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

5

I am currently eating my lunch in the cafeteria. I am alone because I don't want to eat with anyone. Wala naman ang teammates ko na malamang ay sa labas kumain. Nakalapag sa harapan ko ang beef steak and rice na in-order ko kanina. May bottled water din sa tapat ko.

I am wearing my headset as I am watching a volleyball game on Youtube. I idolize Bryan Bagunas of National University and Marck Espejo of Ateneo. They are both good— crap that. They are one of the best volleyball players in the world.

The moment their hand hit the volleyball, the sound of impact could be heard. I am sure that if I am the one who receives their ball, I can't control it. That's why I still need to practice, one of my dreams is to play with them which is kind of impossible at the moment. Maybe, soon.

I'm in the middle of eating when someone intruded on the scene. Tinanggal ni Meg ang pagkakalagay ng headset ko sa aking tainga.

Nang tingnan ko siya ay nakasuot siya ng asul na damit at saka itim na pantalon. Nag-abala pa siyang pumunta rito sa school para lang istorbohin ako. I am wondering why she can go in and out in the university.

Nangunot ang aking noo. "What do you want?"

Her face was serious. "You are eating yet you're still watching volleyball. Can't you do it after your meal? You're too obsessed. Nakakalimutan mo nang tao ka lang din at kailangan ng pahinga."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at saka malalim na napabuntong-hininga. Heto na naman siya at pinapakialaman ang buhay ko.

Mabilis kong tinapos ang pagkain ko. Hindi ko pa nga naubos dahil nawala ako sa mood. Isinakbit ko ang aking bag sa aking balikat at tatayo na sana ako nang pigilan niya ako sa pamamagitan ng paghila sa uniform ko.

"What now? I'm done eating. Baka naman pwede na ako manood ng volleyball?" I can't stop being sarcastic. Naiinis na talaga ako dahil sa ginagawa niya. Kung hindi lang sana siya babae.

"Hindi mo ba uubusin 'tong pagkain mo?"

Muli kong nilingon ang pinagkainan ko. Kakaunti na lang naman iyong natira ko.

Umiling ako. "Hindi na, busog na ako."

"No!" pasigaw ngunit mahinang aniya. "Hindi ka aalis hangga't hindi mo inuubos 'tong pagkain mo."

Ayaw ko nang makipagtalo. Tinanggal ko ulit sa pagkakasakbit ang bag ko at saka muling naupo. Nakanguso akong kumain; bawat kanin na isusubo ay tila isang palangganang kanin dahil hindi ko manguya nang maayos.

"You shouldn't skip your meal, Trish." Nagsesermon na naman siya. Ayaw na ayaw niyang pabayaan ko ang katawan ko dahil sa volleyball dahil ang sabi niya ay sarili ko muna. Volleyball takes time ang palagi niyang dahilan.

Hindi ko raw dapat sinasakripisyo ang katawan ko. Masiyado raw akong nagpapagod.

"Pwede ka namang mag-volleyball pero please, Trish, isipin mo rin naman ang sarili mo. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na kapag natalo kayo ay hindi na kayo magaling. It's just that you can go back to volleyball everyday. Pero hindi iyong papagurin mo ang sarili mo sa training."

"But I need to train for my team."

"But you're overdoing your training and overdoing it could lead to something you don't want to happen. Gusto mo bang mangyari 'yon?"

Hindi na ako nakaimik. Alam ko ang sagot pero hindi ako makapagsalita. Ayoko rin naman kasing isipin na mangyayari iyong sinabi niya.

"I am asking you, Trish, do you want that to happen?"

Still, I did not answer. Napapikit ako. Napamulat lamang ako nang marinig ko ang malalim niyang pagbuntong-hininga. "Fine. You won't answer, huh? Kakausapin ko na lang ang coach mo na tanggalin ka sa team n'yo kahit pa ikaw ang team captain."

Mabilis pa sa alas kuwatro ang naging paglingon ko sa kaniya. Hindi niya dapat gawin iyon. I don't want it! Never in my whole life that I prayed for it.

"N-No, you can't do that." I'm stuttering and I don't want it because that only means I am scared.

"Of course, I can, Trish. I have all the connection."

She can do it. Once she says something, she will do it. I don't have a choice.

"Fine, I don't want it to happen."

"So, it's a deal, then?" She then smiled from ear to ear.

My temple knotted. "What's with the deal?"

"You won't overdo the practice. When the training is done, you will stop. When you continue, goodbye, volleyball."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Are you even serious? Importante sa akin ang volleyball, Meg! I can't lose it just because you want me to do that!"

"Pero importante ka rin sa akin, Trish, and I can't afford to lose you because of volleyball. I guess I am just being fair here." 

Natameme ako. Hindi ako nakaimik. "Really, why are you doing this to me, Meg?"

For the nth time, I saw pain in her eyes.

"Because I love you and I am your girlfriend." She almost lost her voice.

Hindi na ako nakasagot pa. Dapat pala ay hindi na lang ako nagtanong dahil gano'n lang din ang isasagot niya. "Sige na, Trish. May gagawin pa ako. I just checked if you are okay. I will be there tonight on your training. I love you."

And she kissed my forehead, again, not minding that we are in a public place. Narinig ko ang paglakad niya papalayo. I looked at everyone. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makitang may sari-sarili silang ginagawa.

Naiiling na tumayo ako sa pagkakaupo. Isinakbit ko ang bag ko at saka pinunasan ang pawis sa noo ko gamit ang kulay puti kong bimpo. Isinaksak ko rin ang headset ko at saka nag-play ng music. Saka ako lumabas ng cafeteria at dumiretso sa room namin.

Sumalubong sa akin ang aking professor sa literary arts. Si Mr. Ceballo. Nakaduot siya ng kulay puting long sleeve na nakatupi ng three-fourth. Naka-slacks naman siya sa pang-ibaba. "Mr. Turner, I just want to remind you about the project. You haven't passed it yet and the deadline's over."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Shit, I forgot about it. "I'm so sorry, Sir. I forgot about it. I promise to pass it as soon as I finished doing it."

He nodded. "Okay, I will give you three more days considering that you are an athlete. But I just want to tell you that you still have to study unless you want to be kicked by your team. Remember that you need to maintain your grades to be able to play."

Nakailang tango ako bago pa siya pumasok. Argh! May mga kailangan nga pala akong ipasa. Siguro nga ay kailangan ko nang gawin ang gusto ni Meg.

But I really want to do training.