Apricity (Published under PSICOM)

8th

Pumipigil

Tumambay kami sa Java Shop for the rest of the afternoon. Maagang natapos ang games kumpara sa normal na oras ng practice namin nitong mga nakaraan.

"Ate Einj, can you braid my hair again?"

"Sure, Aria.. Come here,"

Lumiwanag ang mukha niya bago lumapit para makapwesto nang maayos sa harap ko. The six-year old girl resembles the eyes of her brother so much. Yun nga lang ay livelier version ang kanya.

Padilim na nang magdesisyon kaming umuwi. Aki and I were just right on time for dinner.

Kinumusta nila Mommy ang tungkol sa pinagkakaabalahan. Their topic still managed to wing its way to business though. Nag-aya sila sa movie room pagkatapos ngunit hindi na ko sumama dahil sa pinaghalong antok at pagod.

Nakapantulog na ako nang tawagan ko si Adea. Kinumusta ko siya at kinwento na rin ang mga nangyari. We were still catching up when I remembered the turnout of the series of games earlier. Our subject eventually drifted off towards it.

"I can't explain pero parang may kulang?" my fingers are playing with the hem of the comforter. "I mean... magagaling naman sila. Actually, they were all able to highlight their strengths. Lahat naman sila nag-standout individually,"

"Hmm? That seems like a good news then.. Anong naging problema kung ganon?"

I sighed. "They perform well on their own but not as a group. Yung connection nila... hindi kasing smooth nung sa kabilang team. They lost thrice, Adea. Three times!"

"How many games did they have?"

"Five."

"Well.. at least they won twice?" panunuya niya.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Ang akin lang naman.. kung sa mock games pa lang ay talo na sila, what more sa liga? Sigurado akong naghanda rin nang maigi ang mga sasali ron.. I don't want all these to be put into waste,"

Based from my narration of the games earlier, Adea came up with a conlusion. Aniya, ang kulang sa team namin ay harmony, unity at team effort.

Nag-isip kami ng paraan para mapagtibay ang teamwork nila.

"Team building." wika nya.

"Huh?"

"That's it. That's the key. Yun din ang ginawa samin para mapalakas ang samahan on and off the volleyball court,"

"But the guys have been bonding together for so long though.. Gagana pa rin ba yun?"

"It's different. Lalo pa ngayong may bagong miyembro silang kasama. Tiyak akong nagkakapaan pa sila kung anong efficient plays and whatnots," aniya.

"It will work, Einj." dagdag niya. "Trust me. Go for an outing even just near the town. It would help boost their morale for sure,"

Tinulungan ako ni Adea na planuhin ang tungkol doon. Tingin ko naman ay magiging epektibo nga iyon kahit papano. Palagay ko kasi ay tama nga ang mga sinabi nya.

Hindi ko na namalayan pa kung anong oras kaming natapos mag-usap. I fell asleep in an instant after I dropped the call.

Iyon pa rin ang nasa isip ko kinaumagahan.