The Game of Fools

Simula

Simula

"Ano, Solano? Is that all you can do?" I heard Coach Ramil said. He's standing near the net while holding the volleyball I was supposed to hit.

"No, Coach," I almost whispered out of exhaustion. Nakatingala kong hinahabol ang aking hininga habang nakaupo sa sahig ng gymnasium.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead bago muling tumayo at tumango sa coach ko, signaling him to set the ball he's holding for me. I prepared myself for a running attack, my teammates on the other side of the court also prepared themselves to block my hit.

I faced the right pole of the net, and took three steps. I stepped my left foot first and for the third step, I drove my right knee upwards as high as I can and raised my hand in an attacking position. I spiked the ball really hard, and screamed in celebration nang makitang bumagsak ang bola sa linya.

"Very good! That's it!" Coach Ramil said while clapping his hands. Para akong natanggalan ng tinik sa lalamunan dahil sa narinig.

Buti naman!

I raised my hand and he gave me a high-five. He then told me to do it again, but this time with Tangerine-our setter and also my bestfriend. She raised her hand for a high-five and I gave her one.

Nakailang ulit pa kaming gawin 'yun before our coach finally ended our training for today. We huddled at the center of the court as we yelled Animo.

"Cool down before taking a shower, ah!" paalala ni Coach before he left the gym with other coaching staffs.

Lumapit agad si Tangerine sa'kin para sumabay magcool down. We did our usual cooling down routine. While we're doing it, Tangerine keeps on talking about her crush. She's automatically giggling when she's saying something nakakakilig about her 'future jowa' raw, and automatically frowning kapag napapadpad ang kwento niya sa mga babaeng nali-link dito.

"So, ano? It's Green Archers' first game on Saturday, are we gonna watch?" she stated nang matapos kami sa ginagawa.

Her crush is part of the Green Archers. Kaya laging gustong-gusto manood nitong si Tangerine ng laban ng basketball ay dahil talaga doon, pangalawa na lang 'yung sinusuportahan niya ang school namin. Head over heels kasi ang isang 'to doon!

We are now walking papunta sa shower room. Nakasabit ang aking training bag sa kanang balikat ko habang ang tuwalya ko naman na may pangalan ko ang nasa kaliwa. I just can't really leave this building without taking a shower, ang lagkit lang kasi talaga sa katawan.

"Oh, come on! We both know na hindi 'yung game ang ipupunta mo doon," I said as a matter of fact. Nginisian ko ito nang irapan niya ako.

"Ang ingay mo naman!" iritang sabi nito.

Ay, wow? Sino kaya?

"Coming from you talaga?" sarkastikong sagot ko dito. Muli itong umirap sa'kin.

"So, ano nga? G nga?" she said, grinning. Kanina lang ay halos tumabingi na ang labi niya sa kaiirap ngayon naman ay ngiting wagas siya. Grabe! The duality of Tangerine Casimiro!

"I'll think about it," sagot ko dito habang hinahanda ang mga gamit ko.

"Gusto ko lang naman mapanood si Migo!" she said. "Paano ka magkakaroon ng inaanak na may lahi ng Ricafrente kung hindi ko man lang siya susuportahan sa game niya!" dagdag pa nito.