Falling for Her [REVISED]

Chapter Four

"Lee?"

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni kuya nang tawagin ni coach ang apelyido namin. "Dalawa po 'yong Lee dito, coach." sabi naman ni Axel kaya tumingin sa amin si coach at napatango. "Kei Lee." pag-ulit ni coach.

"Yes coach?" agad akong lumapit kay coach. "How's Zack?" tanong niya, may bakas ng pag-aalala sa mukha niya. "He's resting, coach." sagot ko. She sighed before nodding. "The game will be held tomorrow at Quinox University. I hope he'll continue to rest and won't be stubborn." paalala niya kaya tumango ako.

"I hope by tomorrow, all of you are ready to play a match against Quinox. You may rest today to avoid any injury but make sure that you will play tomorrow. Juniors, I have high expectations for you. I hope you won't disappoint me. Again, it is just a friendly match, but remember, Hellviore ang dala-dala niyong pangalan. I hope we're clear. See you tomorrow." sabi ni coach atsaka umalis.

Naupo naman ulit lahat sa bench at mukhang pagod pa ang lahat. Kahapon kasi ay binantayan talaga kami ni coach habang nagte-training at wala kaming pahinga. Si Zack ay hindi ko mahagilap kahapon kaya hindi ko alam kung saan siya nagpunta. Kung hindi sana siya hinamon ng mga seniors ay makakapaglaro siya bukas.

Lahat kami ay napatingin sa entrance ng gym nang tawagin kami ni Zack. Nakasaklay pa rin siya pero sa tingin ko naman ay bumubuti na rin ang lagay ng injury niya. "Equipment room, now." utos niya kaya lahat kami ay tumayo at sinundan siya sa equipment room.

May hinila siyang whiteboard at may binigay na folder sa amin na naglalaman ng mga impormasyon tungkol sa Quinox basketball team. "On the first page, makikita niyo ang captain ng Quinox. I visited Quinox yesterday para maghanap pa ng ibang information tungkol sa basketball team nila bukod sa binigay ni Kyle kahapon. The information we got doesn't include how dirty their play is. Our seniors captain was injured last year by Quinox. This may be a friendly match but I know that they will still play that way. Sila ang nag-hire ng referee, probably para hindi sila ma-penalize sa mga gagawin nila. Last year, binayaran nila ang referee." sabi ni Zack habang tinitignan kami isa-isa.

"I want all of you to play basketball the way how it was supposed to be played. Kung susubukan niyong rumihan din ang laro niyo para pumantay sa laro ng Quinox, ako na ang nagsasabi sa inyo, kayo ang mape-penalize sa fouls na iyon. Huwag niyong dudumihan ang pangalan ng Hellviore." mariin niyang sabi at nagsimulang magsulat sa white board.

"First quarter, Jonax, Kyle, Tristan, Kace, and Kei. If every may kailangan i-substitute, na player, ako ang magsa-substitute. Wala nang aangal. Second quarter, Kei, Kace, Calum, Axel and Tristan. Kyle, Jonax, Axel, Kei, and Calum for the third quarter." he wrote everything sa whiteboard.

"For the fourth quarter, Tristan, Axel, Kyle, Jonax and-"

"Are you okay?" tanong ni kuya kay Zack. Bumuntong hininga si Zack at nagpatuloy. "Ako. Ako ang huling player sa third set kung meron man." pagpapatuloy niya.

"HA?!" gulat na tanong naming lahat.

"Injured ka, captain! Papagalitan ka lang ni coach!" sabi ni Kace kay Zack.

"That's my final decision. I'm sure Kace, Calum, and Kei won't be able to last until the fourth period. Tristan, Jonax ang Kyle's stamina is good enough for them to play two or three sets in a row. Quinox will target the weak ones before targeting the stronger ones. They hate weak opponents." sabi ni Zack na sa tingin ko, na-offend si Kace at Calum, kasama na ako.