The Gap Between Us (SSG SERIES #1)

Chapter 3: Ace

He can't. How could I possibly know what that means? Nag tanong ako ng maayos, yet his answer made me a lot more confused than I should be. Nag eexpect ako na baka injured siya, but seems like that's not it. Kung 'yun lang talaga ang dahilan, sasabihin niya sakin. It's not a big deal to hide. Pero mukhang ayaw niya itong pag usapan.

Ayoko nang magtanong pa. It's not my business anyway. I'm just curious.

3 days before sports fest. Napag desisyunan ko na sumali sa volleyball, together with Coleen. Sabi niya kahit sa bench lang ako. It might have hurt someone's pride if they're chosen to stay on the bench, but in my case, I'm thankful for it. Don't get me wrong, I didn't chose this just because Coen used to play it.

"Pero kahit na, you need to train. Kahit receive at toss lang." sabi ni Coleen habang pinapanood ko siyang paglaruan ang bola. She's tossing it and catching it.

"Sabi mo sa bench lang ako?" pag rereklamo ko. I can't learn volleyball in just 3 days. I'm not a superhuman or what.

"What if the setter asked for a substitute? Tas ikaw napili?"

I had no choice but to agree with her and to train with her. I know, I'm hopeless. I'll only drag this team down.

Pinakita niya sa akin ang tamang posisyon ng kamay, ang tamang posture, at ang pag focus sa bola. It's easier said than done.

"I'll toss you the ball, then receive it."

Tumango ako. She said all I have to do is to watch the ball. Again. Easier said than done.

"Focus, Stacey" she said and then tossed it to me. I followed the ball with my eyes and shifted my direction to it. I received it, but it didn't went to her direction.

"Not bad for a beginner. Keep your focus."

Umirap ako at umayos ng tayo.

"Stop ordering me around." sabi ko dito.

Binitawan niya ang bola. "Attitude! Tinuturuan lang naman kita?!"

"Naks, training hard class rep!" pag chicheer sa akin ni Eliezer na kakadating lang. Wala siyang kasama. Then it made me think kung bakit hindi ko siya nakikitang kasama si Coen. Aren't they friends?

"Napilitan lang." I said frankly and giggled.

"Ah, akala ko sumusunod ka na sa yapak ni Kael, eh!" pagkasabi niya noon ay tumawa siya at sinabayan pa ni Coleen. Nag high-five pa ang dalawa.

Hindi maganda 'to. Nakahanap na si Coleen ng kadamay sa pang aasar sa'kin. Just her is enough to piss me off. And now, nakipag collab pa kay Eliezer.

"Ah ganon? Oh ba-back out na 'ko—"

"Teka lang naman teh! Binibiro ka lang." pag pigil sa akin ni Coleen. Hindi na niya ako pinilit mag practice at pinangakong nasa bench lang ako throughout the game.

"He used to be the team's ace. Kael." Eliezer said out of nowhere.

Napatingin kaming dalawa sakaniya. Nakangiti siya at nakatingin sa malayo. It seems like, Eliezer used to play too.

"Hayop siya. Hayop mag laro."

Tahimik na natawa si Coleen sa huling sinabi ni Eliezer. Hayop siya mag laro. Mukhang magaling talaga si Coen. It was a funny statement, but he said it seriously. Natahimik ulit kami ni Coleen.

"By the way, what's an ace?" I asked. Wala akong interest sa ganito. Pero nang malaman ko na he used to play this as an ace, a little bit of interest hit me.

"How do I explain this.. Uh," Coleen, struggling to find the right words. Maya maya pa ay nag salita si Eliezer.

"The one who gives powerful strikes and stops the match, then scores for the team. An ace is powerful, and... He was our ace."

The ace, huh.

The night before the event, I tried searching for information about our school's boy's volleyball team on facebook. I did this for a motivation. We can't foresee the future. Malay nga natin, baka mainjure ang isang team mate namin, at ako ang napiling substitute. Wag naman sana.

I found a short video clip, that was posted 3 years ago. The caption was,

The Ace's fall

I watched it. Nahinaan ko bigla ang volume ng laptop ko dahil bumungad ang napakalakas na cheer ng crowd mula sa video. Then the camera zoomed in to a guy. A guy who's focusing on the game. A guy ordering his team mates. That was Coen.

"Mine!" sigaw nito.

Wala akong maintindihan sa volleyball. But for some reason, seeing him play it makes me understand it a bit. The ball needs to get to the other side, no matter what happens. And that is Coen's job.

And this is where the ace began to mess things up. The ball didn't went to the other side. Causing the team to lose. They were one game closer to get to the regionals. And they believe Coen messed things up. The crowd grew silent, and then the other team was jumping in joy, for their victory. Coen's team lost.

The video ended, and as he knelt on the middle of the court, I felt my heart hurt a little.

The king shouldn't kneel. That's what's going on inside my mind.

But then I realized, I cared more than I expected. He doesn't know me, we don't talk to each other either. But why?

Why am I feeling his pain three years ago?

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