Kiefly collection of one shot stories

How I started loving you

You know how achingly happy means? That is what Iam feeling for a few hours now. Seeing Alyssa Valdez ending her UAAP career, crying while smiling. Seeing her wearing the Ateneo jersey and saying goodbye to UAAP stage- sa emtablado kung saan mo siya unang minahal at hinangaan.
I graduated highschool 2007, and first watched her in 2011, katulad ng marami I fell inlove instantly, naging fan ako, malalang fan for that matter, I followed her fb account and even made a twitter account just for her. Noong una akala ko ako lang ang OA sa paghanga sa kanya hanggang maligaw ako sa bahay ng isang kaibigan at nakinood ng laban nila at super nagsisisigaw siya whenever Alyssa scores and said to me "Vy bakit hindi natin sineryoso ang volleyball noong highschool?" And that got me thinking "Oo nga ano?". I used to play the sport way back primary and highschool, noon wala lang laro lang para may extra curricular lang na masabi, then come college, 1st year enrollment napadaan ako sa UB Gym may mga nagta try out for the varsity, pumasok ako, unsure if I'll give it a try o manonood lang, then a girl-who happened to be the team captain approached me and handed me an application form, I filled it up then wait for my term to step on the court, when I was called in the middle I stood up and walked towards the court, unang tanong sa akin ng coach, "bakit hindi ka naka spandex?" nagkibit balikat lang ako, then he throws me the ball, I dig it and pass to the setter waiting, and again throws one at me, tumama sa mukha ko, napikon ako and said "spike nalang po kaya?" And then gave me a set, I spiked the ball and it was long, another try and its good, after the skills test came the interview first question was "Anong position mo dati?" I answered "Opposite po" then "Anong course mo ading?" I answered "Nursing po" then everyone shared that looked, then the man told me "Hindi kami tumatanggap ng Nursing sa Varsity kasi 2nd yr palang kayo may ojt na, baka di kayanin" little did I know I was walking outside the gym, saying to myself "Shit nagapapasa na panga ko".
Mas nasaktan pa ang panga ko kesa sa ego ko, o akala ko lang kasi sabi ko lang sa sarili ko "Ayaw ko din naman mag varsity, hmp" that was me.
I never gave much dedication, and then I realized she is the 'dream' I never dreamed, the person whom I wanted to be-pala na late ko na narealized, she is that girl who made me realized that I didn't play volleyball before just for extra curricular points only, but for every celebration for a single point, and for the emotions-- on how heavy my chest felt in every defeat, how proud Iam for a kill of a teamate, how a staredown means to the mentals of an opponent, how big of a ego boost to block the best spiker that was, and all those unexplainable emotions that the game is making me feel.
That she is to me, someone who made me achingly realized how I turned my back on the sport that I love pala.
Since that day I made sure to watch her every game, I hate it when people is pointing at her flaws, kesyo overrated o fluke daw siya. Iniisip ko "Are these people even know how to play the sport?"
Pero being the superstar that she is, as a fan naisip ko nalang kasama yun.
Then came today, her last fight for the blue and white, I was actually watching it with my bestfriend who happened to be a fan of the greens, and when that final point signaled the end of an era she cried, ako nakatingin lang sa tv, sabi ko pa "gusto ko umiyak, pero bakit walang lumalabas na luha?" She laughed at me and said "wag kana mahiya sa akin" then again looked at the square thing that was focused to Alyssa, wala parin, ayaw talaga lumabas, gustong gusto ko umiyak, pero wala, mabigat lang ang dibdib ko yun lang then "She achieved so much Vy, maybe this is not for her naman" I turned to her and said "Hindi naman yun, pero kasi sa stage ng UAAP ko siya unang naging idol" then there tears stinged my eyes.
Yeah its not that I will never see her again--I mean the sport will surely give back to the girl who took it in the spotlight-- but the idea of her leaving the stage where you first love her is just too much, but reality is she have to leave, she needs to leave for the bigger stage that was waiting for her since she step out from San Juan, Batangas.
I wish her well, sure UAAP will never be the same without her and the likes of Ara Galang--whom I love so much also-- but atleast she left with a good canvas of a career, now she will again paint a new one but with a bigger brush. Higher competition means greater career.
Kudos to the Phenom, the girl who turned the spotlight for Philippine Volleyball, an inspiration, superstar, Greatest of all time! I love you Alyssa..will forever be. And yes I'll still cheer for the blue and white not just they are your former teamates--ouch to me there-- but because I know that they are too will soon make a name for themeselves.

Sorry I just wanted to share this. #PhenomOut