The Missing Piece Of Me

Chapter 25

It's 2 in the afternoon now. Adamson and UST are on the court getting ready for the clash.
We're standing on a fixed position close enough to hear the players and see them while waiting for the commentators to indicate the start of another battle.

Flashback

"Wong, never do that again in public. You humiliated everyone around here!", pambungad sa akin ni Captain Maddie.

"Mads, you're being too harsh", sagot naman ni Ate Bea

"Shut up!", Ate Maddie shouted and glared at Ate Bea who's sitting with Ate Jho.

"I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I'm fucked up back there, I know. I just got jealous because the woman I love looks damn happy with someone else. I'm sorry for being such a pain in the ass, Cap. I'm sorry!", I shouted from the top of my lungs. My voice almost cracked.

I slapped my forehead after realizing that I went too far.

"I'm sorry, Captain", napayuko na lang ako.

Ponggay approached me. She's looking tensed and worried.

"Hey, calm down. It's okay", she said in a calm voice while hugging me.

"I'm sorry, Deans. I was just really disappointed", Ate Maddie told me while giving a quick hug.

"It's okay, Cap. Pahinga na po kayo, may training pa tayo bukas ng umaga. Good night, everyone"

Pumanhik na ako sa room namin ni Ponggay. Naglinis muna ako ng katawan at bumalik sa kusina para kumain. Bumalik na ako ulit sa kwarto ko at nandon si Ponggay para usisain ako.

"What's with the fuss?", she asked while biting her nails.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago tuluyan mag rant.

"Nakakapagod na Pongs. Nakakapagod ng magselos pero di mo alam kung san ka lulugar", napakamot ako ng ulo sa ginagawa niyang pagngatngat sa kuko niya but she gestured me to continue and so I did.
"Minsan ang sweet niya pero kapag nakikita ko siya with her close friends I realize that she's like that with everybody. I love her up til now pero hindi ako sure sa feelings niya eh. Natatakot akong magtanong dahil baka masaktan lang ako sa isasagot niya", I replied while patting my legs.

"Mahal mo di ba?"

Tumango lang ako.

"Kung mahal mo talaga siya, irespeto mo kung anuman ang magiging decision niya. Kung sinuman ang piliin niya sa inyong dalawa ni Fhen, accept that because true love is not selfish. Alam mong mahal mo talaga siya kung magiging masaya ka para sa kaniya kahit masaya siya sa iba", she suddenly hugged me and patted my back.

"You're right, Pongs. Pero kasi...
I'm choosing to fight my love for her. Hanggat hindi pa siya nakakapili, lalaban pa ako. Anong masasabi mo?"

She gave a deep sigh and faced me.

"Huwag ka munang magpapatalo hanggat wala pang panalo", she smiled at me and gave me a thumb's up.

"I love you bessy. Thank you sa lahat", maluha-luha kong sabi habang hawak ko ang dalawang kamay niya.

"Sira. Siyempre bestfriend kita eh", mahina niyang pinalo ang mga kamay ko at nagtaklob na ng kumot " Good night, D!", the last words she said before she fell asleep.

End of Flashback

"Technical timeout, Adamson!", the commentator shouted.

Sinundan ng mga mata ko ang Lady Falcons. Kahit naman pigilan ko hahanapin ko pa rin siya eh.

"Parang may mali", I heard Ate Bea said kaya napalingon ako sa kaniya at sa kausap niya.

"Yeah, ang tahimik nila sa court nong setter. Nawala ang play", sagot ni Ate Jho.

"Kaya huwag kang jumowa ng teammate mo, di ba Cap?", singit ni Pongs habang nagpipigil kaming dalawa ng tawa.

"Tigil-tigilan moko Gaston ha. Baka gusto mong sipain kita", pagtataray ni Cap.

"Easy! Joke lang eh", Pongs replied habang kunwareng nagtatago sa likod ko.

"We are back everyone! Tingnan natin kung makakabawi ang Adamson dito sa Set 1. It's 8-3 and UST tigresses are on the loose!", the commentator started to speak up.

"Pst Deans. Anong masasabi mo sa game ni Jema?", usisa ni Ponggay habang nanunuod kami.

"Ewan. Hindi naman siya nakakapalo eh. Walang set sa kanya si Fhen", sagot ko habang nakatingin lang sa court.

"Rondina fired up!"

"Partner parang napapansin kong wala pang exposure si Jema Galanza sa set na ito", the guy commentator told his partner

"Oo nga partner eh at parang wala sa sarili si Fhen Emnas. This is really weird", the other commentator responded.

"See? I told you", I told Ponggay while raising my eyebrows.

Nag-call ng timeout ang Adamson at sinermonan silang lahat.

"What the f*** is happening? You! Fhen! Why aren't you giving the ball to Jema? Give the ball accordingly!", their coach started shouting at all of them.

"Babawi kami Coach!", sumagot si Jema at agad na pumunta na sa court. She seems heated up.

"She's acting like the captain now. She's on a beast mode. I'm gonna watch this", Ate Maddie told me and Ponggay.

After ng timeout, bumawi ang Adamson. Jema started giving away numerous down the lines kaya nabuhay ang team nila. Fhen started activating several spikers at tuluy-tuloy ang ganong play hanggang sa makapag-tie sila sa UST.

"Wow! San galing yong lakas niya? Unlimited yata masyado", singit ni Ponggay.

Set 1 ended on Falcons' favor.

26-24

Everything went by fast hanggang sa nakuha ng UST ang 2nd set with the score of 25-14. Nasira na naman kasi ang play dahil sa mga missets ni Fhen.

"You call yourself a playmaker?!", sigaw niya kay Fhen.

"Je, huminahon ka nga. Tara na", Ate Lyn told Jema while. Nag buzz na at kailangan na nilang bumalik sa court.

"Shit. Katakot", sabat ni Ate Bea.

"Amazona pala ex mo eh", pang-aasar naman ni Ponggay sakin.

"Shoot! Ang baba ng set!", sigaw ni Ate Maddie.

"A low serve by Fhen Emnas. Ginagawan ng paraan ni Mareng Jema. Malapit sa antenna partner! Kakayanin ba?

Jema Galanza is down!", the commentator shouted.

Napalingon kaming lahat dahil sa announcement na yon and she's there lying on the floor barely moving. The responders came to check on her and inilipat siya sa side malapit samin.

"Jema. Jema", their coach panicked as she approached the injured queen falcon.

"I'm fine", sinubukan niyang tumayo pero hindi na kinaya.

"Looks like the queen falcon cannot soar high today, partner"