In The Name Of Gloves

PROLOGUE

The crowd's noise filled Jacee's ears as her opponent continues to attack her, she's stepping backward as she blocked all the punches. Unfortunately, she was cornered and all she can do is defense herself and block heavy blows that giving her difficulties to move.

Two more rounds and it's all done kaya kailangan niyang mapatumba ito. Hindi siya pwedeng magpabaya lalo na at malakas ang kalaban niya. Ramdam ni Jacee ang pagod sa bawat himaymay ng kalamnan niya pero hindi niya iniinda ang bagay na iyon.

She has to think of a way to get her opponent before its too late, so when her opponent move backward to throw another punch, she immediately swayed her head down to avoid the attack and it was a perfect timing to get out from the side of the ring. Now, it's her turn to attack.

Jacee gave all her strength in her punches. Her every move surely hit his opponent, mula sa sikmura hanggang sa mukha nito. Hanggang sa ang kalaban naman niya ngayon ang na corner niya, habang dinidepensahan nito ang atake niya niya ay patuloy lang si Jacee sa pagpapakawala ng malalakas na suntok.

Hindi na pinagbigyan pa ni Jacee ng pagkakataon na makabawi ang kalaban niya. She's a slugger boxer after all and she doesn't care if her rival hit her face as long as she can win the fight against it. And that's her goal. To win.

When she gave her upper cut and final blow, her opponent slowly fall down the ring. Jacee heard how the crowd make their noise again while waiting for her rival to get up and fight to win the championship belt. The referee finished counting, but it seems that her opponent lost her consciousness.

Napuno ng mga tao ang loob ng ring at nagsimula ng i-anunsiyo kung sino ang nanalo sa laban pero iisa lang ang nasa isip ni Jacee. Si Khian. Wala ito ngayon para panoorin ang laban niya. Wala ito para suportahan siya.

Nawala ang atensiyon ni Jacee sa iniisip ng may umakbay sa kaniya. She already know who it is. Non-other than her bestfriend. Jay Enn Vadquez.

May sinusupil itong ngiti sa labi ng magsalita ito."Ruthless as ever...baby"

Ngiti lang ang isinagot niya rito pero kunot ang noong tiningnan niya ang kaibigan ng makitang masama ang tingin nito sa kaniya.

"What?" she asked him, curious.

His face darken."You think of him? You know that he doesn't care.."

Gustong magprotesta ni Jacee sa sinabi ng kaibigan pero pinili na lang niya ang manahimik. She knew why her bestfriend react like that. Ito ang numero unong hater ng boyfriend niya mula pa noong nag-uumpisa pa lamang sila ng nobyo. Paulit-ulit nitong pinapaintindi sa kaniya na niloloko lang siya ni Khian pero hindi niya iyon pinapansin. Kahit alam ni Jacee na totoo ang sinasabi nito, hinahayaan niya lang ang bagay na iyon. Masakit man ang katotohanan na sumasampal sa mukha niya pero hindi niya pa kayang iwan ang nobyo.

"One last try...Enn, one last chance" mahinang bulong niya. Mababakas ang lungkot sa bawat salita.

Tiningnan siya nito ng may pagdududa."Then what?"

"I'm done with him. I'll let him go" I hope.

Bumuntong hininga na lang ang kaibigan niya saka naunang maglakad papunta sa kwartong inukupa nila kanina. Kinuha naman ni Jacee ang cellphone na nasa bulsa niya na inabot ni Enn kanina ng nasa ring pa sila. Tinawagan niya ang numero ng nobyo. Nakakatatlong tawag na siya na puro operator ang sumasagot kaya itinigil na lang niya saka naupo sa bakanteng upuan kaharap si Enn.

Hindi pa lumilipas ang ilang segundo ng makatanggap si Jacee ng text mula sa hindi kilalang numero. The message contains a picture of her boyfriend kissing girl in a restaurant, that made her heart crumble in so much pain.

Naninikip ang dibdib niya at hindi niya alam kung paano kontrolin ang emosyon niya ng mga sandaling iyon kaya lumabas siya ng kwarto na iyon saka naglakad palabas ng colliseum.

She wants to explode in so much frustrations and heartbreak. The last chance that she gave to him is worthless, he didn't even think of her before he kiss that girl and that's making her mad.

She pulled herself together. If Khian can do that without feeling guilty then he's not worth for her tears, if he really loves her, he won't do anything that will make her heart ache. She knows her worth, but she really love him so she gave her chance again and again, yet it pained her knowing that he keeps on cheating.

Until when she will be blind of what her boyfriend is doing? How long will it last for her to love a guy like Khian who never valued her? Until when?