Through The Rain

Chapter Nineteen

Tapos nang mag-farewell speech yung seniors sa men's basketball team, so nasa amin na ngayon ang spotlight I think.

"Now, we may call on the first runner up for the Women's Volleyball Competition, The South Valley High Women's Volleyball Team, headed by their team captain, Issa Ocampo." Anunsyo ng announcer kaya naman nagsimula ng tumayo ang mga tiga-SVH kasama na doon ang kanilang kapitan na si Issa.

Halos lahat nakatingin sa kanila, or most likely sakanya, habang naglalakad sila patungo sa entablado. Lahat nakatingin sakanya, maging ang lalakeng nasa harap ko.

There's something glowing in his eyes while it was looking at the girl on the center of the stage. There's love on it, and sadness.

Bakit Blake? Bakit? I thought that there's something special going on between the two of us. Bakit feeling ko siya parin ang mahal mo kahit nandito na ako at malinaw na iyon sa'yo. You gave me hope, so please let me have you. I want to have you and call you mine.

Hindi ko na dapat ito iniisip dahil halos patapos na silang mag-awarding sa stage at alam kong kami na ang susunod. I should be happy by now, atleast. Pero di ko maiwasang isipin ang mga bagay na ganito. Bahala na.

Natapos na ang awarding para sa South Valley High Women's Volleyball Team kaya naman bumaba na sila sa stage at naglalakad na sa harap namin upang makabalik sa kanilang pwesto.

Blake's eyes is still pierced on Issa. Nakita ko yung lungkot sa mga mata niya. Yung lungkot na kailanman hindi ko pa nakita. It's begging and longing for some love.

Hon, why do you keep on looking at the opposite direction, if I could give you what you're hoping for.

Di ko namalayang may tumulo nang luha sa mata ko kaya naman agad ko itong pinunasan habang wala pang nakakakita. Mahirap na.

"Now, may we call on the Champions for this year's Women's Volleyball Competition." Masiglang pambungad ulit ng emcee, "Despite of the hectic and heavy training they had, they still managed to make it to the top. Never Give Up. It has always been their mantra for the past years and they proved it again this year." Dugtong niya pa, "Standing strong and brave, ladies and gentleman, the Athens Lady Titans Women's Volleyball Team." Pasigaw na anunsyo ng mga emcee kaya naman halos dumagundong ang crowd sa buong arena at nalipat ang mga paningin ng lahat sa amin.

Na-pressure ako bigla at nalungkot. Knowing na this would be my last speech as a part of the Lady Titans. It was a roller coaster journey for the team and I'm so proud to the members because we did it all, together with each other.

Hindi padin tumitigil and hiyawan at palakpakan ng crowd kaya naman nagsalita muli ang emcee.

"Calm down, students." Natatawang usal niya, "Athens Lady Titans is leaded by their team captain Kaye Aphrodite Gomez." Napatigil ako at napangiti ng marinig ang pangalan ko, napatigil man pero tumayo parin ako para makapunta na sa stage.

Tinanggap ko yung medal ko pati narin yung trophy para sa team at nagsimula nang makipag-kamayan sa mga nanduon sa stage.

"Congrats, sweetie." Bati sakin nung mom ni Blake pagkatapos ay niyakap ako. Ngumiti nalang din ako sa kanya at nagpasalamat.

Lahat ng mga tao na nasa stage ay kinamayan ako at kinong-gratulate.

Awkward man para sa kanila at para sa akin kaya pagdating sa pamilya ko, tinanguan ko lamang sila at ganun din ang ginawa nila sa akin, maliban kay kuya ofcourse.

"Congrats, panget." Mapangtuksong bati niya kaya naman sinamaan ko siya ng tingin bago niyakap. Gahd, I love this man so much.

"Now to give their final speech, ladies and gents, the Athens Lady Titan's seniors," Anunsyo ulit nung emcee kaya naman naghiyawan ang mga tao, "Let's start with their setter, wearing jersey number 26, Cleirijah Johannes. Around of applause please!" Pag-continue pa nung emcee kaya naman naghiyawan ulit yung crowd nung magpunta na si Clei dun sa may microphone.

