Yuki Ishikawa • Lifetime

Chapter 14

She'll never be good enough.

Go give them nothing, Sis!

Mukhang easy win na 'to just by looking at you now.

Those are the words that keep on haunting me in my dream until I finally manage to wake up with tears in my eyes.

When I fully opened my eyes, I was met with an unfaimiliar bedroom.

Where the heck am I?

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon hanggang sa tuluyan na akong mahulog sa kama.

"Damn, that hurts." Frustrated na sabi ko sa sarili ko.

I was about to get up when the door of the bedroom suddenly swung open.

"Summer? What are you doing sitting on the floor like that?"

Yuki?

Mabilis kong kinusot ang mata ko. When I look again, he's still there, standing in front of me.

"Here," he said while approaching me. "I'll help you to get up."

He carried me bridal style na talaga namang nagpagising ng buong systema ko.

"What are you-"

"You need to rest first." He said saka ako binaba sa kama. "Sally will be here soon. I'll wake you up when she arrives."

Tatalikod na sana si Yuki pero pinigalan ko siya.

"Please.." I said trying to hold back my tears. "Please stay for a while."

I saw Yuki looked at me softly and gently patted my head.

"Alright." Matipid na sagot niya saka umupo sa gilid ng kama.

Ilang minuto ring katahimikan ang namagitan sa aming dalawa. As much as I want to open up my feelings kay Yuki, I decided na huwag nalang since I don't want him to burden that much. I already wasted his time para samahan ako dito imbes na gumagawa siya ng mga personal na bagay. If only I didn't make a scene earlier, hindi ko makikita ang isang Yuki na parang pasan ang mundo kasama ko.

Di ko namalayan nakatulog na ako ulit. And when I woke up again, I was greeted by Sally na nakaupo sa sofa na nasa gili ng kama.

"Thank god, Summer!" Natatarantang sabi niya. "You're finally awake. Muntik na talaga akong tumawag ng ambulance just to make sure that you're properly treated."

Ngumiti ako ng kaunti. "I want to go home. Ayoko na masyado istorbohin pa si Yuki dito. And besides, nakakahiya naman na dito pa ako nagi-stay sa guest room niya."

Napangiwi si Sally. "This is not actually a guest room, Iha."

Napakunot ang noo. "What do you mean?"

Tumikhim siya. "This is Yuki's bedroom."

Nanlaki ang mata ko at bigla kong in-scan ang buong four corners ng kwarto. I saw medals, volleyball posters, and pictures of him and his family sa study table niya.

Napasinghap ako bigla. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako or isa nanaman itong kahihiyan.

When me and Sally are about ro exit Yuki' s condo unit, makailang-ulit akong humingi ng sorry dahil sa pang-iistorbo sa kanya.

He laughed. "Please don't make a big deal about it. Ang mahalaga okay ka na kahit paano. Don't hesitate to call me if need niyo ng tulong ni Sally."

I seriously trying to hold back my tears again kasi feeling ko talaga I don't deserve this kind of treatment from him. Sa isang iglap, baka masira ang image niya dahil sa akin.

Mabilis na akong nagpaalam at nagpasalamat ulit.

｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+

Sally and I had a serious talk the day after my stay sa condo unit ni Yuki. She told me the bad news. I will not represent the team in the international games dahil si Rico ang nakakuha ng mataas ng scores kahit hindi natapos ang laban.

I was really devastated to the point na gusto ko na muna mag hiatus sa archery. Pero kapag naalala ko iyong passionate na Yuki Ishikawa sa kraft niya na nakita ko, immediately kong pinapagalitan ang sarili ko.

Yuki's existence itself is now an inspiration for me to try and try again until I reach that peak wherein a lot of aspiring archery athletes will set me as their role model. A role model who can inspire them to never give up kahit maraming tao ang nakaabang sa downfall mo.

That's why nung pumasok na ako ulit sa training, I tried my best na ipakita na hindi ako affected sa results ng exhibition game.

Pero siyempre, hindi pa rin maiwasan na may mga times na Rico will lowkey mocked me and shoved to my face na mas magaling siya kaysa sa akin.

Not until I received an urgent call from my Coach 2 weeks after.

"Hello, Summer?" Coach asked na parang may panic sa tone of voice niya.

Kakagising ko lang nun and I'm about to get ready palang for training.

"Yes, Coach?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang naglalagay ako ng cereals sa bowl.

Ilang segundo siyang di nagsalita.

"Hello? Nandiyan pa po ba kayo?" Tanong ko ulit sabay subo ng isang kutsarang cereal.

"Rico was confined in the hospital last night. Nagkaroon ng minor coallision iyong sasakyan na dina-drive niya."

I almost chocked on my cereal when I heard the news.

"Is he alright? How is he?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko.

Narinig kong bumuntong hininga si Coach.

"He's fine. Pero injured ang left arm niya dahil sa impact ng pagkaka-bangga."

I let out a sigh of relief.

I was about to say something when Coach suddenly spoke again.

"Now listen carefully, Summer. Since Rico will be needing a few months to recover, I want you to replace him as representative in one of our archery international games."

That's when I dropped my spoon and spilled a few cereals on the floor.