ON THE SIDELINES

CHAPTER 1

FIENA SAREM TOMAS'S POV

I positioned myself to get ready to catch the ball of the oppenent.

It was a hard hit but, luckily my teammate was able to pull it up.

Pumosisyon ako sa mataas na pagtalon upang hampasin ang bola.

Here I go.

Mabilis na kumilos ang aking katawan upang ibigay ang pinakamalakas na hampas ko na magpapanalo para sa amin.

This will be my last year in UAAP.

I have to make sure to make the best out of it.

With my high vertical jump I hit the ball as hard as I can through the blockers of the opposing team.

I thought that was it,

But, as soon as my feet drop on the floor. My dreams crashed too.

"Ahh!" I screamed with horror as I felt my ankle and knees being teared.

Not literally,

I hug both of my legs when I dropped on the floor.

Wala akong kahit na anong maramdaman kung hindi ang sakit ng aking kaliwang tuhod at paa.

"Oh my gosh!" I screamed loud as I could not contain the pain on my ankle.

I kept on weeping around and screaming.

Mabilis na kumilos ang medic at isinakay ako sa stretcher.

I looked back at the court once again, fearing that I might not comeback again.

That's what it felt like for your dreams to be crushed with just a single wrong move.

"Anderson with a hit, libero able to pick it up, pass on to the setter Sanchez, a kill from De Vera. What a point! To win the game" I said with my most cheerful voice.

After my injury, this is where I end up.

A commentator for my first love.

Volleyball.

Nag-apir kami ng kasama kong commentator ng manalo na ang team.

Sa wakas ay tapos na rin, this is such a fun thing to do. To watch and enjoy my favorite sports, there's nothing I could wish for more.

I'm not really a commentator, I just fell in the moment.

Isa akong sports reporter.

Well, what can I say. Hindi ko kayang bitawan ang trabaho kong 'to.

Everywhere I go, this where I always end up.

If only....

Yeah, I should stop thinking about that day.

It's been years already, everyone already move on from what happened.

Dapat ay maging ako rin.

"You did such a great job being a commentator, do you want to be one?" A friend of mine ask.

"I would love to but, I enjoy interviewing them more" She just laugh at what I said before walking back inside. 

I have to get ready and interview the player of the game before the awarding ceremony starts.

I retouched my make up and read my script once again before going out.

Naghintay lang ako ng isang sandali bago dumating ang player of the game na si Corelli De Vera an outside hitter and the captain of her team.

"Ready? 3. 2. 1. Action!" As soon as the camera starts rolling I put on my most beautiful smile.

"So, here I am with the player of the game Corelli De Vera with 21 points in total. Wow! So, Corelli what do you think is the key point that made your team win the finals today?" I ask with my most approachable voice.

Itinapat ko sakanya ang mic, "Well, the key point that made us win for today is our team work, the trust we have for each other is the one thing that made all of this possible." I am nodding while listening to her answer.

"Team works really makes the dream work" We both laugh at what I said.

"What's the next plan of the team after this victorious day for all of you?"

"Honestly, we will go straight to our training, no rest kumbaga. Malapit na din kasi ang AVC challenge so we have to be prepared to take on the international leg"

I smiled at what she said, lucky for them to represent our country internationally.

"Can't wait to watch the filipino team make their way to a bigger court, good luck Corelli and to the team. If you want to greet anyone, now's your chance" I handed her the mic to give her, her moment.

Naghintay lang ako dito sa gilid at hinayaan syang batiin ang kanyang mga naging insperasyon sa pagpanalo nya ngayon.

"Thank you, Corelli. Congratulations again to the team and good luck on the next challenge" Nagyakapan muna kami bago sya umalis.

I watched her as she makes her way to her team.

Me and Corelli used to be team mates noong magkasama pa kami sa team na lumaban noon sa UAAP season 8*.

We we're playing for UST tigers, we have the best of the best players at that time.

Kami ang nag champion noong araw na 'yon, I'm just sad that in exchange of that championship blow.

Hindi na muli pa ako nakapaglaro.

May knees and ankles fell weak, halos tatlong buwan akong hindi nakapaglakad. And it even took a year for me to fully recover from the injury.

Although I have a great treatment it still wasn't enough, beacause even if I admit it or not. My body is not the only thing that gave up that day, I as a player gave up on her dream.

During that time I see no point in continuing.

Hindi na ako muli pang nakahawak ng bola matapos iyon, I actually see myself before as one of the best players of my batch. Kung hindi lang nangyari iyon edi sana kasama nila ako ngayon.

Kung ako ang tatanungin, gustong gusto kong maglaro muli.

Gusto ko ulit tumalon ng mataas at hampasin ang bola.

Nakakatuwa nga dahil ako pa ang isa sa pinaka maliit at payatot na miyembro noon ng team pero ako ang pinakamalakas at pinakamataas na tumalon.

I felt sad just thinking about all of those.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko parin kayang bitawan ang nakaraan na matagal na dapat na kinalimutan.

What can I do? It's that one day that made a significant change in my whole life.

But, I can never turn back the time to heal myself can I? No, because that's impossible.

Ako ang pinakamalakas na pumalakpak habang binibigyan ng individual awards ang mga player.

Gusto kong maiyak sa inggit.

Gusto ko nanjan din ako at binibigyan ng award.

Hindi yung ako ang pumapalakpak.

I want to be on that floor again, serving and hitting the ball.

Pero, wala na 'kong magagawa, this is me right now. I'm just happy to be here.

_____________
PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME

VOTE AND FOLLOW