The Tables Have Turned

Chapter 22: Binge Watching

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just lost a bit of air there. I'm fine"

"You look pale"

"I'll recover. And you wouldn't even think that I once looked like this."

"I'm pretty sure I'll remember."

"Then I suggest you forget"

~ ~

"Kiyan, you should really take it easy" Dix said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't get much sleep this past few days." he said while trying to get a hold of his breathing.

It's not just Dix that noticed, we all do. For the past 4 days Kiyan's been energetic but not energetic, because he gets tired faster than usual. And its not just that, he looks tired. His skin had gone a bit pale, his eyes has dark circles around them. Maybe its true he didn't get much sleep. Its obvious. Somethings up. The game is on Saturday and he is one of my best players. I can't afford to lose him in such alarming time.

"Kiyan, take a rest." I said. We just started 10 minutes ago.

He contemplate but he knows he can't do so much about me commanding him to rest, so he nod and took his seat on the bleachers.

I looked at his face. He is bothered. I started to walk but something stop me. What if the thing that bothers him was from last Sunday? Because after that he kept the talk short but not too short to kill the fun.

Nah, it probably didn't bother him that much. Maybe he's more bothered of the fact that there were hyper kids in the house full of antics who is owned by a non-predictable Asian that speaks different language when her feeling get the most of her.

And I don't know what language will be heard throughout the house if a single antic got scratch.

Your exaggerating.

Lumakad na ko papalapit kay Kiyan. Its the coach job to comfort their players."What's wrong?"

Tumingin siya sa'kin at ngumiti. "Binge watching Tokyo Ghoul re" sabi niya sabay nagkibit balikat.

Tokyo Ghoul re!

"Wait, the whole episodes are all out?"

"Yeah, its out last week and I watched it yesterday because there's no homework."

Last week!

"How about attack on titan?"

Please don't tell me its finished too. I'm falling behind. It can't be.

He looked at me, amused. "It's still on going. Episode 3 or so." sabi niya looking at me with his genuin smile.

Thank God.

Halt, what am I doing? Pull yourself together Eliah, you are here as a coach there's no time for your anime fetish. Literally, the game is in 2 days.

Worry on that when you get home.

"You know you can watch it after the game."

"I know. But the thrill is killing me. I had to watch it. But I promise I'll get my energy back by the game day."

He better be.

Tiningnan ko siyang maigi. Something inside of me aches, looking at him.

"You should rest tomorrow."

He nods and smile warmly. His smiles is starting to get into me. It doesn't annoy me as much as before.

"I'll give you your rest. Call me or Shizuku if you need anything." sabi ko sabay tumayo para puntahan ang mga gong-gong.

"Okay, thanks E-El." he stuttered. Maybe wanting to call me Eliah but had gone for El.

El. Even though the last person who used that nickname on me had left me with not such good memories but when Kiyan said it, I can't help but smile. I thought it would trigger some unwanted feelings from before but it didn't. And I'm glad.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Okay! Xiao, Levi, Han, Jaz, Elijah and Kiyan come here for a sec." I yelled a bit para marinig ako ng mga hayop na naguusap na parang sila lang ang tao sa mundo.

“I'm coming!” mamalisyang sigaw ni Han sa'kin, while plastering his dirty smirk.

Ugh.

Lumapit ang mga tao na tinawag ko but a particular one didn't.

"Where's Kiyan?" I asked.

"Ow! He ask if he can go home early. I think because Kris was asking for him. You were getting the extra ball from the storage room so since you gave him a rest and there's only an hour left before 5, I let him go." sabi ni Shizuku before returning on collecting the balls.

That's why I didn't saw him when I return, I thought he was just using the rest room.

"Okay." nabigla naman ako sa narinig kong paghihinayang sa boses ko. I shook my head to get the thought off. "So the game is in 2 days. My regular 5 idiots over there." sabi ko pointing at the animals who's fighting over a mop.

Tss..Idiots

"I always make them rest the day before the game, so that applies to you too. The teachers know, so there's no need to worry if you miss a lesson." I looked at each of them. "I'm expecting you to please rest and do not stress yourself. If you feel the need to practice, then please be careful, just mild practice. I've seen you play.."

"So, how did we do?" Jaz asked.

I smirked. "What do you feel?" I asked back. Its all about how they believe in themselves now, because they already got the skill and passion in the game. There's nothing else to look for.

They smiled and looked at each other. Then the smile that I wanted to see, I'm expecting to see, they didn't failed to show me.

Even if its too early to say this but, they're ready.

There's only two things left to do. Make sure that Kiyan gets his rest and pray.