That Game Called Love

3 sets to 1

"3 consecutive hits partner!! Coming from the bench rookie!!"

Muli kong hinabol ang aking hininga, rinig na rinig ko ang tibok ng puso ko ngunit naagaw ng aking parinig ang boses ng mga taong naghihiyawan. Nilinga ko ang kabuuan ng audience, they are all looking at me clapping their arms... and I never felt this good.

"Good job Kass!!" pagtapik sa akin ni Mika and the rest of the team.

Prrrt!! and the opponent's coach signaled for a time out.

"Nice job Lopez and Trixie," salubong ni coach. "receive lang girls and tighten your blockings, atin ang set na 'to." pagtatapos ni coach and time out ended.

Pagkabalik na pagkabalik namin sa court ay pansin ko na ang maraming mga mata na nakapako sa akin. Tiningnan ko ang mga kalaban namin, they are all staring at me with those little curves on their lips at bigla na lamang akong kinabahan.

Prrrrrt!!!

Jenny serves again and misreceived by the opponent's libero resulting from a free ball, Danna receives it well and directly sending the ball to Trixie. I immediately positioned myself while Trixie is setting the ball with me, I jumped and stretched my body as I could and with a blink of an eye, there are three blockers infront of me.

And the ball bounced back on our court's side.

"What a solid block!!!"

And I was blocked. 22-17.

"That was a solid block partner, shutting all the doors close, walang palulusutan."   

"Okey lang yan, bawi tayo girls." Mika said while tapping my back. "Beware of that tall girl infront of you Kass, blocking is her forte." referring to Abigail, LU's Middle blocker, "ibahan mo na lang konti ang atake mo, nababasa ka na nila."

Tumango ako at minasid ang tinutukoy ng kapitana namin, s'ya nga ang naka-block sa akin at tindig pa lang nia ay nakaka-intimidate na. But I shouldn't be threaten, minsan lang ako magkaroon ng ganitong opportunity na hugutin ni coach sa bench n'ya. Alam kong any moment from now, if I can't deliver pababalikin ako ni coach sa bench as what we talked and most of all, matatalo ang team namin.

Muling pumito ang referee and LU's side is now the one serving. Our back-row players able to receive it, Trixie set up the ball again towards me, with the same formula muli kong pinalo ang bola ngunit tatlong blockers pa rin ang nakaabang sa akin, they were able to block the ball mabuti na lang at nakaabang si Danna sa likod ko and saved the ball, again with the second try muling tinoss ni Trixie ang bola pabalik sa akin at muli akong tumalon para i-spike ang bola, again andy'an parin ang mga blockers sa harapan ko and this time mas nilakasan ko pa ang pagpalo ko ngunit hindi pa rin ito nakalusot.

And this time the ball bounce back and hitted me on my shoulder and fell down on my knees. I was blocked for the second time.

Napaupo ako sa sahig nang di ko mai-save ang bola, I can feel the disappointments of my teammates on me, hindi ko na sana ipinilit at nag safe ball na lang. Tiningnan ko ang score board, 23-17.

"Bawi tayo ok?" Trixie said smiling and offer her hands para patayuin ako. Luminga ako sa bench side expecting a sub from coach but he didn't. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako while telling myself that I should be better next time.

Prrrt!! Muling nag serve ang kabila and we received, this time si Tia ang nag-set tossing up to Mika and she hitted from the back row, and with a bang she scored, she's no ace player for nothing. She saved us, she saved me.

23-18.

We rotated and I am on the service line this time. The first time I was there, it was a disaster and it made me into a laughingstock.

Serving is the easiest way to earn a point and it is also the most pressure kind of play dahil walang ibang aasahan at sisihin kung di ang sarili mo, wala kang kalaban, ikaw lang. And I should not mess this again. Please Kassey, I told myself while I dribbled the ball.

Bago paman pumito ang referee signalling me to serve ay muli kong inilinga ang aking mga tanaw, I know I needed some inspiration for this kind of pressure. I know deep down inside kailangan kong makita ang taong yun.

And my eyes found him, he was there standing watching us. I found what i'm looking for, and it's enough for me to be better.

Ngunit nang mamukhaan ng aking mga mata ang kung sino ang katabi n'ya, dahan-dahang nanglanta ang aking ngiti, it was Mika. I knew it then that I will lose the game.

Prrrrtt!!! And I served the ball out.

24-18.

Prrrrt!!! Muling pito ng referee and when I turn my back, I saw Mich coming raising the substitution board with my jersey number in it.

Laughingstock yet again huh Kass?

Kung gaano kabilis na naka 3 points ako ay ganun din kabilis  na nagkatatlong magkasunod na error ako.I just cancelled out my points and it is bad as a waste of time.

Kasabay ng paglabas ko sa court ay muli kong tiningnan si Drew, he is also leaving. It is as if he represented the entire audience that I disappoint, turning their back on me cause i'm no good at all.

And with that, hindi na ako muling ibinalik ni coach sa laro. I am on the bench on the entire game while watching my team working their butts off. On how I wish ibalik ako ni coach but I know, he wouldn't risk again bringing a Queen error like me on the court.

3 sets to 1. We loss the game to Lumina University.

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<a/n: comments, suggestions? I planned to make 3 updates before publishing this one but i'm kinda stuck up..lol. i would love to receive some suggestions.. :)   >