Nakalipat na sila Alyssa sa dorm ngayon lang. Sinabay niya si Ella at Den kagaya ng sinabi niya. They just came and kakalagay lang nila ng mga gamit nila sa kwarto nila kasi silang tatlo na rin ang pinagsama-sama sa kwarto.
"Besh, alin kama mo dun?" Ella asked.
"Kahit alin. Okay lang." Sagot naman ni Den. "Alin ba sayo?"
"Gusto ko sana yung asa may pader. Alam mo na, ayoko ng may space sa likod ko." Ella answered.
"Edi, yun na sayo. Dun na lang ako sa asa may window. Feeling ko naman yung pinakadulo rin pipiliin ni Ly eh." Den said.
"Speaking of Ly, where is she?" Tanong ni Ella.
"Umalis sila ni Gretch eh. Ewan ko kung san pupunta." Den said.
"Uhm, Den, Ella, here oh." Sabi ni Dzi at binigyan sila ng mga unan at kumot. "San si Ly? Eto yung sa kanya eh."
"Uhm, umalis, ate eh. Kami na lang magbibigay sa kanya." Den answered and smiled.
They went back to their room para ayusin yung higaan nila pati na rin yung mga gamit nila. While inside the room, they heard someone singing outside the room.
"Besh, parang may nanghaharana sayo sa labas." Ngiting sabi ni Ella kay Den.
"Baka sayo." Den said, pero halatang kinikilig.
"Sana nga sakin na lang, diba? Pero, never akong kakantahan niyang dalawang yan. Go na, labasin mo na." Ella said.
She opened the door and saw Alyssa and Gretch outside. Humiram pala ng gitara kay Kiefer kaya umalis. Well, Den knows kasi may KR na sticker yung gitara.
"Ano na naman 'to?" Den asked. Tumigil naman yung dalawa.
"Ano ba yan, di pa tapos lumabas na agad." Gretch said.
"Ay, sorry. Tawagin niyo na lang ako pag tapos na ah." Den said and closed the door.
"Gago." Ly whispered and binatukan si Gretch then knocked on the door. "Uh, Den? Okay na. Tapos na yun, wag ka maniwala kay Gretch." She said and knocked again, 6 times.
Den opened the door again, "Akala ko hindi pa?"
"Joke lang yun. Hehe. Den oh." Ly said and offered Den a gift.
"Ano yan?" Den asked.
"Gift ko sayo." Nakangiting sagot ni Alyssa.
"Birthday ko ba?" Den joked. "No, Ly. I can't accept that."
"H-ha? Why? Ayaw mo ba nito? S-sige. Palitan ko na lang." Ly said and pinahawak kay Gretch yung regalo niya. "S-sorry, akala ko kasi gusto mo yung ganun eh."
Hindi kasi alam ni Ly kung anong mga ibibigay niya kay Den. Dati naman kasi, hindi siya maregalo. Kain lang sila ng kain araw-araw tas yun na. Walang masyadong gifts, except if special occasions. Hindi rin naman kasi talaga siya marunong manligaw. Kay Cha, halos walang ligawan na naganap, nagka-aminan lang tas yun na. Di na pinatagal kasi ganun din naman daw yun. Tas the first time she courted Den, dinaan niya lang sa kanta, harana ganun. Minsan, iniiisip niya pa rin kung bakit napa-oo niya si Den. At ngayon, gusto niya ng bagong approach. Pagsasamahin niya yung regalo at kanta and try to see what happens. Pero, first try pa lang, fail na agad.
"Ly, di mo naman kelangan yung mga regalo eh, lalo na yung mga ganan. Okay lang kahit wala." Den said. "Para namang hindi ako sanay sayo." She chuckled.
"A-ah, hindi. Okay lang. Bagong approach." Ly said and napakamot sa batok niya.
For some reasons, mas kinakabahan siya ngayon compared to the first time they did this. Maybe because that time, mas comfortable sila sa isa't-isa kasi friends sila. Eh ngayon kasi, parang simula sa simula ulit. Medyo takot siya na magkamali sa panliligaw niya kasi feeling niya, dun pa lang nagkamali na siya dati kaya their relationship stopped working, ganun. You know, its just manageable but the OCD is still there and it makes her think this way. It makes her think that there's gap between them, which could be true.
