The Olympian Lover

2

"Thylane, sige na please. Need kasi talaga namin ng isa pang player," halos lumuhod na sa harapan ko ang teammate ko. Kulang pa kasi daw sila ng isang player for their volleyball game this afternoon. I do know how to play volleyball since my cousin is a volleyball player and she keeps on pestering me before to join the varsity with her when we were still in elementary school.

"I'm not good," I tried declining. Pero they were very persistent talaga.

"Hindi kaya! Alam ko magaling ka! Naka laro ko kaya kayo ng pinsan mo before, sige na Thylane please," she reached for my hands and looked at me with puppy eyes. I was biting my lip. Ayaw ko talaga mag laro pero I don't want them to get disqualified naman. I agreed to play with them and they started jumping lke monkeys.

I saw how Leora and Sorine eyed me up and down pag labas ko ng restroom. I tried my best na hindi sila sabunutan pareho. They looked like proud mothers or something. "Can you stop looking at me? Ang weird niyo tignan pareho," angal ko sa kanila.

They giggled and inabot sa akin ni Leora ang hair tie ko at tinali ko naman ang buhok ko. "Huwag mo nga kaming pakealaman. This is the first time you agreed to play! Kaya syempre masaya kami," sabi ni Sorine habang inaayos niya ang bag ko. She was making sure my water bottle isn't empty. Halos mapangiti ako. They are spoiled brats, but I swear they have the kindest hearts. Sorine is like our mother bee. She always likes to make sure na okay ang lahat para sa amin ni Leora. Leora on the other hand, is like our bunso. She's so sweet and innocent. And both of them are hella supportive.

I was carrying my back pack while sipping my milk on our way to the gym. These two on my back looks like they were about to walk on a run way or something. Grabe ang aura nila pareho! I saw my teammates waving their hands kaya naman nag lakad kami papunta sa kanila. I heard murmurs of those sitting on the bleachers.

"Omg, Thylane will play?"

"She plays diba?"

"Oo ata. Alam ko cousin niya si Venn eh. Kaya siguro magaling din siya mag laro?"

"Will you guys shut up nga. Thylane is much better than Venn 'no. Venn was captain nung elementary sila but Thylane was recruited by a lot of powerhouse schools noong high school but Thylane declined. And do you know ba, Thylane was recruited to join the U19 team but she declined it! Kaya I know Thylane is much better than her cousin Venn. Pero Venn is good naman talaga, I give her that. Pero talaga si Thylane is like a black horse of the game. You won't notice her presence at first and she might seem weak pero she is very powerful pala!"

Narinig ko ang tawa ng dalawang kasama ko kaya tinignan ko sila ng masama. "Thy, I never imagine na mauungkat ang volleyball career mo!" tawa ni Leora. I sighed. Kahit naman ako, I would never imagine na maraming mga chismosa dito sa University namin at talagang naungkat nila ang lahat ng 'yon. I love playing volleyball. Si Venn ang dahilan kung bakit ko minahal ang volleyball. The sport was our first love. Pero gaya ni Venn, I did not see myself making volleyball as a career. My cousin and I parted ways. She went to the Philippines and I stayed here sa Japan.

I placed my bag sa upuan at tinanggal ko ang shoes ko para masuot ko ang knee pads. I was about to tie my shoelace when someone kneeled down and tied it for me. Halos lumaki ang mata ko when I saw who it was! "Your shorts are too short," he said kaya napa irap ako.

"Alangan naman mag short ako ng 3 inches below the knee 'di ba. And can you stand up? Hindi naman kita inutusan na itali ang shoelaces ko," I said. He stood up kaya naman napa tingala ako. Damn, he's too tall!

"What's your height?" hindi ko napigilan tanungin.

He chuckled, "6'2, why?"

"Wala," sabi ko at nag jog papuntang circle namin to stretch. I saw Heaven sa kabilang court, her eyes widened when she saw me kaya naman napangisi ako.

"Thy, okay ba sayo ikaw captain?" tanong nila. Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Uh. Can I decline?" sabi ko pero agad naman silang yumuko. I sighed and nodded. Agad naman sila nag cheer at tinawag na ang captains para sa toss coin. Pinili ko ang ball kaya kami ang unang mag seserve.

