With You

Chapter 1: Phro

Last day of the first week of school and I'm already rushing towards the University's Sports building, because I'm late. It's my first day at work and I'm already late. Bakit ba kasi late nagdismiss yung prof namin! Yan! Paniguradong lagot ako sa supervisor ko. I'm a scholar at the University, not an academic but a scholar sponsored by one of the board members of the University. I don't have any maintaining grades, but this is my only requirement, to be a student assistant. I was assigned to the Sports department and I don't have any idea kung anong mga ipapagawa sakin dun.

I'm Aphrodite Hernandez, a first year journalism student, first week palang and I already have my plate full because of school work at kelangan ko pa yung ibalance with my work as a student assistant, so I'm really hoping na hindi lang ako ang student assistant na nakaassign sa Sports' Department.

I ran as fast as I could pero kasumpa-sumpa talaga kung bakit naman opposite nang Journalism building ang Sports building. I stopped running as soon as I reached the steps to the entrance of the building, catching my breath as I entered the door and I was immediately greeted by a scowling face of a woman, who I assume is my supervisor.

Patay! Yan lang na naiisip ko at this time. Mukhang mabibinyagan ako nang talak at pagalit. I tried composing myself then gave her a big smile, drew a deep breath at nagpakilala.

"Hello po. I'm Phro. Ako po yung bagong student assistant." Pakilala ko sa kanya.

"You are late Phro. Sana hindi to maging habit." Sabi naman niya sakin with a faint smile on her face. Pero alam ko naman na hindi siya natutuwa sa mga nangyari.

"Sorry po. Nalate po kasing magdismiss yung prof ko." I reasoned out to her, pero hindi manlang nagbago ang expression niya. She's still smiling at me without any emotions in her face, na lalo kong kinatakot.

"I'm Jane. Follow me. Ikaw na lang ang hinihintay." And she started walking towards the rooms na mukhang offices and went straight to the conference room. Kung saan naghihintay samin ang mga head coach nang bawat major sports wherein our university is competing in every season. 

Standing in line in front of the coaches are two guys and a girl, I'm assuming are my fellow student assistants. Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag pagkakita ko sa kanila. I got my wish, hindi ako nag-iisa and that thought made me smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. One of the student assistants was running late." She said to the coaches as she gestured me to line up with the others. The coaches weren't as intimidating as I thought they were going to be. Most of them had genuine smiles on their faces na kinapanatag naman nang loob ko.

"No problem Jane. May valid reason naman ata kung bakit siya na late. Am I right?" one of the coaches asked me and I just nodded to him in response.

"Ok so, let's start? Guys, would you kindly introduce yourself to the coaches?" Miss Jane said, urging us to speak up.

"Hello po. My name is Neil. I'm a second-year student taking up education. I was last year's team manager of the men's soccer team."

"Ako naman po si Basty. Short for Sebastian, first-year IT student."

"My name si Jam. First-year HRM student po."

"And I'm Phro. Journalism student in my first year."

I saw the coaches just nodded as each one of us introduced ourselves. They look very satisfied while looking at us and inspecting us four from head to toe.

"You guys are going to be assigned to different teams. Your jobs as student assistant here in the sports department is basically acting like a team manager for the team you are assigned to. There are six sports in our university that needs you assistance in preparing for the competitions this season. Basketball, Volleyball both men and women, Soccer both men and women and Cheerleading." She started explaining to us.