"Kulit mo talaga." Den said.
"Akin na 'to, Ly?" Gretch asked.
"Y-yeah. Sayo na yan." Ly said. She'll regret it later.
"Okay, MacBook!" Sabi ni Gretch. Yes, MacBook dapat yung ibibigay ni Ly kay Den. May laptop naman si Den pero nasabi niya nung sila pa na mabagal na yun kaya naisip niyang yun ang ibigay sa kanya.
"C'mon, mag-ayos ka na ng gamit mo." Den said and pumasok sila ni Ly sa loob ng kwarto nila. "Okay lang ba sayo dun ka sa dulo?"
"Y-yeah, sure." Ly answered and naupo dun sa pinakadulong kama tas tumingin sa paligid.
"Maliit ba?" Ella asked and chuckled. "Ang laki naman kasi ng kwarto mo! Maninibago ka talaga dito. Haha."
"H-hindi. Okay lang. Di naman 'to maliit eh." Ly said and smiled at them as she starts fixing her things.
After an hour, nakatapos na sila sa pag-aayos ng gamit nila. They went down and nakisali sa mga team mates nila na asa couch at nanonood ng TV.
"Den, may naghahanap sayo kanina dun sa baba. Tas siguro natagalan, iniwan na lang 'to kay kuya guard." Jem said and gave Den a box of Krispy Kreme.
"Kanino daw galing, ate?" Den asked.
"Di ko sure. May lett--"
"Kay JP!" Singit ni Gretch sa kanila.
"Yung libero ng men's?" Ella asked.
"Yes. Pahingi ako!" Gretch said. Nagsikuhanan naman silang lahat, maliban kay Alyssa.
"Ly, oh!" A said.
"S-sige lang, ate. Busog pa ko." Ly said and faked a smiled. "Pag yun, tinatanggap." Bulong niya.
"Ha? Anong sabi mo?" Tanong ng katabi niyang si Ayel.
"Wala ah. Di ako nagsasalita dito eh." Ly said. "Uhm, balik ko lang kay Kief yung gitara niya." She said sabay tayo at kinuha sa kwarto yung gitara.
"Sama ako!" Ella said.
"Wag na, Ells. Babalik din agad ako." Ly said and lumabas na. Ayaw niya isama si Ella kasi magkukuwento siya kay Kiefer na ayaw ni Den tanggapin yung regalo niya tas yung galing dun sa JP na yun, tinanggap niya.
"Uy, Ly!" Von said. He also enrolled here along with Lau. He's also part of the basketball team. "Kay Kief ba yan?"
"Yeah. Ibabalik ko lang sana. Is he there?" Ly said.
"I don't know. Pataas pa lang rin ako eh. Check ko tas pababain ko na lang." He said.
"Sige. Thanks, Von!" Ly said and he left.
Mayamaya pa, andun na si Kiefer.
"Oh, akala ko nangharana ka? Bat ganyan mukha mo?" He said as he gets the guitar from Alyssa. "Dito tayo." He said and pumasok sila sa lobby ng Cervini, dorm nila Kiefer. "Ganan ba mukha ng nanliligaw?" He chuckled.
"Kasi naman si Den eh. I gave her a gift pero hindi niya tinanggap tas nung binigyan siya ni JP ng donuts, tinanggap niya. Siguro, nililigawan din nun si Den eh." Maktol ni Alyssa.
"Ano bang binigay mo?" Kief asked.
"MacBook." Ly answered.
"What the? MacBook? Ano ka nanay?" Natatawang sabi ni Kiefer.
"Bakit? Okay lang naman yun ah. She needs that naman." Ly said. "Tsaka, sabi niya dati mabagal na daw yung laptop niya."
