Aly woke up with her whole body aching. She sat up, leaned her back against the headboard and smiled. I am really back. She told herself.
The team has started with their training and dahil matagal siyang hindi naglaro, nagaadjust pa ang katawan niya. But she loves the pain. With all the trainings she had in her life, she had been accustomed to it. For her, the pain empowers her. As the old cliché goes, no pain, no gain.
She then got up and hit the shower. Nagconcert pa siya habang naliligo. Everything seems lighter to her since she started training. She feels happier with her friends around her.
When she had finally decided to let Denden be, she busied herself sa kung anu-anong activities to keep her mind off her. She didn't wallow in the pain like other heartbroken people would do. Well, she took a week to mourn for her lost love. Pero after nun, bangon agad. Iyon na din siguro yung magandang naituro ng training sa kanya. Iyong hindi siya nasanay na walang ginagawa. So everyday she still goes to work. She took up piano, guitar, and voice lessons. Nagjoin din siya ng mga hiphop classes. She had all the time in the world and she used it wisely.
Marami na siyang ibang pwedeng gawin sa buhay. But she will always come back to her first love -- volleyball.
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It's a weekend, so their training will be done in the morning. As she enters the gym, someone sneaked behind her.
"Aray!" shouted Aly.
"Walanghiya ka Galang! ang sakit nun!" Aly said with a grimace on her face.
Tinusok tusok pala ni Ara ang likod ni Aly. Aware kasi silang lahat na masakit ang katawan nun.
Bang walked towards them while laughing.
"Hoy Pineda! Wagas makatawa ah," sabi ni Lizlee.
"Nakakatawa kasi e. Walanghiya daw tapos Galang. Oh the irony! That's a nice one Aly," tawa pa din ni Bang.
Aly just let out a scoff. Pero hindi naman siya ganoon kainis. Why? Because she is now mesmerized with Bang's laugh.
"Oops. Sorry, Ly. I couldn't help it," said Bang while trying to surpress a smile.
Aly just walked at her direction. Nilapit niya ang mukha niya kay Bang and said, " Gusto mo ng nakakatawa?" Poker face on pa siya nung sinabi niya yun.
And then Aly walked behind Bang, lifted her two hands, formed two finger guns, and shouted, "Bang!" Kasabay nun ng pagtusok niya sa dalawang tagiliran ni Bang.
Nakiliti naman si Bang at nagulat at the same time kaya nasampal niya si Aly. Unintentional. Just a reflex action.
"Gusto mo talaga ng sakitan ha," sabi ni Aly. She tickled Bang some more and gumanti naman si Bang ng paghampas sa masasakit na muscles ni Aly. Both of them are laughing.
"These two have chemistry," sabi ni Ging sa katabi niyang si Iari.
"Oo nga. Pati ako napapasmile sa kanila e," said Iari.
Their teammates just exchanged knowing smiles.
"Uhm guys, we're still here. Yoohoo," Ella shouted at Aly and Bang. Parang natauhan naman yung dalawa. They stopped, looked at each other, and smiled.
"Come on. Let's start with the training," shouted Mich.
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"Do you have anything to do today?" Bang asked Aly. The training is done and they are in the locker room now. Nakapag-ayos na sila pareho.
"Wala naman. Why?" Aly asked.
"Well it's my mom's birthday. There's a party tonight at our house. Wala pa kong gift, wala pa kong susuotin, and wala pa kong surprise for her."
"Kailangan talaga may surprise?"
"E nakasanayan na e. Isa pa it's her Fiftieth. Kaya dapat special."
"So, what do you have in mind?"
"I want to sing for her."
"Wow. Bagong bago yang idea mo ha." Aly said while laughing.
"Wow. Sarcasm's heavy here. Seryoso ako Aly."
"Okay, I'm sorry. Pero ang common na niyan e," Aly said, still smiling.
"It wouldn't be that common if I'm going to sing with her idol."
"At sino namang singer yan?"
"Who told you na singer yun? Athlete yung idol niya, and it's you, Alyssa Valdez."
"No, no, no, no, no. I'm not doing it," said Aly while shaking both of her palms to Bang.
"C'mon Aly. Please? She's like your biggest fan. Well, aside from your parents. Minsan nga nagseselos na ko kasi parang level lang yung pagiging fan niya sa akin at sayo. Kaya naman if you do this, I know her birthday today would be the most memorable. Please? Sige na?"
"Oo na. Sige na. In one condition."
"Anything. Basta pumayag ka lang."
"Ako na rin ang tutugtog. I want to make my biggest fan the happiest fan tonight."
Aly saw Bang's sincerity to make her mom happy kaya siya nag-agree.
"Yes! You're the best!"
Bang hugged Aly. Nagulat naman si Aly. Her last "happy hug" has been Den. Puro kasi comfort hugs lang ang nareceive niya after the break up. Her hug feels right. Aly thought.
Bang pulled away. "Oh one more thing."
"Ano iyon?" asked Aly.
"I told you I haven't got anything to wear yet plus wala pang gift. Let's go to the mall."
"Wala man lang tono ng pagyayaya ah. Haha."
"Sabi mo naman kasi wala kang gagawin. Don't waste time. Isa pa we have to practice. So ayan. You're stuck with me for the day," said Bang while smiling.
"Looks like I haven't got much of a choice. Let's go."
With that Aly offered her right arm and Bang willingly hooked her left arm to Aly's.
