Only Us

Chapter 1

BEA

Im sure you all know me. You've seen me play, you've seen me around the campus, some of you even have pictures with me. I know I have this swaggy personality that makes me look tough. But deep within me is something I cannot define. 

All my life I've learned how it is to be tough. And as new chapters of my life unfold, unti unti kong nalalaman na hindi pala nadadaan lahat sa toughness. Ang alam ng mga tao, magaling akong maglaro.  Rookie palang daw pero full of promise na. What can I do? My parents raised me to yearn for the best, to always find the ability and passion and then rise above everyone else. Kaya siguro sinasabi nila na matapang ako.

Ngayon, kakatapos lang ng UAAP Season and I couldn't be more happier. First year ko, champion na kaagad. How blessed can I be? This season I realized how hard work can really pay off. Pero more than that, I realized na each level of our lives are defined by the people who are present in it. Before I entered Ateneo, di naman ako masyado malalim mag isip tulad nito. Ewan ko ba what got into me na naging ganito na ako. Siguro, malamang, dahil ito sa isang tao na nagpa define ng buhay ko.

Hindi ko alam if that person knows the impact she made in my life. Yes, she. Of all people di ko inexpect na sya pa magpabago ng paningin ko sa buhay. Nung una kaming magkakilala wala naman akong naramdamang iba. Pero little by little I saw who she really was. During trainings pag sobra nang nakakapagod at malapit na akong mag give up, she's the first person who pats me on the back and assures me that all will be well. There is just so much sunshine in her. When she smiles na halos mawala na yung mga mata niya, ang sarap nyang kurutin at yakapin. Whenever I see her, di ko mapigilang ngumiti din.

Her name is Jia. Yes, the Jia Morado, best setter ng buhay ko. Ay, ng UAAP. Nung una di ko pa nga sya masyadong pinapansin. Mas close ako sa mga seniors, sina Ate Ly, Ate Den, Ate Amy and Ate Ella. They made me pa nga their Baby Besh eh. Pero when I got closer to the whole team, that was when Jia stood out. I can't say na napamahal na sya sakin dahil teammate ko sya. Mahal ko lahat ng teammates ko. But Jia, she's different. She's someone I want to take care of. Make her happy each day and make sure she's safe. Mid season ko pa gustong sabihin sa kanya na I'm feeling something for her. Pero walang nasabi ang tough exterior ko. Everytime I see her, I'm at loss for words. Minsan yayakapin ko na lang sya. Most of the time, I bully her. I don't know why. Siguro nagigigil ako sa kanya. Diba pag mahal mo ang tao, mas kinukulit mo, kasi you want na ikaw lang pansinin nya at wala nang iba.

Pero mukhang I lost that chance to tell her how I feel. While I got caught up with my academics and trainings, meron palang asungot na naunang magtapat sa kanya. Well, friends naman kami ni Miguel but I never saw that coming. Ang bilis ng pangyayari. Kasing bilis ng mga spikes ang nangyaring sparks sa kanilang dalawa. And my tough self needs to be more tougher. Pero kaya ko ba? The more I think about supressing my feelings for Jia, the more they become stronger.