Digging Deep: A Libero's Love Match

(18) Misinterpretation

JEMA POV

"Mag rrecruit ulit tayo ng new players for the next next conference because may drafting na magaganap so it means may mga mababawas ulit or mapupunta sa ibang team sa ayaw at sa gusto natin" sabi ni Coach She

Wala kaming idea sa mga nangyayari and mga recruit na magaganap

So sad na may mawawala nanaman sa team

" Bato bato pick kung sino lilipat" - Coach She

bakit nakuha pang mag joke netong si Coach 🙂

" I think Coach hindi na kailangan ng bato bato pick na yan, this is my decision nadin po talaga after ng final appearance natin last confe, i was plan to retired nadin po sana ngayong conference pero gusto ko po muna makuha natin yung gold bago umalis so kung makuha natin this conference edi mas maganda, maaga po akong makakaalis hahah" - Ella

Ella's words caught me off guard, a mixture of surprise and disbelief swirling within me. She was talking about retiring after this conference?

The thought hadn't even crossed my mind, let alone been discussed between us. Why hadn't she mentioned any of this before? And why she  didn't shared this with me sooner?

I couldn't shake the feeling of being left out of the loop. It made me question the depth of our connection, the intimacy we had developed that no one else knew about.

" Huy bakit hindi ko alam yan?" - Ate MG

same po, same

" hahaha sa family ko palang sinabi but atleast alam nyo na, hindi na kayo kakabahan kung sino mawawala"

" ano na career mo after that teh?" - Pangs

" ayan lang muna yung masasabi ko, coach ang ttismosa oh"

ELLA POV

This is my decision after our final appearance last conference. I was planning to retire this conference, but I want us to get the gold first before leaving, so if we get this conference it will be better. Maybe this is the time for me to tell them. In my almost 2 conferences here, I can say that I really grew because of them

In my almost 2 conferences here, I can say that I really grew because of them. They've been more than just teammates; they've become family. The countless hours of practice, the highs and lows of each game, and the shared victories and defeats have all contributed to my growth, both as a player and as a person.

As I made my way towards the room, I heard someone calling my name. It was Jema

" Love"

We hadn't spoken since the painful incident that had unfolded last night – an image burned into my mind, of her kissing her cooled-off girlfriend right in front of me and our teammates

This wasn't the time for me to listen to her excuses,

"Don't call me that, Jema. I have my name, Ella, not Love," I said firmly

My voice tinged with a mix of hurt and frustration. The nickname she used felt like a cruel reminder of the affection we once shared, now tainted by betrayal.

"Love naman eh mali nga yung nakita mo, hindi ko nga alam na hahalikan niya ako, nagulat din ako"

I wanted to believe her, to accept her explanation and move past the hurt that threatened to consume me. But the image of her betrayal lingered like a dark cloud overhead, casting doubt on every word she spoke.

Jema's expression fell, her eyes brimming with regret as she took a hesitant step back.

"Ella, please," she pleaded, her voice choked with emotion

" umalis kana o ako aalis"

" no ! ayokong umalis"

" fine ako aalis"

" bakit hindi mo sinabi na hihintayin mo lang na makuha yung gold bago ka mag retired?"

" sino kaba para sabihan ko about my plans?"

"so wala lang ako sayo?" she said

" bakit ano ba 'ko sayo?"

The silence from Jema weighs heavily on me, stirring up a storm of unease. Why didn't she respond to my question about where I fit into her life

I find myself replaying our conversation over and over, searching for clues in her words and actions. Did I ask too much? Did I push too hard? The questions linger, taunting me with their lack of answers.

With a heavy heart, I turned back. I  couldn't bring myself to offer any feedback on her explanation

JEMA POV

I couldn't bear to look back, couldn't bear to see the hurt etched into Ella's face, knowing that I was the cause of it

" One more bucket of beer!"

As the night wears on and the alcohol clouds my judgment, I can't shake that I'm just avoiding the inevitable.

The problems with Ella won't disappear with each new bottle.

From: Jema
Lsve lwts fix thiss

From: Jema
I''smm sorryu

From: Jema
Its not what yiunthknk

From: Jema
* yiu think

Sitting in this dimly lit bar, the chatter of strangers gives me a moment of peace. Today was tough, and it feels like the weight of it keeps getting heavier. I didn't even tell my teammate where I am. I just needed this time alone, a brief escape from everything

Still, for now, I push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the simple act of raising a glass and letting the cool liquid wash away some of the tension.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll face reality head-on, but tonight, I'll take this moment of reprieve.

The frustration lingers as I replay today's events. Ella's refusal to hear me out hurts. It feels like my words never mattered, lost in her assumptions. Being misunderstood stings, making me want to just forget it all.

" Hi Miss! may kasama kaba ngayon?"

" nakikita mo ba na may kasams ako?"

" nagtatanong lang, pwede naman siguro kitang samahan since ako lang din mag isa?"

hindi ko na sya pinansin, bar naman to open sa lahat

So why should I outright reject him?

Hindi ko na alam yung mga nangyayari, sobrang ingay and nagsasayawan na halos lahat ng mga tao dito

Maya maya may mga kasama pa syang dumadating and i think mga kaibigan nya to kaya i decided na lumipat nalang ng ibang table but pinigilan nila ko

" akala ko ba ikaw lang mag isa? sinugaling "

" pwede naman tayo mag reserve ng another table for us Miss?" sabi nya

"Sure"

" Excuse me to disturb you people, kami yung kasama nya. Now, pwede na kayong umalis"

Si Ella

Anong ginagawa nila dito?

" i don't want to entertain you people, kukunin na namin sya"

" no, dito lang sya"

" huy Jema tara na" - Kyla

" pwede ba, kung yung training yung pinoproblema nyo. papasok ako bukas on time huwag kayong mag alala"

" bakit ba ang kulit mo?" - Ella