We are Under the Same Stars After All (SAMLY)

Chapter 16

Alyssa's POV

Time check: 5:30am.

Inilapag ko yung daisies na dala ko sa puntod ni Lia. Inalis ko din ang mga dahon na nasa lapida nya para makita ng maayos ang pangalan nya.

"Lia Marie Valdez"

It's been a year, Lia. And so much happened.

Tahimik akong nag-alay ng maikling panalangin. Mornings in cemetery give me peace, that's why kahit 1am na kami natulog, pinilit ko pa rin pumunta ng maaga.

Nilingon ko sa tabi ko si Sam. She seems to be offering a silent prayer. I smiled and let her be. Kinuha ko sa bag ko yung maliit na banig at nilatag ko sa may damuhan. Umaga  pa kasi kaya basa pa yung mga damo.

Naupo ako dun at ilang sandali pa, naupo na din si Sam.

"Coffee?" Tanong ko.

"Ha? May dala ka?" Tanong nya.

"Of course!" Kinuha ko yung thermos sa bag ko at yung paper cups na dinala ko.

Pinaglagay ko sya ng coffee at tahimik kaming tumambay. She seems to be giving me space din kasi siguro, naalala nya na nagdeflect ako sa topic kagabi.

"So.." panimula ko. "That's Lia."

She looked at me and smiled, urging me to continue.

"Anak ng Kuya ko. Very close kami nyan. Kaya din sya nahilig sa volleyball."

I chuckled when I remembered yung kwento ni Coach Liam.

"Sobrang daldal. Kapag nilagay mo sya sa isang lugar na wala syang kakilala, paguwi nyan, may mga tatlong friends na na bitbit yan. One time, nagvisit sya sa gym, e nasa clinic ako nun, pati si Coach Liam, dinaldal nya."

"Always watching my games.." I stared at her name engraved in that stone.

"..until she was diagnosed with leukemia" I fidgeted my hands. I was silent for a moment and then Sam's hands hold mine. She sat in front of me, she got my hands and start massaging my wrists. My eyes met hers at para na-ignite yung courage ko na magkwento.

"Stage 4 na agad and we don't know how it happened. She's a ball of energy and suddenly, she's not." I became teary eyed talking about her.

"Pero she's still very supportive of me. Sabi nya, go lang sa volleyball kasi yun naman yung passion nya, gusto nya ako lagi makita maglaro kahit sa tv."

"I am part of the PH national team and we will be competing na. I am half hearted kasi nga she is very sick. But she kept pushing me kasi pangarap daw namin dalawa to at gusto nya daw ako mapanood sa international setting. Busy yung sched ng national team from training abroad up to the games mismo. Wala ako masyado time."

"And then.  Nung kalagitnaan ng tournament. Ayun na. My kuya kept saying hinahanap nya daw ako parati. And I tried to get home. But ang layo ko and then one my teammate got injured and then, Coach Liam..  you know the rest."

"Sana nameet ko sya." Narinig ko sabi ni Sam habang minamasahe pa rin nya ang wrist ko. Our eyes met.

"She'll like you." Sabi ko naman. I sighed. Parang isang tinik ang nahugot sa dibdib ko nung maishare ko ang kwento ni Lia kay Sam.

"Likewise." Sabi nya.

Nagshift si Sam sa pagkakaupo. "Can I ask you something?"

At tumango lang ako.

"So she's the reason why you want to quit volleyball?"

I sighed again, "Yeah. Feeling ko nagkulang ako. Gusto ko makabawi." I picked an invisible dirt in my shirt para may magawa lang kamay ko. Tinanggal na nya kasi pagkakahawak nya.