"I chose ball. Dito ang court natin since Heaven chose the other one. Let's not get nervous and have fun. Remember to bring the ball always sa setter para madali nalang mag create ng play," dere-derechong sabi ko. They all looked at me with amusement in their eyes kaya bigla akong nahiya. They smiled and cheered. I must admit, I miss being inside the court. I miss playing.

I was the first one to serve kaya agad naman ako pumunta sa service line. I heard my friends cheering for me kaya napatingin naman ako sa kanila at halos mahulog ko ang bola when I saw Akirho sitting beside my friends and he's with his whole team!

"Service ace from Thylane everyone! What a way to start the game!" Sabi ng commentator which made the gym shout with glee. I can't help but to smile. I still have it! I saw my friends clapping and cheering their lungs out and that made me boost my confidence.

"Let's go, Thy!" sigaw ni Leora.

"Paluin mo ako, Anika!" kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Sorinekaya bigla naman siyang tumawa. I tossed the ball and jumped to serve. Pero agad naman ito na receive ni Heaven.

The rally continued. Tinignan ko ang score and we only have to score 1 point para manalo. Heaven spiked the ball at agad naman na receive ng kasama ko. The setter looked at me kaya agad naman ako nag handa sa likod. I checked the back line para masiguro na hindi ko ito ma aapakan. I was having so much fun playing. After how many years, nakapag laro ulit ako ng volleyball. Because of these girls who were very persistent to ask me to play, I was able to play again. I was able to reunite with my first love. Kaya bilang pasasalamat sa kanila I want to win this game for them. Umatras ako para kumuha ng bwelo. I jumped and hit the ball from the backline.

Agad naman natamaan ang mukha ni Heaven at lumipad ang bola papuntang bleachers. She called for a time out at agad ako sinugod. "The hell is your problem?" Biglang sabi niya. I looked at her with confusion written all over my face.

"Huwag ka mag maang-maangan, Thylane! You did that on purpose!" I laughed at her and that made her even more angry. "The hell?" She shouted.

"I thought ikaw ang captain ng Volleyball club? You play a lot of games compared to me. Pero bakit parang wala kang experience, the way you talk right now," I walked up to her. I saw how my friends stood up and was about to run to where I was. Maybe natakot na sila sa kung ano ang pwedeng manyari.

"Getting hit by a ball on the face is normal, Heaven," I said and smirked at her.

"No! Sadya mo! You did it on purpose!" Patuloy na bintang niya sa akin. I yawned a bit which made my teammates chuckle.

"Hindi ka pa ba natatamaan ng bola sa mukha dati? Diba you did? So why are you making a big deal out of this now?" I started walking away when I felt someone grabbed my hair. Halos matumba ako but I felt someone cath me. I look up and saw Akihiro.

"You call yourself a captain?" he said coldly. I saw how Heaven's face paled up seeing Akihiro in front of her.

"Are you okay?" His voice was gentle and he scanned me checking if I was hurt. I pulled my arms off of him and told him I was fine kaya hinayaan niya na lang ito. We continued playing the game and I cheered my team up. Mukhang na apektuhan sila sa nagyari kanina.

We won! We finally won! I saw how the girls jumped with joy. I heard how the crowd cheered for us. My heart felt so full. Pumila na kaming lahat sa service line at nag lakad papunta sa net to greet the other team. Pagkatapos nun agad naman ako niyakap ng mga kasamahan ko. Napangiti ako at niyapak ko din sila pabalik. "Congratulations, girls," sabi ko sa kanila. Halos matawa ako when some of them began tearing up.

"Hala, why are you crying Thylane! Naiiyak tuloy kami! Ang galing galing mo pala mag laro ng volleyball eh! You should have joined the school's club! Sigurado panalo tayo during league," I smiled and rubbed their heads. As much as I want to, I don't want to revolve my life in volleyball alone.

"Congratulations," Akihiro walked towards us. I heard how my teammates giggled.

"Thank you," sabi ko nalang at kinuha ang water bottle ko. I bit my lip when I saw ubos na pala ang tubig ko. I heard him chuckle at inabot sa akin ang isang gatorade kaya kinuha ko nalang kesa naman mauhaw ako hindi ba.

