Pagkatapos ng mga kalokohan namin kanina, naglinis kami nang sandali, at nagpulong tungkol sa mga susunod na laro namin. Well, we're already in the quarter finals, against the three best teams in this league. I hope the game we won from Panasonic Panthers isn't just a fluke. We can't be too comfortoble just because we won against them once, we have to be better.
Though, hindi lang naman ang Panasonic ang malakas sa tatlo, kasama rin sa quarter finals ang JT Thunders na may malakas na net defense, at ang JTekt Stings na may dalawang malakas na attackers, including their lefty opposite hitter, Nishida, and a Russian power hitter, Kasiyzky. We have to watch out for those players too. Each team has a different asset, so beating Panasonic, the current champions, doesn't mean we can beat the other two teams as well.
"Mayu-chan!" Kei snapped before my eyes as he called my nickname that he made up.
I guess I spaced out too much thinking about our future games. Napansin kong nakapag-ayos na si Keiji ng gamit niya kaya lumabas na kami sa gymnasium. Tapos na rin naman kasi 'yung training, kaya pwede na kaming umuwi.
"Sorry, iniisip ko lang 'yung mga laro niyo the next few days and weeks." pagpapaliwanag ko. Tumango naman siya.
"Are you nervous?" he asked.
Umiling ako. "I'm just a little worried, I guess. Are you?"
"To be honest, I am. Pero, sana mapanalo namin 'to. The last time Toray were the champions was 20 years ago." I hope they could rise again to get to the top. I mean, we've come so far, we can't let it go to waste.
Napatingin naman ako sa kamay ko nang maramdaman kong hawakan niya ito. I just smiled at him as I filled the gaps in his fingers. Until now, my heart still feels glad that he knew my birthday, even if I didn't tell him. I guess that proves he's really special to me or, I'm special to him.
"So... don't you have any plans on celebrating you birthday?" tanong niya at napa-iling ako.
After Mamu died, I just treated my birthday like an ordinary day. You know, it doesn't feel as special as it was when Mamu was still alive. She was the one who made me feel special even if I was not. She took care of me, even if I didn't deserve it. She made me feel loved, even if I was not worthy of it. So loosing her was like losing the light, the reason to live. But I'm glad I found another person who can be my light again.
"Ayos. Let's go to Tokyo!" he exclaimed with a joyful face. His contagious, wide smile made me smile too.
"Na naman?" pabirong tanong ko. I mean, Tokyo's not bad, but there are a lot of good cities too here in Japan.
"Actually, pupunta pa dapat tayo sa SSS nung nasa Tokyo tayo, 'di lang natuloy dahil nga kumain pa tayo nila Coach."
"SSS? Social Security System?" takang tanong ko. Tumawa naman siya nang bahagya.
"Shibuya Scramble Square." oh, that.
"I promise you, this will be fun! Plus, I have to show you something up there." walang paalam niya kong hinatak papunta sa kung saan para makapunta kami sa Tokyo. Aish, he never learns.
***
I can't help but feel excited about what Keiji is going to show me. Nagtanong ako tungkol doon, but he won't give a single clue. Though he said it's something special, like a once in a lifetime moment. We're currently on an escalator, with firm glass walls, about 40 storeys from the ground.
Napalingon naman sa'kin si Keiji. 'Di ko na namalayan na napakahigpit ng hawak ko sa kamay niya dahil sa taas ng kinaaapakan namin ngayon. I don't know, I feel like there's a high chance this thing will collapse and we'll fall from this height.
BINABASA MO ANG
A Trip to Japan (Ongoing)
Fiksi RemajaA Trip to Japan After all the tragedies that happened in Mayu's life, her world became dark. She lost her mother, her boyfriend, and most of all, she lost her happiness. She decided to go abroad, to escape this dark and cruel world, until she meets...
