The Brighter Side of Things

Chapter 15

"Y-You wanted to talk to me, Coach Anj?" I hesitated as I approached our club moderator while my teammates began warming up for the first day of official club activities right after the results came out.

Unlike our other teachers, Ms. Angelica Masinag preferred to meet students in her territory—the gym—for one-on-one talks. She also didn't don the usual uniform of female teachers and was always in PE attire: shirt and jogging pants. She had a casual demeanor that made you want to be good friends with her. But at the same time, she gave off the authoritative vibe so you couldn't be too casual with her either.

"Seven, hi!" She waved at me and motioned for me to sit beside her on the first level of the bleachers. "Congratulations on making it to the team," she said, patting my shoulder. "How do you feel about it?"

My making it to the cut became the talk of the campus. Not because it was historical or anything. In fact, it wasn't received with applause and laudations for the only girl to try out and actually make it to the basketball team. Though there were some who congratulated me, those who weren't in favor and skeptical about the results (a lot were) also weren't discreet when they talked about it.

"I'm sure Coach Anj went easy on her, ne?"

"I bet she did it so she could flirt with the whole basketball team."

"Or Coach Anj felt sorry for her."

"She wants to follow Kuya Six's footsteps, which is impossible. How ambitious of her, 'ne?"

"Isn't North Vergara in the basketball team too? Aren't they already classmates? How desperate can she get just to be with him?"

"You'll see, she'd be kicked out of the team in no time."

"Or she could be the team's mascot. The dark horse. Because you know, she's dark, hahaha."

Everyday, it was getting more and more difficult to ignore them. Here I thought I finally got a break to do exactly what I wanted to do. Why must there always be people who pulled others down instead of encouraging them? And why must I always be compared to my brother anyway? It was unfair. I couldn't get it.

The fact that Lexi still refused to talk to me added to the dread that was slowly sinking in the pits of my stomach. She was my security blanket, my shield more that my brother had been. Having her around made those nasty remarks about me bearable. Now that we were giving each other the cold shoulder, the effects of her absence felt like stripping a protective skin I had depended on for a long time. To make matters worse, all the negative comments seemed louder, much more hurtful in each passing day that I avoided going to common areas during breaks for self-preservation.

When Coach Anj had called my attention come club period, I couldn't help but feel a bit ominous. Was she going to kick me out of the team like what they had predicted?

I glanced at my hands and carefully chose my words. "To be honest, I have mixed emotions. I mean, I'm elated with the results I feel like it's all a dream. But then..." I trailed off. I didn't want to throw my schoolmates under the bus. I chose to cough up what I had been hearing as rumors and figments of my insecure self.

"You don't have to tell me the deets, y' know. I have ears, so I know what's bothering you," she muttered, grimly. "I just want you to give yourself a little more credit. I don't remember ever providing you an advantage or anything. And I don't play favorites either. You did the same drills as the boys. As far as I am concerned, you performed better than most of them. That only meant you deserve to be in the team. You earned it."

The corner of my lips pulled up at her kind words, relieved that my efforts had been recognized. "Thanks, Coach," I said with a small smile wishing my schoolmates could acknowledge that too.

"And for the record, I don't give a shit whatever the management told me."

More than the profanity she spouted, something in her statement sent alarms blaring in my head. "The management?" She nodded once and frowned. "W-What did they say?"

"That I can't let you be a member of the basketball team," she confessed and it felt like taking a bullet straight to the heart.

"Oh." My fists clenched on their own accord and my vision blurred with tears threatening to spill. I couldn't believe the fruition of my dream was so short-lived. They were right. I was too ambitious. Why didn't I stick to volley anyway and like what Mama said, put my heart and mind into learning something new? Why did I keep on insisting I had to play basketball when all the signs told me I couldn't? Why didn't I stick to the plan of just winging senior year and just pursue the dream in college?

"But like I told you, I don't give a shit," Coach Anj stressed to appease me. "I'm all for gender equality, y' know. Why do they allow boys to play volleyball but not girls to play basketball? Where's the equal opportunity in that? Besides, I recognize talent when I see one. Yours is talent and passion. I couldn't let it be put to waste, Seven."

"With all due respect, Coach. If doing this will get you into trouble..." I sniffed and left the rest of my statement hanging. It became difficult to speak through the lump that had formed in my throat.

A heavy hand landed on my shoulder. "That's not what I'm saying at all, Seven. Look at me." Coach Anj slightly shook my shoulders, forcing me to look her in the eyes. "I made a deal with the management to find at least one other female basketball player until the end of the year." My eyebrows drew together not getting what she was trying to convey and she chuckled. "Their concern isn't entirely baseless. Basketball is a contact sport. I can't let you be manned by a boy. We're looking at co-ed basketball team for now. But the ultimate aim is to get pioneer members of an all-girl team here, Seven."

The tears I had held back started to leak. Much to the surprise of the boys who stopped playing, I ugly cried then laughed out of sheer joy. This must be what it felt like to win a championship game.

"While we're at it, a word of advice, Seven."

"Yes, coach?" I sniffled, wiping my face with the sleeve of my shirt.

"Don't listen to what the others are saying. Focus on your goal."

"Yes, coach."

"Don't let them make you feel small. Because you're born to stand out."

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'ne = right?