Hiding Behind the Lenses (Arte del Amor #3)

Chapter 4

"Wala kang game?" tanong ko kay Nikolai dahil hanggang ngayon ay nakasunod pa rin siya sa akin dito sa open volleyball court. May mga upuan at lamesa sa gilid nito at doon namin inilapag ang mga gamit namin. Gamit ko na hawak niya, to be specific.

Umiling siya. "Mamaya pa."

My eyebrows shot up when he sat down on one of the chairs while I was standing in front of him. "You're staying?" I asked. Tumingala na naman siya at tiningnan ako gamit ang mga kulay abong mata. Gosh, they're really insane. Is he not pure Filipino? Or is this really a thing here? If yes, why not give it to me instead? I'd be so pretty with those orbs!

"Oo. Why? 'Di pwede manood?" may pang-aasar na sa boses niya kaya umirap ako bago siya talikuran. Lumipat na ako sa kabilang side ng court kung saan ang bench ng team ko. We're outdoors and the sun is at its peak of the day so my skin is surely so red from exposure right now.

I fixed the ponytail that Kuya Gael destroyed moments ago. The girls in my team were also wearing the same jersey like mine and most of us have our hair tied up.

"Uy, oh. Nikolai is watching." rinig kong bulungan ng mga kasama ko. Ka-grade level niya ang mga ito at sobra ang kilig nila habang sinusulyapan ang lalaki. Too bad he's not here to watch them though.

"The game is starting." I announced to my team. I was assigned as team captain and I like that I am somehow in control. The fourth graders are to be benched unless they need to substitute someone. I saw Anika, Nikolai's friend among them.

Too bad she won't be able to play after talking big on our first team meeting.

The crowd cheered as we walked towards the court and took our side. A coin toss happened in our favor and I chose to serve first. The rotation makes me the first one to serve and I felt all eyes on me.

Sumulyap ako sa kinauupuan ni Nikolai na nasa court ng kalaban pero sa akin siya nakatingin.

I smirked. I dribbled the ball a few times and when I heard the whistle, I took my time before hitting a jump serve, and it ended up as a service ace. Nagsaya ang mga teammates ko at lumapit ako sa kanila. "Nice one, Gem!" my classmate in the same team said.

The opponents seem to be so bad at receiving that I got eight points straight from them just by receiving. Sa huli ay sumakit na talaga ang kamay ko kaya pumalya.

"Ang galing mo!" a familiar voice shouted. When I turned to the direction of the voice, I saw Kuya Gavin! I waved at him. Kasama niya pa ang mga kaibigan niya at mukhang break time lang nila.

My teammates were good and are a lot better than what I expected. I didn't have to cover the whole court for them. However, the opponents were also not that bad so rallies happen often. I can hear my brother and his friends shouting for however long the last rally was until we got the point.

I once again glanced at Nikolai who is already looking at me. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ko at nginitian ko siya! Masyado na yata akong natutuwa na isang set nalang ay mananalo na kami.

Since the ball was clearly going towards my direction, I shouted, "Mine!". Just when I thought I got it, it changed directions, forcing me to run for it but twisted my ankle in that feeble attempt.

"Ah!" I can't help but wince from the pain. I know I look ridiculous lying down on the floor but it really hurts so bad! "Kuya," I muttered when I remembered him watching but when I checked, they're no longer here.

Agad akong dinaluhan ng coach namin pati na rin ng sa kalaban, dumagdag pa ang mga gusto lang makichismis. "Stay away!" maarte kong suway sa kanila.

"Can you stand, Gemini?" my coach's voice is laced with concern. Maliban sa hawak niya sa braso ko at ang boses ng isa pang coach na mukhang tumatawag sa clinic ay may naramdamanan akong isa pang malapit sa akin. I opened my eyes to see Nikolai by the end of my foot, examining my swollen ankle.