"Oo nga. Pero, you know Den so well. Hindi niya talaga tatanggapin yun. Lalo pa, hindi naman siya sanay na nagreregalo ka sa kanya unless may occasion." Kief said. "Alam mo, you seem so pressured with all this courting thing. Sabihin mo nga sakin, gusto mo pa ba talaga 'to? Gusto mo pa ba talaga si Den?" He looked around kasi baka may makarinig. They don't want issues, this early. "Ano?"
"Oo naman! You know how much I love her. And you've also seen how hard it was for me nung wala siya." Ly answered.
"But, is that the only reason you have kaya mo siya babalikan? Kasi, mahirap sayo nung wala siya? Eh what if ma-feel mo na okay ka naman pala kahit wala siya? Lalo ngayon, you're gonna be part of a new family. Yung team niyo, yung volleyball family. Paano kung along the way, biglang ma-feel mo na okay ka lang and kaya mo naman even without her kasi you have new people and new family around you? You basically have a new life, Ly. Are you still willing to share this life with Den?" Mahabang sabi ni Kiefer. "I won't demand for answers now. But, I want you to think about it. Yes, pinupush kita sa kanya, pero you need to assess yourself too. Reevaluate your feelings for her kasi iba yung gusto mo kasi gusto mo sa gusto mo kasi kelangan mo."
"I've been friends with you since we were kids, but this is the first time ata that I heard you talk things this serious." Ly said.
"Hindi lang ikaw ang anak ng Diyos, no!" Kief said. "Sige na, umuwi ka na sa dorm niyo and bawiin mo yung MacBook, kung kanino mo man binigay." He said. "Sige na, I know you gave it to someone else."
"You fucking know me." Ly said.
"I fucking do." Kiefer said and pushed Alyssa out of the lobby. "Call me when you get home!"
"Baliw." Ly said kasi halos magkatabi lang naman yung Cervini at Eliazo. She walked back to the dorm and saw LA outside.
"Uy, Ly!" He said pagkapasok ni Alyssa.
Ly sighed, "LA, if you're just gonna ruin my day, please, wag today. I've had enough. Kahit bumalik ka na lang bukas."
"Ah, no. Hindi, hindi. I just wanna say sorry lang sana sayo because of what happened. I know I was wrong. I never had the chance to apologize sayo kasi umalis na kayo nun eh. Uhm, sorry talaga, Alyssa." LA said.
She sighed again, "Wala na yun, LA. Naka-isang linggo na eh." She joked. "Okay lang yun. Maybe, you just really like or love Den that much and I understand kasi there's really so much to love about her naman. I can't blame you."
"So, okay na tayo?" He asked. Ly nodded. "So, magpe-perform na ulit kayo sa The Bar?"
"Sabi ko na eh. Pasorry-sorry ka pa." Ly said.
"No, magso-sorry naman talaga ako eh. Eh, I'm here na din so, nabanggit ko lang din." LA said.
"I don't know, LA. You know how being a student-athlete can be so demanding. Baka, di na namin mahanapan ng time yan. Tas Thirdy and Bea are graduating." Ly answered. "But, I'll talk to them. If okay sa schedule, why not."
"Talaga? Miss na miss na kasi talaga kayo ng crowd dun. I'll wait for your call ah!" He said.
"Oo na. Sige na, lumayas ka na dito! Shooo!" Ly said and pinagtulakan na paalis si LA.
"Grabe naman pala dito sa Ateneo!" Sabi pa ni LA.
"Whatever. Kaya nga hindi ka pwede dito eh! Go! Say hi to me kila Mika!" Ly said and tumaas na. "Oh, shit!" She said kasi may nagtatakbuhang mga lalaki pababa sa hagdan ng dorm nila. "Rex!" She called.
"Hi, Ly! Bye, bawal pala kami diyan!" Rex said at tatakbo pa rin palabas.
Dumiretso na lang siya pataas. Pagdating niya, asa sala si Gretch at A.
"Gretch, MacBook ko?" She said as she sat beside Gretch on the couch.
"What? Akala ko akin na lang yun?" Sabi naman ni Gretch.
"Akala ko rin eh. Akin na, dali. Gagamitin ko." Ly said.
"Ano ba yan! Andun sa kwarto, kunin mo!" Gretch said.
