A Close Second

Seventy-third

Keith Andrew Medrano

"Hoy, Aya! Volleyball po tayo! Bakit mo sinisipa yung bola?!"

Thea laughed, clutching the ball while Beatrice waited in front of her, ready for a set. On the opposite side of the net, Aya stuck her tongue out at Jethro after he called her out. Jethro hovered behind me, alert, while Jake stayed near Thea, grinning like he already knew something we didn't.

They'd decided on beach volleyball for the fourth day straight, so here we were in swimsuits, sinking in the sand, laughing at every misstep. Sand made everything harder, but to Thea, Jacob, and Jethro, it was like second nature.

"The ball was going straight for my face! Anong gusto mong gawin ko?" Aya protested. "Kasalanan ko ba kung mahal ko ang mukha ko?"

"Score is 7–5," Nico called from our makeshift referee chair. "And babe... I'm docking a point."

"This is not basketball!" Aya shot back. "Your referee's biased!"

"Play ball!" Jake shouted from our side of the net. "I'm not stopping until Thea literally eats sand."

Thea rolled her eyes but laughed. "Aww, what, Jacob? Still sulking? Hindi ko naman sadyang tamaan ka sa mukha. Come on, love. You should know when to step back."

"Just because you lost your memories doesn't mean I'm going soft on you."

"Wow," she teased, grinning. "I like it when you're feisty, Mr. Napoleon."

I rolled my eyes, while Thea served the ball to us. Jethro received it perfectly, and Jacob set it straight to me. I slammed it back, and Thea laughed as she scooped it up and passed it to Aya, who returned it to our side. Jacob leaped for a toss, but Thea's reflexes were too slow this time.

Jake tapped the ball lightly, letting it drop just in front of Thea. She froze, glaring at him.

"How the hell do you know a setter dump, Jake? Basketball ang sport mo, diba?" Aya demanded.

Jake didn't even notice her. His smug grin met Thea's blank stare.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" he teased.

Thea narrowed her eyes... but the tiniest smirk betrayed her amusement.

The ball was flying again. I lunged for the ball, but sand gave way under my feet, sending me sliding—and somehow, it bounced perfectly toward Jacob. He set it high, and Thea sprinted after it, kicking up sand behind her.

Jake tipped it just enough to throw her off balance, and she tumbled into the sand with a dramatic groan.

"Seriously? Again?!" Thea yelled, brushing sand off her arms.

"Okay ka lang?" Jake chuckles.

"You monster!" Thea says from below.

"All's fair in volleyball!" Jake called back, laughing.

Aya clapped, sand flying. "Parang circus ang laro natin ah!"

Jethro dove like a pro, popping the ball up, and I jumped, smacking it toward their side. Thea leapt for the block—but bam!—straight into Jake's hands. He faked a stumble and the ball shot over the net.

"Ha! Gotcha!" I shouted, pumping my fist, sand sticking everywhere.

Nico waved his hands from the referee chair. "Alright, score is tied—don't eat each other yet!"

Thea bounced on her toes, wiping sand off her legs. "Next point, I'm winning. No mercy!"

The game progressed as it is, with the sun up, sand sticking to every sweaty patch of skin. The rivalry between Thea and Jake apparent with every ball na makikita mo yung inis sa mukha ni Thea habang si Jake naman nangaasar.