Shattered Lanes

Simula

[Her POV]

Huminga ako nang malalim habang mahigpit na hinahawakan ang bowling ball ko. It's my second ball for the last frame. I need to get a spare, please!

I counted five seconds as I looked at the alley, I need my ball to run at least 150 km/h, with increasing 2° per half a second before making a curve to get the ideal velocity. I know that the trajectory is just as the same on my second frame.

I took a deep breath before rolling the ball. I could feel my breathing stop for a moment before closing my eyes and turning around, not wanting to see if I really hit the remaining three pins.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang nangyayari. Everyone was shouting and the announcer was saying something. Sobrang ingay. I look at the crowd and they all look so happy.

"Eve! Eve!" Naramdaman ko ang pagyugyog ni Atlanta sa balikat ko. I looked at her confusedly. She was crying out of happiness. I saw her lips move as if she's saying something pero hindi ko narinig.

Tumingin ako sa ibang mga kasamahan ko at nagsitalon sila sa sobrang tuwa. Lumapit sa akin si Henry and I heard him congratulating with a thumbs-up.

"What is happening?" Tanong ko.

"We won, you idiot! Pasok tayong lahat sa Division Meet. You got a spare!"

My lips rounded in awe and I stared at the cleared pins with a wide smile. I'm happy that I almost couldn't believe it.

"Congratulations to Philippine High School Bowling Team! We'll see each other again in the Division Meet."

.

"Eve, congratulations!"

"Iba talaga kapag rising star."

"Sayang hindi kami nakapanood pero ang astig mo raw."

Habang dumadami ang mga compliments na natatanggap ko ay mas lalo pa akong napapayuko. Hindi naman sa nahihiya ako pero para sa akin kasi, I don't deserve those praises. I'm still learning pa and i'm not confident enough when it comes to my skills.

Napangisi ako nung maramdaman ang pamilyar na braso na umakbay sa akin.

"Congrats, Eve!"

"Congrats din sayo, Ron." I looked at him with a smile, pero agad na napawi ang ngiti ko dahil sa ngisi nito na parang may iniisip na kung ano.

"No, congrats to you. I asked Atlanta kung sumuka ka na naman, mabuti at hindi. Kaya congrats!"

Napasimangot ako. Ngayon ay alam ko na ang rason kung bakit niya ako kino-congrats. Hindi dahil pasok kami sa Division Meet kundi ay hindi ako sumuka sa sobrang kaba.

I used to vomit a lot in competitions. When I was in elementary, I could still remember not having the chance to play dahil palagi akong kabado. I always end up getting the bowling alley all green and stinky. Kaya mas pinili na lang ng team adviser namin na huwag akong paglaruin.

It was okay for me though. I rather not play than messing it up again. Nakakahiya.

"Ready na ba kayo sa Division Meet?"

"Seriously, Eion? Kahapon lang kaya ang District Meet. May sunburn pa ako." Nakangusong reklamo ni Pierce at namumula nga ang noo nito at ang magkabilang pisngi.

She doesn't like putting on sunscreen kahit sobrang init ng panahon. I actually got to watch her enjoy swimming kahit parang kumukulo na 'yung tubig sa pool.

"I-i don't think if makakalaro ulit ako." Nanginginig ang boses na pagsali ko sa usapan.

Pabiro akong hinampas ni Lea at tumawa. "Oh, come on, you can make it! Nakaya mo nga kahapon!"

"You know, Lea. Tama si Eve, mas mabuti kung hindi muna siya makakapaglaro... baka tatae yan sa Division Meet dahil sa sobrang kaba." Kutya ni Ron sa akin na ikinatawa nilang lahat.

"Ang harsh niyo sa akin." I pouted while glaring at Ron. Kanina pa 'to tukso nang tukso sa 'kin.

"Ilang taon ka nang naglalaro ng bowling, kinakabahan ka pa rin?"

