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

2

Early in the morning, we are in the gymnasium preparing for the training when coach Renz approached me, stopping me to join the warm-up.

"Maiwan ka muna rito, hayaan mo muna silang mag-warm-up at saka ka na lang sumunod."

"Bakit po, coach?" I asked, head bent, and fixing the shoelace of my black Nike shoe.

"I asked again the team that you played with the last time and they agreed to play with you again. Ready ba kayo?"

Saktong natapos ako sa pagsisintas. I looked up at him. I nodded. "We're always ready, coach. We will make sure that we won't lose to them this time."

"Oh, sige. Aasahan ko 'yan." He smiled and then tapped my back. Tumango ako at saka nagtungo sa nakabilog kong teammates. Nasa kalagitnaan pa lang sila ng pagwa-warm-up. Nakisali na ako.

Mabilis na lumipas ang oras at hindi mawala sa isip ko ang magaganap mamayang gabi. Gusto kong makabawi. It's not that I want revenge, I just want to prove them that we are not a loser just like what they titled us.

I believe that losers are those who surrender without trying and we are not one of them.

"Okay, team, this is the game plan. As usual, the starters will start playing the game. Just be ready if I call for substitution, okay?"

Everyone nodded. It's 6 in the evening and we are preparing for the match we will have minutes later. Tapos na rin kami mag-warm-up, ang makakalaban namin ang kasalukuyang gumagawa noon ngayon.

"Basta 'wag kayong panghinaan ng loob. Hindi porke't natalo nila tayo noong una ay kayang-kaya na nila tayo. Tandaan n'yo, depensa ang nagkulang sa atin noon at nagawan na natin iyon ng paraan. We need to do our best. Okay ba 'yon?" I seconded what coach Renz just said.

"Yes, captain!" they answered.

And we gathered our hands in the middle. Ipinagpatong-patong namin ang mga kamay namin at saka sabay-sabay na itinaas iyon kasabay ng paglabas ng malalalim na buntong-hininga.

I heaved a deep sigh once again. Tumalon-talon pa ako para handa ako para sa laro.

Mayamaya pa ay natapos na silang mag-warm-up. Kasama nila ang kanilang acting coach sa kabila at nakita ko kung paano silang mag-usap-usap.

I am just wondering. I know it's not odd for a girl to be a coach. She's wearing a red crop top and a maong short. Hindi naman iyon sobrang ikli pero ewan ko, hindi ako kumportable. I'm not gay, I am just concern.

Hindi ko namalayan na nagsisimula na pala ang laro. Tila kusang gumalaw ang katawan ko pero ang utak ko ay hindi mapakali.

I took a deep sigh. I need to focus on the game or else we will lose. I am the captain for God's sake so I must not put my team in shame.

I positioned myself. Bended legs, I prepared for the defense.

The opponent is up by three points. The score is about to enter the line of 2. Six points away, the opponent will get the first set.

The opponent set his serve; the ball went on my direction but our libero went for it, he knew I wasn't in myself as of now. I am in frontline this time so I stepped back as I did my approach.

I saw how our middle attacker going for a running attack so I went in the middle making a combination play. The opponent took the bait as they anticipated that the ball will be given to our middle attacker but it's not. The setter set the ball for me. . . perfectly enough and allowing me to gain my confidence back. I gave my all in that spike and I shouted in happiness when it hit the attack line.

That's the start of my game but it's too late for me for the first set. It's late for our comeback making us lose the set with a score of 25 to 23.

But that spike fueled me making me play with full of confidence. In the next sets, I received properly, giving the ball to the setter's position. I hit the ball nicely when I serve and what's best is that almost everytime Josh gave me a set, I provided a point for the team.

That's the story of the whole game. We lost at first and we came back with full of power and intensity. Regardless of a good attitude we showed while playing.

The score summary says that we won. 25-23, 20-25, 18-25, 24-26.

It was a tough match but we fight until the last hit not letting the opponent forces a five-setter match.

Nag-shake hands kami pagkatapos ng laro. Sa wakas ay mawawala na sa isipan nilang talunan lamang kami.

After the game, I've had my realizations. With my ideal 6 foot 3 height, and a well-shaped body, I am destined to be a volleyball player.

I went to the bathroom. I looked at the wide mirror. I saw myself wearing a white jersey and has a white towel under my shoulder.

I looked at my face. It looks tired— no, I am tired. My brown orbs looked swollen because of the eyebags I gathered because of training.

Gamit ang dalawang kamay ay hinawi ko ang kulay itim at medyo malago kong buhok. Isang buwan na rin ang nakalipas magmula noong huling nagpagupit ako.

Sa Linggo na lang siguro.

I smiled— I forced a bitter smile. Hindi ko na naaalala ang sarili ko. Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko dahil sa isiping iyon at saka nagpatuloy na lamang sa ginagawa.

"You looked tired."

I'm in the middle of washing my face when I heard a voice. It's from a girl if I have heard it right. I immediately turned to my back.

That's when I saw the girl coach earlier. Napamaang ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano siyang nakapasok nang hindi ko man lang narinig. Siguro ay masiyado lang akong focus sa ginagawa ko.

I didn't respond. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang dapat na isagot ko.

"Why don't you rest?"

Napatigil ako sa ginagawa ko at saka nilingon siya. Itinuon ko ang dalawang kamay sa lababo at saka siya pinangunutan ng noo.

"What do you mean, and what do you want?"

Tinawanan niya lamang ako. "Well, you looked restless."

"We have upcoming interhigh. I should practice harder."

"But that means killing your body. Why don't you rest?"

Hindi ko siya maintindihan. I know I look terrible but she doesn't have the right to teach me what to do.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that. Maybe, after the interhigh. But for now— I will do the training. Besides, my body, my rules."

Napamaang siya. Hindi niya inaasahan ang sinabi ko.

"But I am just concern about you, okay?"

"Concern?" I chirped. "I don't know you. I shouldn't believe you."

I supposed to be composed but I am dazed by what she said.

"But I am your girlfriend, have you forgotten?"