Competition day! They woke up at 5 am to get ready. They even showered together, all at once.
Kinakabahan ang mga magpipinsan kahit wala pa sila sa venue kung saan gaganapin ang kompetisyon.
"Tara na daw mga bonak. Ihahatid tayo ni nanay sa waiting shed bilis bilisan nyo daw gumalaw!" Sigaw ni Shane
Rain is still eating while Cheska is still packing her dobok. Kim on the other hand is busy messaging or updating their Sabumnim.
"Sandale parang tatakbo yung venue a" Pagsigaw pabalik ni Kim.
Nakasakay na rin ang mag pipinsan at papunta na sa waiting shed. Dito ang meeting place nilang mag kaka team at ng inarkila nilag van.
"Oh galingan nyo ha. Matalo na kayo wag lang kayong ma injured. Mag iingat kayo!" pagbilin ng nanay nila sakanila.
Tumango si Kim "opo nay. Pasabi nalang po sa manager ko bukas nalang lahat ng naka schedule na photo shoot ko ngayon."
Umuwi na ang kanilang nanay o ang tita nilang lahat at hinintay ang ibang team mates nila.
Chelsea and Alexis came and they were all getting ready to go to their seats. Umupo ang mag pipinsan sa likuran kasama sina Chelsea at JB.
Ang upuan ng van sa likod ay magka harap o pa vertical kaya anim na tao ang pwede dito. Tatlo sa right side, at tatlo din sa left side. Nag tabi sina Chelsea, Kim, at Shane sa Right side at sina Jb, Rain, at Cheska naman sa Left.
Walang imik ang mga ito kaya nama'y nagsi tulog nalang sila habang nakikinig sa sari sarili nilang music hanggang sa makarating sila sa venue.
They arrived at the venue. The competition was held at Vigan City Convention Center. Parang covered court ang itsura nito pero closed area at may aircon ang venue. The place was filled with chairs and mats with taekwondo players and their family to support them.
As they went in, they went to the comfort room to change into their doboks.
"Please hold my things for a while. Magbibihis lang ako" ani ni Chelsea
Rain rolled her eyes "ano ako yaya?"
"No pero tayong dalawa lang nandito sa comfort room kanino ko ipapahawak gamit ko? Sa multo?"
"Gagi oo nga no. Kami lang andito ehe"
Wala nang nagawa si Rain kaya nama'y siya ang naghawak ng mga gamit ni Chelsea. Matapos magbihis ng dalaga ay sumunod naman si Rain na nagbihis.
After changing, they all proceeded to the venue at imbes na mag stretch ang mga ito, tumingin muna sila ng mabibiling souvenirs sa loob at ang ilang team mates nila ay bumili.
Their 'sabumnim'/coach/teacher/instructor came "Okay andito na ba mga armors? Yung gum shield nyo dala nyo ba?"
Rain and her cousins were confused. They didn't have gum shields. Hindi ba ito binibigay ng teacher nila?
"Rain, Kim, Shane, Cheska, go and buy your own gum shields. Binibili ito at hindi namin pino provide ng libre."
"Yes sir" they all said in chorus.
"Okay go and stretch team. Fighting!"
The team started to stretch and as they were stretching and warming up, other teams started to stretch as well.
Kim saw a girl her age but is taller than her. She immediately looked at Shane and Rain "Gagi ang tangkad nun oh. Pano pag sya nakalaban ko?"
"Contact'kin kona St. Peter"
"Kami na ni Cheska bahala sa location ng bangkay mo" ani ng dalawang dalaga.
Kim looked at them with fiery eyes, ready to sit on their back while they are stretching and trying to hug the ground but the instructor at the stage started speaking.
"Good morning players! I hope you're all ready to play. We will start the competition in poomsae first. After poomsae, your favorite, Kyurogi! As we can all see, may tatlong grupo ng mats dito sa ating venue and ang gagamit sa unang mats ay ang mga yellow at blue belts. Sa pangalawa, red at brown and sa huli ay black belts. We will start after 15 minutes so poomsae players, please get ready. Kyurogi players, please proceed to the stage para magka alaman na kung sino ang makakalaban nyo mamaya sa 1st round. Thank you and FIGHTING!"
