Rivals (KaRa fanfic)

Prologue

Thousands of crowds surrounded them, yelling out cheers and boos.

Mika had been sweating litres for the last two hours. They all are. After all, the game extended to a fifth set.

Lahat sila ay hapong-hapo na pero walang dapat na bumitaw. Kahit na babad sila sa training palagi ay iba pa rin ang totoong laro. Habol kung habol basta't wag lang tatama ang bola sa sahig. Patayan kumbaga.

What even made this particular game much more tougher is that they are playing against a rival school. Walang gustong matalo dahil pride ng paaralan nila ang nakataya.

After a few long rallies and exchanges of points, they were currently halfway through the last set of the game. Lamang ang kuponan nila ng isang puntos.

But it was immediately tied by their opponent with a back row attack, courtesy of their captain.

"Nasa harap na si otso." their setter, Michelle Cobb, reminded them. After the recent point, the rotation had now placed the said player in front as the outside spiker.

"Team, isang receive lang." palakpak niya sa mga kasama. At this time of the game, Mika had to be the their team's motivator. Wala ang coach nila sa loob kaya nasa kanya ang responsibilidad na pakalmahin at palakasin ang loob ng mga kasamahan bilang kanilang kapitana.

Cienne received the ball well which was translated into a point by Carol, their opposite spiker.

Siya na ang susunod na magseserve.

Mika really tried to control her serve but, probably because of fatigue, the ball went wide. Masyado nasobrahan kaya lumampas sa target area niya.

Napapikit siya nang mariin at agad na humingi ng paumanhin sa team at sa coach nila. Isang iling na lamang ang itinugon sa kanya ng Coach Noel nila.

Napaupo na lamang siya sa bench at nagtakip ng tuwalya. Pilit niyang kinalimutan ang huling pagkakamali, iyon kasi ang palaging sinasabi ng coaches nila, dapat agad na kalimutan ang mga errors at magfocus na lang sa laro at yung dapat ayusin. She continued to show support for her team from the side line. It wasn't too long when she was back again inside the court. Patas sila ulit ng puntos. Just two points away from finishing the game.

Camille was at the service lane. The ball crossed the net, it floated and dropped just a centimetre away from the line. The referee called it outside.

Nadismaya sila sa tawag. It was a close call. The two lines men had an opposite call but the first referee ruled it as out. She tried to contest but the referee was indignant. Wala na silang nagawa kundi maglaro.

"Guys, isang point lang yan. Walang nananalo sa 14 points." she motivated her team. "Isang receive lang tayo ha? Tara!"

Again, Cienne received the ball well so they were able to execute a play. They went for a differential. When their libero passed the ball to Michelle,Mika circled, positioning behind their setter while Cyd and Carol went in for an outside, momentarily distracting their blockers which gave Mika just enough space to operate.

She hit the ball as fast and as hard as she could towards zone four where she saw no players had positioned for a defense.

Pero sa isang iglap lang ang naroon na agad ang kapitan ng kabilang kuponan. Ara Galang stretched back to reach the ball but was not able to prepare for a proper reception. Hindi nito naitaas ng mga kamay kaya't sa balikat nito tumama ang bola. The ball bounced to her face though.

Napatalon sa tuwa ang kanyang mga kasamahan dahil naipatas nila ang puntos habang siya naman ay di napigilang makonsensya.

She attempted to apologize, but the players from the other side of the court had already formed a huddle kaya naglakad na lang siya sa service line nang sumenyas na ang referee sa kanya.

Nakarinig siya ng hiyawan ng mga tao, merong natutuwa na nakapuntos sila ngunit mayroon ring naiinis sa kanya. Siguradong marami na naman galit sa kanya, sabog na naman twiter niya mamaya sa mga tweets ng galit na fans ng kalaban nilang team.

She had always been bashed by their opponents' supporters. Kesyo mayabang daw siya, matangkad lang pero wala namang laro. Tapik lang ang alam niya. She's often compared to other players, lalo na sa kapitan ng rival nilang team kahit na magkaiba naman sila ng nilalarong posisyon. Siyempre, masakit rin makarinig ng ganung mga insulto dahil sinisikap niya naman galingan sa mga laro nila. Over time, she learned to get used to the insults. Hindi na siya nagpapaapketo sa mga ito. Sure, they are entitled to their own opinions so wala naman siyang magagawa doon. Hindi niya na lang pinapansin.

She made sure her serve will go in this time. Naswertehan pa nga at naging service ace dahil walang sumalo at nagkatinginan lang ang kalaban kung sino kukuha ng bola.

Her second serve went inside again, but it was received well this time. They were all expecting for a hard hit but intstead received a drop ball. Wala silang libero sa loob so everybody had to react fast, Mika dived in saving the ball by just the tip of her fingers, which resulted to an attack opportunity for her team. Carol scored through an ironic drop ball of her own. Galang was able to do a pancake save but her teammates weren't prepared, the ball didn't cross the net at the third touch.

Their team won the championship.