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I was squeezing both of my knees while gasping for air. The sauna suit I'm wearing is absolutely drenched in sweat, although I only wore the jacket with jersey shorts on the bottom. I forced a hard swallow and felt a dryness in my throat. Even though I drank the water from my tumbler, I was still thirsty.

As I walked towards the bench, I looked around the court, but there was no one else but me. It was just early in the afternoon, so the sun was still straight, but it's a covered court, so it wasn't that hot on my skin.

Tabi lang 'to ng condominium ko kaya madalas ako rito. Malinis at makinis ang sahig magandang paglaruan kaya tuwing sabado ay nandito ako para magtraining. Tinignan ko ang selpon ko pero wala parin siyang reply. Late na siya ng 30 minutes kaya naiinip na ako.

Lumipas ang lima pang minuto at nagsimula na akong magshooting. Hindi ko na siya hihintayin dahil masasayang lang ang oras ko. Nakakasampong tres na ako pero iisa palang ang pumapasok. I don't know if it's because she's not here or I'm really weak. I hurled the ball into the ring and waited for it to return, but someone caught it under the ring.

"I know, I'm late." Panimula niya bago ipasa ang bola sakin.

"Let's start." Walang gana kong sagot.

She walked towards me kaya shinoot ko ang bola sa tres pero nanlaki ang mata ko ng hampasin niya 'yon at muntik ng tumama sa mukha ko, "Galit ka ata e."

I sighed, "Magtraining na tayo, Miss."

She chuckled, "Masyado ka namang hot, bata."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero tinaasan lang ako nito ng kilay, "Makakaalis ka na ho kung hindi ka tutulong."

He just laughed angrily before throwing the ball at me. It was really a hard throw, and the impact was strong and even hit my stomach, "Traffic, Lia. Wag kana magalit 'jan." I just shrugged, "Fine, 100 laps around the court. You'll give me three push-ups below the two rings."

Tumaas ang kilay ko, "Kakatakbo ko lang ng sampong kilometro."

Ngumisi lang siya bago imwestra ang ulo na ishoot ko ang bola. Sinunod ko siya pero hindi pumasok, "120 laps, now." Seryoso niyang utos kaya napailing nalang ako bago nagsimula.

"Whatever, Miss Avery."

I took off the sauna suit, leaving only a jersey. I pinned my hair high so as not to obstruct my vision. As I did Miss Avery's command, every time I finished my push-up under the ring, she would suddenly pass the ball when I stood up. I could almost retreat in shock and strength. We are only training for the third time today, but she has made me suffer too much.

It all started when I saw her right here in the same court last week, where the men were trying to hit on her. It wasn't a plan to approach her yet because she was wearing a jersey and she looked so far away from what i'm used to see her. Who wouldn't be surprised? She is a very formal and respected professor at the university, but when I saw her wearing a basketball jersey, she seemed to have switched her body. Who would have guessed Miss Avery, a beautiful and fragile woman, was a monster on the inside of the court?

Nagulat kami pareho noong nilapitan ko siya. Napaaway ako ng oras na 'yon dahil binastos siya ng mga lalakeng nagbabasketball. Simula 'non nagkasundo kami hindi bilang propesor at estudyante kundi coach at trainee niya. Nalaman ko rin na siya ang coach ng Manchester Women's Basketball Team at dahil isa ako sa player ng university naging coach ko siya kahit nasa labas kami ng university. Being a basketball player added as advantage to my scholarship, that's why Race reminded me all the time to break off my troubled head because it depends a lot.