Best Mistake | Micci

01

MICHELLE

Chaos filled in the whole arena, my heart started beating twice as it should be. Kinakabahan ako. It's not my first time to surround myself with thousands of people around me. Aside from the fact that nate-tense ako sa sinabi ni coach na babantayan niya daw ako ng sobra kapag papalitan ko si Ate KAF sa loob ng court, mas kinakabahan ako kapag makita ko si Josh na mano-nood ng game ko.

"Mich, okay ka lang?" tanong ni Ate Kianna sa akin. "Yes, ate. I'm fine medyo kinakabahan lang." I said while massaging both of my hands.

"Dito pala si Mister Rookie na may crush sayo eh," singit naman ni Ate Majoy. "P-Po?" I innocently asked dahil hindi ko ma-gets ang sinasabi niya.

"Just look at the guys behind you," She whispered at bahagya naman akong napa-tingin sa direksyon na tinuturo nila. There I saw the famous rookie, Ricci Rivero and his bestfriend, Brent Paraiso — with Ben Mbala.

I just shrug their thoughts off at hindi na muli sila tinignan. Pumunta na lamang ako sa court at nagsimula mag warm-up para medyo mabawasan ang kaba ko. Ewan ko ba kung bakit ako napa-tingin sa may gilid ng court, sa di kalayuan nakita ko ang boyfriend ko na naka-soot ng Green Lady Spikers shirt with my surname at the back waving the two gold MC balloons that he was holding, napa-tingin din siya sa gawi ko and he winked at me. I can't help but to to smile and realize how lucky I am to have him.

But, I'm going to break his heart real soon. Irony.

"Mich, 'yung bola!" sigaw naman ni Betts but it's too late natamaan ako ng bola sa ulo. I'm spacing out again and it's not healthy.

"Baby girl! I'm sorry!" lumapit sa akin si Ate Tin at hinimas ang noo ko. It looks like I caught everyone's attention kaya lahat ng tingin nila nasa akin. Nagthumbs up ako sa camera telling them that I'm fine and they don't need to worry about me.

"Cobb, okay ka lang ba talaga?" tanong sa akin ni Coach Ramil. "Yes coach," sabi ko at tumayo. "Magpahinga ka muna sa bench, Cobb." sabi niya at tumango ako. Dumiretso ako sa bench at nakita ko naman si Rivero na nakatingin sa akin. I shook my head at kumuha ng ice pack sa mga in-charge med students sa bench.

"Rest lang po tayo ng five minutes, Miss." sabi sa akin ng nurse and I nodded. Napa-tingin ako kay Josh who seemed to be worried at this moment. I gave him a reassuring smile at ngumiti siya pa-balik.

Nagwhistle na ang UAAP Officials signaling us to stop warming up dahil anytime magsisimula na ang game. Tinipon kami ni Coach Ramil sa bench at nag-usap usap kami kung paano ang gameplay namin mamaya.

"Cobb, sa second set ka papasok. Ikaw naman Majoy bantayan mo ang outside hitter sa kabila..." coach says while writing on the board that he was holding. After our talk, lahat kami ay nagdasal saglit tapos sabay sabay na sumigaw ng, "Animo La Salle!"

Umupo ako sa bench kasama ang ibang mga teammates. "Mich, kanina ka pa wala sa sarili. You sure you're, okay?" tanong ni Bettina sa akin. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about the break up thing about Josh?" She asked. Disappointment written all over her face and I nodded.

"Mich naman..." she started off and I sighed. "I don't want to talk about it Betts, please not now." I say while dribbling the ball on the floor. "Pero Mich, I already warned you okay?" sabi niya at tumango na lamang ako.

Napatingin na naman ako kay Josh na naka-thumbs up sa akin at bumulong ng, "Kaya mo 'yan." I gave him a timid smile. Bigla naman tumawag ng time out ang kalaban namin kaya automatic na napa-tayo kaming mga nasa bench dahil pag-uusapan na naman ang gameplay.