That Volleyball Player

21

"--every player has an average performance level for each skill of the game. The same could be said for team performance. There is going to be some variance in performance, and there is going to be a distribution of performance in each of the skills." I sipped on my juice, bahagya pa akong napangiwi sa pait na nalasahan. I frowned. "The team was good in controlling the ball and they're excellent in understanding the game/tactics. You can work on their pivoting skills and excellent quickness." dugtong ko pang saad kay Coach Ran while flipping the meat on the grill. "Why are you still asking for my opinion, I thought Mommy already helped you." I placed the cooked meat on her plate. "Did you call me here just to cook for you?"

After that tune up game against National Team, naging busy na ako sa pag-aaral at paghe-handle ng practice ng Thrill Seekers. I don't know what happened pero parang ako na ngayon ang tumatayong coach ng team.

"Kung hindi ka lang anak ni Sam, nabatukan na kita. Magtagalog kang bata ka, nasa Pilipinas ka." barumbadong sagot naman ng kaharap matapos ubusin ang iniinom na alak. Lasinggera. "Hindi ko rin sinabing pakialaman mo yang karne, ikaw itong nagkusang lutuin yan." angal pa nito bago isubo ang lutong karne na inilagay ko sa kanyang plato. "Pero infairness, ayos ang pagkakaluto mo."

Ngumuso ako. "Kung hindi ka ba naging torpe, ikaw magiging Mama ko?" tanong ko na ikina-ubo nito, hindi ko tuloy napigilang matawa.

Mag-bestfriend kasi sila ni Mommy, teammates din sila noon at kilalang power duo sa larangan ng volleyball. Minsan na daw siyang nag-confess kay Mommy, pero mas pinili si Daddy. Noong mawala naman si Daddy, natakot na siyang magtake ulit ng risk at nanatili na lang na matalik na kaibigan ni Mommy.

"Saya ka na niyan?" nakasimangot nitong saad sa akin. "Manang-mana sa pinagmanahan, kasing sutil at kulit mo si Armand." iiling-iling na wika ni Coach Ran at muling tinungga ang alak na nasa baso niya. "I heard you'll play."

I shrugged. "So, you're leaving in two days?"

"Yes, may schedule kami ng tune up game against Russia and Indonesia. That's why I invited you, parang farewell party na din ito. Kanino mo ba gustong magpaalam, ha?" balik pang-aasar nito. "You're courting someone pala, kay Sam ko pa nalaman."

"Ang Marites mo naman po." umiiwas na tugon ko. "So, bakit andito din ang Thrill Seekers?" I asked at pinagmasdan ang dalawang team na masayang kumakain, nagku-kwentuhan at nagkukulitan sa isang mahabang table. Kami lang ang andito kaya malaya silang nakakapag-ingay. Sa dalawang beses na tune up game, kapansin-pansin na naging close na rin sa isa't isa ang dalawang team.

"Farewell party nga." ulit ni Coach. "Mas nag-iimprove ang team kapag ang team mo ang kalaban. You teached and trained them well." I just nodded at muling itinuon ang pansin sa nilulutong karne. "So, you noticed." I looked up at ang seryosong mukha ni Coach Ran ang bumungad sa akin. Tinutukoy nito ang closeness nina Axeia and Addison, magkatabi kasi ang dalawa, halos hindi na nga mapaghiwalay. "What you're gonna do then, Ezra?"

"Did Mommy ask you to do this?" I asked habang muling ibinaba ang tingin. "Don't bother Coach, I can handle it."