16 & 16

5: Jinjured

Bakit siya nandito?

She went here from their side of the court. She intentionally crossed under the net to get here. But why? Para matignan ako? Again, why?

Wala siyang ginagawa para tumulong or anything. She's just peaking from behind my teammates, as though ayaw niya na makita kong tumitingin siya sakin. Pero, hello? Who's gonna tell her na kahit nasa likod siya, kitang kita pa rin siya kasi siya lang naka-yellow?

"Y/n, tutulungan ka namin makatayo ha," A medic says, approaching me, "Tiisin mo muna 'yung sakit habang tumatayo, okay? Para mapwesto ka agad namin sa bench niyo, yeyelohan agad natin."

I nod, still not being able to speak. I'm scared that if I open my mouth to talk, I won't be able to let any sound out aside from a wince.

I feel two people start to grab my arms, and another person start to support my leg with the injured ankle.

I wince right away, feeling a spike of pain as soon as they try to move it. Even though mabagal lang 'yung movements, hindi ko pa rin kinakaya 'yung sakit. Ang baba kasi talaga ng pain tolerance ko, dati pa.

I want to tell the medic that's supporting my leg kung pwedeng mas gentle 'yung paghandle niya, pero hindi ako makapagsalita. Talagang nakapikit lang ako while holding my breath, trying to endure the pain.

Sobrang namumutla siguro ako ngayon kasi talagang tinitiis ko lang 'yung sakit. Bat ba kasi 'di ko kaya magsalita? Kanina pa ko walang imik, hindi ata kaya ng sistema ko magsalita–

"Kuya, mas nasasaktan ata siya, baka pwede mo pong galawin nang mas mabagal."

Putangina.

Sa lahat ng boses na nagsasabay-sabay ngayon sa pagsalita, 'yung boses niya pa talaga 'yung kaisa-isang narinig ko nang maayos.

"Okay, tatayo tayo on the count of three ha?" Sabi ng isang medic na hawak ako sa right side, "Babagalan lang natin."

I nod, and listen to him count to three. I wince again as I stand, pero thankfully, narinig ng medic 'yung nagsalita kanina at nakinig siya. Mas gentle na 'yung pagsupport at pag galaw niya sa injury ko.

Once nakatayo na ko nang buo, tumingin ako sa paligid ko habang tinutulungan ako maglakad palabas ng court. Sobrang sakit sa puso makita 'yung mukha ng mga teammates ko, halata sa mga mata nila na nagaalala sila para sakin. Sana wag muna nila ko isipin at sana makapaglaro pa rin sila nang maayos, kasi ramdam na ramdam 'yung pagbaba ng morale ngayon.

Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa bench, I can't help but think that...concerned pa rin siya sakin. She really went to my side of the court to check up on me, and even spoke up to the medic when she noticed that I was feeling more pain than I was supposed to.

Behind all of the blue jerseys, I once again spot a single yellow one. She's making her way back to her side of the court, crossing underneath the net.

Before they fully position me on the bench, I take one last glimpse at her, to see if she's still looking at me to prove that she still cares. But all I can see now is the number 16 on her back.

🧸ྀི

"Ang saya sayaaa!" Bella shouts as she runs around our room, "Vikings! Vikings! Vikings!"

Napatawa niya ko agad, despite me still feeling the pain coming from my ankle.

"Champs, babyyy!" Sigaw ni Erin habang tinataas 'yung trophy, "Nabalik na ang korona sa Jhocson!"

I smile, watching my teammates as they celebrate. Nandito na ulit kami sa kwarto namin, and yes, nanalo kami! Champions na ulit ang National University Lady Bulldogs! (a/n: as a Thomasian, ang sakit po isulat 'tong chapter na 'to opo)