The day passed, just like their usual training days before. The same routines, the same duties. After their cleaning duties in the court, Hiro, Lee and I decided to go to a coffee shop to catch up.
"So... It might be harsh to ask this but, how are you now? We're really worried you know." tanong ni Hiro. It really touches me when someone lets me feel they care for me.
"Though it's mostly him, Coach Ayu, and that dumbass Keiji." dagdag ni Lee na ikinatawa ko. Wait. Did he say Keiji?
"I'm okay, really." I'm just a bit sad and hurt, that's all. No biggie.
"Right, speaking about Keiji, where is he?" kakainin na kasi ako ng kuryosidad ko kung 'di ko pa 'yon naitanong. Ayoko mang makita siya, gusto ko pa rin malaman 'yung kalagayan niya.
Nagkatinginan naman sina Hiro at Lee bago sila sumagot. "He's sick. And, he's out of the first six, that's for sure." well, I'm not that surprised. Maybe all this is bothering him too, which is kind of ironic to me.
"He hasn't been in good form since the last two games. Binangko siya ni Coach Ayu sa dalawang laro na 'yon." tugon ni Lee.
Ano bang sumapi sa mokong na 'yon? Bakit hindi niya ba kayang paghiwalayin 'yung nararamdaman niya sa mga aksyon niya? Katangahan niya 'yan eh, 'yan tuloy, nabangko at nawala pa sa first six ng huling pinaka-importanteng laro nila.
"Nga pala, anong laban niyo this week?" nanlaki naman 'yung mga mata nila sa tanong ko.
" 'Di ako updated eh, sorry." paliwanag ko.
"Bronze." oh, so their championship dream sank, just like our relationship.
Medyo nalulungkot ako dahil alam ko kung gaano nila kagusto mag-gold medal sa liga. Kitang-kita ko sa kanila, kahit pa mga mokong at siraulo sila, na pursugido at determinado silang maging Champion. Mukhang 'di pa sapat 'yung effort nila ngayong season.
"That's okay, you did your best." I tried to cheer them up with those comforting words which made them smile faintly.
"We know, Mayu-chan. 'Di naman sa sinisisi namin si Keiji, but we can't do it without him. Malaki rin ambag niya sa net defense tsaka sa serving." pagpapaliwanag ni Hiro.
"Medyo nakakainis at nakakalungkot talaga 'yung ugali niyang gan'on." napatingin naman ako kay Lee. Tumango sa kanya si Hiro bilang pagsang-ayon.
"Sorry. I'm pretty sure na nagkakaganon siya dahil sa'kin. I've seen it before." saad ko at yumuko. 'Di ko alam, pero posibleng ako nga 'yung dahilan kung bakit siya nagkakaganon. That is, kung mahal niya talaga ako.
"Obviously." tugon nila at saka tumawa.
"Sino palang kalaban niyo?" tanong ko uli, dahil 'di ko pala natanong 'yun kay Coach Ayu kanina.
"JT pa rin. Aish, we're going through that suffering again." reklamo ni Hiro sabay gulo sa buhok niyang nanahimik. Napahilamos naman sa mukha si Lee, na mukhang pressured din dahil sa kalaban nila.
"You mean natalo kayo sa Panasonic at Jtekt?" 'yung dalawang team na 'yon ay 'yung maglalaban para sa championship. Tumango naman silang dalawa sa'kin.
Sayang, mas maganda sana kung gold medal ang laro namin sa susunod na araw at Panasonic ang kalaban. Kahit papaano kasi, nababasa ko na 'yung laro nila.
"Mahirap kapag 'di kumpleto 'yung team, Mayu-san. Including you." bahagya naman akong napangiti sa sinabi ni Lee. Ibig-sabihin n'on na parte talaga ako ng team nila, kahit manager lang ako.
"We need you, Mayu-chan. May chance pang makasali si Kei sa first six, kahit substitute lang naman. Kung 'di aayos 'yung laro niya, mahihirapan kami sa defense. Eh kung blocking department lang naman pag-uusapan sa team, siya 'yung pinakamagaling." napataas naman 'yung dalawa kong kilay dahil sa sinabi ni Hiro.
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...
