A Trip to Japan (Ongoing)

Chapter 53

Mayumi's POV

"So... you won't be going today?" tanong ni Hiro mula sa kabilang linya. Kumuha naman ako ng tissue mula sa box at ibinalot ang sarili ko sa malambot kong kumot. Tinupi ko naman ng dalawang beses 'yung tissue at suminga dito.

"Yeah. Can you just explain it to Coach?" pakiusap ko. Apparently, sa sobrang lamig kagabi at naulanan pa 'ko, nilagnat at sinipon ako ngayon. Ngayon ko pa namang balak kausapin si Keiji pero mukhang ayaw kaming pagbatiin ng tadhana at binigyan pa 'ko ng sakit nito.

"Ryoukai (copy). Get well, Mayu-san." huling sabi ni Hiro. Akmang ibababa niya na 'yung tawag pero nagsalita pa 'ko. "Hiro-chan." tawag ko sa kanya.

"Hmm?" sagot nito.

"Tell your lunatic friend that we'll fix this soon. So he should man up and straighten his wits today or else I'll punch him in the face personally." narinig ko namang tumawa si Hiro mula sa kabilang linya.

"Hai, hai. Anything else?"

"Thank you, Hiro." huling sabi ko.

"You're always welcome, Mayu-chan." huling tugon niya at binaba 'yung tawag. I don't know why, but his tone seems sad. Maybe it's just the poor quality of the audio of the call.

Dahil masama ang pakiramdam ko ngayon, siguradong 'tsaka na lang ako makikipag-usap kay Keiji pagkatapos ng huling laro nila. Iyon na lang ang natitirang paraan para magkaayos kami. Sa katunayan, gusto ko na nga 'tong ayusin bago pa 'yung laro, para nga kahit papaano bumalik 'yung laro ni Keiji tulad ng sabi nila Hiro pero nasabotahe ng sakit ko 'yung plano kong 'yon.

Tama si Keiji, hindi lang katawan 'yung kailangan sa paglalaro. Mahirap makapag-focus sa isang bagay kung may iba ka pang iniisip na bagay na mas malalim pa sa kinakaharap mo, at sa sobrang lalim, pakiramdam mo hindi mo kayang gumawa ng kahit anong tama. 'Tsaka ko lang din napagtanto na talaga ngang mahal pa rin ako ni Keiji, kasi kung hindi, mamomroblema ba siya nang gan'on? Ayokong mag-assume, pero umaasa akong tama ang katuwiran ko.

Kung maaari lang, papapuntahin ko si Keiji rito para maka-usap ko siya. But I don't want to take any chances. Baka magkasakit din siya at 'di siya tuluyang makapaglaro sa third medal match. Plus, it'll damage his reputation, that a key player like him didn't get to play in his team's most important match just because he's careless of his health. 

I guess, I have to wait until after the game day to fix this mess. Dahil wala akong ibang gagawin, nag-scroll naman ako sa phone ko para tumingin ng mga balita. At dahil sa Japan naka-base 'yung location ng phone ko, unang lumabas 'yung article nila Rina at Keiji. Gan'on ba talaga siya kalaki sa industriya at sikat na sikat siya? What a great way to ruin my day. Sira na nga 'tong araw ko dahil sa sakit ko, dadagdag pa siya.

Right, speaking about her, I wonder what she's upto now. I hope those stupid articles are the last of her evil plot, but knowing how bitchy she is, I doubt she'll stop there. Gusto ko sanang gumanti sa gulong ginawa niya sa relasyon namin ni Keiji, pero magmumukha akong masamang tao, when in fact, she's the bad one.

I know there is more than meets the eye when it comes to public figures, but geez, her's is pretty dark as hell. I feel sorry for her fans who keeps on supporting her even though they have no clue how cruel she is off-cam. What can I say, that's the way of the show business. You only get to see what they want you to see, throwing in such pretentious acts, basically lying in front of your eyes. And of course, the audience is too naive to see behind the mask.