"Let's eat? My treat," biglang sabi niya kaya halos mag cheer ang buong teammates ko. I wanted to decline him pero nahiya ako bigla kasi mukhang ang saya saya ng mga kasama ko. Mag bibihis sana ako ng Tshirt pero halos sabunutan ko ang sarili ko when I remembered na isa lang pala ang tshirt na dala ko. I closed my bag at halos tumalon ako sa takot ng may lumipad na jersey papunta sa bag ko. I saw Akihiro smirking at me at bumalik sa pag uusap sa teammates niya.

All of them teased him when I got out from the bathroom wearing his jersey. I saw how Leora and Sorine took a photo of me. "Hala! Akihiro will treat us tapos ngayon Thylane is wearing his jersey!Something is fishy, ha. Teka nga, kayo na ba?" tanong ng isang teammate ko. Halos lumaki ang mata ko sa narinig. Agad naman ako lumapit sa kanila.

"No," sabay na sabi namin ni Eros.

"But I'm courting her." He said and started walking ahead of us. Agad naman nag tilian ang mga kasamahan namin. We went to a Ramen shop at tinotoo nga ni Akihiro ang pag libre niya sa aming lahat.

***

"At bakit nanaman kayo andito?" halos batuhin ko na ng iPad ang dalawang tao na nasa harapan ko ngayon. They were both smiling mischievously na mas lalo kina init ng ulo ko. "Aalis kayo sa daan, o kayo ang aalisin ko sa mundo? Sagot!"

"Princess naman kasi, punta ka na sa laro ni captain bukas," pamimilit nung isa kaya inirapan ko siya. Halos takbuhin ko na ang hallway ng school pero mabilis pa din nila ako naabutan. Bakit naman kasi ang hahaba ng mga paa nila!

I was really loosing my temper kaya hinubad ko ang sapatos ko at binato sa kanila. Mabilis naman nila inilagan ito at natamaan ang tao na nasa likod nila. Parang gusto ko nalang magpalamon sa lupa. Sa dinami dami na pwedeng matamaan ng sapatos ko, talagang si Akihiro pa?!

"C-captain," sabay na sabi ng dalawa. He was just looking at them with his usual bored facial expression at tinignan ang sapatos ko na nasa sahig. He kneeled a bit para makuha ang sapatos ko at lumapit ito sa akin. I tried to hide my face pero mas lalo ako nag mukhang tanga.

He went near me at nilagay ang sapatos ko sa harap ko. "Why would you even throw your shoes?" he looked confused with what I did. Inirapan ko na lamang siya. Sinuot ko na ang sapatos ko at nag lakad palayo. Basically running since I was to embarrassed with what happened just now. Mas gugsutuhin ko nalang ata na lamunin ako ng lupa.

I was busy eating my food when I heard my two best friends running towards me, and I already have an idea kung ano ang sasabihin nila sa akin. Kaya inunahan ko na sila. "No," I said the moment they stopped in front of me kaya kumunot ang noo nila.

"Unfair! Hindi mo nga alam kung ano ang sasabihin namin," angal ni Leora kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay which made her pout. She grabbed the cahir in front of me at umupo siya.

"I won't watch his game tomorrow," I said coldly.

"At bakit? Akala ko ba, he's courting you?" Sorine question made my blood boil.

"Who the hell would court someone without her consent?!" Halos mamula ang buong mukha ko sa galit. Hayop na 'yon! And here I thought my first courtship would be special or something, tapos 'yun lang pala? He would unknowingly say he's courting me? Ul*l!

Both of them were laughing at me kaya napanguso nalang ako. "Start na ng Intercollegitae games bukas. And luckily, weekend kaya makakanood tayo. Kaya sige na, let's watch!" pagmamakaawa ni Leora sa akin. Napangiwi nalang ako. Bahala sila. Kahit anong gawin nila I won't go!

"Ang init init kaya sa gym!" Reklamo ko sa kanila. Hinampas nalang ako ni Sorine sa braso kaya tumawa kaming tatlo. She really does act like a mom!

I was blabbering non-stop habang papasok kami sa Gym kung saan gaganapin ang volleyball game. I mentally face palmed seeing how these two act right now. They are almost dragging me! I swear kung hindi ko lang sila talaga nilibre ng Starbucks baka tinanggalan na nila ako ng ulo. Late na nga daw kasi kami tapos I had the audacity pa na bumili ng Starbucks, well in my defense I had to stay up all night to finish my projects!

