Than POV
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Volleyball is everything for me and become a professional volleyball athlete is my dream. The dream that I have been had since I knew about this kind of sport. And I am willing to do anything to achieve this dream of mine.
But sometime, you have to through hard way before you can achieve your dream and that happened to me. My father is the most person who disallowed me to be an athlete. He wants me to study and be someone like my big brother, P'Top.
P'Top is the only brother I have. As his name, he is the top in everything especially in my father's eyes. He is smart, kind and now he is medical student. The top one. And it makes my father always compares me with him. I am getting annoyed because of that. But I never hate P'Top. He underdtands me so well and respects about my dream. He always supports me in whatever I do. Not only my father prohibits me, but maybe universe too.
As I come back home, I pass my father who is working with photocopy machine and I greet him, P'Top and Tharm then sat with P'Top who teaches Tharm about her homework.
P'Top asks me about the result of the application for Volleyball athletes to St. Sebastian School that I did. I tell him that I failed then throw my application to the garbage.
Well, an argue started when my father see that application. He is glad I didn't make it and told me to study like normal students do.
"I guess you don't need to tell me about what you have been up for these days"
"If I told you, would you let me? I guess not!"
"It is good you not accepted, so you can study like normal student"
I ignore him. It is wasting my energy to argue with him and I am tired.
I tell my brother, P'Top, if I send another application to Teppunya and tell him no to worry because I am positive if I will be accepted this time.
"Why you keep this shit up? You are old enough. Think about your future. Can you?"
"This" I grab the ball anf show it to his face, "This is my future!"
*****
Do you remember when I told you the universe against me? Yes, it is true. Now, the first attendace of volley club I am late. Not my fault, to be honest. But it is useless to defence myself. First impression is the important thing and I ruin it. Not me actualy, it is because of my teacher. She makes our class dismiss very late than schedule.
I run as fast I can. I don't want to be late but again, universe against me. I am late. There is my friends and seniors sit, gather around in front of a man and woman. I think they are my coach and manager.
I run and find empty spot to sit. I feel relief but not for long. The man tells me to get up.
"Who tell you to sit?" I get up, "Why are you late?"
"I couldn't find the gym"
Yes, I need an excuse. Well, it is not an excuse. It is true I can't find the gym. I am new here, so this school and every place in here is not familiar to me.
"But your friend can find it. Do 20 squat jumps!"
Shit. I hate this coach. He look like gangster, not coach. And what is it in his head? A band aid? Was he fought and hit people?
"What are you waiting for? Are you deaf? Squat jumps, 20 times. Now!"
I do it even though I am angry. He is still my coach, so I have to do what he says.
The female coach, maybe a manager, tells us the new student to introduce ourself and what the reason we choose this school.
Everyone introduce themselve and the reason why they choose this school. There are different reasons. Near their home, his cousin used to be here, because his idol is volley ball player in this school and ect.
"I apply to this school because I want to play with my idol. Puen is my idol" Arm says and he gets tease from seniors.
"You have made mistake, Nong!" One of senior teases him. He is more short than us, the juniors. His idol, Puen, look at him without any expression. No smile, no angry. Just plain.
"I am Than. Actually, I applied to St. Sebastian School but was rejected. I accepted here, so that is how I end up here"
When I finish introduce myself, I feel so strange. The fierce eyes look at me. Anger. I could sense the anger he gives to me. The anger is coming from Puen. Why he is angry with me? Does he hates me? Why he hates me?
Everyone becomes quiet. No one says anything. His friend look so awkward. They seem strange. What happen?
"All right. Get back to your place" she says.
We back to our places. Sit where we sat before. The gaze hits me. He is glaring at me. I look at him then he look away. Weird. What happens with him?
*****
The practice is starting by us doing warm up and run then continue with recieve the serve. Everyone is doing good but me. I am not used to recieve ball and it is scared me. I don't want the ball hit me.
"Is it the way you play volley ball? How come you play volley balm if you close your eyes?" The coach yells at me.
