A Collision of Hearts and Heroes

Chapter 37

Clarissa's POV

Earned

I always thought back then that the whole point of traveling was to get away from all those things that tie you down. Yet, somehow along the way, I realized that it's beyond that. Reality has taught me that you end up facing more than you ever imagined, and that realization opens your eyes to the realities of life. The road does not let you run; instead, it forces you to face things you never knew existed. It doesn't teach you the answers, but it does provide you with the questions. And that, I suppose, is where the journey begins.

I had only intended to travel for the past few months, with no definite plans to return to playing in tournaments. Yet, circumstances have pulled me back to this. Ilang buwan din kaming gumagala ni Gasper, nagpunta sa iba't ibang lugar, at nakagawa na ng napakaraming alaala. A month before, Gasper and I stopped traveling to refocus on grinding. And now, I finally decided to go back to playing.

Sa katunayan ay isa ulit ako sa kinuha para ilaban sa SEA games ngayong taon. Nasa bootcamp na ulit ako dahil balik na ako sa pagpapractice. Though as of now, no news has been spread that I am back to playing. Obienna's management has not released a statement yet, and I don't know when. They might be planning to surprise people along with the announcement of my participation in the SEA Games.

I honestly have no idea who my teammates will be. Ako pa kasi ang sinabihan ni Coach Max dahil ako pa lang ang siguradong makakasama. I hope to have teammates who are close to me. Even just one familiar or close player would be fine with me.

While I was strolling on social media, my boyfriend suddenly contacted me in a video call. Agad ko naman iyong sinagot. I was anticipating Gasper's handsome face to appear on my phone's screen, but it was Lyle's instead.

Ano na naman kayang trip nitong kupal na 'to?

"Hoy, Clarit Sansha!!" Sigaw niya.

"It's Clarieth Sancha!" I corrected his pronunciation even though I know he said it intentionally. Ganyan nalang kasi palagi 'yong pagpo-pronounce niya sa name ko at ang pangit. "Why do you have my boyfriend's phone?" Tanong ko na parang inaakusahan siya sa kung ano.

"Hindi mo pa alam?" He asked instead of answering my question.

"Alam ang what?" nakangiwi at nakakunot noo kong tanong.

"Na ano..." Pambibitin niya.

"Ano?" I was so close to losing my patience now.

"...na sobrang pogi ko," sabay pa-cute niya sa screen ng phone.

"Isa! Kapag ako naubusan ng pasensya, bibirahin kita!" naiinis ko nang sambit.

He laughed out loud. "Ready yourself because it's gonna be a big, big, big news!"

"Pot—Gasper, if you're there and you heard me, please, get your phone from your fucking best friend. Tinatarantado niya girlfriend mo, oh!" I shouted, which made Lyle laugh even more.

"Listen very carefully..." Lyle trailed off. "One... two..." pambibitin niya lalo, sobrang laki ng ngiti sa screen ng cellphone. "...magka-team tayo para sa SEA Games!!"

My mouth gapes open in surprise, but I refrained myself from showing more reactions. Sa kaloob-looban ko ay sobrang saya ko, pero baka ginagago lang ako nitong Lyle na 'to. Baka nanti-trip na naman siya at gusto akong asarin kaya pinigilan ko muna ang sariling sumigaw.

"If you're pranking me, I swear, ika-cut off kita ulit," I threatened him.

"I'm telling the truth. Literal na truth. Legit, real, reyal at hindi pake, at lalong lalong pawang katotohanan lamang ang impormasyong ito," inosente siyang ngumiti.