A Royal Espionage (Reale Series #1)

KABANATA I

Emily's Point of View

THE TENNIS

"EMILY,Emily pinapatawag ka ni coach" mabilis ang napalingon ng bigla ko na lamang marinig ang tawag ni Shyna na tila hinahabol ako nito. Hinihingal siya sa harapan ko habang napapahawak ito sa kaniyang tuhod.

"Bakit ba ang bilis mo maglakad?" nahihingal na saad nito.

"Bakit daw?" pagbabalewala ko sa tanong niya. Matagal na rin akong naglalaro ng tennis simula ng elementary pa lamang ako, buhay pa lamang si dad noon nang tini-training na kami sa mga sports, tulad na lamang ng archery, wushu, at swimming. Si dad ang naging trainor naming magkapatid pero hindi na ako muling nakapagpractice pa simula nung mamatay siya, tanging archery at tennis lamang ang naipagpatuloy ko.

"Since malapit na rin ang international game you should have to prepare your fitness. Don't worry nakapagpaalam na raw si coach sa dean"

"But-"

"No but but, tara na" sabay hila nito sa akin. Ang dami ko na ring nasalihan sa ibat't ibang competition and luckily ako yung magiging pambato for international games. How I wish that you could witness this dad and mom. Hindi ako binitawan ni Shyna habang naglalakad kami sa hallway, akala siguro nito tatakas na naman ako. Nagsimula na rin ang klase dahil lahat ng mga classroom na nadadaanan naming ay nakafocus lamang sila sa pag-aaral, kahit na ang iilan sa mga estudyante nito ay hindi nakikinig. Pumasok kami ni Shyna sa gym at nadatnan naming na naroon na rin ang iba't ibang mga players. Parehas kami ni Shyna na tennis player ngunit ang pinagkaiba lamang namin ay nasa double siya at single lamang ako.

"Emily do you know it's your training day right?" pagbungad agad ni coach sa amin nung makalapit kami rito.

"Yes coach, I'm sorry po" I said, nodding and apologizing since he seemed in a bad mood again.

"By the way, before we proceed with your training, I want to remind you that there's a field that where you all need to train. All the players chosen for the international competition will train on the same field. This means that players from different schools will be there to train together" saad ulit ni coach, it's my first time na makasali sa isang international games kaya expected na rin talagang wala akong idea kung paano sila nagt-training. Tumango lamang ako at nagpaalam kay coach na pupunta lamang ako sa dressing room para makapagpalit na rin.

Pagpasok ko pa lamang sa dressing room ay nadatnan ko na rin si Shyna na tapos na rin itong magpalit, habang ang ibang mga players naman ay nagkukwentuhan sa mga previous na games nila last competition. Dumeretso ako sa kaliwang bahagi ng locker para kunin ang shirt ko, skirts, socks and warm-up jackets. The shirts is lightweight and breathable tops, it is often made from moisture wicking material that's why, it's really comfortable to wear it. The shorts or skirts it is also made from stretchy and breathable fabrics, and it added the comfort and coverage, that's why you can move freely in terms of running to receive the ball. The socks also is a cushioned that provide the extra support and help you to prevent blisters during play. Warm-up jackets and the pants is the most important before starting the play, the outfit is worn before and after the matches to keep the muscles warm, and it also help me to calm my nervous that always makes me cold. When I was done wearing my tennis apparel, I start stretching my body to make me comfortable and mover freely.

"Emiii, omg naeexcited na ko sa international games natin kyaaa" kinikilig na bungad sa akin ni Shyna ng makita akong inuunat ko ang aking mga buto. Shyna is my classmate and also my friend, siya ang reason ko kung bakit nakasali ako ngayon as a tennis player. She;s the one who push me, and tell me that I can do it, I am really happy when she came in to my life. Tinuturing ko na rin siya bilang pamilya ko, dahil sa tuwing nakikita ko siya naaalala ko ang kapatid ko sa kaniya.

Lumabas na rin kami ni Shyna at agad naming natanaw si coach habang kausap nito ang kapartner ni Shyna sa tennis. Tila pinag-uusapan nila ang plano para sa final game.

"Ms.Shyna and ms.Emily"

"Yes coach"

"Before starting the game make sure to don't forget the fully warmed up so you are ready to go. Don't forget to stay focus during your game and always presents of mind. Stick yourself to the game that we've discussed last time. One of the best way is play your strengths and exploit your opponents weaknesses. Stay positive, lose or win stay confident in your abilities. Do you understand?"

"Yes coach"

" stay calm and composed, don't let your anxiety to make you nervous. Take a deep breaths and don't let any mistakes get to you. Understand?"

"Yes coach"

Ilang oras rin kaming nagpractice sa loob ng gym at bukas na rin pala ang preparation namin para makapunta sa practice field game. Kinakabahan ako ng hindi ko malaman ang dahilan, dahil bas a bago pa lamang ako sasabak sa international games? Busy akong naglalakad sa hallway para humabol sa mga subjects na hindi ko napasukan, alam kong ipinaalam na kami ni coach sa mga teachers naming. Ngunit hindi ko naman kayang sayangin ang oras kung alam ko naman na may time pa.

"Emi papasok ka pa?" bigla akong napahinto ng bigla akong piogilan ni Shyna na ngayon ay nasa harapan ko na.

"Yeah? Bakit?"

"Free time mo na diba? Tsaka nakapagpaalam na rin si coach na hindi muna tayo makakapasok this week and before that, you should have to prepare yourself for tomorrow"

"Hindi maaari na hindi ako makapasok ngayon Shy, although nakapagpaalam na si coach meron it's my choice kung papasok ba ko o hindi diba?" napasimangot na lamang si Shyna at nilampasan ko na rin ito para humabol pa sa dalawang subjects naming na natitira nagyong hapon. Akala ko ay umuwi na rin si Shyna ngunit naramdaman ko nalang na sinusundan na pala ako nito.

"Akala ko ba uuwi ka na?"

"Papasok nalang ako tsaka wala namang gagawin sa bahay eh" tinaasan ko lamang ito ng kilay at binalewala na lamang ito.

Pagpasok ko pa lamang ay naabutan ko nang si ma'am na nagtuturo ng mathematics hinayaan niya lang kami na pumasok at umupo. Dahil siguro sa naipaalam na kami ni coach.

"Anyone who can remember the quadratic formula?" napansin ko na lamang na walang may balak na magsagot sa tanong ni ma'am kaya ako nalang ang nag-initiate na sumagot.

"Yes ms. Emily?"

"Thank you ma'am, the quadratic formula help us to solve the quadratic equation. By using the quadratic equation to find it we should have to use the formula of ax square plus bx plus c is equal to zero this equation is the standard form, while the quadratic formula is x is equal to negative b with the positive and negative, square root of b square and subtract into a four ac and over two a. And if I remember correctly the a and b is the coefficient in ftont while the c is constant, that's all po ma'am" tumango-tango na lamang si ma'am habang nakangiti itong nakikinig sa sagot ko, nagpalakpakan na rin ang mga kaklase ko, nakakahiya.

"Very good ms.Emily, even though you are so busy in you practice game but you still have a time to study your lesson. Keep it up ms. Emily"

"Thank you po ma'am" nakangiting saad ko at agad na umupo

"Best friend ko yan guys" sigaw ni Shyna na tuwang-tuwa at pumapalakpak pa ito.

To be continued