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

9

"Hindi ka muna maglalaro ngayon para makasiguro tayo, Trishtan."

Ang boses ni coach ang bumungad sa akin. Gustuhin ko mang magreklamo ay hindi ko magawa. Mas makakabuti na rin siguro ang nag-iingat. Tumango ako.

Nagpunta na kami sa doktor ni Meg kahapon at sinabing hindi naman serious ang nangyari sa paa ko. Natapilok lang talaga ako kaya sa una lamang masakit.

They told me that I can play but they still recommend to take a rest and that's what I will do. One more thing, Meg won't let me play for sure.

The fact is she's here again to see me if I am going to play. Bantay-sarado ako.

"It's okay, coach. Sa susunod na lamang ako. Malaki ang tiwala ko sa teammates ko. Kayang-kaya nilang manalo kahit wala ang team captain nila."

Ngumiti ako, iyong hindi peke. I don't want to push myself, too. Baka mas lalong hindi ako makalaro kapag nagkataon.

Tinanguan niya ako kaya naupo na ako sa bench. Meg is sitting next to me.

The opening earlier happened here inside our university. Now, we are inside the gymnasium to play- only they will play. I will just watch them win the game. That's the spirit. We will not lose a single game.

The gymnasium was loud, each school's students are cheering for their squad as well as our students.

"Go, Aragon! Go, Aragon. Go, Aragon!"

Their cheer was the loudest. The name of our school is what they are cheering. Yes, we are from Aragon University and I am proudly wearing my red jersey with its name and my lucky number, 8.

"Let's have a bet?"

I looked at Meg, she's wearing her usual smile. Her dark blue sando compliments her morena skin. Bumagay din sa suot niya ang naka-bun niyang itim na itim at tuwid na buhok.

I smiled. "Sure! What kind of bet?"

She smirked. "If your team won, we will have our date later."

I grimaced. I like her bet. "And what if our team lose our first game?"

"Well, you have to cook for me for the whole week," she winked.

My mouth opened in shock. I don't want that. Ayoko sa lahat ay ang pagluluto pero willing naman akong matuto. Napanguso na lamang ako.

"But-"

"No buts, Trish. Besides, don't you trust your team?"

Lumiwanag ang mukha ko. I smirked. Mabilis akong pumayag sa gusto niya.

"Alright! Deal, I'm sure my team will win this game. Trust me, ipapaputol ko ang dila ko kapag hindi."

Napangiwi ako nang tawanan niya lamang ako. "As if kaya mong ipaputol. Hindi mo nga nakayanang magpatuli e."

And she bursted in laughter. Nanlaki ang mata ko. I can feel how my face redden. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makitang busy silang lahat sa pagchi-cheer at hindi narinig ang sinabi niya.

Geez. I couldn't take the possibility that they hear what she said.

"What the hell, Meg?" I snorted. "I am circumcised, okay? Para namang hindi mo pa nakita."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Nakakahiya ang sinabi niya. Argh! Tatawa-tawa naman siya sa gilid. Mas lalo akong nainis. Hindi ako makatingin sa kaniya.

Pinanood ko na lamang ang laro para makalimutan ang sinabi niya. Nagsimula na sila kani-kanina pa dahil 10-4 na ang score in favor of our team. Mukhang kayang-kaya naman nila. I'm proud of them.

Nagpatuloy ang laro hanggang sa umabot ng 16-6 ang score. Technical time out for us. Yes, there's this technical time out in volleyball.

Maitatawag ang technical time out sa kupunan ng mauunang maka-score ng 8 at 16 sa laro. Kapag naman 5th set, wala nang technical time out dahil hanggang 15 lang ang score depende na lang kung extended ang set. Kapag ganoon naman ay kapag umabot sa 8 ang score ng isa, magpapalit ng court.

That would serve as their time out because players will have their rest at least one minute or two.

The game continued. Our team is now up to two sets. Third set na ngayon at lamang kami ng pito. This is a sure win if they will not be complacement.

Josh is the one to serve; he just got score with a one-two play. It happens when the service or the first ball was up smoothly by the receiver and the setter won't set it to the spiker and will make a spike or soft touch to give the ball back to the opponent.

Pinanood ko si Josh mag-serve. Nang itaas niya ang bola ay inihanda niya ang kaniyang kamay. He don't do jump serve, I was the only one in my team who does it. They are all doing the floater serve.

The ball fast approached the opponent's court. It's not that fast but they were not able to receive it. Nagkatinginan lang kasi ang libero at ang kanilang open spiker sa likod. Ang ending, walang nakakuha sa bola. Hindi sila nag-uusap.

Nice. Service ace.

Napapalakpak ako pero natigil ako dahil sa sigaw ng katabi ko. "Go, Josh!"

Masama ko siyang tiningnan. She looked at me. "What?"

"You were cheering for him like you are his girlfriend, huh?"

Her temple knotted as her eyebrow raised. "Can't I cheer for your team?"

"You can but for my team only, okay? You don't have to cheer them individually." I tsked.

I turned my gaze to the game. Two points left and we will have the game one.

"Are you jealous?" I heard her asked. I looked at her again. Ipinilig ko ang aking ulo at sinipat siya.

"I am, Meg, because you're only mine, okay? You don't have to cheer for him. Wait for me to play and cheer for me every time I earn a point."

She went serious. Pinagkatitigan niya rin ako. Nakipaglaban ako sa kaniya ng titigan pero siya rin ang nag-iwas.

"I am yours, Trish. I am only yours and I hope you're only mine, too."

She then stood up. "Your team won, let's date already. I am hungry."

I sighed. We got our first win and I have to date her. . . and I really want her idea. Have some time with her. I missed her so much.