Chasing The Sunset

01

"Get ready for the UAAP Season 79 Opening Ceremony!"

I was watching the live program on my phone on the way to the arena. I am running a little late because of traffic, and I came from Cavite pa. Kanina pa ako tinatawagan ng coach namin to confirm if makakasama pa ako sa opening ceremony, syempre I insist to be part of the ceremony because it will be my first time playing for UST.

"I'm sorry po," I apologized. Our captain smiled at me and then offered the line beside her. There were still people performing when I arrived. Bali saktong-sakto lang dahil pang-anim pa naman kami na tatawagin.

"Now, let's hear the growl of the tigers! The University of Santo Tomas!" The speaker roared. Hawak namin ang dilaw na flag at winawagay-way habang papasok sa mismong court ng arena.

Our captain and I were the representatives of the women's volleyball team. Dalawa lang kasi ang kailangan. I don't know why I am part of this since I am a rookie, but our coach said it was fine. Lahat naman daw sila na-experience na maglakad sa arena.

The speaker was introducing our coaches. He introduced all of them until it was my turn: "The fiery rookie of UST growling tigresses, Amelia Corazon!" I got shy when the camera pointed at me, but I smiled and waved at it.

We had an oath-taking with all of the players. I got to see the people I just watched on television. Seeing them up close makes my heart nervous; they're great players. Some of them won an award.

The UAAP opening ceremony ended quickly, so I have the whole night to eat out with my friends. I bid my goodbyes to my captain and coaches before heading out of the arena.

I hopped inside my friend's car. "I was a little bit late, kanina, buti nga nakahabol pa!" I said, giggling. "Nakakahiya nga! Alam mo ba pwesto ko? Katabi ko pa 'yung captain namin! Sa unahan!"

My friend was laughing hard. "Rookie ka pa lang pero nagpapakita ka agad ng ugali!"

"Baliw! Malay ko? Galing pa akong cavite, huy! Hindi ko sinasadya 'yan," I reasoned out. Still, mali ko pa rin. I should have googled kung gaano kalayo ang cavite sa arena.

"Training na naman 'yan. Palong-palo ang jacket natin, eh," My other friend, Callie, said when I sat down in front of her. I was wearing a UST shirt and a jacket. Iyon kasi ang kailangan kanina sa opening ceremony.

"Nagpapakita agad 'yan ng ugali, tignan mo late kanina sa opening ceremony," Drio said, my friend too; he was the one who fetched me earlier.

"Marami bang pogi sa opening ceremony kanina?" Callie asked.

My brows rose. "Malay ko."

"Late nga eh," Drio laughed. Nag-high five pa sila ni Callie habang tinatawanan ako. I raised my middle finger at them and frowned.

My other friends came also, Yuna and Aiden. We beso, and then we ordered a meal. "When are you going back ba?" I asked my other friend, Zandara, who is in Los Angeles. Tinawagan kasi ni Drio while we're waiting for our meal.

[I don't know, bae. Maybe next year?] She smiled.

"I'm playing for UST this year. I am hoping to see you so you can watch me play," I said.

[Aww. I'll try my best, bae,] she said. I smiled, "How's life in LA?" Minsan na lang kasi makausap lalo na't finals nila ngayon.

"Kumusta ang mga buhay?" Yuna asked while we were eating. In every friend group, there's a mom. So, here's Yuna. The mom of the group

"Training, araw hanggang gabi," I said. "Minsan iniisip ko kung tama bang nag-volleyball ako o pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang taekwando," I said and giggled.

"Nage-enjoy ka naman ba?" Callied asked me, looking straight into my eyes. Hindi agad ako nakasagot kasi iniisip ko pa ang isasagot. They were waiting for me to answer, Nahinto pa nga ang pag-kain nila.

"There are times I see myself enjoying, but sometimes there's a thought na, Why do I have to choose a different path just to prove myself?" I said. This talk is getting tense. I can sense that they feel sorry for me. Which I hate. I don't like people to take pity on me. "But at least I tried, right? I'm still here. And my teammates are very kind!"

"If you're doing this because you feel pressured, I understand," Aiden said. "However, you don't need to do something to prove yourself. You do what you want."

I geniuenly smiled; they make things lighter whenever I'm with them. "Thank you. I really need that now."

"Alam mo naman na kahit anong gawin mo basta masaya ka, ayos na 'yon," Callie said. "Kasi in the end, sino bang makikinabang? Syempre, ikaw."

"Kapit lang. Malay mo naman itong mga susunod mo na laro, mag-enjoy ka," Yuna said.

"Tama! Kaya 'wag maging late!" Drio said, which made us laugh.

"Panira ka talaga kahit kailan," Callie said. "Nasabi niyo na lahat, eh?" Drio counterattacked.

Kinabukasan, nagplano ako pumunta sa gym. Kakalipat ko lang sa bagong condo, mas malapit 'to sa UST. Kaya nga ako na-late noong opening ceremony kasi sa cavite pa ako umuuwi pero ngayon ayos na, dito na ako. Bumaba ako dahil may sariling gym naman 'tong condo.

Wala naman masiyadong tao, kaya't pumunta agad ako sa treadmill. I was looking outside the big window. Kitang-kita ang iilang building sa UST kaya magandang tignan. After ilang oras ay tinapos ko ang treadmill para pumunta sa iba, pero bago makapunta sa kabila ay napadaan ako sa lalaking nagbubuhat ng barbell.

My brows rose as he tried to lift the barbell; he was struggling to lift it. I can't see how many kilos it was, but it was a lot of plates. When the barbell fell to the floor, he watched my reflection in the mirror. His brows rose up, probably wondering why I was watching him.