"Andyan na!" tili ni Leora. I looked down the bleachers and saw our team entering the court. They were putting their bags on the floor. Meron pang 30 minutes bago sila mag warp up. Leroa called Akihiro and he suddenly looked at the bleachers and saw us. He smiled and I saw Akihiro running towards us. He's already wearing his jersey.

"You made it in time," he said kaya tumango nalang ako. Halos ibato ko sa kanya ang Starbucks ko when he grabbed my hand and pulled me. Ano ba? Bakit parang suki ako ng hatak ngayong araw?

Pinaupo niya ako sa bleachers and since I was wearing shorts, I saw how his eyes were trying its best not to roll at me. Attitude din pala 'to. Agad naman siya sumigaw sa teammate niya na ibato ang isang jersey niya. Inunfold niya ang jersey niya and he placed it on top my lap.

"This is the third time I'm doing this," he raised his eyebrows, basically pertaining to him covering my legs with his jersey.

"And I never asked for your help," sabat ko naman at tumayo ako, which made him smirk. He sat down the bleachers and pulled me towards him. Making me sitting on his lap. He tucked some loose strands of my hair behind my ear. And pinched my cheek.

"I'm not that low, I know you're capable enough in protecting yourself and there's nothing wrong with wearing shorts. You should flex your pretty legs. As you should, Queen. But, I just have this possessive instinct to cover your pretty legs with my jersey. So that everyone would know that I'm claiming this independent queen," he whispered in my ear before kissing my cheek and running down to his teammates to warm up.

I felt my heart beating fast. I found myself smiling all throughout his game. Looking so proud every time he scores a point. I was basically stopping myself from cheering, pero deep inside me I was cheering the loudest for him.

And this was the day, I know I fell for him.

We were watching their game versus Chuo University. I was literally scratching my head because as far as I know players from Chuo are good. Their play and floor defense are on point. It's like they have 6 liberos inside the court.

People started crowding our area and I heard some girls talking at my back and I was not surprised that they all have a crush on the players. Kasi naman parang hindi players 'tong mga 'to. Akala mo mga models na nasa runway pero they are monsters inside the court.

The game was very intense.Chuo took the first set pero humabol ang Waseda and won the 2nd set. There would be 5 sets, and 3 sets to win. So both teams really have to do well since they are tied to 1 sets each.

"Ang galing talaga ni Akihiro 'no? He has potential talaga," sabi ng babaeng nasa likod ko. Another fan of his, I guess.

"Pero hindi ba sabi sabi inaalok si Akihiro ng National Team to join?" medyo naintriga ako kaya nakinig ako sa usapan nia, totally ignoring the game.

"Ay oo daw! Galing 'no! Someone scouted him din daw sa from the Italian Teams pero he declined them."

Italy is one of the strongest leagues when it comes to Volleyball and being recruited by an Italian Team is no joke. It really means you have that much potential. I stopped listening to them and looked back inside the court. Halos lumaki ang mga mata ko when I saw his back attack. He is that good?! He's flying!

I saw how they cheered inside the court when they got the point. They won the 3rd set! Isang set nalang and they would win the game! I heard my friend chuckle kaya napatingin ako sa kanila. "Oh don't mind us. You look cute clapping your hands like a proud girlfriend right there," Sorine teased kaya umupo ulit ako ng maayos at tumahimik nalang.

I'll be lying when I say I was calm all through out the 4th set. I was panicking like crazy! Mas gugustuhin ko nalang talaga na ako 'yung naglalaro kesa sa ako 'yung nanonood! I just can't stand the pressure of watching! 1 point. They just need 1 more point to win the set!

Napapikit ako sa lakas ng tunog ng bola, damn I know that serve would hurt a lot! Eros received the ball pero napa higa siya sa sahig. The ball went directly sa setter nila and he immediately got up and I saw how their setter tossed the ball towards him.

"He won't make it," I whispered.

They were having a combination attack but the blockers figured out that he was the one who'll spike the ball so the three setters jumped but the other one was delayed a bit so basically he'd have 2 and a half blocks. I saw how he jumped and spiked the ball as to where there was a half block.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko kaya napatayo ako at sumigaw when they won the game! He looked at my direction and I know he saw me jumping like an idiot. But instead of laughing at me, he winked which caused me to feel shy a bit. Alam ko ang pula pula ng mukha ko dahil sa kindat na 'yon!

