"One year after you debut as an athlete but you already bagged 10 golds for the Philippines, anong pakiramdam?"
Tumawa ako. "Basically, it wasn't my debut because I already competed as a kid. But right now, I couldn't be prouder of myself. Without the medals, I am happy that I am able to represent my own." Nagpalakpakan sina Shana mula sa likod ng camera.
After a year, Shana eventually gets in to the national team. We've been in a competition already. After Korea last year, nasa France naman kami ngayon. Actually, I just had my final game today and as an athlete representing my country, Filipinos are really overwhelmed by my victory.
I am on my 2nd sem of the first year of nursing right now. It was too hard for me to train and study at the same time, so I am deciding to quit already. Pagkauwi ko ng Pilipinas, nagpaplano akong magpaalam na. I know it wouldn't be that easy, but I am actually planning this for a while now so, I think I can do it.
"Congratulations love!" Bati ni Paulo mula sa kabilang linya. He's in Germany right now because he has a dance competition to attend to.
Sa sobrang busy naming dalawa, we didn't have the chance to celebrate our 2nd year anniversary on the exact date. Kinailangan pa naming maghintay ng free day para lang makapag-date. Adulting phase. Although I am basically still on my teenage years. I was just 17 and Pau's already on his 20s.
Speaking of Pau, since we are both busy for a month now, we just had a simple celebration on his birthday. Nanood lang kami ng movie at natulog na magkasama. It was quite boring for others, but it was the thing that we need the most. Sabi nila, kapag mabilis ka raw makatulog in the presence of a person, that means you felt safe with that someone. That was Paulo to me. He was my comfort.
My home.
"Anong quit? Joerrelle mag-isip isip ka. Wala ka pa sa gitna ng career mo. Malayo pa ang maaabot mo. Maraming may gusto diyan sa pwesto mo pero sasayangin mo lang 'yang talent na yan?"
I defeatedly sigh. In the end, I had left no choice but to juggle training with studies. It was hard but I was glad that I have friends to support me. Kuya Dave is also making an effort to tutor me even he was on his critical year in college. Adi's the same. Dahil magkasama kami sa training center, he always tries to tutor me even he also had a life of his own. Although basically dalawa kaming tinuturuan niya. Madalas pa nga, kahit break time magkakasama kaming nag-aaral.
From: Pau
Call you later. Busy lang.
Awtomatikong bumagsak ang balikat ko sa nabasa. Ito na lang oras na 'to ang free time pero wala pa. Schedule namin 'to tapos ganito pa. Hindi naman ako nagagalit pero hindi ko maiwasang ma-disappoint. I am always looking forward to this every morning, even before I get up.
"Is there something wrong?" Adi asked out of nowhere. Ngumiti ako at saka umiling. Bumuntong-hininga siya at saka ako hinila para yakapin. "Don't worry too much. Whoever you are thinking right now, I'm sure he loves you." He uttered and tapped my back.
The next thing I knew, a shutter of camera flashed onto us.
Hindi ko na alam ang sunod na nangyari. Nabalitaan ko na lang na nasa national TV na raw kami at pinag-uusapan ng sambayanan. Mabilis ang pangyayari at halos hindi na ako makahabol. Hindi naman kami celebrity para pag-fiestahan.
"Sorry." That was the first word that came out with Adi's mouth the next morning. I consoled him and told him that it was fine. Hindi naman namin kontrolado ang pag-iisip ng ibang tao. Kahit mag-live pa ako ngayon, hindi na sila maniniwala kung sasabihin naming walang kahit ano sa aming dalawa.