I stared him down, then went to the side to do a hamstring curl. After hours of working out, umakyat din agad ako para makaligo at maka-kain ng breakfast. I was just watching some television shows to kill time.

Our training starts at seven in the morning and lasts until nine in the evening. I was so tired, but not really tired because my body is adapting to that routine. I've been training since my second year of high school and was supposed to make my debut last year, but our last coach said that I wasn't ready.

[Volleyball tayo bukas!] Drio said as I answered the call. [Dali na! May kasama akong mga tiga-UP bukas, sumali ka na!]

"Okay," I answered, and I ended the call. I continued my sleep and then woke up around four in the afternoon. Right after having a light meal, I went straight to the gym.

I woke up around five in the morning. Hinanda ko na rin ang bag at mga gamit na gagamitin ko. Naglagay ako ng colored clips sa buhok ko dahil may bangs ako para hindi maging istorbo during games pero minsan nakakawala pa rin, eh.

Hindi na ako nag-dala ng car kasi mag-jogging na lang ako papunta doon. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang dadalhin niya, halos lahat naman ng university ay may kakilala si Drio. Tawag ko nga sa kanya, Mr. Worldwide.

I was not late, but when I came in the court, kumpleto na sila. I smiled at them and said, "Good morning!" They greeted me back. There are six of us, including me, one girl, and four boys.

"Guys, si Amelia, aports ko sa USTe," Drio introduced me to his friends. "Hi, Ako si Josh. Eto si Kyle, Kirsten at Kairo."

Ngumiti ako sa kanila at kinamayan. I feel like the Kirsten, the girl, hates me i think? It's just a gut feeling. Nung dumating kasi ako lagi na siya nakatitig ng masama, like it was a forced glare. Wala naman akong paki, it's just what did I do?

"Oh, ganto, kami na magka-teammate ni Kirsten tsaka Kairo. Josh, Kyle, and Amelia kayo naman. Three versus three tayo," paliwanag ni Drio. Nakipag-jack en poy pa siya para malaman kung sino mauuna.

The guy named Kairo looks familiar. Para nakita ko na siya somewhere... Ah! He was the one who was struggling to lift the barbell! 'Yung lalaki sa gym noong isang araw. I tried smiling at him pero tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay at tumalikod para pumwesto.

Kami ang nauna, kaya ako ang pinag-serve nung dalawa. I've been practicing jump float for awhile, and I can say it felt so good when I see the opposing team kneeling or trying to catch the serve. Para kasi siyang trick, if you're not a good receiver you wouldn't  know where the ball will end up. I tried it today, and it worked. Nakipag-high five ako sa dalawa bago bumalik uli sa likod.

"Palong palo naman 'to," Drio said after I scored. Tambak sila, twenty-one to eleven. I just laughed at him. Ayaw mo pa akong ka-team, ah.

We won the first set. Gusto pa raw ni Drio, kasi ayaw niya natatalo. I was on the back because we're rotating. The phasing was too fast and I was shocked when I saw the ball flying directly to me. Wala akong nagawa because it was too fast and then the ball hits my face. I heard someone laughed however I don't know who was it.

Tinulungan ako ni Josh tumayo. "Facial hit amputa," I said and laughed.

"Gago ka, Kairo. Nagdudugo labi ni Amelia," Josh said and then we faced them.

"Tangina mo pre, ikaw ata 'tong palong palo!" Natatawang sabi ni Drio nang makalapit siya sa akin. Nahihilo ako pero hindi ko na lang sinabi. Agad namang tumakbo si Kairo sa pwesto ko na may dalang first aid.

Pinagpatuloy nila ang laro habang kami nasa gilid, tahimik niyang binuksan ang first aid kit at humarap sa akin. He was just staring at me blankly, "Okay lang ba? Hahawakan kita sa mukha?"

Napakurap ako at tumango.

"May galit ka ba?" Mahina akong tumawa. Hinawakan niya ang baba ko at ginilid ang mukha, "Bakit ako target mo? Kanina pa kita napapansin, ah."

"Deserve," narinig kong bulong niya.

"What did you say?" I asked him.

"Wala," he laughed.

"No. Narinig ko sabi mo 'deserve'," pinagpilitan kong sabi.

"Masakit 'tong ilalagay ko," He said and placed the cotton ball on the side of my lips. "Narinig mo pala, bakit ka pa nagtatanong?"

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked him and brushed him off. His face was too close to mine but he was just staring at him while holding a cotton ball. Nakakainis! May kasalanan ba ako sa kanya? Wala naman!

"Deserve, ang taray mo kasi," kumunot lalo ang noo ko.

"What? Hindi kita tinarayan!" I groaned.

Hinawakan niya ulit ang baba ko at dinampi ang cotton ball. "Look, hindi ko sinasadya. Nadala lang ng emosyon."

"Pero you didn't say sorry!" Pagpipilit ko pa rin. "It's okay, though." Dahil kung papahabain ko pa 'tong paguusap namin, mukhang maiinis ako lalo.

"Ang gulo mo. Ang taray taray mo pa," sabi niya sa akin. May gana pa siyang tumingin at ngumiti!

"Well, mister, hindi ako mataray," I said. Kumuha siya ng band aid tape.

Malalim ang bumuntong hininga bago niya malagay sa akin. Kumunot naman at noo niya at umiling-iling pa. Tatayo na sana siya pero hinawakan ko ang kamay niya, "Look, if I did something that offended you I'm sorry. I also apologized if I'm being mataray in any way."

Napatitig siya sa akin, "Ang taray mo pa rin kahit nagso-sorry ka," he said before smiling. "Pero sige dahil cute ka naman, apology accepted."