Ik Hou Van Je Book 1 - GMA/ABS-CBN Ensemble Book (COMPLETED)

Chapter 13 - Lauren's Training

A week after the successful spelling bee organised by the school's English club, the school's preparing for the girls volleyball semi-finals. They will face their traditional but not bitter rivals, the Greater Escoda High School. Lauren's part of the girls volleyball team and her position is open spiker, sometimes, setter. Once they win this do-or-die game, they will advance to the finals of the Local Schools League.

3:00 P.M.

After classes, Lauren went to the school gym for training. She took Christine and her classmate named Rafaela (Ella Cruz) and they will watch their training.

"Lauren, gusto kong matuto ng volleyball. Madali lang ba yan?" Rafaela asked.

"Sa umpisa lang naman mahirap yan eh." Lauren replied.

"Naiingit ako sayo Lauren. Napaka-talented mo!" Christine said.

"Haha, dapat hindi ka mainggit. Instead, ma-inspire ka! And everyone of us has a talent, sometimes hindi lang natin nailalabas." Lauren said.

"Correct. At maging thankful ka din for what you have." Rafaela added.

"Thanks guys!" Christine said.

Lauren came to the locker room. Her coach, Carline Mateo, is waiting for her.

"Good afternoon, coach!" Lauren said.

"Good afternoon too, Lauren! You're just in time and we're about to start our training!" Coach Carline said.

Her teammates are getting prepared for the training. The team's shirt manufacturer is Adidas, and their shirt sponsor is iPhone 5s and Stance Socks. The colour of their jerseys are red and white, with sleeves and their jerseys are made in climalite material. Nakasampay na ang mga jerseys nila sa mga locker nila.

Lahat ng mga teammates ni Lauren ay ka-close niya, lalo na sina Maddie at Theresa. (Maddie Madayag and Theresa Gaston, kakampi niya din si Isa Molde)

"Yo kap!" Maddie said as she saw Lauren.

"Wassup!" Lauren said. And they did a fist-bump.

"Captain, musta na?" Theresa said.

"Ayos lang. Kabado na nga sa praktis eh." Lauren replied. "Tsaka din sa parating na game."

"Ako nga din eh. Do-or-die pa naman ang laro." Lauren said while putting the provided Stance socks and Adidas volleyball shoes.

"Sayo kami kukuha ng lakas, captain." Maddie said.

"Salamat. Pero dapat sa lahat ng bagay, kay God." Lauren said.

"Tama!" Maddie said.

"Alright guys! Let's go inside the gym and let's start our training! 1 week na lang at semis na! This is an important training." Coach Carline said. And they went inside the gym.

(N/P: Nothing But The Blood by Guvna B)

The volleyball net was now being set up. Ready na din ang Gerflor na flooring (the flooring used in professional volleyball games) at bukas din ang lahat ng mga ilaw sa gymnasium. The gymnasium is big, it has 25,144 seating capacity. Volleyball and association football (or soccer as if the other people call it) are the popular sports in Promenada, while skateboarding is the favourite pastime.

"Okay guys, habang inaayos yung net, sprint the whole court seven times." Coach Carline said. And the players did just that. Lauren is quick and may kasama pang pag-talon ang sprinting drill niya. You can hear the music booming on the court. Si Coach Carline ang tipo ng coach na gumagamit ng music sa training para makapagpa-set daw ng ambiance at adrenaline rush.

And after they ran, Coach Carline prepared her students. In a few inches, she will spike the ball hard, and the player must dig (catch) it without staggering. While some players are doing that, si Lauren naman ay nagbubuhat ng dumbbell, one for her left arm and one for the right. Now, Lauren's starting to sweat. And after many rounds of carrying the dumbbell, she joined Coach Carline's drill. With excellence, nagawa niya ang drill ni Coach Carline.

And after the drill, Coach Carline was pleased to see that her players are improving in training. But, she wants her players to focus on the semis game.

"Malapit na ang semis guys! Kailangan na nating mag-focus for the game. Right now, don't think of negative things. Just stay positive morally. So girls, are you all ready?" Carline asked.

"Yes coach!" Lauren and the rest of the team replied.

"Good. Let's start the training, then!" Coach Carline said.

 

"Alright! I'll be the one to block your spikes. Lauren, pila kayo. Launch on the zone 6. And then Lauren, since you're the team captain, you go spike first then the rest will follow." Coach Carline said. "Who's our setter?"

Michelle Cobb is the another setter. (Yes, the Michelle Cobb, the superstar of the DLSU Lady Spikers)

"Coach, let me do the setting." Michelle said.

"Okay, start it now, Mich!" Coach Carline said.

Coach Carline picked a ball, passed it to Michelle, Michelle set it to Lauren, Lauren jumped with all her might, and spiked the ball with power! The ball bounced so hard! And her team mates followed suit.

And after the intense training, Lauren quickly went to the shower, then, went home. She's tired but has enjoyed her training.

"Wow. Ang galing mo palang mag-volleyball!" Rafaela said.

"Hehe, wala yun." Lauren smiled.

After Lauren went out of the school, inaantay siya ni Christine. Dala ni Christine yung kotse niya, isang 2014 na Kia Carnival.

"Lauren, gusto mong mag-drive?" Christine asked.

"Yeah, for sure!" Lauren replied.

And they went for a ride back home. Christine lives in the same subdivision as Lauren, but she's near the edge of the subdivision.

"Ang ganda ng kotse mo, Christine ah. Fresh na fresh." Lauren said.

"Thanks." Christine replied.

"Bakit hindi ka pala nag-bike kanina?" Christine asked.

"Sira eh. Papalit pa ako ng mga parts, baka by Saturday ayos na yun." Lauren replied.

"Ah. Nga pala, thank you dahil naging best friend kita." Christine said.

"Wala yun. Dinestined ng Lord na mangyari yun. Nakakatuwa din na naging friend kita. Kahit na minsan binubully ka namin, still you are cool." Lauren replied.

"Kulang ang barkadahan kapag walang asaran. Kaya okay lang sa akin yun." Christine said.

Christine's house is not that big, or small either. Her house has a garage enough for a car.

"Thanks for letting me drive your car." Lauren said.

"You're welcome." Christine replied.

"Ingat ka ah. Bye!" Lauren said.

"Sige!" Christine said, then off she went home.