Game Plan (COMPLETE)

10

"Wow, si Arrie lang pati ang binati!" Marcus pointed out.

Sinundan ito ni Kathleen. "Si Arrie lang ba ang tao dito?"

"Is the UPLB team here in the room with them?" Mae pretended to look around while scratching the side of her head.

We were warming up while chit-chatting. Nakakatulong din pala talaga ang pakikipag-usap o pakikinig sa usapan nila para hindi kaagad mapagod, I was used to staying silent kasi tuwing practice para mas focused. It kinda tricks the brain.

"Burger Garage tayo mamaya, please?" Mae pleaded. "Ang lala nung cravings ko diyan kagabi kaso hindi na ako makaalis sa bahay!"

"Walang may pake," binara siya ni Max. Mae raised her middle finger as a response.

"I'm good with Burger Garage," I told Mae. Magpapaalam na lang ako nang maayos mamaya kay dad.

"Sus, sa susunod ka na mag-oo sa Burger Garage kapag nireplyan mo na kami sa IG mo!" Mae remarked.

Oh, right. They sent follow requests and direct messages but I forgot to look at it nor reply. "I will, I will. Sorry, I don't usually open and reply to DMs."

Out of nowhere, Marcus said, "Talaga ba, Arrie? Sure ka?"

I gave no reply. Mayroon yata talagang alam ito si Marcus, eh.

Sprinting time, and si Ven na naman ang katapat ko. My dad whistled, and we ran. Mas nauna siya sa akin sa first round... But my ego cannot take defeat, kahit pa sa kaniya, so I ran faster on the second round and I beat him.

On the third and final run, I'd say it was a tie.

Kami na rin ang naging partners sa passing and basic drills. It seems like my dad is too focused on coaching to even mind.

For our last drill, it was offense-defense. We did not speak, but we already knew that we would be partners on this one.

"Ven! Tara!" Akit ni Marcus.

Ven just used his hand to point at me. I gave Marcus a small smile, trying to nonverbally apologize. Sumimangot siya, nagmumukmok, at sila na lang daw ni Yago ang mag-partner.

It was my turn first to attack, while Ven should defend. I should get past him then score a goal. So that's exactly what I did. I mastered some tricks and have used them in various games in the past, so I implemented some.

I got past Ven and used my right foot to swing, kicking the ball on the right part of the goal.

I looked at Ven with a proud smile. He was also smiling at me, but I can see that he wants to get revenge.

When it was his turn to attack, and my turn to defend, I was anticipating a nutmeg. He went back and forth, left and right, trying to trick me.

Well, he did trick me. Kasi binilisan niya ang pacing niya, tinabig papunta sa isang tabi 'yung bola, at sinipa.

Just like what I did, he looked at me with a proud smile.

I shrugged. I'd say we're on par with one another.

Nang matapos na ang iba sa drill na iyon, nag-cool down na kami. We were seated in a circle, stretching our legs.

"Burger Garage... Please." Mae was still not over it. It made me chuckle.

"'Ge, basta kasama ako." Max replied.

"Wala akong pakialam kung sumama ka man o hindi, kahit mawala ka pa." And that response of Mae lead to bickering until we were leaving UPLB.

I went with Mae in her car, specifically in the backseat. The passenger seat is kind of reserved for Kathleen. I didn't go with Ven in his vehicle because the things that happened while we're training is enough. I don't want to raise much suspicion.