Through The Rain

Chapter Twelve

"Ah!"

The moment I hit the ground, I knew I fucked up. The gymnasium went silent for a bit. Napatayo naman ang iba. I could only hear the shouts coming from me and my teammates right now, as I saw Clei walking towards me, panicking.

"Ah!" I scream again in pain. Holding my legs as tears fall from my eyes. My body gave up.

"Kaye. Are you okay? Kaye! Kaye!" Clei tried to calm the atmosphere, but I can sense her panic. Now, I can hear the crowd's shout.

The game stops for a bit. My teammates went to check on me as well. I can hear their 'What happened?' 'Are you Okay?' and other concerns.

I cried in pain again. Come on, Kaye. You're better than this.

It's just cramps and a twisted ankle but, you're Kaye Aphroditè, remember?

"I-it hurts," Pigil na hiningi kong saad, habang nakahawak parin sa paa ko at iniiwasang galawin ito.

Nagpa-panic na si Clei at nakita ko namang lumapit si Coach. "Anyare, Gomez?" Tanong nito.

"I t-think, I twisted my ankle," Impit na saad ko, habang naka-pilit parin at pinipigilang maiyak.

Tinawag naman ni coach ang medics at nang makapasok na sila sa court, dun na mas nag-ingay ang crowd. All of them look so worried. Nakita ko naman ang Medic na may dalang stretcher.

Sinubukan kong tumayo, pero natumba kaagad ako kaya napaiyak nanaman ako sa sakit. "Coach, kaya ko pa. Maglalaro pa ako, sandali!" I told all of them while I was crying. "Wait. Wait lang po!" The camera is on me right now, and my crying face is shown on the big screen on top of gymnasium. Kaya naman mas nabahala ang mga tao nang makitang ako ang na-injury.

I don't want to be in that stretcher at nag-aadjust pa naman ako, I mean yung paa ko, nang may maramdaman kaming lahat na lumapit sa gawi namin.

"Baby," he called me.

"Kuya," I tried to call him and stopping my tears to fall, "K-kuya, p-please!" I begged.

"I'm a Doctor. Ako na dito. Medics come with me sa may players lair. Dun natin siya gamutin." Utos niya nang mapansin niyang nahihirapan na ako, saka bumaling naman siya saakin, "Wag maarte, Kaye. Ilalagay ka namin sa stretcher," Maotoridad niyang utos kaya naman wala na akong nagawa.

Binuhat niya namang ako ng mag-isahan ng dahan-dahan at inilagay sa stretcher na naka-lapag malapot sakin. Nag-bilang naman ang Medics bago ako itaas. I just covered my face with my jersey, out of embarassment. Narinig ko naman ang pagpalakpak at pag-cheer ng crowd saakin kaya napangiti ako underneath my jersey.

"Number 10 coming in for Kaye Gomez," I heard the announcer said before we went inside our lair. Saka naman nila ako inilipat sa kama.

Dahan-dahang inangat ni kuya ang paa ko at sinimulan nang gamutin.

"Next time, be careful," kuya said to me while bandaging my foot. Tinakpan ko naman ng kamay ko yung mga mata ko.

Di ko na alam nangyayari sa loob ng gymnasium. I don't know the score anymore. Mas lalo tuloy akong na-stress at kinabahan.

This is my fault.

"Rest first." Paalala ni kuya sa akin saka hinalikan ako sa noo at bumalik na sa loob ng gymnasium. Naiwan naman ako dito kasama yung medics.

I just calmed myself and took a nap.

Nagising naman ako dahil sa ingay mula sa loob. One of the medics, turned on the television at nakita kong fourth quarter na kami at 21-23 yung score. Lamang ang kalaban.

So this means that, pag nakuha pa nila 'to. Magkakaroon ng set 5, since nakuha nila yung third set. This can't be happening. It's my fault.

Out of frustration, nakiusap ako sa medics kung pwede dun ako sa loob manood, kahit sa bangko lang. I have a plan.

"Dahan-dahan po," They reminded me as I got off my bed. Nagsimula naman akong magtatalon kahit masakit pa. Pero para sa school and teammates, I'll get back.

Sakto namang time-out nung papasok na kami sa gymnasium kaya nang makalapit ako sa bangko ay inalalayan ako ng teammates ko. Saka nagsimulang mag-plano si coach para sa kanila.

After hearing the whistle, bumalik na agad sila sa court at pinagpatuloy ang paglalaro.

"Coach Jigs," I called one of our Assistant Coach, wearing my most precious smile. Lumingon naman siya tsaka tiningnan ako.

Nginitian ko muna siya tsaka tumingin muna sa taas para tingnan ang score. Set point na ulit ang kalaban. Gosh! This is so frustrating.

"Babalik ako sa set 5, please!" Pagmamakaawa ko at parang naluluha na. "Last play ko na 'to. I'll do my best promise. Magaling na naman ako eh. Please!" Pagmamakaawa ko ulit.

Tiningnan niya naman ako tsaka nginitian.

"Fighting!" He said as he hugged me, and so I hugged him back. Sakto naman at tapos na ang set 4 na nakuha ng kalaban. Nagsibalikan naman dito yung teammates ko at nakita si coach na malungkot ang mukha.

Nagpa-plano nanaman sila kung ano na ang gagawin nila sa set 5 nang lapitan ko si coach.

"Coach," I called him. "Balik ako sa set 5. I know I'm hurt pero it doesn't matter. Last playing year ko na ito and I want to make the most out of it. This is my last chance to prove to them who the real champion is. This is my last chance to show them what Kaye Aphrodite is made of, and it is with passion, dedication and strength. I want this for us. This is ours, coach. This championship is made for us." I tried to convince him, with a hoping eyes.

I saw how his face changed after hearing my words. He looked at me straightly in the eyes.

"I know I can always count on you, my captain!" He cheerfully said and smiled genuinely. So, I hugged him.

"Thanks coach!" I whisper and hugged him tightly.

We just had a plan for set 5. We need to get this.

The referee blows his whistle again which is a sign that it's already the start for set 5, and so, six players from our team went in, including Clei.

I wanna give them surprise. So, I'll come later.

I have no assurance if I can play well later, all I have right now is my talent in this field, and I'm bringing it out with my best and passion. Walang kasiguraduhan pero lalaban.

Oh well. This is me, Kaye Aphrodite.

And so, as the referee blows his whistle, the set started.

The first four points was for them. 4-1 pa lang yung score at nakita kong pagod na yung teammates ko at nahihirapan na sila.

This is my time. Watch me, folks.

"Coach," I shouted to caught coach's attention. Buti naman narinig niya kaya napalingon siya. "In" I cheerfully said.

He smiled at me before going to the referee to ask for a substitution. I jump out of my seat at nagsimula munang magtalon talon.

Napalingon naman ang lahat sa referee nang pumito ito. Kinuha ko naman yung number 8 para palitan si Ari.

"Substitution. Kaye Gomez, number 19, coming in for Ari Chu," The commentator announced kaya naman umingay ang crowd at tila mas nag-init pa.

Lumapit naman ako sa court at nakipag-palitan na nga ng pwesto kay Ari.

Pumasok na ako sa court at pumwesto, with my poker-game face on.

The real show is about to start. Watch me. Cause I'll show you what a true player is.

and, It's Kaye Aphrodite Gomez.