Once Upon A Volleyball

Volei 3

I've made my decision. I'll go back to playing volleyball.

It's Monday today and may class ako. Kahit na tinatamad ay go pa rin tayo since I have something to look forward too. Start na ng training namin for intramurals later!

Bukod sa usual backpack na bitbit ko papasok sa school ay may dala rin akong hindi kalakihang gym bag na naglalaman ng jersey ko, shorts, tumbler, shoes, and many other things na kakailanganin ko for training.

Aaminin ko na kinakabahan ako pero I know this well disappear, ganito naman kahit sa loob ng court, nakakakaba sa umpisa pero as you go, hindi mo namamalayan na wala na 'yung kaba until dumating 'yung crucial points or umabot sa fifth set. Fifth set are just really dangerous.

Nagpaalam ako kay Kuya Vlad at lumabas na nung narinig ko busina ni Javi sa labas. If you're wondering kung bakit kay Javi ako sumasabay and not with my brother it's because his classes starts at different time and mas later nang sa umaga pinili niya since he doesn't like waking up early. And so am I. Kaya meron kaming tagaluto every morning since walang capable sa amin gawin 'yung task na 'yun pero we can cook.

Javi welcomed me with a hug as soon as I entered his car. Kahit na sobrang hirap talaga gumalaw since masikip. He's happy with the decision I made, i guess.

Nang makawala ako sa yakap niya ay kaagad kong inilagay 'yung gamit ko sa likod ng car niya. We will leave our things in his car na lang muna since hindi naman kami official athlete ng school para maglaroon ng additional locker big enough to put our things.

"Good morning, Ru!" Masiglang bati niya as he starts the car. "Hindj ako makapaniwalang you actually accepted the offer. Wala nang urungan ha, kasi I already told Lennard that you agreed na." And that's how you make sure a person wouldn't quit.

"Good morning din sa'y, ano?" Bati ko rin sa kanya, not hiding the annoyance I have with my voice. I don't have anything against his excitement, normal lang sa akin ang mairita over anything. "I just hope things will go well." Ngiti ko sa kanya.

"Of course, things will go well, I assure you."

Medyo traffic ngayon kaya medyo natagalan kami on the way to our school na hindi ko naman nagustuhan kasi that would mean na kailangan ko sagutin ang endless na mga tanong ni Javi. Minsan iiniisip ko na lumalaklak ng energen itong lalaking 'to kasi hindi siya nauubusan ng energy.

I remember this one game during our junior high school tournament, everyone was tired already kasi umabot ng fifth set laro, 'yung pagod na kahit energy drunks hindi siya mapapawi. Sagag na sagad, ubos na ubos na lakas namin, adrenaline at will na lang na manalo ang nagpapanatili sa amin tumayo sa loob ng court. But things were different for Javi, he was burning, excited, and energetic. Parang ipinanganak talaga siya to survive five-setters. He insisted that we keep playing, mas nag-eencourage pa siya sa amin kaisa sa team captain namin na hapong-hapo na rin. Buti our coach was smart, he decided to sub our open hitter and with a setter, I know weird, and make Javi be an opposite hitter. We basically have two opposite hitters inside the court. Hindi ako sinub that time kasi mas maganda depensa ko kesa sa open hintter namin. No regrets that time, things paid off, Javi can spike, like really well, and most of the sets coming from our backup setter were directed to him and he almost always score for us. Ending? We won that thrilling game.

"What made you say yes?" Javi asked. "Or who?"

"Kuya Vlad." Sagot ko at ngumiti habang iniisip kung paanong ang simpleng laro namin kahapon 'yung nag-ignite ng kagustuhan ko na maglarong muli. "He made me feel what volleyball feels like." Makahulugan kong dugtong.

"Remind me to buy him his favorite whiskey later," Taray, may reward? "He deserves it for convincing you to play again. I trying to succeed on doingn that for five months pero kuya mo isang araw lang? Galing." Biro ni Javi.