Rule #3: Changing The Rules

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I feel the rush.

I focused my eyes on the ball as the opposing team serves it to our side. Just a few scores left and we're done. We will win this game.

Halos mabingi ang tenga ko sa lakas ng hiyawan sa gymnasium. Both of the schools are cheering hard for their teams. Mas malakas ang sa kalaban na school pero wala akong pakialam. I'll win this game no matter what happens.

"Gallego!"

Tumatagaktak na ang pawis sa mukha ko. We've been playing for almost three hours! Nakailang match na rin dahil ang lakas talaga nung kalaban namin ngayon. Akala ko, magiging madali lang ang lahat... but I was wrong. This is why you should never underestimate a foe.

I tried so hard not to look at the cheering crowd. My brother and my cousin are there, sitting near the front bleachers, observing me. I have to win this, since Kuya told me that he will buy me anything I like if we win. Tapos ililibre niya rin daw ako sa kahit anong gusto ko. My brother is rarely this generous so I had to make the most out of it.

My teammates looked at me as the ball bounced back in the air. I quickly prompted myself to throw it back to the opposing side. Isa nalang, mananalo kami. Isa nalang...

Just one spike... just one spike...

Halos bumagsak ako sa sahig nung magawa ko ang inaasahan nila. My knees felt tired but then I heard the loud cheer of everyone. Nagulat nalang ako nung yakapin nila akong lahat at nagsisitalon sa tuwa.

We won!

My teammates hugged me in victory as I smiled at them. Hinalikan nila ako sa pisngi at nakailan silang thank you sa akin. They should not thank me though, we worked hard as a team. Ginawa ko lang naman ang part ko.

"MVP, Elisse Gallego!"

I smiled as I graced the stage for the awarding. Nanalo pa akong MVP at best spiker. They said, I would've won the other awards as well if it was just allowed to give a player more than two awards. Ayos lang naman din sa akin, dahil ayaw ko naman solohin ang lahat. I'm not that great to get them all.

Narinig ko naman ang hiyawan ng lahat dahil sa akin. I flashed them a smile and raised the medal. Nakita ko rin si Kuya na nasa may gilid ng bleachers nakangisi lang at napapailing. Hmp! Sabi niya matatalo kami, tingnan mo sila pa ang talo ngayon!

"Gallego, woo! Ganda mo talaga!"

"Elisse! Tingin ka naman dito oh!"

"Gallego, pwede bang manligaw?"

I was never really comfortable being called Elisse due to reasons. Hindi ko nalang iyon pinansin at kumaway nalang sa lahat. Ang dami ding bumati sa akin at niyakap ko rin silang pabalik. It's a pity that Lia's not here. Lagi nalang siyang hindi nakakapunta ng games ko. Willing rin naman akong ihatid sundo siya sa bahay nila para hindi na hassle sa kanya, pero ngayon nasa Tarlac siya dahil birthday daw ng Lola niya. I understand naman, since it's her grandmother's birthday.

"Ano, kuya? You're talo sa pustahan, ah? Talo kayo." nakangisi kong sabi, sabay pakita ng medal ko. "I won MVP pa, oh. Who's the loser now, huh?"

Napailing-iling sa akin si Kuya habang tumatawa naman si Kale. Our school went against Brierwell today so Kuya made sure to watch. Hindi rin kase siya madalas manood ng games ko. Ngayon lang.

"Can we go for some sushi? I'm famished!" I said as I stretched my arms. Pinabuhat ko rin kay Kale ang duffel bag ko dahil pagod na ako. Wala naman siyang violent reactions. He's used to doing that for me.

"Hi, Emma." a guy from Brierwell passed by and looked at me from head to toe. I smiled at him as his friends waved at me too. Hindi ko siya kilala, pero I made it a hobby to smile at people when they greet me.