Eurfron.
“Bakit napaaga ang uwi niyo?” Tanong ko sa tatlong pinsan ko na kasabay ko sa pag-jog. Napaaga rin tuloy ang stress ko!
Alas cuatro pa lamang ng umaga ay ginising na kami ng tatlo. Nag-aaya ang mga ito na mag-jog at basketball pagkatapos, and they wouldn't take a ‘no’ for an answer. Kaya naman naligo kaagad ako and wore a green long sleeves and paired it with black sweat pants and rubber shoes.
I was half asleep, then. Nagdala na lang ako ng backpack at inilagay roon ang pares kong jersey uniform.
“Hey, morning,” Liam greeted me pagkababa na pagkababa ko sa living room. Inaantok-antok pa ito at namamaos pa ang boses.
I can’t believe we’re awake at this hour. I don’t even attend our practice games every morning since I love sleeping, and I’m willing to kill just to have naps, but here I am.
“We heard about Jordan’s trump card.” Em answered, smiling sheepishly. “I would love to play with him one on one before the tournament.”
Ilang beses akong napalunok at muntik na akong mabulunan sa sarili kong laway. What’s so special about Elmo?
“I heard he’s pretty famous at Jordan, isn’t he, babes?” Kenj asked, facing me.
I faked a cough. “The name doesn’t ring a bell.”
“I don’t think he exists!” Uno butted in. “I asked a few students at Jordan and they didn’t know a thing about that basketball player.”
“Goodness. I thought he’s real!” Kenj frowned.
We continued to jog around the subdivision. Since I’m not used to this, I couldn’t stop panting. One bottled water wasn’t enough to efface my thirst. I’m totally exhausted.
Huminto kami sa maliit na park. Naupo sa bench ang apat habang sumalampak naman kami ni Liam sa damuhan.
“Water.” I mumbled. “Please give me water. I'm dying.”
Kita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko ang paggalaw ni Liam. May kinuha ito mula sa kanyang dalang backpack at inabot ito sa akin. Isang stainless na tumbler na sa tingin ko ay punong-puno ng tubig.
Kaagad ko itong kinuha at nilagok. Pakiramdam ko ay unti-unting bumabalik ang enerhiya ko sa katawan. Refreshing!
“The only athlete who gets tired easily,” naiiling na wika ni Kenj.
“It’s because she stopped playing basketball for a very long time,” depensa ni Gin.
“Just join other clubs, Eurie. Aunt is right. Basketball is not for you. Try playing volleyball.” Em suggested, but I just gave him a frown.
Mum doesn’t want to see me playing my favorite sport, Basketball. She always gives me lame excuses, and I hate it.
First, she told me I can’t handle it. Because it's a tiring game. Yes, but it makes me feel alive.
And the last excuse that she gave me is because I’m a girl. So what???? Basketball is not just for boys. Can’t a girl play this awesome sport? I don’t think there is such a rule!
Matapos ang maiksing pahinga, nagtungo kami sa hindi kalakihang court malapit sa parke.
“Kung nasa bahay niyo lang sana tayo sa Manila, may sarili tayong court do’n. Mas malawak pa compared dito,” komento ni Kenj habang pinagmamasdan ang kabuuan ng court.
Nagsimula na kaming magbihis lahat. May doble naman ako kung kaya’t okay lang na magbihis in an open area. Wala namang ibang taong dumadaan, at hindi naman ako itinuturing na babae ng mga ito.
Matapos naming magbihis, we divided ourselves into two teams. Nagbase kami sa aming mga edad. Mas matanda ng tig-isang taon sa amin nina Liam at Uno ang tatlo kung kaya't sila ang magkaka-team.
Lumapit sa akin si Uno at umakbay, as if we’re close friends.
“Wow, we’re teammates? Please don’t go in our way.” He smirked.
“Don’t underestimate her, dude. You won’t believe it but she started playing basketball since she was two. Her dad was no joke, too.”
Natigilan si Uno, “What about his dad?”
“You know Eros Montreal?” Nangiti si Liam just by mentioning my dad’s name. “He was once our coach, the best international basketball team’s ace player. He is a real prodigy!”
“The very first Philippine Basketball team that went up to top three,” Manghang wika ni Uno. “. . . and won the championship league.”
“That’s right. You’re Tyrone’s best bud yet you didn’t know that thing about his father?”
“He never said a thing about his parents nor basketball. I played basketball with him several times, and he’s just... pretty normal.”
“Tyrone’s good at basketball, but it’s just that... basketball is not his thing. Nagmana siya kay Mom na mas mahilig sa painting kaya roon siya nag-focus. But he could destroy every single one of you here—if only father got the chance to train him back then.” singit ko. “Our father wanted to enhance Tyrone’s skills, but the dickhead refused.”
Tyrone was really good at Basketball even without exerting any effort. It’s a raw talent. That’s why Dad was disappointed back then kasi nga sayang yung talent ni Tyrone. That was when he decided to train me.
Matapos ang aming kwentuhan, nagsimula na ang aming laro. Our team was into offense while the three were gravely defending the ring, not even Liam could pass them. I was really shocked when he handed me the ball. Like fuck, ngayon na lamang ako ulit nakahawak ng bola sa harapan nilang lahat. Nakatitig lamang ako sa bola na hawak ko nang marinig ang sigaw ni Uno.
Em tried to steal the ball, but my reflexes were fast. Kaagad kong naiwas ang bola mula sa kanya at nagsimula nang tumakbo papunta sa ring. Lalong nagseryoso ang mga mukha ng mga pinsan ko while they were outnumbering me.
“Sorry, guys, but the first score will be ours.”
Umatras ako nang kaunti at tumalon upang i-shoot na ang bola. At dahil maliit ako, alam nilang kayang-kaya nilang abutin ang bola sa oras na hinagis ko ito. Sabay-sabay silang tumalon nang ubod ng taas, kung kaya’t minabuti kong bumaba muli at lagpasan sila upang ihagis na talaga ang bola sa ring.
Silang tatlo ay sabay-sabay na napamura.
“Shoot.” nakangising sambit ni Liam habang diretso lamang kaming lahat na nakatingin sa bola na slow motion ang pagpasok sa ring.
Napakamot sa ulo si Gin.
“This is why I don’t agree with Aunt.”
🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀
Hello, guys. Napansin ko na magdadalawang taon nang walang update itong story ko na ’to. Binasa ko rin yung mga naunang chapters (including this one) at nagdesisyon ako na papasadahan ko sila ng edit. Hehehehe. Ang dami kasing errors.
Thank you.