Their team were all Kyurogi players so they all went to the stage.
Hindi nila alam kung saan ibabase ang makakalaban nila. Sa weight ba? Height? Age? or Belt.
The instructor from other team asked them about their age, weight, and height. Sa competition na ito, hindi sila nag base sa belts.
"Miss Rain Friedrich, how old are you and pls state your weight and height." The instructor asked.
Rain sighed. It was a sigh of nervousness. Malas nya kung ang makakalaban nya ay black belt dahil baguhan lang siya at isang beses palang ang experience nya sa sparring at yun ay noong training nila. Kinalaban nya noon si Shane.
"I am 17 years old po and I weigh 43 kg and I am 5'5 tall" Rain answered.
"Hmm ang tangkad mo. I don't think there are players your height according sa belt mo." The instructor explained while writing at the piece of paper.
The instructor gave Rain the piece of paper and when she saw who her opponent was...
"Shara Angeles from Abra. Blue belter." Rain whispered.
She didn't know her opponent pero base sa naka sulat, 5'6 ito at 44 ang weight neto.
As the players were informed who their opponent was, they all went back to their seats.
Kim approached Rain. "Rain, ano say mo sa kalaban mo?"
Rain shrugged and looked at Kim. "I don't know. Pero sana maka survive ako"
Si Shane at Cheska ay tumakbo patungo sakanila at hinihingal ang mga ito.
"Oh anyare sainyo bat kayo tumatakbo?" Kim asked.
"Hinahanap namin kayo. Malas kalaban namen ni Cheska" ika ni Shane.
Naningkit ang mata ni Rain "Baket malas?"
"Gagi Black Mamba. Diba masyadong mahangin mga yon. Ang tataas ng tingin nila sa sarili nila" sagot ni Shane.
Black Mamba is their biggest enemy. Isang team ito na punong puno ng mahahahangin na players at tingin nila ay napaka lakas nila. Kumukulo ang dugo nila dito sa team na ito.
"Hayaan nyo na, do your best nalang" Pagsingit ni Chelsea sa usapan nilang apat.
Rain was stunned by how close their bodies were. Bakit bigla bigla nalang susulpot si Chelsea at talagang magka lapit pa ang katawan nilang dalawa?
Umalis si Rain sa pwestong iyon at nagpunta sa CR. Ramdam nyang nag iinit ang muka nya at ayaw nyag makita iyon ng mga tao lalo na si Chelsea.
Everytime Rain blushes, para syang kamatis sa sobrang pula. Dahil sa maputi ang dalaga kaya kahit konting kilig lang ay mahahalata sa muka nya.
"Bakit sobrang pula ng muka mo?"
A familiar voice asked. She knew that voice. It was no other than Chelsea.
Hindi niya napansing sinundan siya ni Chelsea kaya napasinghap siya sa gulat.
"I'm asking you Rain. Bakit sobrang pula mo? Ok ka lang ba? May sakit ka ba?"
"Lovesick" ang nasa isip ni Rain.
"Ah wala ito nainitan lang ako kanina" pagrarason ni Rain.
"Huh? De aircon dito a"
"Ah haha ewan ko sa balat ko abnormal yata" Rain smiled nervously
Lalabas na sana si Rain ngunit hinawakan ni Chelsea ang kanyang kamay.
"Stay."
_________________
Taekwondo Vocabulary that is used for this chapter:
SABUMNIM - a guide instructor through whom your martial knowledge skills will come. Ito ang tawag ng mga players sa instructor/coach/Sir/Master nila.
BINABASA MO ANG
Captivated (gxg)
Romance"I don't like the idea of having a lover. I wanna die single and travel around the world" that's what she thought. Rain Emerald Friedrich. A girl who doesn't have interests on having a significant other. She's got a lot on her plate and she doesn't...
