DISTANT {ALE}

REMINDERS:

1.) Everything in this book is fiction only. Lahat ng nilalaman nito ay kathang isip lamang. 

2.) I am not an impostor. I only write in Den's POV and I know nagagalit siya sa mga impostor. I am not trying to be Dennise Lazaro. I am not Dennise Lazaro.

3.) I suck at writing tagalog/taglish kasi it's my first time.  So bear with me and don't be afraid to tell me if you find a correction.

So yeah... Read, vote and comment. Enjoy!

     Hi, I’m Dennise Lazaro. Denden for short. 22 years young, college schoolgirl from Ateneo de Manila University. Volleyball Player. Position: Libero. I’m part of the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team na tinatawag na Ateneo Lady Eagles or simply ALE. Taken by LA Revilla.

     You’re probably wondering kung bakit “Distant” ang title nito. Hindi naman ito love story so bakit “Distant”?

     This is a story of what happened to the ALE after their most recent championship in the UAAP Season 76. Minsan, hindi nagkakasundo ang iba’t ibang tao. But this is a whole different level. What if hindi magkakasundo ang ALE?

     “So,” Sabi ko sa mga random passengers ng elevator noong gumagalaw na ito. “Call me Ambassador. I know you’re all wondering why I summoned you here today.” Tinignan ko mga mukha ng passengers na nakatingin lahat sa akin. I felt the blood rising to my cheeks in embarrassment.

     I can’t believe ginawa ko to. Nakakainis sila. I’m never going to do this in my life. NAKAKAHIYA!

     I looked away and leaned forward to press the number 5. My eyes stayed on the button until all passengers slowly filed out. Tatlo na lang kami sa elevator. Ako, si Mae (na nag-rerecord na patago gaming ang iPhone) at isang batang lalaki na mukhang natatakot kasi may baliw sa elevator. I smiled at the boy.

     When we got to the fifth floor, sabay takbo agad siya sa labas.

     My teammates were waiting outside the elevator for me.

     “Guys andito na si Den and Mae.” Sabi ni Ella.

     “I never want to do that in my life ever again.” I huffed my cheeks and buried my face in my hands in embarrassment.

     “So anong nangyare?” Tanong ni Aerieal.

     “Na-record ko.” Sabi ni Tajimae. Pinakita niya ang video.

     After they watched it, I said, “Well, they were all looking at me like I was a phscho when I told them to call me ambassador.” I explained. “Basta nakakahiyang sobra. I never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER want to do that again.”

     “Okay. Tapos na si Den. Sinong next?” Sabi ni Alyssa.

     Walang nag-volunteer.

     “Wala? Okay, I’ll choose a random jersey number.” Sabi niya.

     “Hindi!” Sabi ni Bea. “Wag na, I’ll do it.”

     “And the inglisera speaks. So anong dare niyo sa kanya, guys?” Tanong ni Ms. MVP.

     “She has to go up to a random group of strangers and sing, ‘Here at SM, we got it all for you!’” Sabi ni Kassandrara.

     “What? No!” Bea objected.

     Alyssa ignored her. “Okay, all in favor say I.” Sabi ni Ly.

     The whole team said I except for Bea.

     “Motion carried.” Sabi ko. “Go, Bea. Kaya mo ‘to!”

     “You guys are weird but I’ll do it anyway.” Sabi niya.

     May papalapit na mga tao na workers galling sa Toy Kingdom. Nilapitan sila ni Bea at kinanta ang jingle ng SM. Pagkatapos, tumakbo siya sa women’s restroom.

     Nagtawanan kami lahat and we followed her.

     Nakaharap siya sa salamin na tumatawa. “Guys, that was so embarrassing!” Sabi niya. “Denden was right, I’m never going to do that in my life, ever!”

     “See? This is going to ruin our—” Someone’s phone was ringing. It was an iPhone ringtone so lahat kami, tuminging sa bags namin.

     “Guys, palitan nyo na nga ringtones niyo! Tuloy, if one person has a call, lahat titingin sa phones nila. Ugh.” Sabi ni Ly habang sinagot ang kanyang ringing phone. “Hello?... Nasa mall… Wala lang… Sa Sunday pa naman yun eh… We train everyday so ngayon lang naman nag-break eh… sige… fine… yes, okay na… papunta na kami… Bye.”

     Sabi ni Ly, “O guys, nagagalit si coach Tupaz. Bakit daw hindi tayo nag-tetrain. Babalik tayo sa Ateneo then bihis daw tayong uniform and i-saskype daw ni coach si coach Tai.”

     Everyone moaned in protest.

     “Sige na guys, gawin na natin to. Next time na lang natin i-continue yung dares natin. Sino pa ba hindi pa na-dare, si Jia, Tajimae, Ella, Gizelle. Next time na lang guys ha?” Sabi ni Ly.

     Bumaba kami ng fifth floor in silence then went straight to the parking area. Half ng team sumakay sa car ko and half kay Ly.

     We drove back to Ateneo.

Haai, this is my first time to write taglish fics and I don't know if my grammar is correct or if I misspelled some words. So bear with me na lang :))) -Alexa