My MVP Love : FIRST LOVE

Chapter 13

[Lance]

Six thirty na nang dumating ang team na makalaro namin sa practice game. Kung tama ang pagkaka-alala ko, from North Eastern High School sila.

Judging from their reactions when they entered the gym, mukhang napilitan lang sila. Some of them are even yawning as they entered the court. Dumiretso sila sa kabilang side ng court kung saan naka-handa ang bench para sa team nila.

"Salamat at nakarating kayo." Salubong ni Mr. Ramirez sa kanila.

"Simulan na natin para matapos kaagad. Uwing-uwi na ang mga batang 'to eh." Walang interes na sabi naman ng lalaking mga nasa early forties, may konting puti na ang buhok at malaki ang tiyan; I bet he's the coach.

Tch.

I think our club adviser Mr. Ramirez begged them to come here for this practice match.

As far as I know Tora High is not popular, when I was in middle school I've never heard about their team from our Highschool basketball team in Harrison. It's obviously the reason why they act like that.

"Tch. Masiyado 'ata nila tayong minamaliit ah." Napalingon ako kay Josh na katabi ko sa bench at nakatigin din sa mga bagong dating.

Binatukan naman ito ni Thunder. "Kung inaayos niyo ang pagpa-practice eh di sana tayo minamaliit ng ibang school."

"Aray ko naman Vice. Relax mananalo tayo ngayon."

"At sayo pa talaga nanggaling yan na halos di pumupunta sa practice?"

"Antaray mo talaga Vice, kaya ka di nagkakagirlfriend eh."

Binatukan uli ito ni Thunder. "Wag mo kong igaya sayo na puro babae ang inaatupag."

"Chill. Peace tayo Vice, love you!" sagot naman nito sabay tayo para maka-iwas sa pag-batok ni Thunder.

Napailing na lang ako.

Di ko alam kung ano estado ng team namin a year ago, recently lang ako sumali sa team at di pa ako nakakasama sa mga official games same with Thorn and King. My teammates are not weak, I can tell that much. But one thing is for sure, we are being treated as losers.

Bigla namang umakbay sakin si Alec habang tinatali ko ang sintas ng sapatos ko. "Idol, kilala mo ba yung lalaking yun?."

Napatingin naman ako sa sinasabi niya. One member from North Eastern High is looking at me. He's looking at me seriously as if trying to figure out who I am.

Sigh. I don't know him and I don't even give a damn.

"Di ko kilala." I answered and continued to tie my shoelace.

"Ang weird lang kasi pagkakita niya sayo di na niya tinaggal ang tingin sayo." Sabi pa niya. "Baka fan mo?"

Napa-iling nalang ako. "I doubt it."

"Okay guys gather around." sabi ni Sir Dela Cruz na kakarating lang.

Pinaliwanag niya samin ang mga strategies na gagawin namin sa laro base sa mga pinanood niyang laro ng kalaban naming team ngayon. I must say na magaling din Sir Dela Cruz. I wonder if he's part of a powerhouse team before when he was still a student like us.

Siya na rin ang nag-assign kung sino ang starters: Axel, Zeke, King, Thorn and me.

Tiningnan kami ng seryoso ni Sir Dela Cruz. "This is only a practice game. But play hard like your life depends on it. Got it?"

And that fired up the spirit of my teammates.

It's been a while since I played; I visit Harrison once in a while to play a friendly match with my former teammates but never in a match like this. I've been comfortable playing with the Lions since I've known them long enough, I know how each of them play so it's easy for me to adjust the way I play. Iba pa rin ang maglaro na di mo alam kung gaano kagaling ang kalaban mo.