To Have and To Hold

Chapter 6: First Step

THATH CHAPTER 6: FIRST STEP

Today is the first day of intramurals. Kinakabahan ako, kasi ngayong araw din yung first game namin versus the eighth grade. It's the battle of the batches, and once you lose, wala nang second chance, kaya ibibigay ko talaga ang buong energy ko para sa larong 'to.

Nasa loob na kami ng volleyball courts ng Xavier University Sports Centre. Ang daming taong nakaabang at nanunuod. Kami ang first match sa court A, tapos second match naman sa Court B ang Grade 9 at 10.

Akala ko, hanggang banner lang ako ng intramurals, pero di ko inexpect na makakapaglaro ako. Hindi ko naman sinisisi si Chris, kasi ginawa niya naman 'to para sa akin. To gain friends, and to experience our favorite game in real matches, kahit sa school lang.

Nagwarm up na ako, but yung kamay ko sobrang ginaw—cold as ice. Aly, approached me. Mas guminaw tuloy yung kamay ko. Naalala ko na naman yung mga sinabi niya nung huli naming practice.

"Hey, Carrie. Are you good? Namumutla ka ata," sabi niya. I didn't notice it at all. I mean, sino ba hindi mamumutla, first time, and first real volleyball match ko 'to buong buhay ko.

"Uhm, yeah. I'm okay. Kinakabahan lang," sabi ko. "Hey, Aly. You wanted me to help you being close to Chris, right?" tanong ko. "Should I call him now?" alok ko sa kanya.

Her smile beamed like sunshine. "Pwede ba? Kinakabahan din kasi ako, need ko ng encouragement niya,"

Nilagay ko ang mga kamay ko sa likod, and unconsciously formed them into a huge first. Carrie, bobo ka pala eh. Alok ka ng alok diyan magagalit ka din pala. So, pumunta ako sa bench, kinuha ang phone ko sa duffel bag, and called. After two rings, sinagot niya agad.

"Hey, Pagong! Saan ka na? First match mo na ngayon, no backing out!" he said enthusiastically. I just imagined his face right now, smiling and laughing like an eight-year-old boy.

"Nasa court A na ako. Aly's looking for you too. Punta ka dito," sabi ko sa kanya using the most bland voice as possible. Walang umimik sa kabilang linya. I thought the call ended, but its still there.

"Hello, unggoy? Ano, punta ka na din dito, need ko din ng energy drink, kinakabahan ako eh," dagdag ko. "H-huh? Ah, okay punta ako diyan," He immediately got his senses.

I nodded, and said "see you," then ended the call. Kinabahan ulit ako. I just closed my eyes, and then did some breathing exercises, then warm up ulit.

According sa coach ko, I am one of the starting players, as the wing spiker. Kinakabahan na naman ako, spiker eh. Hindi naman ako maliit, pero I just felt I need to fly high, as high as possible to spike the ball.

As soon as I concentrated my possible attacks, nawala ako nang may narinig akong pamilyar na boses. "Hoy, Pagong!"

Pagong. Alam ko na sino yon. I smiled shyly, at tumingin sa kung saan nanggaling yung boses. I saw him, wearing his intramurals jersey, and holding again a paper bag.

"Carrie, namumutla ka. Okay ka lang ba pagong, gusto mo ba tumawag ako ng nurse?" alalang tanong niya. Damang-dama ko yung sobrang pag-aalala niya. I chuckled.

"Ang OA mo naman, Chris. Daig mo pa si Mommy!" I laughed intensely, remembering how my mom reacted the same way as Chris'. "Okay lang ako, kinakabahan lang, kasi pag di 'to panalo, wala na talo na agad kami. Sayang naman," I said, letting out the things I wanted to say; it keeps on lingering into my mind, mas nakakababa. I was holding my hands since they are freezing in nervousness. Chris noticed how I aggressively hold and rubbed my hand to keep them warm. Tinago ko naman agad yung kamay ko sa kanya, pero agad niyang binawi. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko, making me feel warm, and better. Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya, and my heart was beating two times faster than before—its not because of nervousness, but because of what he did.