Chain of Restrictions

Kabanata 13

Feelings

Whenever I think of it, I just can't stop my heart from fluttering. The smile can't be removed from my lips. I know for sure that no one can destroy my mood today.

"Dana!" Mabilis kong sinalo ang bola na galing kay Mika, agad ko naman itong ipinasa kay Katalina, as she set the ball towards Jane, as Jane spiked the ball across the net. Another point! Nag apir naman kami, today is our last practice, bukas na kasi ang laro.

"Dan, nice play!" Masayang bati ni Jane sa akin, one of our volleyball players. Masaya naman akong napatango. We went to the bench at uminom ng tubig. Habang umiinom ay namataan ko si Hugh sa kabilang side ng court, susunduin na ako. He waved his hand, with smile that's been on my face since yesterday, I also waved mine.

"Sino siya?" Tanong ni Jane out of nowhere, as she checks her face on her compact mirror.

"Oh, siya? He's my brother, Vaughn." I answered while wiping my sweat, at uminom uli sa water jug. Ang init! Shocks!

"May kapatid ka pala?" Jane as she quickly ties her hair neatly, and wipes her sweat. Bago pako makasagot ay dumating si Hugh, he then sats on my right side.

"Hi! I'm Jane." Magiliw na saad ni Jane as she stands up and raise her right hand for a handshake. Nagtataka ko naman siyang tiningnan, her face is happily gleaming as she awaits for Hugh to do the same.

Uh, okay? Why is she?

Tumayo naman si Hugh, napataas naman ang kilay ko. Isn't he supposed to be a snob? What is he doing?

"I'm Vaughn, Danaleigh's brother." Di ko mapigilang mapairap when he introduces his self as my 'brother'. He then raises his hand and holds Janes' hand for a handshake.

Anong nangyari sa pahalik-halik niya sa ilong ko? Kinalimutan? Vanished?

"Di ko alam na may gwapong kapatid pala si Dana. Haha." Jane, happiness is heard on her voice. Irritation then filled my system, I suddenly don't want to hear her voice. Parang pina pabebe? I even saw her tucked the strand of her behind her ear! Padabog kung inayos ang mga gamit ko at tumayo.

Why is she acting like that? Nakakainis.

"Una muna ako sa sasakyan. Usap muna kayo. Excuse me." Mahinahon kong saad at dumaan sa gitna nila. Sa dami-daming lugar sa harapan ko talaga kayo nakatayo at nag-uusap? Malaki ang USC kung di niyo alam.

"Leigh, wait! Jane, gotta go. See you when I see you." What? See you when I see you? So don't tell me magkikita pa sila uli? When I thought of them seeing each other, with just the two of them. My blood instantly boils. Subukan mo lang, Hugh.

"Hey. Why are you so fast?" As I heard his voice, irritation filled me.

"Bakit naman ang bagal mo?" Irritation escaped my voice at alam kong napansin niya na wala ako sa mood. Tumahimik na lang siya hanggang sa dumating kami sa bahay.

Today, is the 3rd day of Intramurals and the day of our competition as well. Makakalaban namin ang USJR girls volleyball. I wore a denim jeans, shirt and tied my hair in two piggy braids. Nilagay ko ang volleyball uniform namin sa bag ko at bumaba. I greeted Mom and Dad 'Good Morning' and went to take my seat. Bumaba naman si Hugh, we were quiet. Halata namang nagtataka sina Mom and Dad sa nangyari. After eating ay umalis agad kami.

Papalapit na kami sa mga kaibigan namin ay mula sa malayo, nakita ko si Jane na nakaupo sa tabi ni Kreia. Wala si Karsyn since she's preparing for the competition as well. Nang makita niya kami, specifically si Hugh ay masaya itong kumaway, at lumapit kay Hugh.

Girl, can't see me?

"Hi Vaughn, nagkita ulit tayo." Uminit ang ulo ko when she cheerfully circled her arm on Hugh's left arm. May maliit namang ngiti si Vaughn pagkakita kay Jane.

Ay, masaya siya oh. Sanaol happy.

Di man lang nag 'Hi' si Jane sa akin, si Hugh lang ang nakikita niya. Edi wow. Nilagpasan ko sila at umupo sa tabi ni Mika. Mika then looked at me as she watched me sat beside her at malalim na nagpakawala ng hininga.

"Ang lalim nun ah, parang feelings mo." My eyes widened at mabilis ko siyang nilingon when she suddenly quote. Namula naman ang mukha ko at agad na nag-iwas ng tingin when I felt my heart loudly pounded.

"What f-feelings are talking about?" What is she talking about? Me and Hugh? Impossible.

Nang malapit ng mag 2:00 pm ay sabay kaming nagpalit nina Katalina at Mika ng aming volleyball uniform. At my back of my uniform there's a number 2. Pumunta agad kami sa court and did the warm-up.

"Dana!" Napalingon ako and saw Dahlia, and Hugh. They came! Wala si Kreia, Nicholette, at Carter. Baka nasa competition ni Karsyn.

Tinawag kami ni Ate Leah, our captain, a grade 12 TVL student. We formed a circle as our heads are close to each other.

"Okay, girls. Who are we?" Leah as she started our chant.

"San Carlos Spikers!" We shouted, nilagay ni Leah ang kanang kamay sa gitna, sumunod naman kami, at sabay-sabay na nag chant ng 'USC', tas itinaas sa ere.

