A Trip to Japan (Ongoing)

Chapter 56

Napasabunot kaming dalawa ni Coach Ayu sa sarili naming buhok nang makita namin 'yung dumudugong kamay ni Fujii. We lost the set point, the step closer to the medal. But moreover, we lost our setter, the brain of the whole team's play. If a body doesn't have a brain, it won't function and the same goes for our situation right now. The setter is always the center of the play, he always knows what the next move is going to be, it's all within his split-decision. Now that he's gone, I don't know how our team will function.

Agad namang dinala si Fujii sa medic. Mukhang malala 'yung injury niya sa kamay, kitang-kita ko ang pagpikit niya dahil sa sakit mula sa kamay niya na mahina niyang dinadaing. Bago pa siya madala sa medic, nagpumilit pa siyang huwag pumunta doon dahil ayos lang daw siya. Pero halata namang hindi ngunit sinabi niya 'yon dahil gusto niya pa ring magpatuloy. That just shows his bravery, determination, and strength.

Dahil doon, tumawag na ng huling timeout si Coach Ayu. Lumapit naman ako sa kanya at pinaypayan siya gamit ang isa sa mga flashcards para sa mga challenge dahil baka maubusan ng hininga si Coach, at magkaroon pa kami ng mas malalang problema. Halos lahat sa team namin ay gulong-gulo 'yung isip, iyong tipong parang may nasusunog sa loob ng kani-kanilang utak.

Pinaypayan ko na rin 'yung sarili ko dahil 'di ko mapigilang magpanic. Apparently, the supposedly substitute for Fujii when things like this happen haven't recovered from his own leg injury too. And all we have left for a setter is rookie from a university here in Shizuoka. He shivers badly when he's nervous, as if he's travelling in the north pole. And considering this will be the first official game he'll be playing, I frankly think he'll crack under pressure, and Coach Ayu thinks so too, since his panicking is getting worse.

"Akihiko-kun, you really have to do it. We don't have any other setters on board in this team." saad ni Coach Ayu sa batang bahagyang nanginginig habang nakatitig kay Coach. This is really unexpected, he probably didn't expect Fujii will get injured, none of us did, but even so, since he did, he really needs to man up, go out there, and save the team.

"I-I can't, Coach. I'm not s-sure if I-I am capable." his nervousness is so bad, he stuttered. From the looks of it, he looks pale, and probably, his hands are freezing cold too. Damn, he can't play in this state. Dahil doon, ako naman ang sumubok para lapitan si Akihiko.

"Akihiko-kun, we only need two points." hinawakan ko 'yung dalawang kamay niya nang sabihin ko 'yon at tama nga ako, napakalamig ng mga kamay niya. Lalo lang yata siyang kinabahan nang hawakan ko 'yung kamay niya dahil mas naramdaman ko 'yung panginginig niya.

"Akihiko-kun, we're only two points left until we get the prize, you can do it." ulit ko.

"Can't Hiro-san do it? He always played setter when we play in the university." napailing kaming dalawa ni Coach. Hiro is one of our scoring machines, we can't take him off the outside position (a spiker's position). Plus, he's already in the lineup, and adding one more outside hitter would confuse the team.

"Hey," ngayon, nakahawak na 'ko sa balikat niya para patigilin na 'yung panginginig niya at gumana nga ito.

"The team's got you. We got you. We believe in you. You're not alone there, you got it? It doesn't matter if we don't get this set, okay? There's still another two sets on the board. But it'll be better if we get this soon, alright?" tumango naman siya sa'kin. Kahit papaano, kumakalma naman siya habang kinakausap ko siya.

"You are not to blame when we lose, okay? No one is. If we are to lose, if we do, would you rather lose without trying at all, or not?" unti-unting sumeryoso 'yung mukha ni Akihiko at saka siya tumango sa'kin. All he needs is just words of courage. Plus, it's his first time playing an official game with Toray, I totally understand how he feels.