Cliche (Love Series # 1)

t w e n t y - f i v e

Sport

(noun)

\ˈspȯrt\

: a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other
: sports in general
: a physical activity (such as hunting, fishing, running, swimming, etc.) that is done for enjoyment

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Third days of senior week and I was already pumped up for the morning. I knew the moment I arrived at home, I couldn't wait to sleep the sweat from the previous heat, clothes covered in dust and dirt and throat a bit sore from all the cheering. The hustle and bustle from yesterday's activities had made me weary and made me collapsed in sleep in just a second.

Then I sprang up in my bed and took my phone, touched the messenger icon and typed a message to none other than Willmark.

Good luck tomorrow, we'll cheer for you!

Then I pressed send and in just a second, he immediately replied, just by reading his message makes me feel like he's a really experienced guy when it comes to saying flowery words to girls.

No need, you can just cheer for me

I sent a goodnight sticker to him with a message that says I'll be sleeping early today. He replied with another goodnight sticker and added a dream of me message. I almost squeal in kilig.

He's really unfair.

With a sickening sweet smile plastered on my face, I slept sweetly without any worries for the future.

I woke up with the blaring sound of alarm from my phone, I pressed it off and heaved a heavy sigh before finally waking up.

It's the third day of Senior's week and it means that we'll get to watch basketball and volleyball. I know it'll reinvigorate the rest of the seniors and would surely cause another rivalry in this case.

Soon, I reached the school grounds and met my friends, Bool was already dressed in his sports wear as well as the other players. My eyes immediately wander around the wife area to find- oh, just great.

My mouth immediately pursed in annoyance, of course, he would always be surrounded with his teammates and the never ending line of girls. I should've been used to this after all it always happens, like always but you know? You really couldn't help but be annoyed at those frogs hopping over his side, trying to get him to notice them, heh!

"Oh, be careful of the bad air catching up on you looking like a pouting duck else it'll be like that forever" I heard a familiar voice behind me and there stood Hao with his ever knowing look.

"Cheh" I harrumphed and walked over another place. He's used to my resting bithc face and the constant frown on my annoyed face like everyone else and sat beside me.

"So? What happened?"

"The usual" I blandly said, no more glaring at the queue of girls behind him.

I should get used to this, I know I should, but as always my heart is just too traitorous. Besides, I shouldn't get angry since he didn't even do anything wrong, he's just socializing with his peers, yep, let's go with that excuse.

"Players of tug of war, please proceed to the stage"

My goodness, I forgot about it, before the game starts it'll be the tug of war first. Soon, I find myself looking at the thick rope in my hand, my friends were hyping me up on the side and I couldn't even help glared at them and wanted to scold them but when I tuened my eyes on their direction, there's Willmark.

Standing over there with his tall frame, he smiled at me before cheering along with our classmates. I could feel my heart beating so loud I could imagine the smile on my face.

"Everyone, we'll start on the count of three.... two... one and go!"

Instantly, my hands burned from the rope, the motion of being pulled into the other direction was too strong I couldn't help but place my heel into the floor. I tugged the rope so hard it felt like I broke a piece of skin on my hand but it didn't matter, all I could think of is to win.

I couldn't hear the loud cheers from my friends nor the sound of excitement from the crowd, all I notice is the burning sensation in all of my body and the sweat from my forehead.

"You all did great, it's fine if we didn't win" our class president said before congratulating us once more.

My friends cheered me up saying that it's fine, I would be a liar if I said that it doesn't matter, it did since it's the first time he cheered for me.

I smiled and walked over the bleachers with my red palms, I take a sheet of wipes from my bag and cleaned my palm before chugging my drink.

"Ah" I suddenly shrieked from the cold thing that was suddenly placed on my face. I looked up and saw a smile filled with mischief from Willmark.

"You did a good job back there, here" he offered me a cold bottled of water, of course I took it since it's from him.

"Good luck today, hope you'll win" I smiled towards him while he tilted his head and flashed me his most charming smile.

"Cheer for me?"

This- argh! So not fair! I just nodded in confirmation, I wouldn't dare to speak or else I'll just embarrass myself.

The tug of war continued along with the sack race. I cheered hard for Hanie alokg with the rest of our classmates. Then it was finished, we went to lunch but Willmark unfortunately has to practice for today's game so it's just us.

The bell rang indicating that our lunch has finished, I packed my thing neatly on my bag and walked back to the gym. It was already filled with half of the students, they were watching the players as they practice on each side of the court. From time to time there would be some girls cheering up and shouting out names from above.

"Aguinaldo players and Bonifacio players, proceed to the court, I repeat, Aguinaldo players and Bonifacio players, proceed to the court" the announcer said making the whole gymnasium ecstatic.

It's already four in the afternoon, there's only am hour left before we leave. Even if the game continued even though it's time to leave the school grounds, I would still watch until it ends.

The rest of the class sat on the steel bleachers and watched the awaited game. I chose a relatively close spot, one where I can see the whole court and one where I know I wouldn't get hurt by the ball. Of course the game isn't only limited to guys but also to girls, though when it's the girls moment to play the crowd would lessen.

Me and my friends would always make fun with the players and would always laugh at them. But for some reason, everyone was just focused on the upcoming game, even I couldn't help but anticipate the game.

Then it started.

Notes:

• In the context of Philippine culture, the Tagalog word kilig refers to the feeling of excitement due to various love circumstances such as making first eye contact with one's crush or watching another person propose to someone.
• Bad air catching up on you, it's like a Filipino superstition, for example: You were mimicking the sound of a duck and when the bad air whiffs on you, you'll be stuck forever with a duck sound.
• Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino revolutionary leader and the president of the Tagalog Republic. He is often called "The Father of the Philippine Revolution"
• Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino revolutionary, politician, and military leader who is officially recognized as the first and the youngest President of the Philippines and the first president of a constitutional republic in Asia.

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Hello everyone! How are you today?! It's raining! Ah!! Finally, it's my season- the cold and wet season! Yey!

Hope you have a good day today cause I certainly am, minus the feeling of cramps, yikes. Anyways, stay safe and healthy as always okay?!

Please do VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE.

Thank you!