Ly stood up and kumatok sa kwarto nila Gretch.
"Uy, Ly! Bakit?" Fille asked.
"Uhm, kunin ko lang po sana yung MacBook?" Ly answered.
"Ah, ito? Yabang talaga nung singkit na yun. Sa kanya daw 'to." Fille said. "Here oh."
"Thank you po." Ly said and nagpunta na sa kwarto nila. Andun na si Ella at Den. Di naman siya nagsalita at dumiretso lang sa kama niya.
"San ka galing?" Den asked.
"Kiefer." Sagot ni Alyssa. Medyo, naiinis pa rin siya kay Den despite of what Kiefer said.
"Grabe. Patay naman yung aircon ah? Bat ang cold?" Ella said habang nagce-cellphone.
"Besh.." Den said and chuckled. Pero medyo kinakabahan din siya kasi di niya alam kung bat parang inis si Alyssa.
"Sorry, labas muna ko. Baka magyelo ako dito." Ella said and lumabas na.
When she's sure Ella's nowhere near, Den went to Alyssa's bed, "Ano yan?" She asked and peeked on Ly's MacBook.
"Wala. Chinecheck ko lang." Ly answered. "Bat andito sila Rex kanina?"
"Uhm, tumaas si JP dito eh, nagdala ng dorm keys. Sinamahan niya lang." Den answered.
"Dorm keys lang?" Ly asked, still looking at the laptop's screen as she sets it up. Di pa rin kasi nagagalaw ni Gretch yun.
"Tsaka, yung lasagna sa baba." Den answered.
"Nililigawan ka ba nun?" Ly asked with her forehead creased.
"What? Hindi, no! Di ko pa nga masyadong kilala yun eh." Sabi ni Den.
"Eh bat kung anu-ano binibigay sayo?" Tanong na naman ni Alyssa.
"Hindi lang naman para sakin yun. Para sating lahat. Tsaka, baka friendly lang talaga. Si Ella nga binigyan niya kanina ng gummy worms eh." Sagot naman ni Den na parang nagpapaliwanag na rin.
"Pag ba binigyan kita ng donuts at lasagna, tatanggapin mo?" Ly asked. Den smiled. She knows this version of Alyssa. This is the jealous Alyssa.
"Oo naman!" Den answered with a smile.
"Okay." Ly said and nahiga sa kama niya.
"Okay." Den said and bumalik na sa kama niya.
After some time, narinig ni Den na may kausap si Alyssa sa cellphone.
"Yes po sa Ateneo po. Opo, Eliazo po. Opo. Thank you po!" Ly said and nahiga na ulit.
"Bait naman." Bulong ni Den but Ly heard it.
"Alyssa Marie, delivery daw!" Sigaw ni Gretch. Alyssa got up from her bed, got her wallet from her drawer and went down.
She went back in with 5 boxes of Krispy Kreme and 3 big containers of lasagna.
"Kain oh!" She said and binaba yung mga pagkain sa table pero kumuha ng tig-isang donuts at lasgna. "Kain lang kayo ah! Enjoy!" She said tas tumaas na ulit.
"Anong delivery yun?" Den asked. Ly didn't answer but put the food on Den's bed.
"Sabi mo, tatanggapin mo pag ganan binigay ko sayo." Ly said. Tumingin lang naman si Den sa kanya. "Ayaw mo pa rin?" Parang batang sabi niya at nagpout pa.
"Alam mo, hindi ko naman talaga ayaw sa mga binibigay mo eh." Den said. "Ang ayaw ko, yung masanay sa mga ganun. We've done this naman na before na walang mga ganito ah? Nagwork naman. What's the difference, now?"
"A lot. A world of difference, Dennise." Ly said. "Kaya nga nag-stop magwork yung satin dati eh. Sa una pa lang, may mali na dun kaya I'm doing things right ngayon."
