POS 1: Miles, Track and Field Hottie

Sprint: Twelve

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Miles cursed in his head when he saw the back of his opponent's head while they're running. He needs to be the representative of the two districts now. He's on his way in becoming the representative.

Kailangan niyang lagpasan ang kalaban niya. Gusto niyang talunin ang aroganteng Derrick na iyon. That guy was one of the phenomenal runners in their generation and he wanted to defeat him. And he's looking forward to compete with him in the international scene.

But before that, he has to defeat the athlete from Columbus Charter University. He's taller than the guy in front of him but his strides were faster than Miles. Hindi talaga ganoon ka-advantage ang pagkakaroon ng mahahabang biyas dahil may mabilis pa ang strides sa kanya. Huminga siya nang malalim.

If he's determined to become a professional athlete, he should break his own record, not anyone's record. He's his own enemy.

His legs pumped furiously as he rounded the second curve, maintaining a steady pace. He could feel the heat of the sun and the warm wind, yet he focused more on his strides and his pace.

Nauna pa rin ang kalaban niya. He pushed himself harder, his heart pounding in his chest. With every stride, he entered the final straightaway. Tila naglaho ang ingay, ang init ng paligid, at mga tao sa paligid niya, maging ang kalaban niya.

With a final burst of energy, he crossed the line, his time flashing on the scorehead

As she entered the final straightaway, Sarah pushed herself harder, her heart pounding in her chest. With every stride, she inched closer to the finish line, the cheers of the crowd urging her on. With a final burst of energy, she crossed the line, her time flashing on the scoreboard.

He swore he passed by him within seconds. The crowd erupted into cheers as Miles's time was announced, breaking his previous record. Excitement rushed through him and his teammates ran to him as he realized that his dream of becoming a professional athlete was within reach.

It was the beginning of his running career. No matter how his father hates his sport, he would lose his hope. Nakita niya ang defeat sa mga mata ng kalaban niya.

"You're a formidable foe. Let's meet soon in another competition again," said the guy. Sanchez ang apelyido nito. Kapwa silang pinapawisan. They shook hands and he smiled. "Congrats."

"You too."

"Damn. Hindi ko makakalaban ang lalaking iyon." Napapalatak lamang ito.

"Derrick?" As if on cue, they saw Derrick on the bleachers. Madali itong mapansin dahil sa aura nito. Nagkataon pang nakatingin ito sa kanila na seryuso ang expression sa mga mata.

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Miles.

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Maagang gumising si Miles upang tumakbo. It was five in the morning when he did some exercises he included in his training regimen. Siya na mismo ang gumawa ng regimen niya na kasama ng advice ni Coach Martin.

Magj-jogging lang muna siya ngayon na hindi sa pagmamayabang ay takbo na sa ibang tao na hindi gusto ang ganoong exercise. Galing siya sa Eastside tumatakbo hanggang sa napunta siya sa Northside na mas maraming greenery. He was jogging when he saw a familiar back of a woman.

Minsan na niyang nakita ang likod na iyon. Nakasuot din ito ng jogger pants na tulad niya na uniform ng DCU students. Magkaiba lang ang upper nila dahil siya ay nakaputi at ito'y light pink ang shirt.

"Hey," tawag niya rito, Sakto naman tumama ang papasikat na araw sa mukha nito nang lumingon sa kanya.

"Good morning," bati nito sa kaswal na boses. Hindi talaga ito naiilang sa mga lalaki kahit na napapaligiran ito sa Neon's. Tila ba sa buong buhay na ito ay pinaliligiran ng mga kalalakihan.

He matched her strides. 

"Bakit ngayon lang kita nakita?"

"Madalas ako sa Westside," simpleng sagot nito. "Hindi lang siguro nagkakasalubong before pero madalas akong mag-jogging ng mga ganitong oras."

"Siguro nga." Nag-focus na lang siya sa paggalaw ng mga paa niya at mga kamay. Minsan, naiimpluwensiyahan ng galaw ng mga kamay ang strides. He swayed his hands even more and his feet moved on its own accord.

"Is your first love running?" she asked randomly. She matched his strides and pacing.

"Yes. You?" he asked. Bumagal sila sa pag-jogging. He took his time. Ayaw niyang ma-pressure at baka pagtawanan pa siya ni Derrick.

"No, volleyball. But I discovered my talent in roller derby. It was like a wrestling match between girls. But I would like it if boys are my opponents."

"Do you hate men like me?" She slightly flinched. May negatibo ba itong karanasan sa mga lalaki at tila pansin niya ang pagiging ilag nito sa mga kalalakihan?

"Yes. But not all of you. Kung may gagawin kang di kaaya-aya, I won't bat an eye." Sandali itong tumigil kaya tumigil na rin siya. Kapwa sila pawisan at nagkataong nakatigil sila malapit sa isang vending machine. Kumuha sila ng tubig roon to hydrate themselves.

Tumigil sila sa isang bench upang doon magpahinga sandali. Gusto sana niyang tanungin kung bakit nandoon ito sa Pinas at sa DCU. Halata kasing may accent ang English nito.

"Going back, bakit ka tumatakbo? Para saan?"

"I don't know."

Tinaasan siya nitong ng kilay. "Hindi mo alam? Bakit tumatakbo ka pa rin hanggang ngayon?"

"Hinahanap ko pa kung bakit. When I'm running, I'm free just like how Eros says that he's free when swimming. But I have to push harder. Ako yung tipong taong kapag sinabihang hindi ito para sa akin, nagpupumilit pa rin ako." Just like how he defied his father. For him, his sports was just a waste of time. Ayaw niyang tahakin ang landas na gusto nito para sa kanya.

Kaya nga, nandoon siya sa Dayton Crest University. Para hindi siya nito makontrol. Matigas pa naman ang ulo niya at gustong gawin ang gusto niya. Hindi naman ito ang magdudurusa sa mga desisyon niya. Ang sarili niya ang may kontrol sa buhay niya sa kabila ng mga unforeseen circumstances.

"You? Bakit roller derby?"

"Escape." Nalingunan niya ito. Nakatingin ito sa malayo. "That's my way to escape and release my frustrations so I turn into sports. Sa roller derby, walang magrereklamo kung paano ko sila ialis sa oval kaysa sa volleyball na puwede akong ma-foul nang mabilis."

Nakita na niya itong maglaro ng sports nito. Ang lakas nito ay puwede nang maihalintulad sa mga lalaki. Mas malakas pa yata ito kay Preston na siyang pinakatamad sa kanila pagdating sa physical activities. Ito lang kasi ang may sports na utak at bilis ng mga kamay ang importante. Preston is a brilliant strategist in his own way.

"Hindi mo ba kasundo mga kasama mo sa team mo?" she asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. Napakamot siya sa pisngi niya. "Not exactly. Competitive ang mga team members lalo na yung mga kasabayan ko. Yung mga juniors namin ang magkakasundo. Nagkataon kasing mga individualist kami."

"That's why you didn't join the relay game." Pinanood nga niya ang relay. Pasok na rin ang team nila sa relay at di siya kabilang sa mga runners.

"Ibigay ko na iyon sa mga kasama ko sa team." Hindi naman nagpumilit si Coach Martin sa kanya. Naiintindihan naman nito ang desisyon niyang hindi sasali sa relay.

He missed his teammates in high school. They have the camaraderie that he liked.

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