"Syempre naman! Ikaw ba naman titigan ng maraming tao, hindi ka mane-nervous?" Nakakuyom ang mga palad at taas-noo ko siyang hinarap

"Sanay na kami!" Napangiwi ako nung hindi lang si Ron ang sumagot kundi pati silang lahat.

I always adore of how passionate and confident they are, especially the two girls. I've always admire Pierce for her confidence. She would never say no to a fight and it's because of her intimidating aura, anyone wouldn't dare to fight back. She's confident because she know herself too well. She's the most greatest predator in the ocean to me.

Same with Lea, Lea has the greatest focus among us and the most passionate. Her passion and love for lawn tennis will always continue to inspire me. She leaves everything outside the court and when she start to position herself, it's like i'm watching an ash ignite to form an untouchable flame.

.

There's no way I can beat her. Sobrang laki ng abanse. Nakatatlong open frame ako at kahit mismo ang mga nanonood ay nawawalan ng gana dahil alam na nila kung sino ang mananalo.

"It's okay. May next year pa. Bawi na lang tayo." I gave Eion a high-five. Talo ang bowling team, talo rin ang badminton team. It only means that Pierce and Lea are the only ones to compete in the Regionals.

"Right, kaya magpalakas tayo bago ang next intramurals." Ngumisi si Ron at ginulo ang buhok ni Eion.

"Oo at magpatalino ka rin, kung pwede."

"Gago, walang basagan ng scene."

"Truth offends kasi sabi nila."

Napailing na lang ako at napatawa nung nagpatuloy silang dalawa sa pagtatalo.

.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapatulala habang nakatanaw sa mga bahay mula sa loob ng jeep. I bet those people who congratulated me, hates me now. I could feel their disappointment as I am also disappointed in myself.

Natigilan ako nung makakita ng salitang Bowling Alley malapit lang sa department store na tinatambayan namin noon.

"Manong, para! Dito na lang po ako."

"Sobra 'yung bayad–"

"Sayo na lang po!" Pasigaw na tugon ko at dali-daling lumabas ng jeep. Tinakbo ko ang entrance ng bowling alley at doon ko lang napagtanto na kakabukas lang pala. Kaya pala hindi ko 'to na-notice noon.

Sumilip ako mula sa glass door ng entrance para tingnan ang loob. Wala pa masyadong tao at tanging dalawang matanda lang ang nakikita kong naglalaro.

"Hi, do you want to check inside?"

Napalingon ako nung makarinig ng boses mula sa likuran ko. Agad akong napakagat ng labi para pigilan ang pag-awang nito. It's a guy... he look so hot. Hotter than any other men i've seen before.

I was flattered when he showed me a genuine smile. He has a nice clean cut black hair. Nasa 5'9 ang tangkad at nakasuot lang ito ng simpleng damit, white jagger pants and black sando that made him reveal his well-defined bisceps.

Napatingin ako sa dala nitong box. Bahagya itong nakabukas kaya kita ang loob nito na puros bowling shoes.

"Umm, can I ask for a favor? Can you open the door for me, please?"

Napakurap ako at natatarantang pinagbuksan siya ng pinto na ikinatawa niya. "Please, come in."

Sumunod ako sa kanya at hindi ko maiwasang mapapikit nung malanghap ang pamilyar na amoy... balls and pins.

May mga bagay pa ang hindi pa masyadong na-set up gaya ng rentahan ng mga sapatos at bowling area para sa mga professional players.

I looked at the guy and he was talking to someone wearing the club's uniform which makes him a staff.

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya habang nakikipag-usap siya. I suddenly felt an unfamiliar and intense warmth as I watch his mouth move while speaking. He ended the conversation with a smile before turning to me. Bahagya akong napaatras dahil sa ilang, lalo na nung nilahad niya ang kanyang kamay para magpakilala.

"I'm Jacob Ammer Bellino, the owner of Lighthouse Bowling Alley. Is there anything I can do to help?"