SPIKING THE PAIN (Varsity Series #1) (PUBLISHED)

1

Fall seven times, stand up eight. If I fall, I will rise, If I rise, I will do anything not to fall again because it hurts and when it hurts, there's pain and it makes me live. Pain makes me feel I still have a lot of things to improve especially in playing volleyball.

"Itaas n'yo lang ang bola, ako na ang bahalang gumawa ng paraan," Josh, the main setter, instructed us.

We, the school's volleyball team are in the middle of training. Malapit na rin kasi ang interhigh at kailangan naming manalo; pangalan ng eskwelahan namin ang dinadala namin.

We are divided into two teams. Two open spikers, two middle blockers, one opposite, one libero, and one setter each team. That's to build our connection. I, myself is an optimist open spiker.

"Copy," we, at the back answered in unison.

Bryle, the setter of our opponent started to serve. I lowered my legs and stay focused on the server. Nasa harapan ko ang dalawa kong kamay at naghahanda para sa pag-receive ng bola.

Nang itaas ni Bryle ang bola ay mas naging alisto ako. Nang paluin niya ito ay nagtungo ang bola kaliwa ko kaya mabilis akong nagtungo sa kaliwa. I positioned myself. Pinagsalikop ko ang aking mga kamay at saka tinapatan ang bola.

The impact was there but I managed to receive it properly. Tumaas ito at dumiretso sa gitna malapit sa net at kung nasaan ang aming setter.

Mabilis akong humakbang patalikod upang bumwelo para sa approach. Nang makita ko ang senyas ni Josh ay mabilis akong nag-approach. Inihakbang ko ang aking kaliwang paa nang katamtaman tapos ang kanan naman sa paraang malaki at ang kaliwa ulit sa hakbang na mas maliit sa dalawang naunang hakbang. Saka ako tumalon. What I did was the full swing and I call the approach as medium-long-short.

The set was perfect; I am above the volleyball that's why when I hit it, it went down the line, making the net and floor defense of the opponent scrambled. They did not expect our play because I am from the back row that's why only the middle blocker went up to initiate a block.

We celebrated our first point by gathering in the middle of the court hyping each other to perform more plays.

After two hours of training, we- no, they took their rest while me, still facing the wall, doing a dig and pass of a volleyball. Though they say that I already have a good floor defense, I still believe that I need practice. Practices makes perfect.

Araw-araw ay ganoon ako. Pagkatapos ng training ay mauuna silang magpahinga para makaligo samantalang ako ay nagpapaiwan sa court para mag-ensayo pa.

That's what a team captain must do; that's what I think.

"Mauuna na kami, Trishtan!"

A shout from the back echoed in the covered gymnasium. I looked at them, the voice was from our libero, Axel. He's a 5 foot 1 and he is skinny. It's good that regardless of the height and body he has, he still can do what libero should do.

A libero position only revolves in receiving a ball. It includes receive from the service, spike, drop ball and free ball from the opponent. Hence, he can't spike the ball because it's not his expertise.

Nakaligo sa sila lahat habang ako ay naliligo na rin sa pawis. Nakasuot lang ako ng red short and black jersey shirt. Pumapatak na sa mukha ang mga pawis na na-produce ng katawan ko.

"Sige," tango ko. "Ingat kayo, bukas na lang ulit!" Kumaway pa ako't ngumiti sa kanila.

"Masiyado mong pinapagod ang sarili mo, Trishtan! Pwede namang bukas na ulit!" Nagmula naman kay coach Renz and boses na iyon.

Napatawa na lamang ako at saka napakamot sa batok. "Hayaan n'yo na ako, coach, para din naman sa school ang ginagawa ko."

"Oh, siya, sige na at mauuna na kaming umuwi. I-lock mo na lang pinto!"

Tumango na lamang ako.

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang ginagawa at nang makaramdam ng totoong pagod ay saka lamang ako nagpahinga. Nagtungo ako sa locker's room. Naroon ang mga gamit naming mga players.

Kinuha ko ang bag ko at saka binuhay ang aking cellphone. It's eight in the evening when I looked for the time. Mag-isa na lamang ako rito.

I took a deep sigh. I went in my inbox and check my messages.

From: Mom

Pratice is done?

I replied yes. After a seconds, she replied again.

From: Mom

Okay. I will cook you your favourite bacon. Take care and have a safe trip.

I ended the text with a "thank you" and "I love you". I slid my phone again inside my black small bag pack, not bothering the other messages. Lots of it are from girls, some are from my teammates, asking if I'm home.

I rested for minutes, waiting for my tiredness escape my body, and for my breathe to go back into normal.

Pagkatapos ay saka ako nag-shower.

Everyday is a new day, that's for non-player but for me, everyday is a new repetitive day. My everyday life is very monotonous. Waking up early for early training and going home late because of the training as well.

It's very tiring, but surrending means my hard works will not be paid off, and losing is the least thing I will want. I always want to win, well, everybody wants it but for me, winning will be achieved when people worked for it. Winning the game, and gaining new knowledge is the prize.

"Magpapaiwan ka ulit, Trishtan?" Ang boses ni Elmer ang sumalubong sa aking tainga. Siya ang isa sa dalawang opposite spiker ng team namin.

"Hindi ka pa nasanay, Elmer," biro naman ni Josh. "Alam mo namang ganiyan na talaga 'yan. Halos sa volleyball na lang umiikot ang mundo niya. Kaya nga hindi na ulit 'yan magkajowa e!"

Close kaming lahat kaya nakakapagbiro sila nang ganito.

Tama rin naman siya. Sa volleyball na lang halos nakapokus ang atensyon ko. Maliban sa pag-aaral ay iyon na lang nagagawa ko. Saka na lang siguro ang ibang bagay pagkatapos ng mga kailangan kong gawin.

Nangunot ang noo ko at saka lumapit sa kanila. Inipit ko sa aking tagiliran ang bola at saka pinagkatitigan si Elmer.

"May girlfriend ako dati?" Hindi ko maiwasang magtaka.

"Hindi mo alam?" Natatawa pa rin siya, gano'n din ang iba ko pang mga kasamahan. I don't understand what they are laughing at. Wala naman yatang masama sa pagiging single. It's not my priority as of now.

"Kayo na ang nagsabi na wala na akong oras sa ganiyan kaya paano akong magkakaroon ng girlfriend?" Nailing na lamang ako.

"Niloloko mo lang yata ako pero kung mayroon man nga, hindi ko maalala."

Iniwan ko na sila at saka nagtungo sa locker's area.