My COACH

Part 36

'It was Diane and it was settled na' I texted coach as I hurriedly walked to my first class and deleted it just as it was sent.

I came in late and wala akong pakialam if I was marked absent na ba by our teacher or how I looked ang importante makahabol ako sa mga lessons that I missed, na kahit papaano ay may matututunan ako.

The day passed by na nandoon pa rin ang kaba na nararamdaman ko, hindi ito nawala kahit isang saglit at mas lalo pa itong nadagdagan when I reached to the gym at nakita kong seryusong nag-uusap si Mai at Diane. Iba na agad ang tumatakbo sa utak ko... is she telling Mai about what she saw earlier? Nakita ako ni Diane and she smiles and nods at me, reassuring me again that I don't need to worry kaya ngumiti na lang din ako sa kanya at sinubukang pakalmahin ang aking nararamdaman.

I am thankful that Mai has always been there for Diane, especially at this time. Unlike me, now that Diane is still needing her space, I've actually got no one to turn to, siya kasi ang laging tinatakbuhan ko dati kaya sana maka move on agad siya sa akin with the help of Mailyn so that I can have my friend back. Naputol ang pag-iisip ko dahil nag vibrate ang phone na hawak ko.
'See you later at home after practice' an sms from "Mom" kaya napangiti nalang ako, I have my coach pala.
'Ok' matipid kong reply sabay delete ng message namin at sumali na sa mga teammates ko na nagwawarm up at stretching na.

Coach was satisfied with our game and she was hoping that we can keep playing like this until Saturday, our next game. Although she expressed it with confidence and said it with a smile, I can sense that she was uneasy... maybe because we haven't really talked about what happened yet? And she can't even look at Diane. Sigh.

I headed straight into her condo, at home na at home while waiting for her. Naghanap ako ng makakain and end up having Pringles and pineapple Fit 'n Right at dinala ko ito sa sofa at nanood ng T.V pero papalit-palit lang ako ng channel kasi hindi ako makapagconcentrate.

Malayo ang iniisip kong nakatingin sa TV kaya hindi ko namalayan ang kanyang pagdating. She slumped on the sofa and leaned on my shoulder with a sigh. She seemed exhausted. Maybe dahil ito sa nangyari kanina?
"I told you not there diba?" bungad niya sa akin as she intertwined our fingers.
"Sorry na po, hindi na po mauulit at naayos na po. Mas mabuti na rin siguro na nakita tayo ni Diane para makapagmove on na talaga siya, she didn't believe na si kuya Taylor 'yong sinabi kong mahal kong iba but after seeing us kanina ay naniwala na siya. I trust her coach and sigurado akong wala siyang pagsasabihan na iba kaya relax na okay? You seemed so tense dahil ba ito sa nangyari?"
"Yeah, I can't concentrate sa ginagawa ko Kat, feeling ko kahit anong gawin ko o saan ako magpunta ay may mga matang sumusunod sa akin. Am I being paranoid? Dahil lang sa nangyari kanina? Puro pa ako what if... what if hindi si Diane 'yong nakakita sa atin? What if kumalat na may relasyon tayo? What if mawala ka sa akin?" at bumuntong-hininga na naman siya.
"And what if mawalan ka ng work" dugtong ko sa kanya na puno ng concerned.
"That's the least of my worries Kat, my parents would be happy 'pag nagkataon. I just don't wanna lose you" at yumakap na siya sa akin.
"I am so sorry coach, I promise that won't happen again. I love you very much coach" and I hugged her even tighter kasi ayaw ko rin na mawala siya sa akin then I kissed her forehead at nagpaalam na sa kanya na uuwi na ako kasi I felt a lot better na by just being with her.
"Mag dinner muna tayo" then she made a sad face. "I don't wanna eat alone tonight so will you please join me?" aw ang cute lang ng girlfriend ko. Kung pwede lang sanang gabi-gabi na tayo sabay magdinner at magkatabing matulog coach... sigh patience Kat! I still need to wait a little longer para magawa ang mga ito. Sigh.
"Okay coach, what are we having for dinner?" at nagpaalam na ako kina mommy at daddy na hindi sa bahay magdidinner.
"Tinatamad akong magluto and I can't take you out kaya order na lang ulit tayo... sorry Kat"
"Okay lang po coach, alam ko naman kung ano ang pinasok ko eh" and I took a peak sa lips niya to ease her worries. "Subway nalang tayo?"
"Okay" tugon niya at tumingin na kami kung ano ang gusto naming kainin at nagpadeliver na at pagkatapos kong kumain ay nagpaalam na talaga ako sa kanya.

We spent the week like that, after practice ay didiretso ako sa unit niya at doon na magdidinner at pagkatapos ay uuwi na sa bahay. I don't know how to cook kaya madalas ay nagtitake-out siya or nagpapadeliver lang ako at 'pag hindi naman siya pagod ay nagluluto siya.

Hindi na rin namin inulit pa ang mauna kaysa sa mga kasama ko para iwas na lang talaga sa maaaring isipin ng mga tao. Dumarating ako ng ten minutes to six at madalas ay may mga kasama na ako.

Game day na! We came prepared and in good condition... body and mind. Feeling ko mananalo ulit kami ngayon. Sa gaganda ba naman ng encouraging message ng mga idols kong ate ng CCS eh feeling ko nasa alapaap ako nagyon! At syempre inspired, kinondisyon ako ni coach kagabi eh... she massaged me before letting me head home with a promise na may prize ako kapag nanalo kami. So kahit mag dive pa ako, tumambling o lumipad gagawin ko lahat para manalo lang today! At pagpasok namin sa gym ay nandoon na ang sobrang supportive na mommy and daddy ko, ready to cheer for me!

And I was right, nanalo kami. I don't know how it actually happen, parang ang bilis lang ng game, I just found myself sweating and panting sa bench after the game while my teammates were cheering for me. I was in a daze, maybe on fire too... ang nasa mind ko lang bawat receive, dig, block at palo ay ang promised prize ni coach!