16 & 16

1: North Pole

"Tara, samahan mo ko." Bella says, pulling me by the arm the second I put my kneepads in place.

"Ha? Saan?" I answer, not moving from my spot, "Lalabas na tayo in 10 minutes, baliw. Tapos ka na ba mag stretching?"

"Oo, ako pa ba? Ready ka na rin naman eh," She answers, pointing to me, "Tsaka ako, ready na rin ako. Ano gusto mong gawin, upo lang tayo dito habang hinihintay 'yung oras para mas maramdaman natin 'yung kaba?"

I sigh, may point siya. 'Yun nga talaga 'yung balak ko gawin bago kami papilahin at palabasin sa dugout, umupo lang at i-welcome 'yung kaba sa sistema ko. Tumingin ako sa paligid namin, to see that some of our teammates are still getting ready. Kami lang ni Bella 'yung 100% na nakaayos simula ulo hanggang paa.

"San ba tayo pupunta?" I ask, which causes Bella to grin widely.

She doesn't answer, and all she does in response is pull me by my forearm. Tumatakbo siya, kaya wala rin akong choice kundi tumakbo rin.

Game 1 na ngayon ng Finals for the UAAP Season 86. And yes, lalabas na kami ng dugout in 10 minutes, pero ito ako, nagpapahatak kay Bella papunta sa lugar na hindi ko pa alam.

I start to get a bad feeling in my chest habang palayo kami nang palayo sa assigned room namin.

"Huy," I say, starting to realize where she's taking us, "Mhicaela, 'yan ka na naman! Bitawan mo ko!"

"Sshh," She laughs, continuing to run, "Ngayon lang, please?"

I roll my eyes, trying my hardest to remain composure. Hindi 'to first time gawin ni Bella. She's done this before, 'yung biglang pag-hila sakin papuntang...impyerno.

So, kaya ko naman siguro tiisin at makalabas nang buhay.

"Detdettt!" Bella shouts once we reach the front of their door, "Lumabas ka diyaaan!"

I feel my body get cold as I read the words on the door in front of us:

"UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM"

Bella finally lets go of me, and for a split second, I think of running away to go back to room of the NUWVT. For sure, pagbukas ni Detdet ng pinto, makikita ko si...basta.

Alam ko naman na makikita at makakalaro ko siya sa court mamaya, pero syempre, iba 'yung makikita ko siya in a casual context.

Nagbukas 'yung pinto, widely, and before I know it, Bella's being tackled by Detdet.

"Ginagawa mo dito?!" Detdet shouts as they both laugh, "Makikinig ka sa game plan namin no?!"

Naka-full gear na si Detdet, kitang kita na wala siyang ginagawa sa room nila. Mukhang kakagat 'to sa kung ano mang panggugulo gustong gawin ni Bella ngayon.

"Huy, may ganun din kami!" Bella shouts back, "'Di namin kailangan ng game plan niyo 'no! Manggugulo lang kami ni y/n dito."

"Tara tara!" Detdet responds quickly, now linking arms with me and Bella, "Samahan ko kayo manggulo."

"Ibang klaseng kapitana ka talaga." Bella laughs as we start to make our way inside.

Hindi ko pa nakikita si ano, kahit na kanina pa binuksan 'yung pinto. Pero in a way, nararamdaman ko 'yung presence niya. Ang bigat ng ere eh.

"Giiirls!" Detdet shouts as we enter their room, "May mga spy!"

Napatingin 'yung ibang members ng USTWVT, pero napatawa lang sila. Busy 'yung iba sa pag stretching tsaka sa pag-ayos ng sarili.

"Mukha mo!" Bella shouts, laughing, "Magba-bag raid lang kami dito!"

"Kanino tayo magsisimula?" Detdet says, looking around the room, "Hmm, sino bang nakatambay na lang diyan?"