2014 UNIGAMES was going to be held in Dumaguete City. Our flight was delayed for almost an hour but that didn’t dampen the excitement of the team especially our rookies who were playing in the tournament for the first time. UP’s men’s and women’s volleyball squads were booked in the same flight. Everyone had been very hyper and rowdy from the moment we stepped in NAIA Terminal 3.
We arrived in Dumaguete City the day before the Opening Day, which meant we had time to explore the city and unwind. We headed straight to Bethel Guest House where we’re to staying for the next eight days.
Bethel was one of the oldest hotels in Dumaguete. From the outside, it had the ambiance of a hospital. But the best thing about it was, it was right at the strip of the famous Boulevard in Dumaguete. I was excited to take photographs of the sunrise tomorrow. We had to wait awhile in the hotel lobby. The UST women’s volleyball team arrived ahead of us and were on the process of checking-in.
Pia ran towards Jessey upon seeing the UST middle blocker. “My!” she hugged Jessey. That was Pia’s other Mommy. Pia’s was everybody’s baby, actually.
“Buti dito din kayo, By,” Jessey exclaimed and turned to me. “Hi, Ate Neta.”
“Hi, Jess,” I smiled back.
I was taking a few shots of the hotel interior, when Mela joined Jessey and Pia.
“Hello! Baby,” Mela greeted. “Uy! Eto pala si Neta. Sino ‘yung tanong ng tanong tungkol sa sinu-stalk ni Neta?”
Seriously? That news was like ages ago! Three months to be exact. They still remember that? Most of the UST players turned towards our direction. I knew most of them by name. A few I have met on occasions or were friends of friends, like Mela and Jessey. The others, I would be lucky to connect the names with their faces.
“Nasa team pa ba namin ngayon?” Mela asked. Curious as ever. Haven’t she heard that curiosity killed the cat? I can think of more than nine ways to kill one.
I pretended to be cool about it. “Kalokohan lang nila KB ‘yun. Naniwala naman kayo.”
“Si Ate Aiza ‘yung may sabi nun, hindi naman ako,” Kathy suddenly appeared from behind.
“Girls, get your keys from Pam. You already know your room assignments. Kilos na. Bilis,” instructed UST Coach Odjie Mamon.
The Tigresses gathered around Pamela Lastimosa, their new team captain… so I heard. They were just as noisy and unruly as the Maroons. I guess volleyball players do look different off the court, with our hair down and not tied. Though in their gold and black shirts, with bold UST or tiger logo printed on it, it was hard to miss them.
It was our turn to check-in.
“Oist! Neta, may utang ka na kwento sa akin,” Mela teased as she walked away.
Feeling close? I was about to turn to Kathy, who immediately headed to the front desk before I could even say anything.
Finally, we were able to get some rest. I was roomed in with Arylle, my Tsipmunks -- Yen and Julie. Our window opened to a view of the Boulevard and the Mindanao sea. Happy me! The other Maroons were in the next rooms. Unfortunately, we also shared the same floor with the Tigresses. The UP men’s volleyball team were in the upper floors.
I checked my online study group. I was going to miss more than a week of my classes. Lucky for me that Thirdy, our lone geek squad, can do anything with computers and software. He made a forum for our study group. Even without having to meet regularly, we can discuss and share ideas about our course work. This was also where we upload our digest and the course reviewers/outlines that we are assigned to do. Thirdy, always posted reminders or checked on each one of us.
“Parang hindi na kayo naghihiwalay nyang Ipad mo?” Yen must have noticed that I have been scanning through the tablet even when we were in the airport.
“Ang dami ko kayang mamimiss na lecture,” I sighed. “Buti mabait yung mga kasama ko sa study group at pinapadalhan nila ako ng mga materials.”
“Sabihin mo, patay na patay yung Thirdy kay Pia kaya kahit ano pagawa mo dun, susunod ‘yun,” Arylle said and everyone laughed. “Tambay na nga ng gym. Akala yata study hall.”
“’Wag nyong parinig ‘yan kay Pia,” I warned. “Baka hindi na sumama sa akin pag-andun si Thirdy.”
“Pero maraming cute sa College of Law,” Julie giggled. “’Yun nga lang, kung hindi mayabang… nerd.”
“Pagnagka boyfriend ka ng law student, ewan ko lang. Tingnan mo nga ‘yan,” Yen pointing to me. “Halos ‘di na mahiwalay sa Ipad nya sa kakabasa ng kung anu-ano. Kung nag-uusap sila parang foreign language lagi.”
“Guys, everyone in the lobby in five minutes. Nagtext na si KB,” Arylle declared. “Yes! Lunch!”
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FanfictionBetween being an athlete and law student, there is hardly time for anything else. You train... you go to class... you practice with the team... in between, you either study or you cram. If you get lucky, maybe you'll find time to have a life as we...
