Sparks Fly (ONGOING)

Chapter 10

Dalawang araw nalang at magcocompete na kami.

The competition started already. It’s day 1 of Skate Stars, which means the younger skaters’ competition starts today.

We have a busier and tighter schedule lately at lalo na ngayong araw. Thursday ngayon at nasa rink kami ng Everette. We are all focusing on our skills and taking turns using the rink to do a full out of our routine.

Since coach Ezra is also a coach at Zagitova, she’s in the venue for her students there. May mga coach na nandito sa rink pero hindi ko sila one-on-one coach, ako lang mag-isang nagpapractice dito.

That’s fine since onting clean up nalang kailangan kong gawin.

We were given the whole day off for academics. Pinagbigyan kami at pinagtrain.

I was practicing one of the six required jumps. As I did my jump sequence, I messed up and landed on my ass.

“Fuck!”

Napatigil iba kong kasama sa lakas ng sigaw ko. Ashley was about to come and help me stand, but I just told her to ignore me. Buti talaga nahulog ako sa pwetan ko at hindi namali ang pagland ko sa ankles, baka hindi pa ‘ko makapag compete kung ganun.

I went out of the rink to take a break since ang tagal ko ng nagpapractice ng mga spins and jumps ko, and I can feel how sore my body is. I definitely need an ice bath later. Pagkakuha ko ng water jug ko na nakalagay sa locker room, nadinig kong tumunog phone ko sa loob ng locker.

From Lukas Santos

Why are you not in your class?

Ikaw ha, minemessage-message mo ko. Ibang pangalan naman ng babae tinatawag mo sa’kin! Pero siyempre marupok ako kaya nireplyan ko din. Tanga lang eh, natatanga talaga ako pagdating sa kanya.

Pero baka mali lang ako ng dinig. You know what? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

To Lukas Santos

How did you know I’m not in my class?

Mukhang hinihintay niya reply ko kasi nakapagreply siya kagad.

From Lukas Santos

Because I’m waiting outside of your room.

Muntik ko ng mabitawan jug ko. Never niya pa kasi ‘yon ginawa! We always meet somewhere, he never waited for me outside my room and vice versa! Before I could text back, he replied.

Your friend, Julia, told me you were excused the whole day. Are you training for a competition?

Mas lalo 'ko ng munting mabitawan jug ko! Teka lang! Ano ba pwede kong sabihin sa kanya? Should I just tell him my sport? My thinking was cut off when I received a text again.

Never mind. Don’t tell me if you’re not ready. It’s fine.

:))

May pahabol pa na smiley face.

I felt bad tuloy. I want to tell him badly. But there’s always that tiny voice in the corner of my head, saying he would react the same way as my classmates did when he finds out about my sport.

And then I felt even worse because I basically thought that Lukas is the same as those judgmental, ignorant people.

Maybe if I get in the finals… I’ll tell him. And confront him about what he called me! Ilang gabi akong ‘di makatulog ng maayos kakaisip nun ‘no! Kailangan ko tuloy kapalan makeup ko kasi masyado ng lubog eyebags ko!