Whispers of the War

Kabanata 2

KABANATA 2.

Platonic.

BEING INJURED IS both a blessing and a curse. I can still remember how hard I cried when the doctor confirmed that I have ACL.

Ni-hindi pumasok sa isip ko na minsan ko ring mararanasan na magkaroon niyon. I am just on my first year in UAAP and it already happened. Ilang linggo akong hindi makausap noon.

If my friends didn't knock some senses on me, malamang ay tunganga parin ako hanggang ngayon.

The injury happened six months ago. My treatment is doing well. Kaya ko nang mag-jogging pero in-advice saakin ng doktor na hindi pa puwede saakin ang heavy moving. Kaya kahit practice game ay hindi ko magawa.

It was almost depressing. Volleyball is part of my system. It was like, if I didn't play for a year, I'd lose my mind. But that is what will going to happen though. Isang taon akong hindi puwedeng maglaro.

For the first month, I was denial. Pero ngayon ay tanggap ko na. It was sad but it can't be undone. Even my team mated are telling me that it's okay but I know my presence in the team is a big help.

Walang ibang experienced libero maliban saakin. I'm sure they'll provide a substitute but I know I am more experienced.

My team mates told me to don't worry about it and just focus on my recovery, ganoon din ang sabi ng mga kaibigan ko. And I did. I… tried to understand the situation and maybe, I already accepted it too.

“Sa'n ka?” bungad saakin nang sagutin ko ang tawag.

“Condo lang, bakit?”

“Punta ako. May ipapareview akong paper,” he said. I rolled my eyes kahit na hindi naman niya makikita.

“Tanga ka ba? Apollo, third year ka na. Ahead ka sa'kin!” I exclaimed. The brute just laughed on the other line.

“Dali na, kailangan ko ng second opinion. Parang wala akong tiwala sa prof ko,” natatawa niya pang sabi.

“Approved naman pala ng prof mo, ba't ka pa magtatanong sa'kin?”

“Mas matalino ka sa'kin!” he exclaimed, half joking. I chuckled.

“Buti alam mo,” he just chuckled on what I said.

“Punta na ‘ko, ah. Magdadala ako ng pagkain,”

Apollo arrived in my unit twenty minutes later. He's wearing a casual Nike shirt and shorts, emphasizing his biceps and legs.

Pagpasok niya palang ay ginulo na niya agad ang buhok ko bilang pagbati. I groaned, this is his usual greeting to me and I don't like it. Lalo na kung ayos na ayos na ang buhok ko at bigla niyang guguluhin.

“Bakit mo pa kasi kailangang ipa-review sa'kin kung approved naman na pala ng prof mo?” I asked.

He didn't answered immediately. Tinignan niya muna ako at saka kinuha ang paper bag na dala niya at ibinigay saakin. I eyed him suspiciously.

“Umuwi si Ate galing Visayas kahapon, she asked me to give that to you. Dried mangoes daw,”

Agad kong kinuha ang paper bag mula sakaniya. Nangiti ako nang makita ko ang dalawang garapib ng dried mangoes. OMG! Ate Athena didn't forgot!

“’Yan tayo, eh. Dried mangoes over me. Sige, salamat nalang sa lahat!” Apollo exclaimed, exaggerated. I laughed out loud at his poor acting skills.

Hindi nalang ako nag-side comment dahil mag-iinarte lang siya lalo. Kinuha ko ang laptop sa bag niya at in-on iyon. I felt him on my side kaya nilingon ko siya.