"Jia, how's training?"
"Okay na sana, kung 'di lang dahil sa Rookie na 'to."
"Bakit? Hindi ba makuha ang sets mo? Nako, na-"
"Oo na, alam ko na sasabihin mo. Kesyo wala akong pasensya, ganyan. Okay sana kung hindi paulit-ulit. But, imagine! Three training days siyang ganun."
"Ano ka ba, Rookie kasi 'yan. Natural! Magkakamali sila or siya dahil posibleng... kinakabahan! Diba? Tsaka isa pa, mas lalong magkakamali 'yan kung nakikita niyang naiinis ka sa kanya."
"Okay! You win!" Jia groaned and rolled her eyes. She's supposed to say something but Alyssa suddenly called her, "Ate, I'll put this down na. Tinatawag ako ni Kap."
"Sige, bawasan ang inis next time. Bye!"
Jia ended the call and saw Alyssa walking towards the bench. Alyssa was seriously looking at her by then, "Pwede ba kitang makausap?" She asked as soon as she sat beside her.
"Is this about what happened earlier? Ate kasi--"
Alyssa cuts her off, "Hindi ko nagustuhan yung ginawa mo kanina. Ji, that was plain rude. Pinahiya mo yung Rookie sa harap ng iba." She said and Jia bowed her head down in frustration.
"It wouldn't be like this if it didn't happen for numerous times, repeatedly." Jia retorts and sighed, "Ate, nag-try akong mag-adjust. I mean, ginawan ko rin ng paraan para maka-palo siya... but, same results."
"Well, maybe if you were just a little more patient then it would be different, right?"
Nagpakawala ng isang malalim na hininga si Jia at tumango kay Ly. Somehow, Jia has been losing patient in her recent setting. Maaaring dahil nasanay siya sa mga teammates niyang mabilis ang reaction sa bawat sets nito. Sa huli, inamin din ni Jia ang guilt sa kanyang sarili at humingi ng paumanhin.
"Sorry po..."
"Don't say sorry to me, dun sa Rookie. I saw how discouraged she was after that incident. I'm sure she's somewhere around the campus, hindi pa daw umuwi."
Jia nodded and hugged Ate Ly before she left. Jia hates doing this but it would risk the position she currently holds if the same attitude will continue. She walked around the campus until she saw the Rookie sitting on top of her car at the Parking Lot.
The girl was looking down and holding her Volleyball shoes, probably thinking about what happened earlier. It made Jia feel a bit more guilty and did not think twice about approaching her.
"Hey..." Jia called in her soft voice that made the latter turn its gaze to her, "Uhm..." All the while she was just thinking of apologizing to her and leave it like that. But now that they're facing each other, Jia just got lost and figured it wasn't easy to apologize to someone.
To her surprise, the latter smiled though it's a weak one, "It's okay, you're right... I'm not really that good. Maybe I should quit and-"
"NO!" Jia suddenly raised her voice, "I mean, you shouldn't. It's not your fault, ako talaga ang may kasalanan. Dapat hindi kita pinahiya. Sorry. Sorry talaga, Bea." And then Jia looked at her face and noticed she cried. Jia wiped her tear and held Bea's hand to comfort. Why is she doing this? She doesn't know, but felt the need to do it, "Huwag kang iiyak, maganda ka para umiyak. Sorry sa ginawa ko kanina."
Bea smiled and went down from the hood of her car, still holding Jia's hand, "Salamat. I-I promise you, bukas, aayusin ko na talaga."
And then, both turned silent. Bea noticed Jia was holding her hand for too long that she slowly pulled it away, "Ay! Sorry." Jia said.
"Okay lang, lambot ng kamay mo, ah. I mean, for a player like you." Bea laughed.
"Ah, kapag Setter, magaspang ang kamay? Asar ka." They both laughed at what they said, "I'm really sorry."
"It's nothing, sorry din kasi pangit yung laro ko. I have a lot to improve." Bea insists and Jia nodded, "May pupuntahan ka ba?" She asked.
"Wala, ikaw lang talaga yung pinunta ko." Jia said, "I think I should go."
"Gusto mo ba magpahatid? Malayo Eliazo mula dito kung maglalakad ka pa."
"No need, I can walk long distance." She declined and waved at Bea as she left.
"Bye!" Bea shouts and Jia turned around for the last time then smiles before continuing to walk, "Bye, Crush." She said to herself while smiling.
