DISTANT {ALE}

Chapter 5

     The next day, we all woke up early for training at the Oval and at the Blue Eagle Gym.

     After getting ready, we all met each other in the lobby of the Eliazo building. We did a brief head count with Alyssa leading. We were complete besides those who were on vacation. Like Bea Tan.

     We rode mine and Ly’scars to the Oval. I own a dark blue, nearly black Toyota Fortuner.

     It was a five minute drive but it felt like it was doubled because everyone in the car was noisy. They were either talking about a new thesis, the guy from 7-Eleven or about the clothes from Forever 21. I listened to Jia and Michelle.

     “Ang pangit na ng mga damit dun, napansin mo ba?”

     “Sa Forever?”

     “Oo parang out-of-date na.”

     “Weh, nakita mo?”

     “Oo I went there yesterday. Ine-expect ko bibili ako ng madami but I ended up with a small bag with a pair of shoes and a beanie lang.”

     “Bakit naman naging pangit yung style?”

     “Basta the cute clothes we used to buy are gone tapos ngayon puro mga baduy na nakikita ko. Tuloy, I went shopping in Cotton On na lang. Tapos hindi pa masyadong stocked yung branch na napuntahan naming Cotton On so I ended up in Happy Lemon. At least yun, di kulang ang stocks, diba?”

     “Guys, we’re here.”

     All conversation halted when I spoke up. I parked the car in front, right beside Alyssa’s and we went down. I opened the trunk of the car and gave them their training bags. Together, we put our bags down on the benches and started jogging with the other girls who rode in Alyssa’s car who came here first.

     Not long after, dumating sina Coach Tupaz, Ate Charo and Coach Tai with weights.

     The sky was turning blue so after jogging, stretching and weights, we transferred to the Blue Eagle Gym.

     We divided the team into two—odd jersey numbers and even. Sobra yung odd so nilagay ng coaches si Bea sa Even. We had 3 coaches today so nag-observe si Coach Tai.

TEAM HAPPY

Patnongon

Morente (Captain)

Tajima

Tan G.

Faustino

Lazaro (L)

De Leon

coach: Ate Charo

TEAM UNITY

Valdez (Captain)

Gopicio

De Jesus

Tejada

Morado

Ahomiro

Gequillana (L) (A/N: I seriously think ate Kim is bagay for Libero bc I love her reception lol #SorryNotSorry)

coach: Coach Tupaz

     So sa set 1, nanalo ang TEAM UNITY. Set 2, TEAM UNITY. Set 3: TEAM HAPPY.

     Sa gitna ng set 4, nag-call ng water break si Ate Charo.

     “Napag-aralan ko na strategy nila.” Sabi ni ate Charo. “They’re trying to take you out by your weakest, most vulnerable spots. That is sa spikes. Did you see the way Amy blocked Michelle? That was definitely planned. So dapat mas alert tayo sa aspect na yun. Now, napag-aralan ko na din weak spot nila; receives. Weak ang receives nila sa back row. So doon tayo mag-fofocus. This is what we’re gonna do. Aerieal, instead na nasa left side ka, you’re going to be in Tasha’s place. Tasha dun ka sa gitna sa tabi ni Lazaro. Lazaro stay in place tapos di bale nang mag-agawan basta wag lang mag-tinginan.” She went on.

     After our talk, I noticed Alyssa talking to Coach Tai. Her eyes were watery and her nose was tinted pink. Her phone was clutched tightly in her hand.

     Coach Tai nodded after Alyssa finished speaking and she grabbed her bag, hung it on her shoulder and walked towards the exit, not bothering to change whatsoever.

     I wasn’t the only person who noticed, apparently.

     “What was that all about?” Bea walked over to me with a pink Gatorade in hand.

     “No idea.”

    Coach Tai called ate Charo and Coach Tupaz so the two sides of the team were left unattended.

     I watched their mouths move as they took turns speaking. I watched as Ate Charo tilted her head in confusion and Coach Tupaz knit his eyebrows together in the same manner.

     I could tell Coach Tai had a hard time explaining because he used his hands. I couldn’t help but smile at him and at the fact that despite our language barrier, we were able to communicate and win the championship.

     Ate Charo finally nodded and she and Coach Tupaz went to their separate teams.

     “Team Happy, gather ‘round.” She commanded.

     In less than fifteen seconds, everyone from Team Happy was there.

     “So we’re going to suspend yung game na ‘to for today and continue it next time na lang.” She told us.

     “Bakit, Ate?” Aerieal asked.

     “Uh, something about Alyssa daw.”

     I wanted to ask about it but decided against it because I would know her reasons sooner or later.

     So we trained but not like kanina. Tinutukan nila Coach Tai, Coach Tupaz and Ate Charo yung sa tingin nilang kailangan pa ng improvement and who were excelling.

So training eventually ended without Alyssa and we were allowed to do whatever we wanted. I went straight back to my dorm and shut everyone out.

(A/N: Hai der!  Sorry for the long UD, I didn't have wifi for weeks because we went beach hopping. So thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your kind comments, I love y'all so much MWAH :*

So next chappie is in ALYSSA'S POV, stick around to see that.

AND AND AND AND AND AND ANNNNNND try to guess why nagkaganon si ate Ly. Is kuya Synjin right and it's because she's on her DOT? Or are there other reasons?

Okay this is so haba. I'm going now. Ciao!)