Sparks Fly (ONGOING)

Chapter 2

Kakatapos lang ng klase ko ngayong araw at papunta na ako sa skating rink ng university.

Pagdating ko sa rink, dumiretso kagad ako sa locker room ng pangbabae para magpalit ng pangtraining ko.

Nakita kong may mga kasabay ako na figure skaters kaya nginitian ko sila, sila naman ay ngumiti pabalik. Nakipag-usap pa ako habang nagpapalit.

Oo, sanay na kasi akong nagpapalit sa harap ng mga kapwa kong skaters kaya hindi na ako nahihiya. Paano ba naman, lagi akong may kashare ng dressing room tuwing may showcase o competitions since bata pa ako.

After tying my skates and putting on my skate guards, I went out of the room with the girls.

When training started for the first time, I was so nervous, terrified even. I’ve been skating my whole life so it’s not like I haven’t met other skaters before, but that was different.

I am confident with my abilities as a skater, but I definitely lack the skills to socialize with other people.

Not to mention, I have no filter.

Like I’ve said before, I’ve been homeschooled my entire life. The only people I meet are those who go to the same skating school as I did. The skating school I count as my second home since I basically grew up there.

Since I found out my coach from the skating school I grew up in also coaches in a sports college university, I have decided to join said university instead.

Parehas lang naman coach ko and at least I’ll finally experience what being in a real school feels like.

I’m an over-thinker. I expect the worst 90% of the time. I really thought the skaters wouldn’t like me, but they actually did. They were nice, nicer than the skaters from Zagitova, my old skating school.

Turns out, figure skating in Everette Academy sucks.

Bihira lang kasi manalo sa mga competitions ang mga skaters dito kaya considered as the lowest level kami sa school hierarchy. Daming echos.

That’s actually why the girls back on my first day didn’t want to be friends with me. Nang tinanong nila kung ano sport ko, nawala ang pagkainteresado nila sa pagiging kaibigan ko.

Ang baba ng tingin nila sa’kin, sa mga figure skaters dito.

Nanghinayang nga ako nung nalaman ko ‘yon. Pumasok ako dito sa university kasi sabi ito daw ang pinakamagandang pasukan if you are more focused sa sports. Hindi ko namalayan na hindi pala kasama figure skating doon.

Wala na rin naman na akong magagawa, nakaenroll na ‘ko eh.

Besides, the atmosphere here is much better compared to Zagitova. Ang toxic! Everyone in there is so obsessed with winning especially the parents of the skaters. Puro nalang paninira ang nangyayari doon kaya mabuti na rin ay umalis ako.

Gusto ko rin naman manalo pero not to the point na makikipag plastikan ako sa mga kapwa kong skaters.

Kaso no choice din ako. Kailangan ko rin bumalik sa Zagitova kapag graduate na ko sa Everette since they only allow you to participate pag college student ka.

I really enrolled here mainly for the experience and I thought maybe a change of scenery will help me with my future as a figure skater.

Mababait mga skaters dito sa isa’t isa since kami-kami lang rin naman ang magkakakampi. Ayaw na nga ng ibang athletes sa amin, makikipagaway pa kami sa kapwa skaters namin? Edi loner na kami kung ganun.

“Hey girl!” Bati sa akin ni Ashley, isa sa mga skaters at kasama ko rin sa isa kong klase, ng matanggal ko ang skate guards ko at nagskate na sa rink. Same batch kami, parehas na third year student.

“You wanna come with us? Jas, Lia, and I decided to go clubbing later.” Aya naman sa akin.

“Saan kayo mag-cclub? Nagaya rin kasi si Jules sa akin. Sama-sama na sana tayo.”

“Not yet sure where, but how ‘bout I text you about it later?” Ashley replied to me.

I agreed and skated around the rink. We have an upcoming competition in a month. I am one of the eight chosen students to compete, kasama na doon sila Ash, Jas, at Lia. Kaya medyo kailangan ko rin ipractice skills ko.

Hindi ko first time magcompete, I have started competing when I was just 7 years old, and I have both won and lost competitions in and out of the country.

It’s always 7th place, 4th place, bronze, and silver though.

Never gold.

I’ve never been first place and that is my goal.

Maybe if I finally bag the gold, my parents would finally come home and spend their time with me.

Joke… ang drama, sis.

Mas kinakabahan lang ako sa upcoming competition namin since iba na team ko, well team ko until I graduate. I know my fellow skaters already have a nice impression of me, but I still can’t help the feeling that I’ll disappoint them if I mess up my routine sa Skate Stars, yung competition namin.

Isa ako sa napili at grabe rin kasi makapag-brag ‘tong si coach Ezra. She’s proud of me, but I can’t help feeling pressured!

Parang pinaparating kasi ni coach na ako ang lucky charm ng team or something. Kapag nanalo ako, tataas na ang figure skating sa school hierarchy.

I know I’m good, but I want to be better that’s why even if our training ended already, I’m still here in the rink.

Lumapit sa akin si coach Ezra, “Di, pahinga ka na, nak.”

Tinigil ko muna ang sit spin na ginagawa ko at humarap sa kanya, “Maya-maya ho onti, coach. Kailangan ko rin ho kasi mag-practice eh.”

“Alam kong may competition ka naparating pero tandaan mong magpahinga ha? Baka pagdating ng competition mismo mapapano ka pa.” Paalala niya naman sa akin.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. Simula nung unang araw ko dito magtrain sa university, napansin na ng mga kasama ko na iba pagtungo sakin ni coach Ezra.

Yung iba kong kaskate na pailang nalang pero nung nalaman nila na matagal na kong nagtrain under coach Ezra, napahinga sila ng mabuti. Akala kasi nila may favoritism na magaganap. Pero coach made sure na walang ganun na magaganap, napantay-pantay lang kaming lahat.

I was the only one left in the rink and I decided to do a run through of my routine.

As I was about to do a triple Lutz jump, one of the skills I love doing, I heard a loud bang na para bang may nahulog na metal sa sahig.

Buti nalang hindi pa ko nakakabwelo patalon kung hindi, edi for sure injured na ako. I can’t afford to be injured pa naman lalo ng competition season.

Ako ay napahawak sa aking dibdib at huminga ng malalim. Nagskate na rin ako palabas ng rink para may oras pa ko magpahinga since iinom kami ng mga kaibigan ko mamaya.

Natakot din kasi ako sa tunog na nadinig ko hehe.

Pagkakuha ko ng gamit ko sa locker room at pagpalit ko ng tsinelas ay umalis na ko. Hindi ko na tinignan pa kung saan ko nadinig yung tunog.

Pagtinignan ko pa baka may sumaksak sa akin. Ganun nangyayare sa horror films noh!