A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED

19 | defenseless

“UP Fighting Lady Maroons former captain figured in a scuffle after UP won its first game against UST at the opening match for UAAP Season 77,”  Dean Concepcion read aloud from the tabloid he was holding.  He picked up another and read the same, “UP’s win marred by after game fight between UPWVT top scorer and UST fans.”

There were several tabloids and newspapers piled on the conference table.  I could already guess all of them picked up the same story.  I haven’t read any paper since the news broke out in the internet after the incident last Saturday.

“What can you say about this, Ms. Araneta?” He tossed the paper he was holding on the table and it landed in front of me.  I saw the photo printed on the sports section.  It was the one of those that have been circulating in social media sites.  It could have been fans or sports photographers who took them.  How unlucky could I get that someone actually captured the very moment my right elbow hit the face of that fantard while my other arm was protectively wrapped around a woman whose face was hidden but was wearing a shirt with the logo of UST at the back. 

“Is Ms. Araneta subject of a disciplinary proceeding, Dean?” Prof. Roque politely asked.  He was seated across me.  Seated on my left was Coach Jerry who have been quiet since I arrived.

“This is not a disciplinary proceeding.  Not yet.  This is damage control.”  The Dean sat on the chair at the end of conference table.  “Closed door meeting ‘to.  May inaantay lang tayo.”

I was asked to report to the Dean’s Office while in the middle of my Legal History class.  Somehow I knew what it was about.  My twitter account was flooded the other night with messages of sympathy from friends and even strangers, telling me how sad or angry they were for what happened.  But there were also haters that lambasted me for the incident.  I don’t know where all the pictures circulating in the internet came from.  Worse I don’t know how people could speculate and come up with so many versions of what actually happened.  It was a relief to see Coach Jerry in the Dean’s office when I came in.  I was surprised though with the presence of Professor Roque since I don't have any subject under him.

I just stared at tabloids and newspapers scattered on the table.  Trying to make sense of everything.  Staring at how angry I looked on the photo.   

Two days ago was our first game.  It was the opening day of UAAP volleyball season.  No one expected us to win.  No one really expects us to win most of the time… but we won our first game of the season against UST no less.  It was a 5-setter game before a very large crowd because Ateneo was against perennial rival La Salle in the second game.  It must have been a heartbreaking loss for the Tigresses since they have a highly touted rookie and were back-to-back champions of the Uni Games. 

The team was euphoric after the match.  It was not every day that we get a win against a team who has beaten us in every game  for the last few years and in several tournaments.  It was rowdy and everyone was in high spirits in the locker room.  After taking a shower and changed into civilian clothes, I was the first among my team mates to emerge from our dug out.  There were quite a lot of fans who were scrambling for autographs and photo ops with the UST players who were also coming out of their locker room.  The Tigresses gamely spent time with them.

I noticed that Loren, who came to support her former team, was standing quite a distance from the other Tigresses while she talked to a group of girls who handed her a large stuffed toy.  How apt, it was Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.  When the girls left, another fan… male, probably in his late twenties, medium built… came up to her and handed her something.  I couldn't see exactly what it was.  Nanay Nene got the stuffed Tigger Loren was holding and walked towards the parking lot, leaving her with the fan.  When I was near to where they stood, I could see the panic in Loren’s eyes and her face turned pale.  I then realized that she was trying to break free from the guy who got a firm grip on her left arm.