"Nanggi-gigil na ako sayo ha! Anong hindi ka magpapapasok?!"
"You don't like it? Sige, ito nalang! I'll hire 100 bodyguards for you---"
"WHAT THE HELL?! Tumahimik ka---sasakalin kita pag ginawa mo 'yan!"
"I am not kidding,"
"Umalis ka na nga! This is my rest day but you just ruined it!" patakbo akong umakyat ng kwarto at ni-lock 'yon.
I heard him knocking so I put my earphones on and play my favorite song.
Nakatulog pala ako at 7 na nagising.
Lumabas ako para maghapunan, and thank aliens! Wala si Nikolai!
"Senyorita, pinapabigay po ni Sir Nikolai!" saba'y abot nito sa akin ng kwintas. "I-suot niyo raw po bukas, dahil hindi raw po siya makakapunta sa laro ninyo. May aasikasuhin raw po e."
Tinignan ko ang hapag kainan at parang nawalan na ako ng gana.
Isinuot ko naman ito. What is this? Is this what they called 'Anting-anting'? But this looks expensive and classy! Maybe it's not. Or maybe I'm just thinking too much. It has a heart shaped pendant.
"Ano raw yung aasikasuhin?" wala sa sariling tanong ko.
"Uuuuy! Si Senyorita, concern!" asar nito.
Padabog kong sinaksak yung porkchop sa harap habang matalim akong nakatingin sa kaniya. Nakita kong napalunok naman ito at hindi na mapakali.
"Ah---ano po---sa business raw po ng pamilya nila, Senyorita hehe." ngiting-ngiti naman na sagot nito.
Mabuti na yung nakakaintindi at nakakaramdam siya sa mga titig ko. I just rolled my eyes.
Habang kumakain, naalala ko yung kahapon. Ibinigay sa amin yung mga background ng mga makakalaban namin.
Ynaré Villanoire (SA-G)
Anne Eranica (SB-G)
Jacquelaine Ramil | Double
Eeran Lamonsted | Girls
Lahat sila are not beginners but I'm not threatened tho. Our coach gave us an idea about each one's weaknesses.
This isn't about what you called 'pandaraya', it's what you called preparedness.
Baka nga makita palang nila ako is mag-back out na sila? Hello? I'm Crossini Rio! The Youngest Badminton Superstar! Duh?
***
Nagkita kita kami sa campus kinabukasan at doon na kami sumakay sa kotse ni Darwin. All of the badminton player rather. Yung iba pang player ay nandoon na siguro such as basketball, billiards etc. Sa Levisch University ang venue. The second elite university in the Philippines. First one is ours, Rivenchy.
Rivenchy lang. Wala na. And that makes our university unique but golden. Full of rich students. In fact, son or daughter of millionaires and billionaires lang ang nakakapag-aral dito.
I'm the only one billionaire but not anymore. Samantha and Derris are the only ones.
Habang nasa kotse ay nakita kong taimtim na nagdadasal si Lala sa tabi ko. I tapped her shoulder.
"You doin'?" tanong ko.
Kunot na kunot naman ang noo nito ng lingunin ako.
"Nagdadasal po, Senyorita! Para po manalo tayo! Hehe!"
Hinayaan ko nalang ito at nilingon sila Masayuki na walang mga takot at kaba sa mukha. Lahat sila ay gagabayan ko sa laro, I will watch every game. I will motivate them. We need to bring home the bacon dahil pag nanalo kami, ilalaban kami sa Italy.
Lahat na ng elite schools ang makakalaban namin. Iba't ibang lahi at nationality. Sure win na kami dyan ni Lala, of course.
I need to support our boys because I know they can.
Ng naglalakad na kami sa sport complex ng Levisch ay nililingon kami ng iba pang mga players. Mapa-basketball man o kahit ano.
"Mga taga-Rivenchy sila diba? Look at their sport uniforms! It's fierce but classy! Wow!"
"Intelligent, sporty, and beautiful. That's her! Crossini Rio! Ohmygod!"
"Ilabas mo yung camera, pipiktyuran ko siya! Make it fast, Jessica!"
I smiled wickedly.
I still got this huge impact to them. Lots of them know about what happened to me a year ago. But of course, even if they throw knives, bombs or stones to me---I'll stand confidently with my racket.
Ng nakapunta na kami sa court, after of course ng opening remarks. Hindi ako nakinig dahil occupied ang isip ko.
Mas uunahin niya pa yung aasikasuhin niya kesa sa akin? Alam niya bang hindi na mauulit ang pangyayaring 'to? Eh yung aasikasuhin niya, pwede namang pag-antayin 'yon! Ako, hindi!
"Ayos ka lang po ba, Senyorita? Sila po ata yung makakalaban natin---saka yun pa po! Saka---ang dami po pala!" napangiwi ako.
"You dont have to worry, we'll make it through. You prayed, right?" I sarcastically told her. Masaya naman itong tumango. She's really innocent!
Napailing nalang ako. Andaming tumitingin sa akin, and it's not a big deal for me tho. I'm used to it. Medyo nakaramdam ako ng goose bumps dahil feeling ko they have something to point out and criticize about me. Well, why am I feeling like this? Maybe I'm just out of my zone, that's why.
Nagsimula na ang game. Boys first. Sakto namang hindi nauna sina Darwin. I whispered them that they must watch how these two players play. For them to easily turn them into ashes.
"Find their weaknesses, real quick." I said. They nod and start to watch the players that is about to play.
"ALL, LAB, PLAY!" sabi nung nag-i-score sa gilid.
Masyadong malapit sa net ang service kaya sinugod ito ng kabilang player at pinalo agad. Naka-earn siya ng points doon.
"Ang galing nun ah?" Van said to Rain. Rain just shrugged.
"Stop complementing them, stop thinking such things that will make you feel hopeless or down. Always show the spirit, boys. Let's show, all of us, that we are consistently competitive. Alright?"
"Alright!" sabay na sabi ng mga ito. Si Masayuki naman ay muntik na mabitawan ang raketa nito habang nanonood. Bilib na bilib siguro.
I tapped his shoulder. He almost jumped out of shock after I tapped him. It made me laugh a little bit.
"Hey! Cheer up! You can do that too!" I said smiling. He replied back.
"Salamat, Crossini!"
Marami ng naglaban, hanggang sa dumating ang puntong it's Masayuki's turn na.
Agad kong pinahawak kay Lala yung raketa ko at pumunta sa gilid to cheer him.
