Aurora Borealis

Chapter 19 - Roguish

>> • LAUREN • <<

How would you be able to tell if someone hates you or you're just being too sensitive towards the approach of people around you? Whenever I don't have evidential claims about my assumptions, I always rely with my gut feeling. But it won't always be a rush of on-point hits as I'm going too far in assessing a person sometimes.

"Break is over! Time for line drills!" The captain applauded as she applauded like a seal to call everyone's attention.

"Ugh! Kakaupo ko lang tapos line drills agad? Ano bang klaseng kapitan 'to?" bulong sa 'kin ni Kara.

"No idea."

"If you're going to backstab me, at least do it in my back, or far away enough to not reach within my earshot." asik ni Jean na bigla na lamang lumingon sa 'min dahilan para mapapitlag ang kasama ko, "Ikaw ang mauuna sa line drills kasama 'yang katabi mo."

Our captain is in-charge of us for now since the teacher-slash-coach of this club is on a seminar. Hindi pa man nagtatagal mula noong dumating kami rito sa court pero puspusan na ang pinapagawang mga drills ng kapitan namin.

Last time, she already destroyed the possibility of her to be on our good side due to the first impression that she gave. The try-outs concluded, and I don't understand how her thoughts work.

When the two-on-two match-ups were mediated by the coach, I haven't been given a chance to play on teams. It swiftly proceeded to one-on-one where everyone played against the captain. And for some reasons, again, she called it a day as soon as my turn came.

I never complained to her, but it really bothers me that it's as if she's doing it on purpose.

"Curse her!" bulong pa ni Kara habang isinasagawa namin ang half-court sprint.

Gladly, those drills aren't that enough to soak me with icky sweat. I must say the line drills from Astra were much harsher since majority of my teammates, especially the older ones back then were a bunch of bullies and sadists.

"Hey, you!" natigilan naman ako sa pagbalik sa court nang humiyaw ang kapitan.

Naglalakad ito papalapit sa 'kin nang lumingon ako. Bahagya kong nahagip ang reaksyon ng mga kasama ko na mga namumutla na dahil sa pagod. Akala ko'y ako ang tinutukoy niya ngunit nilagpasan niya ako at dinuro si Kara.

"Repeat another lap. Are you even trying?" matalim at nanunuring saad nito.

"S-Sure." kaswal na sagot nito at umulit ayon sa gusto niya. Nang matapos siya'y iaabot ko na sana ang tubig kay Kara nang sumigaw na naman si Jean.

"Diaz, one more lap! Right now!"

Gumegewang-gewang na si Kara ngunit mabuti na lamang ay naaalalayan ko ito bago pa man siya bumagsak sa sahig.

"Captain." I butted in at sinubukang akayin si Kara pabalik sa bench. "Does it seem unfair that you're trying to make Kara go for two or more laps when everyone is given just one?"

She snorted while rolling her eyes, "I don't see anything wrong with it. Why? Gusto mo rin ng isa pa, Miss Goody-Two-Shoes?"

My companion winced in pain with her hands rubbing her head and stomach. I can feel the coldness of her dripping sweat that touches the warmth of my skin.

"You should at least be considerate."

She threw her hands in the air, "It's not my fault that she don't have such endurance to go through simple line drills."

Tumakbo papalapit sa 'min ang mga kasama ko at inakay na si Kara pabalik sa bench at itinodo ang aircon habang inaabutan ito ng tubig. Sa wakas, nahimasmasan na rin ito at unti-unti na ring bumabalik ang kulay nito.

Turns out that Kara's never used to eating anything for breakfast but sandwiches since she's under strict diet. Her stomach grumbled and grumbled so everyone offered her their lunches.

On the other hand, I can feel the fiery stares that the captain is throwing upon me. In her mind, she must've been conspiring some plans to make this experience a nightmare for the sake of her pleasure. Tinapatan ko rin ito ng titig.

She raised a brow while crossing her arms. A wide smirk of arrogance appeared on her lips.

"Why? You want to fight?"

"No. I'm trying my best to give you my respect although I don't think you deserve it..." I feel like I'm about to choke as I'm about to spit the next words. "Captain."

I tried to make it with an emphasis to the word 'Captain'. Mukhang na-offend ito sa sinabi ko at hinigit ang collar ng damit ko.

"Tama na!"

"Awatin niyo! Bilis!"

Pilit nilang inalis ang pagkakahawak ni Jean sa damit ko ngunit masiyadong mahigpit ang hawak nito, tipong mapupunit ang jersey na suot ko.

"Kumalma kayo, Captain, Lauren!" idinipa ni Sheena ang mga braso niya upang bumuo ng distansiya sa pagitan namin.

"Oo nga. Ang init na nga ng panahon tapos sasabayan niyo pa ng init ng ulo." ani Annie na tuluyan nang natanggal ang pagkakahawak ni Jean.

Hinawi naman niya ang lahat, "Bitiwan niyo 'ko."

Dumura ito sa sahig malapit sa amin at umirap.

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "Hindi pa tayo tapos. Kung di ka duwag, pumunta ka rito mamayang alas siete. Magtutuos tayo."

Matapos niyang sabihin ang lahat ng iyon ay padabog itong nagwalk-out. Tanging kaming lima lang ang naiwan doon sa court.

"Ang dugyot naman." kumuha si Kat ng mop at balde na puno ng tubig sa katabing storage room at nilampaso ang sahig. "Ang laki laki na pero kung umasta parang bata."

"Ugh, nagsisisi akong pumunta ako sa university na 'to para maglaro ng basketball." pahayag ni Kara at nagpatuloy sa pagsubo.

"Akala ko rumors lang 'yon, totoo palang may saltik yung kapitan natin."

Tumulong na lang din ako sa paglalampaso ng sahig habang inaantabayanan ang kondisyon ni Kara na kasalukuyan pa ring namamahinga.

"Hey, are you going to accept the captain's challenge?" tanong sa 'kin ni Annie.

"I don't know. May sundo kasi ako mamayang uwian. Baka magtaka 'yon bigla kapag sinabi kong magpapataan ako hanggang gabi." tugon ko.

"Now that I recalled, I heard from my classmates that Jean has been suspended many times for every season because of her rascality." sabat naman ni Sheena.

Wow. She must've been too roguish.

"Perhaps she just hates me." pinunasan ko ang pawis na umaagos sa leeg ko at isinauli na sa lalagyan ang mop.