"Ay putek, jowa pala natin 'yung nasa harap gago,"

"Oo nga! Hala nakakahiya! Grabe pa naman ang pag pantasya natin kay Akihiro kanina!"

"Hala gagi! Bakit hindi natin napansin 'yung jersey na hawak ni ate girl!"

I bit my lip and sat down after hearing those words from the girls at the back. Leora and Sorine looked proud at me for finally giving up my maldita face. I wanted to leave after the game pero my friends told me na hintayin nalang daw muna namin si Akihiro kaya wala akong magawa. His jersey is with me naman kaya need ko din ibalik.

I saw how girls started asking to take pictures with the players at the court. I smiled at how friendly he is. But I noticed how his hands were stuck together. Parang takot na takot siya hawakan ang mga nagpapapicture sa kanya.

We went down nalang din para hindi na siya umakyat pa. One of his teammates called my name, I smiled when I saw who it was. "Miko!" I greeted.

"Aba aba! What wind brought you here, princess? Himala at nanood ka ha," he asked me. We talked a bit and he told me na we should take a picture kaya pumayag agad ako and he took his phone out so that we could take a selfie.

He bent down a bit para magkasing tangkad kami and I smiled at the camera. After taking the picture he saw the jersey I'm holding kaya agad naman niya ako tinanong.

"Who's jersey is that?" he teased kahit alam kong alam niya kung kanino. "Ikaw ha! Tagal tagal natin magkakilala never mo dinadala ang jersey ko," he pouted. Miko and I went to the same Elementary school and we enrolled in different high schools.

"Hey." Agad naman tumigil ang pag kukwentuhan namin ni Miko and we faced the guy who just called. Miko smirked even wider at agad niya ako nilapit sa kanya. I saw how Eros' eyebrows rose.

"Uy, Aki! Hi there bro," Miko teased him kaya agad naman sinampal ni Akihiro ang kamay ni Miko na naka akbay sa akin.

"Aray! P*nyeta ka talaga kahit kailan! Ang bayolente mo ha! Patrang hindi tayo friends," reklamo ni Miko kaya napatawa nalang ako. Hindi parin talaga siya nag babago, ang kulit parin niya. I turned to Akihiro and gave him his shirt. Kinuha naman niya ito.

"Are you free-"

"May meeting tayo sabi ni coach, Aki. Sumbong kita pag lumayas ka," putol ni Miko sa sasabihin ni Akihiro kaya tinignan niya ito ng masama. Tumawa lamang si Miko at nagpaalam na bago bumalik sa loob ng court.

Akihiro sighed and looked at me again kaya medyo kinabahan ako. "Panira talaga ang gag*," I heard him whispering kaya tinawanan ko siya. "Anyway, are you free tomorrow?"

I felt my heart beat even louder! This guy! Bakit ba ang prangka! "U-uh. Yeah. Bakit?" I asked him kahit parang alam ko na kung bakit siya nag tanong. Pero ayaw ko naman maging assumera 'no!

"Let's go out tomorrow, I'll pick you up," he said then he kissed my cheek at tumakbo na papuntang court.

Nahiya ako bigla kasi he did that in front of a lot of people! Tumingin ako sa kanya habang tumatakbo siya, he stopped outside the court and smirked at me before entering.

"You know what, konti nalang talaga iisipin ko na merong something sa inyong dalawa ni Akihiro," Sorine teased while we were eating our crepe inside e the crepe shop near the venue. I ordered a nutella crepe and I feel like I am in heaven whenever I eat it. I like sweets. I have a sweet tooth kaya this nutella crepe is perfect for me. Tinignan ko siya ng masama pero hindi nalang niya pinansin iyon. She continued eating her crep and acted like she did not say anything which made me pout at pinahiran ko siya ng cream sa face. Both of us laughed at what I did.

"Naku naku, dapat pumayag ka sa date ha, sasabunutan kita pag hindi," banta naman si Leora sa akin. I do not know if ako 'yung kaibigan nila or si Akihiro. They're supporting him instead of me! Akmang papahiran ko din ng cream si Lorea pero pinigilan niya ang kamay ko at siya mismo ang nag pahid ng cream sa mukha ko. We stopped playing around kasi baka mapagalitan pa kami ng may ari. I took my wet wipe at binigyan ko sila ng tig iisang wet wipe. We finished eating our food at nag lakad na din kami pauwi. I'm actually excited for tomorrow. Hindi lang halata.