MY VOLLEY LOVE

The Inclusion

JAMES PAUL'S POV

Inis na inis akong lumapit sa President ng klase ko pagkatapos kong makita ang list of varsity players na kapapaskil sa bulletin board sa bungad ng university. Nag-aaral nga pala ako sa Cordoven International School - malaking school na pangmayaman but that doesn't mean na mayaman din ako. Hmm, kahit na 'yon ang sabi nila sa estado namin, hindi para sa akin. Scholar ako sa school na ito and I'm about to graduate next year, bale this is my last school year. I'm already on my 4th year in BS Applied Mathematics.

Going back, nakakainis kasi napasali ako sa list of volleyball players! Sa badminton ako nagsign up for this year for additional credit and monetary benefits sana. Kung hindi niyo naitatanong, malaki ang incentives ng varsity players sa school. Sa yaman ba naman nito! Sa pagsali pa lang, may incentives na monthly! Paano pa kapag nakapanalo sa Sports Fest na sinasalihan ng university? Pero hindi basta-basta ang pagsali sa school varsity ha, mahigpit ang screenings and selection talaga kaya nakagugulat na napasali ako sa volleyball eh hindi naman ako nag-try out!

"Mr. Albert Andrada Manzano! Why have I been included in the volleyball roster?! I tried out for the badminton team!" Inis na sabi ko pagkakita ko pa lang sa President namin sa homeroom.

"Haaaa?" Gulat na gulat na tanong niya.

"What do you mean 'Haaaa'? HAKDOG!" Galit na sabi ko.

"I don't know, James. Inilagay ko naman ang pertinent docs mo sa badminton list ah."

Nakatatakot ang ganito dahil isa lang ang ibig sabihin nito, HINDI NA AKO PWEDENG MAGQUIT SA VOLLEYBALL TEAM KAHIT GUSTUHIN KO ONCE NASUBMIT NA SA PSC!

"Naku naman, Albert! Kapag naisubmit na ang official list sa PSC, patay ako nito!"

Prestige Sports Committee (PSC) ang board na humahawak sa sports ng international schools dito sa amin at kapag nakapagsubmit na, it's irrevocable! Kahit na anong pakiusap ay wala na! Dahil ang pinakaunang rule sa PSC ay accuracy! Naku naman!

PSC governs 12 prestigious schools and universities - Brandon College, Cape International School, Vollen School of Arts, Krater College, Mysticio International University, College of Vred, University of Mandous, Mensiu College of Technology, Secid International School, Cropure College, College of Vents, and of course, Cordoven International School.

Lahat private owned 'yang mga 'yan. Bongga ang mga estudyante, ako lang yata ang nagcocommute eh. Pero hindi sa pagmamayabang ha, medyo pang-model ang datingan ko. Hahaha. Madalas nasasabi 'yan sa akin. Madalas kong napapansin mga kasakayan ko sa jeep na pinipicture-an ako. Hahaha. Patay-malisya lang ako pero tutungo na lang ako para hindi na makunan. Mahirap na baka madiscover! Hehehe.

Syempre, baka gamitin sa ibang bagay ang picture ko. Ayaw ko namang makulong. Hahahaha.

"Hoy!"

"What the fuck, Albert! Bakit ka ba nanggugulat?!"

"Kasi nagdidaydream ka lang naman, Mr. James Paul Alcantara Balveran! Pangiti-ngiti ka pa riyan tapos kanina galit na galit ka!"

"HINDI AKO GALIT!"

"Wow ah, hindi pa galit 'yan!"

"Hindi nga, naiinis lang!"

"Oh siya, tara at makipag-usap sa Sports Head ng CIS para malaman kung nasubmit na sa PSC 'yong list."

"Nakatatakot naman kasi 'di ba usually hindi sila nagpapaskil niyan hangga't hindi pa nasusubmit sa PSC?"

"Malay mo naman, iba ngayon."

SANA. SANA. SANA. I was quiet while we are heading to the Sports Head's office with fingers crossed. Sana hindi pa nasubmit talaga. Marunong naman ako sa volleyball pero hindi ako magaling! Patayan ang galing nung mga 'yon eh! Baka mafacial ako, pogi ko pa naman! Hahaha.

Ang layo naman, nakapapagod maglakad ah. Dumaan na kami sa napakalawak na quadrangle/field ng school para shortcut pero ang layo pa rin! Sa may bungad kasi ng school lahat ng offices ng officials ng school at ang college na kinabibilangan ko ay nasa pinakadulo pa ng school compound kung manggagaling ka sa entrance. May daan sa likod kaya't 'yong mga may sasakyan ay sa likod na nagpapark tapos doon na rin naglalabas-masok.

Nakipag-usap si Albert sa head at ako naman ay tahimik lang sa tabi niya.

"The official lists have been sent to the PSC yesterday afternoon. We have posted the roster on the school bulletin boards earlier this morning - one in the entrance, one in the pathway, and one near the back gate of the university. Why?"

"Sir, James Paul here has tried out for badminton and I was sure I placed his documents in the badminton file case but we just found out that his name was included in the volleyball roster and not in the badminton team. Can't we correct the roster, Sir?"

"I'm certain you both know very well the rules when it comes to the official list, Mr. Manzano and Mr. Balveran."

"But Sir, I can't play volleyball for the Sports Fest next month. Well, I can play but not to the level of a varsity." Singit ko sa usapan nila.

"I'm sorry to tell you but the list sent to the PSC is final and should there be corrections, we'll wait until the next academic year."

"But how come I have been included in the volleyball team when I didn't try out for it?"

"Yesterday, the papers have been disarranged because my secretary bumped into someone while in the hallway but I assure you that the papers have been sorted out well."

"Except for my paper, obviously." Hindi ko maiwasang hindi maging sarcastic dahil nafufrustrate na ako!

"It must have been put in the volleyball file case by mistake. I'm sorry, Mr. Balveran. I take the blame for what has happened."

"It's not anyone's fault, Sir. I was just worried because I can't contribute to the volleyball team should I be included."

"Well, you said a while ago that you CAN play volleyball, right? Then practice more."

"But Sir -"

"No buts. Practice well because we don't have any other option. Besides, you may only be a substitute player, you don't really have to play for the team if that's what you are worried about. Just practice with the team just in case it needs your help, I'll tell the volleyball team what happened about your papers."

"Thank you, Sir." Bagsak ang balikat na sabi ko na lang.

Ahhh! Hays. May magagawa pa nga ba ako? Eh wala na raw kaming choice, duuuh. So kasalanan ko pa? Hahaha.

Paano na ako niyan? Bukod kasi sa paglalaro, sayang naman ang individual cash prize kapag naipanalo ko kahit 3rd place man lang sa badminton. Sa volleyball, panigurado maraming kahati. Hehehe.

Pero wala na akong choice, kainis!