Whisper of Summer | ✓

Chapter 7: Without a Setter

Chapter 7: Without a Setter

I blinked and blinked again, still processing of what she said. Did she just said volleyball? Nanggagago ba siya?

"Vina! Nandito ka lang pala. Kanina pa kita hinahanap!" Isang pamilyar na boses ang narinig ko ang papalapit sa aming direksyon.

Napatingin ako sa taong 'yon at bahagyang nanlaki ang aking mata nang makilala ko ito. Tiana? She's our libero when we're still playing volleyball in high school.

What the hell?! Is this really a coincidence? Bakit nandito si Tiana na dati kong teammate at si Vina na dati naming kalaban sa nationals?

It's been two years since we last saw each other. High school kami noon nung huli naming pagkikita, yun din ang year kung saan nanalo kami sa nationals.

It's also been two years since that accident happened. After ate Rosetta's sudden death, I deactivated all of my social medias account and cut all of my connections towards people.

Damn it. Remembering ate Rosetta's death makes me feel weak.

I still can't move on. The memories she left me is so painful. Sa tuwing naaalala ko ang pagkamatay ni ate Rosetta two years ago ay para akong nalulunod sa kalungkutan. Para bang naliligaw ako sa kadiliman habang inaalala ko siya.

That's why I decided to quit playing volleyball. Because whenever I tried to play it, my memories with her is haunting me. Without her, I can't play this sport. We both love volleyball, after all.

But now... she's gone. She left me without saying goodbye. It feels like it happened in a blink of an eye.

How can I play volleyball without her? How can I spike the ball without her toss? And lastly, how can a spiker win points without a setter?

Without her, I can't win in volleyball.

That's why after I graduate in high school, I stopped playing volleyball. My teammates tried to talk to me after I told them about it.

They convince me that I should continue playing volleyball for my sister's sake but I didn't listen to them. Hindi nila alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko.

Puro lang sila mga salita at hindi manlang iniintindi kung ano ang nararamdaman ko sa mga panahong iyon.

Hindi nila alam kung gaano ako ka miserable matapos ang aksidenteng iyon at malamang wala na si ate Rosetta. Kaya napagdesisyonan ko na mag enrolled sa malayong school kung saan hindi ko makikita ang mga dati kong teammates sa volleyball.

Kaya hindi ko din alam kung saang school sila pumunta pag college namin since I deactivate my social media accounts. Wala na akong balita sa kanila after naming maghiwalay ng school.

I wonder if they're still playing volleyball.

"Aishie?! Is that you?"

I snapped back into reality when I heard someone called my name.

"It's really you, Aishie." Napatingin ako kay Tiana nang magsalita ito. Bakas ang gulat sa kaniyang mukha at hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa akin

"Tiana..." mahinang sambit ko sa kaniyang pangalan. Tumitig ako sa kaniya at napagtanto kong maraming nagbago sa kaniya ngayon. Mas lalo siyang pumuti kaysa dati. Medyo pumayat din siya ng konti. She also grown taller.

"How are you? It's been a while."

Her usual self never change. Kasama na dun ang kalmadong mukha niya at ang natural na malambing niyang boses.