"And you really think na this is the right way to do it?" Den asked. Ly looked down. "Ly, look at me." Sumunod naman si Alyssa sa kanya. "C'mon, this, what were trying to build now, is no difference from what we had before. Siguro, the only difference is we learned and we matured. A bit. And we both need to show that. What we learned from what happened and how mature we've become. I know you're more than a MacBook, a box of Krispy Kreme and a container of lasagna. I miss how we used to be before all the mess. The old us, the old you. I miss how you invite me for dates sa streetfoods sa labas ng NHS, may streetfoods din naman dito." She chuckled. "I miss how you hug me for 16 minutes because its an even number. I miss how you kiss me 18 times or 24 times if its Wednesday. I miss how you sing for me, Alyssa. We're starting anew, yes. But, that doesn't mean that I want a new you. You are my Alyssa and I don't want another or a new one. I want the Alyssa I loved and still loving. I want you." She said and held Ly's face. "You are what I need and more. Just you."
"So, no more MacBooks, donuts and lasagnas?" Ly asked and teasingly smiled.
"JSEC and Zaggy G's foods are enough." Den answered and smiled as well.
"You mean, G-Zags?" Ly jokingly said.
"Zaggy G, G-Zags, same lang yun. Basta, I'm with you, I'm good with it." Den answered.
"Hug?" Ly asked.
"You never have to ask." Den said and hugged Alyssa.
+++++
Today is their first official training. Malayo pa naman yung UAAP pero sasali kasi sila sa SVL kaya kelangan na din magtraining.
"Ly! Ly, wake up! Training na!" Den said.
"Hmmm.." Sabi lang ni Alyssa.
"Ly, hindi pwede late nagigising dito. Sige na, bangon na diyan!" Den said.
"Huy, Alyssa! Bangon na!" Sabi na rin ni Ella.
"Girls, ten extra laps daw if late sabi ni coach! Faster!" Sabi ni Dzi and sumilip sa kwarto nila. "Naku, wake her up na. Yari tayo! Sunod na kayo ah!"
"Yes, ate. Sunod kami." Den said. "Ly, kasi bangon na diyan!" She said and pinilit ibangon si Alyssa. Finally, she opened her eyes. "Bihis ka na! I prepared your things na. Go, go, go! Palit na!" She said and pushed Alyssa sa CR tas inabot na lang yung pantraining na ipapalit ni Alyssa.
"Nanay na nanay ah!" Ella said.
"Alam mo naman 'to. Always a baby." Den said. Alam naman kasi niya na kahit hindi si Alyssa ang bunso ay babyng-baby pa rin ang turing sa kanya nila Nanay Elsa at ng lahat sa pamilya niya pag asa bahay siya.
"Baby mo?" Ella said. Den smiled widely at that. "Luh siya? Kilig na kilig!" She said tas lumabas na. "Sunod na kayo ah!"
"Yes!" Sagot ni Den. "Ly, dali!"
"Eto na nga, Den! Wait lang!" Sabi naman ni Alyssa.
"Naks, bagay pala talaga sayo naka-pangvolleyball, no?" Den said.
"Wait 'til I wear an actual jersey." Ly said. She picked up her and Den's duffel bag and dragged her out. "Tara!"
"Wow! Energetic ah!" Gretch said sa ngiting-ngiting si Alyssa.
"Sakto lang for the first training day. Bukas wala na." Ly said.
When they arrived at the BEG, wala pa naman yung mga coaches kaya naupo lang muna sila at nagkuwentuhan ng kung anu-ano.
"Totoo ba yung kinuwento ni Gretch na mag-ex kayo?" Tanong ni Fille.
"Ah, yeah. We broke up nung December." Ly answered.
"January, February, March, April, May--" Bilang ni Jem.
"7 months! 7 months silang break. Ano ba yan, yun lang eh." Gretch said.
"Edi ikaw na magaling sa math!" Sabi naman ni Jem sa kanya.
"Buti, you decided to get back with each other?" Dzi asked.
"We didn't." Ly answeredwl which surprised all of them, even Den. "Our hearts did." She said and smiled.
"Corny mo, boi!" Gretch said and binato si Ly ng takip ng Gatorade na iniinom niya.
"What? That's true!" Ly said and binato pabalik kay Gretch yung takip.
