Game Plan (COMPLETE)

24

TW: Mentions of physical and emotional abuse.

***

His left hand shot out and grabbed the collar of my shirt, yanking me forward roughly. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

I kept my hands clenched tightly at my sides, refusing to flinch, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

"I told you, Ven!" His finger pointed on my forehead... then it became a sharp, pressing force, like he wanted to drive the words into my skull. "I told you to stop with that football bullshit! It's a fucking waste of time!"

I sat there, the same way I always did—frozen.

Not because I agreed.

But because I was tired.

I bore the same expression and silence until I was outside the consultation room, heart pounding.

I knew the paper I submitted wasn't my best work... but I was still hopeful to be given a chance.

When I finally sat across from my professor, I braced for the worst.

"Ah, Mr. Ferrera, I've been waiting for you." My professor greeted, tapping her pen lightly on the desk. "I'm going to be honest, your final paper was rushed. Incomplete in some parts. Also submitted late. If I based it only on that, you would have failed."

I gripped the edge of my seat.

"But," she continued, "I've seen your work ethic. I've seen you carry your group when others slacked off. You were consistent all semester, even had the highest grades in other tasks."

She pushed a piece of paper toward me.

"You passed. 2.5. It's better than the worst."

I didn't know whether to let my tears fall, release the sobs that had been stuck on my throat, or breathe for the first time in an hour.

2.5.

Not the best.

But definitely not the worst.

I managed to genuinely thank my professor for giving me this chance. I clutched my bag tight, almost wanting to sprint downstairs towards the field.

Maybe I could play for a bit. Just to clear my head... or release some of the frustration I was holding in since last night.

I'll do a few kicks, a few sprints... Just enough to remind myself that I can still breathe.

"Ven!" Marcus' voice snapped me out of my daze. He was sitting under the shade by the sidelines, tossing a football in the air like he had all the time in the world.

"Tara mamaya? Kain tapos sleepover sa bahay? Celebration lang, naka-survive tayo!" Dere-deretso niyang salita nang makalapit sa akin. "Actually, celeb lang dahil naka-survive ako! For sure naman binasic mo lang 'yung sa 'yo." He nudged me.

I blinked, my brain still catching up.

I decided not to tell him about how I almost failed. Ayaw kong magbago ang tingin nila sa akin.

"Ah... yeah, sige." The word slipped out too easily. After everything, maybe a night of doing nothing sounded good. I didn't even think twice.

Marcus grinned. "Inunahan na kita magpaalam kay boss Arrie kung pwede ka gumala tonight! Pumayag naman siya."

My stomach dropped.

Oh, shit.

I promised Arrie I'd see her tonight.