Pinagpatuloy namin ang pag warm-up. Naglakad ako papuntang bench para uminom ng tubig when I saw Jane giving chocolates to Hugh. Mabilis naman akong lumapit at kinuha ko ito mula sa kamay ni Hugh at chineck, it is a Ferrero Rocher. Napatigalgal naman si Jane as she looks at me returning her chocolate.

"Hugh's allergic to any type of nuts." Straight to the point kong saad. Nahiya naman si Jane at ilalagay sana ang chocolate sa kanyang bag ng biglang tumayo si Hugh at kinuha mula kay Jane ang chocolate. Gulat naman akong napabaling sa kanya.

It's nuts! What is he doing?

"No it's fine, Dana." He said and gently smiled at Jane. I saw Jane's face turned red. I felt my heart squeezed when he called me 'Dana', he never calls me 'Dana'. And he f*****g smiled! Why is he being like this?

"Oh, okay." Wala sa sarili kong saad, at dahan-dahang tumalikod. Ramdam ko ang pag-ipit ng aking puso, like something's stabbing on it, and it hurts. f**k!

Pumunta ako sa cr at pumasok sa isa sa mga cubicle. I then sat down on the toilet bowl after closing the lid. Mabilis kong hinabol ang aking hininga as my chest clenched. Ramdam ko ang masakit na pintig ng ang aking puso when my mind keeps on repeating how Hugh defended Jane from me.

Does he like her? Pero ang bilis naman ata?

Iniisip ko pa lang ay masakit na pumipintig ang aking puso. Why am 'I' being like this? I hate this feeling.

Bumalik ako sa court as soon as I calmed down. I saw Hugh and Jane chatting happily, mabilis kong iniwas ang aking tingin as I felt this raging emotions eating my insides.

Nagsimula ang open ceremony ng game. On my left side, I heard Jane happily singing along with the school hymn, while me on the other hand just wants her to shut the f**k up. Nakakairita ang boses niya.

"Number 2! Salvernon, Danaleigh." Agad akong naglakad palinya sa harapan ng mga USJR girls, na kalaban namin. Panghuling tinawag ang team captain namin, na si Ate Leah. We shake hands with the USJR girls, and the game then commences.

Unang magse-serve ang kalaban. The ball then went to the air, napunta iyon kay Mika na aming libero, na agad niyang pinasa sa akin na pinasa ko kay Katalina. Katalina set the ball towards Jane, and Jane spiked it. Masaya naman kami dahil kami ang unang nakapuntos, pero I just can't be fully happy. As I saw Jane happily looks at Hugh, while Hugh, with a smile is clapping his hands.

Nagsimula ang game ulit, ako ang magse-serve. As I hit the ball with my palm, my mind keeps on replaying about Jane and Hugh. Di ko napansin na kulang pala sa lakas ang pagkakatira ko sa bola, the ball didn't cross the net but instead, it hit the net itself. Masaya namang napasigaw ang USJR girls ng makapuntos dahil sa kapalpakan ko. Damn!

Di sinasadyang napunta ang tingin ko kay Hugh where I saw him curiously looking at me. I'm f*****g embarrassed. Since what happened I've been distracted, napansin naman nila Katalina at Mika iyon.

"Dan, are you okay? You've been distracted." Hinihingal na tanong ni Katalina. Mika gestured to her to stop. Right now, I'm not emotionally stable. My emotions are mixed and I just can't think straight. This is a problem.

Bigla akong niyakap ni Mika, which made me more emotional. I felt the tears threatening to fall.

"What you should do, is to collect yourself and beat her well." Biglang mahinang bulong ni Mika, natrigger naman ang competitive side ko. She's right.

I did what Mika said, I composed myself and chose to set aside all those feelings. I'm going to be the MVP of this game.

Maayos akong tumayo at naghandang magserve which made the USJR girls, on edge. My palms hit the ball, the ball then went to the air. They didn't move to receive the ball as the ball went on, napatigalgal sila ng tumama ang bola malapit sa linya ng court.

I smirked. One point, bitches.

Masaya akong napalingon kay Mika as Katalina happily shouted my name. Malaki ang ngiti ko sa labi. The game went on and it's now the 3rd set. I have been actively gaining points for myself and for our team. 25-24, isa na lang panalo na kami. I felt someone's stare but I ignored it.

Never again.

Naging seryoso ang game as the ball has been consistently on the air.

"Mine!" Sigaw ni Jane. Katalina set the ball towards Jane and Jane dumped it on the other side of the net. Panalo kami.

"The MVP of today's Intramurals competition is..." It is now announcing the mvp. I have a great feeling about this.

"Tuazon, Jane!" The confident smile slowly faded out of my lips.

W-What?

I felt myself crumbles, mabilis akong tumalikod dun. I felt someone chased me pero I just want be alone. Pumasok ako sa CR and calmed myself.

Nang maging kalmado na, natanggap ko na, it's just not my time. Lumabas ako sa CR at paliko na sana sa hallway pabalik ng court, when what I saw actually tore me apart.

Jane is happily hugging Hugh, habang si Hugh naman ay may masayang ngiti sa labi as he patted the back of Jane. Bago pa ako makita ni Hugh ay agad akong tumalikod.

This is so f****d up.

These so-called feelings.

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sshandi