Mahaba-haba yung binigay ni Clei na speech kasi sobrang grateful talaga niya na naging parte siya ng team na 'to.

She told me na this is one of her dreams, to be able to play for the school. To bring the school's name and pride with her.

I'm proud of her and for what she has become.

Well-deserved, Clei. Well-deserved.

"Thank you again Athens for that one great ride. Lagi't-lagi para sa'yo. This has been, Cleirijah Johannes, jersery number 26, your baddie setter, signing off. Salamat." And just like that, her volleyball career already came to an end.

Nag-bow muna siya sa gitna at kumaway kaway pa sa mga estudyanteng nagsisigawan sa crowd bago pumunta dito sa tabi ko.

"You're next, gaga. Goodluck." She whispered to me and gave me a wink. Langya talaga 'to. Mas na-pressure tuloy ako.

"Next ofcourse, the team captain and our MVP, ladies and gents, wearing jersey number 19, Kaye Aphrodite Gomez. Around of applause please, everyone." Sigaw nung emcee sa mic' sabay naman ng pagdagundong ng crowd.

Ang ingay grabe. Puro papuri naririnig ko. Ang gaan sa pakiramdam. Sarap sa feeling.

Naglakad na ako papunta dun sa microphone para simulan ang aking farewell speech, saka tumingin muna sa crowd bago mag simula.

"Four years went by too fast. In that four years of playing for this school, I've learned a lot. Literally a lot. This sport taught me things that would prolly help me in the future, it has taught me to be strong, to have time-management, patience, and ofcourse discipline. These are only the few of those many things that this sport has taught me." I started habang pinipigilang maluha.

"From waking up early for training to staying up late for training, also. I will surely miss these kind of stress. Four years ago, I remember asking myself 'Is this really for me?', and four years later, I proved to myself that this was really meant for me. My love for this sport is really something else. This has been my safe place and my sanctuary." Patuloy ko pa.

Madami pa akong sinabi sa kanila kaya naman lagi kong pinipigilan ang sarili ko na maluha.

Can't believe na this will be my last speech.

"It has been a tough ride, a roller-coaster one actually. But, ofcourse, everything must come to an end, so here I am now giving this speech because my volleybell career in this school is about to end. I will never forget this school, this place, this sport and to what it has taught me. It molded me to be a better version of myself, that's why I will always be thankful for that." Grabe na ang pagpipigil ko sa luha ko kaya naman napahinto muna ako ak bumuntong-hininga, "My journey will end here, but the memories I had with it, will surely remain forever."

"With a bittersweet heart, wearing jersery number Nineteen, this has been your team captain, best Outside Hitter, your MVP, Kaye Aphrodite Gomez. Signing off." I smiled. "Paalam at Salamat! Hanggang sa muli!" Then I ended my farewell speech.

Grabeng pagpipigil yung ginawa ko. I almost had my break down there buti nalang napigilan ko.

Grabe, it has been a great ride. It may be a tough one but it was surely the best.

Just like what I have said, My journey will end here, but the memories I had with it, will surely remain forever.

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Hi, it's your pabibong author once again!

W: Long AN ahead.

Hi guys!

Sorry sa mga typos and wrong grammars.

So sorry kung ngayon lang ulit nakapag-update tapos feel ko lame pa. Ugh kairita! Chos.

Maraming kaganapan ang nangyari sa buhay ko at nawalan ako ng focus na magsulat sa istoryang ito. Nawalan ako ng gana sa lahat dahil sa mga nangyari.

I lost my papa last month, and I was so stressed kaya di ko magawang i-update ito.

Hope you all understand.

Sa mga readers ko, salamat sa patuloy na pagbabasa at sana subaybayan niyo ito hanggang sa dulo.

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Yun lang!

Salamat ulit sainyo!

Love,
msteyaa.