"Si Den naman, kilig na kilig! Sumbong kita kay tita eh!" Ella said.
"Sumbong mo, samahan pa kita!" Den said.
"Ohhh!" Sabi ng team mates nila.
"Hey, you don't understand us! Don't laugh with us!" Ella told Amy na nakikitawa nga kahit di naman niya talaga gets kung anong meron.
"Bad!" Bea said pero natatawa rin naman.
"Oh, sorry sorry. I thought I was supposed to laugh also." Amy said.
"Coach is here!" Mona said and nagsi-ayos silang mga rookies pero sila Gretch nanatili lang na nakaupo.
"Oh, ano kayo? Sundalo?" Biro ni Coach Roger at natawa sila Dzi. Sumaludo pa si coach kaya lalo silang natawa.
"Tinakot mo kasi last time, coache eh. Yan tuloy!" Natatawang sabi ni Gretchen.
"Wag kayo matakot sakin. Wala namang bawal sa team na 'to except sa mag boyfriend." He said.
"Ay, girlfriend-girlfriend lang po, coach?" Biro ni Ella.
"Hindi rin! Ikaw talaga, Ella! Sige na, do your warm up na. By pair yan ah!" He said so they proceeded with the warm up.
"Tara, De--" Ella cut Alyssa off.
"Den, partner tayo?" She said and smiled sheepishly na nagets naman agad ni Den. Halos apat na taon na rin silang mag-bestfriends, they know each other so well.
"Uh, sorry, Ly. Bukas na lang tayo mag-partner? Nauna si Ella eh." Den apologetically said. Fake. Lol, hahaha.
"A-ah, s-sige." Ly said and smiled then walked past them papunta kay Mona na wala pa ring partner. "Pwede, tayo na lang?"
"Ay, Ly, ikaw ah! Masyadong mabilis!" Mona jokingly said.
"H-hindi, I mean, ano. Tayong dalawa na lang p-partners. P-pwede ba?" Ly said which made Mona laugh.
"Hahaha. Gets ko naman! Joke lang yon." Mona said.
"Bagatsing! Valdez! Bilisan niyo na, napag-iwanan na kayo oh!" Coach Roger said.
"Yes, coach!" Sabi lang nung dalawa tas nagstart na din sila.
"Besh, parang ekis ah?" Ella said.
"Isa pa lang naman, besh eh." Sabi naman ni Den.
Well, apparently, that scene is planned. Den and Ella talked about Ly kasi. Ella said na parang Ly's too afraid to fight for Den. With all that they've been through, parang si Den lagi ang umaayos. She's always the one who makes things happen, who fixes the situation for them. Don't get Ella wrong ah. She really wants Ly for Den. Kaso siyempre, bestfriend niya si Den and ayaw niya naman na masaktan na naman siya. Alam niya din kasi yung lahat ng pinagdaanan ni Den about Cha na hindi na niya nasabi kay Alyssa. At alam din ni Ella kung gaano kahina at karupok si Den pagdating kay Alyssa. Matalino siya pero natatanga pagdating kay Alyssa. Isang ngiti lang, isang sorry, isang kanta, okay na. Si Alyssa naman, walang kaalam-alam. Kaya Ella thought of this. To see if what happened between Ly and Den, helped Alyssa mature or atleast be braver. Yung hindi lang puro sige kay Den. Alam mo yun, minsan kelangan din mag-resist kahit sa mahal mo kasi dun mo mas mapapakita na mahal mo siya. Na handa kang ipaglaban siya. Pero level 1 pa lang, wala na agad.
"Sabagay. Marami pang levels 'to." Ella said.
"You won't tell me naman, not to be with her if she fails all the levels, right?" Den asked.
Ella shook her head, "It still depends on you. But sana makatulong 'to. I mean, if with these little things, hindi ka niya kaya ipaglaban, as warm up partner pa lang, paano na pag ikaw na talaga mismo. As in ikaw? Sa ibang may gusto sayo? Sa mundo?"
"OA naman nung mundo, besh." Den said and chuckled.
"OA, but it could happen." Ella said and tuloy lang sila sa pagwa-warm up.