I need to get off my mind about that woman, which led me here chilling in this breezy hotel room, turned on the tv, and started watching 'Haikyuu!'. That anime show is quite famous here in Japan, even internationally. It focuses about its own translation in English, which is volleyball. Who knows, I might learn more tricks and techniques in this sport from this show.

***

Napahikab naman ako habang nakatakip 'yung kamay ko sa bunganga ko. We're currently on our way to JT Thunders' gymnasium, the place where we ought to get the third medal. Kinaskas ko naman 'yung dalawang palad ko para mawala 'yung kaba ko. Sa sobrang kaba ko kasi, nanlalamig na 'yung kamay ko.

"Nervous?" tanong ni Coach Ayu na katabi ko ngayon sa bus. Tumango naman ako sa kanya.

"I feel you. It's been years since our last medal match." according to my research the last two days, where I looked up Toray's website, it's been decades since their last medal match. It made me more proud of them, considering the fact that they're beginning to rise together, step by step. And soon, in the next seasons, they'll be able to win the gold.

Nabanggit sa'kin ni Hiro na medyo umayos na 'yung laro ni Keiji, pero nabanggit niya rin na para siyang sinasapian habang naglalaro. I don't know what he means by that, but I hope it's something good. Nakita ko na rin kay Coach na kasali si Keiji sa first six. Originally, kasali nga naman siya doon, pero medyo nagkagulo dahil pumapangit na naman 'yung laro niya. Siguro nung dalawang araw na wala ako, nag-improve siya. He must've been happy about what Hiro told him.

"You know, Keiji seems to be different while you're gone." napatingin naman ako kay Coach. He almost said the same thing from Hiro.

"His play improved, yes. But the way he plays, is really different from the old Keiji, you know, the Keiji before this mess begun." nagsalubong naman 'yung mga kilay ko sa sinabi ni Coach.

His play improved, but the way he plays is different. Huh? Baka sinapian lang siya ng isang Brazilian kaya nag-improve siya nang gan'on. The Brazilian Men's Volleyball National Team is known as the best team in the volleyball world. Maybe he just got more agressive in playing like those Brazilians.

"Well... Is that something good?" I asked to clarify.

Napahawak naman siya sa likod ng leeg niya bago sumagot. "Er... I don't really know. It benefits the team but... aish, I don't understand that kid like you do, Mayu-san." napatingin naman ako kay Keiji na katabi ni Hiro sa kabilang column ng bus. He looks okay to me, though he has a very serious look in his face. I don't understand how that is bad. Fingers crossed, I hope it isn't.

Nilanghap ko naman 'yung lamig ng aircon mula sa gymnasium ng makapasok kami sa court. I came prepared this time, I'm wearing two thick jackets right now but still, I feel like freezing from my nervousness. Alam ko hindi naman ako 'yung maglalaro, pero kinakabahan ako sa magiging resulta ng laro na 'to. Manalo, matalo, proud pa rin ako sa mga 'to.

Nagsimula naman silang mag-warm up habang tumutulong naman ako sa pagkuha ng bola na naliligaw tuwing pumapalo sila. Napatigil ako nang saglit nang si Keiji na ang papalo sa warm-up.

Pinalo nang mahina ni Fujii 'yung bola at maayos naman itong na-receive ni Kei kaya madali niyang naitaas kay Kei 'yung bola. Keiji took 3 enormous steps before taking off for a high jump as he folded his right arm backward to exert full power. Before the ball reaches the height of his face, he slams the ball straight down to the floor brilliantly.

Kasabay ng malakas na tunog ng bola ang pagkabighani ng mga tao. Dahil doon, lumipad 'yung bola hanggang sa bleachers at napatakbo naman ako doon para kunin 'yung bolang 'yon. Napasulyap naman ako kay Keiji na wala pa ring ekspresyon 'yung mukha.

Usually, he would smile after spiking the ball, but now, it seems like he doesn't care about it at all. Now I get what Hiro and Coach Ayu are trying to say.

With that, I can't tell as well whether it's a good thing or not.

***