Snippets of Our Future (Commit and Run Series #2)

Chapter 5

But, if given a chance... I would maybe savor every moment in the team and give my best.

"They will observe your performances this coming semifinals hanggang finals so we better do our best, alright?" he said. "Pero hindi ibig-sabihin no'n na porket ayaw nating ma-scout, hindi na natin gagawin ang best natin. Remember, we are one. Team tayo," he smiled for us to remember what we are up to with this team.

Bata pa lang, pinangarap ko na agad ang makapasok a national team. High school when I got the chance to represent our school in a distict meet, our division in regional and our region during national meet. Lalo na noong makapasok ako sa UP bilang new member sa team nila, they saw my potential as a player and made me the captain the next day.

Mas lalong nabuhay ang pangarap ko nang malaman kong kapag nakatungtong ako sa tanyag na unibersidad at nakasali sa volleyball team, mas mataas ang tyansa na makapasok ako sa national team at iyon ang pinanghawakan ko araw-araw.

I can manage being an engineer while pursuing my path in sports. Hindi naman ako palaging nasa volleyball kaya alam kong magkakapanahon pa rin ako sa engineering field. But for now, I want to be one of the great volleyball player known because I am one of the players who won the international competition.

Nang i-dismiss na kami ni Coach ay agad na kaming umuwi pero dahil ako ang may dala sa susi, hinintay pa namin ang iba na makalabas. 

We used my car because they didn't bring theirs. Nagpahatid lang daw sila papunta sa traning namin kanina. When we arrived, wala masyadong tao sa loob kaya nakapwesto kami sa iilang tables sa loob.

"I want chips and a full meal!" masiglang sambit ni Frat. "Gutom na ako!"

"Nagluto nalang sana tayo sa condo, ang healthy mo d'yan, Frat." Tres chuckled. "Kape lang ang sa akin," kumuha na sila kaya kumuha na rin ako.

"Hindi ka makakatulog niyan, Bro. Lakas ng tama niyan." Sabi ko. 

Pumunta na rin kami sa counter para magbayad. Parehong babaeng staff ang nadatnan namin which I thanked to God because I don't want to argue with that guy. Not tonight.

Pero mukhang hindi yata ako ang swerte ngayong gabi. Dahil nang matapos kaming magbayad sa counter ay siya namang pagdating ng taong ayaw kong makita.

He's wearing a sky blue polo, bukas ang dalawang butones. May nakasukbit na parang drafting tube yata sa likuran niya dahil nakikita ko sa ibang kaibigan ni Prezie. So, he's a architecture student? He looked tired, galing siguro siya sa training.

"Uy, si Uno, Pre." Mariing sabi ni Tres sa likuran ko. Medyo nakalayo na kami sa counter kaya hindi na kami narinig. Ni hindi nga siguro alam na nandito kami. "Nagtatrabaho siya rito?" tanong niya ng makitang nagsusuot ng name tag si Uno.

"Yes. Cashier. I don't care." Mapaklang sabi ko. 

"Hmm, pwede ba 'yon? I don't care daw pero alam naman kung anong trabaho ng tao rito?" si Tres.

Frat giggled playfully. "Ang galing niya... volleyball player tapos architecture at working student at the same time!" 

And we're lucky enough to not experience such things. Because if you asked all of the working students out there, they would choose to live the easiest one. 'Yung hindi iniisip kung ano ang gagamiting pera sa susunod na araw, sa tuition fee ngayong sem at sa mga susunod pa.

I may not know his struggles outside volleyball but I feel sad for him. That's why I always believe in family planning so the children won't have to suffer just to live. They're just innocent ones, hoping to live a life wherein they are free to go and do whatever they want with no problems in their shoulder.