"Uhmmm... I was a setter in my previouse school, so I rarely recieve the ball"
"So, if you are a setter you don't have to do anything huh?"
He serves the ball to me. It hits me. I try to dodge but it keeps hitting me. He serves it again and again, and it keeps hitting me again and again.
"You, go do squats on the corner. Now!"
While doing squats, he comes to me and tells me to recieve 20 spikes from team mates. And I see him look at me with mad expression, like he doesn't like me. Yes, I am talking about Puen. I don't know why he hates me.
The coach tells him to give me spike and he does it. He hit the ball and that ball hits me. The team mates follow him one by one, give me spike. Sometime I miss to recieve it, sometime I pass. I can feel my arms become numb. It is getting red and it feels so hurt. Am I complaining them? Hell no. I am not cry baby. I will show them if I can pass this test, if this is a test.
The coach tells them to hit harder and make it harder for me to recieve it. When it comes to Puen's turn, the ball hits my face. My nose is bleeding. It hurts for sure, but I never want to show them if I am weak. I tell them to continue.
Finally I done recieving 20 spikes. I feel so weak after that. I can't feel my legs and fall down. Sit on the corner and panting.
"Volley ball is not only about setting and spiking. The most important thing and fundamental thing is receiving the ball" The coach tells us, "If you can't recieve a serve or spike from the opponent, then don't think about winning!"
"Both your eyes must be on the ball. If it will smack you on the face, then just let it. You have to be able to control the ball. How can you control the ball if you close your eyes? Your eyes has to always on the ball. Understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone dismisses after that and he is the last one leaves. He looks at me with disappoint look.
We back to practice again and this time about setter and spike. I am doing good job so far. Some senior praises me. Well, not openly but whisper, but still I can hear them. It raises my confident. Until his turn.
I set the ball to him to spike but, he catch the ball. It makes me angry.
"Why don't you smash the ball, P?"
"If you want to set the ball for me, you have to set it higher"
"Higher? How much higher?"
"If you know what you are doing, you wouldn't ask me that"
And he leaves me after that, back to his friends and team mates.
*****
Everyone is back home and I am in toilet washing my face. This evening is so freekin hard for me. My first day of practice is like hell.
"He was good, I think"
"Good? He is far from it, right Puen?"
I want to get out from toilet but it turns out we face each other. Puen and his friends in front of me. I excuse myself. No need to stay any longer.
"You!" he calls me, "You don't deserve to be here!"
I walk home, passing the volley ball court. I look at it and imagine I am playing volley with my friends. It is nice imagination untik his words hit me again. I don't deserve to be here. I don't deserve to be here. It keeps playing in my mind. I sigh.
"Have a big problem?" someone asks me then sit beside me. I wai to him. He is one of my senior. One of his friends.
"What are you doing here, Nong?"
"Just thinking, P. What about you? Why you are still here?"
"Just passing by and then I see a lost puppy who look so sad, so I come here" he smile.
"Lost puppy? Do you call me puppy?"
He laughs then say sorry.
"Don't think too much. You did good today, Nong"
"But that P doesn't seem like me"
"Do you mean, Puen?" I nod, "He is just want you to be more better. Trust me"
"I don't know you, P. Why I have to trust you?" He laughs again. He is weird but he seems friendly.
"So, do you want to know me, Nong? Do you have any interest in me?"
"You are crazy!" He laughs again.
"I am still your senior, Nong Than. Have a respect on me" I give him wai again and he laughs again.
"I think my job is done now. You seem okay. It is time to leave" he walks away and leave me dumbfounded. He turns around and calls me. He hands me a cool drink.
"That is for you to cheer you up" he says, "And my name is Nao, by the way" he smiles.
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Finally I can write the 1st chapter
It is so hard to follow the original series but glad I can make it 😊
And I change the plot anyways
What do you think?
Please tell me what do you think about this chapter
Hope you like it
Xoxo