Anchored Fault Lines

Chapter 5

Unstable

Lauricia

"More energy, come on, guys! We gave you enough time to rest. Malapit na ang intercampus!" Our cheerleading coach boomed the place with his urgent claps. "Pavico, anong ginagawa mo?!"

Hingal akong naglakad pabalik sa mga benches. Sumenyas ako sa kanila na kailangan ko lang ipahinga saglit ang paa ko dahil nanghihina na ito. Binawian lamang ako ni coach ng pag-iling bago muling dumagundong ang lugar dahil sa kanyang boses.

From afar, I saw Sydney looking at me, perking her thumbs up—inquiring about my current state. Nginitian ko lamang siya at tinanguan.

The intercampus is dated annually to challenge all the college institutions in the vastness of the city of Escobar. Ito lagi ang pinakahihintay, hindi lang naming mga cheerleaders, kundi lalo na ng mga atleta ng iba't ibang unibersidad. All year, four universities under the city's name offer their blood, sweat, and tears for this annual event.

Not only it gives pride to the institution that will bag the title of the overall champion, but also gives honor to those who participated—one that will echo in the minds of the people for quite a period of time.

"Ayos ka lang?" Lumapit sa akin si Sydney pagkatapos ng dalawang rounds ng routine ni coach. "Kanina ka pa pabalik-balik sa bench at hawak 'yang paa mo. Don't tell me napuruhan?"

"Hindi, Syd, ano ka ba!" I feigned a laugh. "Ayos lang ako, nangawit lang siguro 'to. Tsaka 'yung biglang luhod kanina, medyo masakit sa tuhod."

"We can switch if you want. Mas maraming beses ka pa namang tinataas." Her eyes flickered with worry. "I can take some of your parts para may panahon ka pang magpahinga in between routines."

"I'm fine, Syd, really. No need to worry about me." I smiled at her as an assurance. "Besides, there's no time to switch parts. Malapit na ang intercampus."

Confidence was what I needed—not any sort of adjustments. I know she's worried about my current state given that I just concluded the Olympics a few weeks ago, and all the exhaustion that I ignored is now paying me back twice the pain.

Pero hindi ko pwedeng balewalain ang ensayo namin para sa Intercampus. Buong taon, ito lang ang pinaghahandaan ng ULF Golden Daffodils, hindi pwedeng malihis sa plano ang lahat.

"Practice daw ulit bukas sabi ni coach." May halong inis sa boses ni Syd.

"Linggo bukas," sabi ko. "Ayaw niya bang magpahinga, tumatanda na siya, ah?" I echoed a laugh.

"Baka marinig ka, hoy!"

"Seryoso nga, pati ba naman bukas?"

She just shrugged while walking off to the center of the gym to prepare for another round.

The gymnasium was enough to accommodate the cheerleading team of ULF. There are 30 of us in the team, enough to perform a 3-minute long routine. I am one of the flyers, while Sydney is one of the stunt performers and backspotters given that she has more strength in her arms than any other areas in her body.

Being a swimming athlete has its benefits—core strength along with fluidity and body control, altogether, it helped me sustain my energy throughout the performance and make graceful movements like water, so that makes me one of the flyers.

Pero ngayon parang bibigay lang talaga ang katawan ko. Nararamdaman ko ang pagod kahit kasisimula palang ng routine, at sa tuwing iaangat ako sa ere ay sinasalubong ako ng panghihina sa aking mga paa.

"What is happening with you, Pavico?" The coach's voice was deafening. "Kanina ka pa nawawalan ng balanse!"

"I think she needs to take a break," singit ng isa sa amin.