After warming up for 10 minutes, pinag-drills naman sila ni Coach Roger.
"Jem, Alyssa, dito! Den sa kabila, i-receive mo mga palo ni Alyssa!" He said.
Pumuwesto naman yung tatlo habang yung iba nilang team mates ay nagdi-drills na ng sarili nila. Si Den na talaga ang ginawang libero ng team since maganda naman laro niya as libero nung try out. But since Coach Roger knows na she's a middle hitter nung highschool, he still wants to train her well kasi siya lang ang nag-iisang libero nila.
"Paluin mo ng malakas ah! Ilabas mo lahat ng galit mo kay Den!" Coach Roger joked.
"Wala naman po, coach." Parang nahihiyang sabi ni Alyssa.
"Edi, kay Ella. Sure ako kay Ella, meron. Haha." He said.
"Grabe, coach ah!" Sabi naman ni Ella.
"Grabe, grabe. Ikaw sunod dito ha!" He said. "Go, drills na!"
Nagspike na lang sila sa kabilang side ng net. Ginaya lang nila ang ginagawa nila Alyssa pero salit-salitan sila. Si Alyssa kasi, mag-isa lang dito.
"Ilan, coach?" Jem asked. Siyempre, alam niya na 'to.
"Ten lang muna." He answered.
10? Lang? Muna? Shet.
"Okay lang, Ly?" Jem asked kasi she saw na parang nagulat si Ly.
"A-ah, yes." Ly answered and smiled. Pero kinakabahan talaga siya. Di naman kasi siya sanay talaga sa training. Nakatulong lang talaga yung araw-araw na laro nila kaya medyo kundisyon siya sa try out.
She looked infront and saw Den looking at her so she smiled. Den smiled back and nag-thumbs up pa sa kanya. Jem started setting to her. Okay naman yung mga palo niya pati yung mga kuha ni Den kahit halatang nahihirapan sa lakas ng mga palo niya, she still gets to the ball.
"Okay! Good good!" Coach Roger said. "Ella, come here! Diyan ka lang muna, Den."
Si Alyssa naman, huminga muna sa gilid tas nakisali na rin sa mga team mates niya na pumapalo sa kabilang side. Si Den, nagstay lang dun habang papalit-palit yung mga pumapalo. Nakita ni Ly na parang nahihirapan na talaga si Den kasi kanina oa siya dun pero wala naman siyang magawa kasi coach na ang nag-uutos sa kanila.
"Last one!" Sigaw ni Coach Roger. 10th ball na kasi yun ni Amy at last na din siyang papalo.
"Whooo!" Sigaw nila after nung last dig ni Den. Nilapitan naman agad siya ni Ly.
Coach Roger blew his whistle, "10-minute break! Inom, inom!"
"Okay ka lang?" She asked. Pulang-pula yung braso niya and sure sila na mapapasa yun. They've both played volleyball na din naman before, for them not to know na mahirap talaga yung ginawa ni Den. "Tara, i-ice natin yan." She said and pulled Den sa may cooler. "Masakit ba? Sorry sorry." She said, nakita niya kasi na napapangiwi si Den.
"H-hindi, okay lang. Yun lang eh." Den said.
"Ang yabang mo!" Ly said and shook her head.
"Parang ikaw lang." Sabi naman ni Den and they both smiled. "Lakas mo kasi pumalo eh. Sayo ko lang ata 'to nakuha lahat!"
"Grabe. Sabi kasi ni coach, lakasan daw." Ly said as she continues to damp Den's arms with a towel na may nakabalot na ice.
"Paano pag sinabing patayin mo ko, gagawin mo?" Den asked.
"Oo! Papatayin kita." She smiled. "Sa pagmamahal." Dugtong niya kaya nahampas siya ni Den.
"Ay sus. Early morning landian." A said from the other side of the gym.
"Level 0.01 pa lang yan. Abangan mo mga susunod." Ngiting sabi ni Gretch.
"Not even level 1, huh?" A asked.
"Not even level 1." Sagot naman ni Gretch.
~
MEH.