Player of the Game

She Keeps Me Warm (Mary Lambert)

Beatriz. 

 I remember watching a game- an intense one. 

 I remember hearing loud cheers (even jeers) from a crowd of dark blue and green. I remember cursing for being too excited. 

 But if there's one thing that's not quite clear: how did I get here? What made me come to such an occasion. 

 And then I hear a whistle, she was right there- as I try to remember- throwing the ball up in the air. She was about to hit and throw it to the other side. 

 Now I must remember- how did I come to love this place of hers.  

****

I woke up my face covered with my own sweat. The dream wasn't at all intense. Be calm, Bea. It was just a dream- a memory to be precise. I tried to catch my breath as I reached for the glass of water atop my bedside table. My hand was shaky as I hold it, I felt my lips tremble against the cold glass. 

Crap. 

The painting hangs cheerfully against the wall, staring back at me. Telling me swift stories I would have never shared to anyone but to them- to those two women in the painting. 

I closed my eyes and tried to recover. That's when I felt I her move from beside me. 

"Bad dream?" Mads propped herself up and soothed my back gently. 

By now, my breathing has become steady finally recovering from the dream. "Just some dream, Mads. Don't worry about me. Go back to sleep." 

"Come here." And I complied. I know she would bug me about it but I know more that I needed her embrace right then to lull me into sleep. I curled up against her slender form and found my resting place for the night. 

"Hey, it's your mom's birthday today." Right. I definitely have no room for bad thoughts today, it's my mom's birthday and she deserves my 100% self to celebrate with her. But first I have to bring out my chosen gift. I'm sure I left the key to my storage unit somewhere. 

For now, I have to focus on sleep. Thank God Maddie decided to stay for the night. 

------------------------------------------

Jorella. 

Nasa kwarto namin ni Jho ngayon sina Jia at Therese  na abalang nanonood ng isang 2008 Taiwanese movie called Spider Lilies. Kahit si Jhoana na nagsabi na matutulog na s'ya kanina pang 10 ay nakikinood na rin.  At alas dose na ng madaling araw, hindi pa rin kami natutulog. Bukas ang huling araw namin ng training for the U23. Pero 'etong mga kasama ko, wala pa rin yatang balak matulog. 

"Mga Ategurls, matulog na tayo. Maaga pa tomorrow." Alam ko namang hindi sila makikinig sa akin pero just the same. 

"Hindi pa tapos 'yung movie. 'Wag kang KJ." Mabilis na sagot naman ni Jia. Nagsimula na akong mag-ayos ng sarili at maghanda sa pagtulog. Mahirap na, ngayong alam kong hindi matutulog si Jho nang maaga, kakailanganin nito ng taga-gising. O baka pareho pa kaming mapahamak at bigyan ng 150 laps. 

"Donya Ells, gisingin mo na lang ako bukas." Aba talaga namang wala talagang planong mag-alarm 'tong si Jho? Umasa na lang sa'kin? 

"Ako din, Donya." Pagsabay naman ni Jia- mga batang 'to. Matuto nga kayong tumingin sa kausap n'yo! 

"Hoy, Julia Melissa, 'wag mo akong pahirapan. Lumipat ka sa kwarto n'yo ni Jamie. Sa kanya ka magpagising." Alam namang hirap din akong gumising sa umaga, aasahan pa ako ng mga 'to.