1894 AND A DAY

Val's Rescue

“I am not gonna say it again, but if anyone here who wants to quit, might as well do it now.” Cali gave the newbies a stern look.

Ito ang una niyang pagkakataon as a senior na maging mentor ng mga bagong members. As a black belter, hindi rin biro ang mga pinagdaanan niyang disiplina para lang maging two-time gold medalist sa Association of Hispanic Colleges and Universities Olympics sa buong bansa.

“Taekwondo isn’t for everyone. It’s way beyond physical strength. It’s a discipline that bounds body and spirit,” Cali continued as he walked in a slow pace at sinusuyod ng kaniyang mga mata ang mukha at tindig ng mga ito.

“You are not here to just have fun, and most especially, you are not here dahil lang may gusto kayong patunayan.” Huminto ito sa tapat ni Val.

Naka-sideview si Cali pero alam ni Val na sa sulok ng mga mata nito ay sa kaniya ito nakatingin at hindi rin malayong siya ang pinariringgan nito. He didn’t know how to react lalo pa at paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa utak niya ang sinabi nito.

“It annoys me everytime you act like we’re friends and it annoys me even more the way you act weak and vulnerable. You’re a total loser.”

Hindi niya mapigilang huminga nang malalim para lang maalis sa isip niya ang mga sinabi nito. How can he ever improve himself kung ngayon pa lang ay mababa na ang tingin nito sa kaniya. Pagbaba niya sa bus nang araw na ‘yon ay sinabi niya sa sarili na hindi na ito muling kukulitin pa.

Cali faced them again and this time ay hindi na siya muling nagsalita. He was waiting for anyone na magtataas ng kamay pero nabigo siya. Nobody was willing to back-out. He looked at Val na tahimik lamang na nakatayo at diretso ang tingin. Halata sa mga mata nito ang lungkot. Hindi niya maintindihan pero there was something inside him na gusto niya itong lapitan. Ngayon ay pinipilit niyang umakto na tulad ng dati pero paminsa-minsan ay hindi niya maiwasang titigan ang maamong mukha nito at alon-alon nitong buhok.

When everybody was instructed to introduce themselves ay walang nangahas na magpakilala—not even Val. Hindi siya sigurado sa idea na mauuna siyang tumayo para ipakilala ang sarili so he stayed silent. But Cali looked at him and noticed his expression.

“Maybe we should start with Mr. Constelo,” sabi nito.

Everybody looked at Val. Bahagya naman siyang nabigla sa tinuran ni Cali. Hindi niya alam kung sarcastic ba ito o sinadya niya lamang na siya ang unang tawagin.

“Bakit ako?” tanong niya sa sarili.

Tumingin muna siya sa mga kasama niya bago siya dahan-dahang humakbang sa unahan. Nang makalapit na siya sa kinatatayuan ni Cali tiningnan niya ito nang diretso pero hindi na ito nakatingin sa kaniya. Binaba niya ang kaniyang tingin at huminga nang malalim. He was facing the other trainees and on his right side ay magkatabing nakatayo sina Cali at Rave. The deafening silence seemed like everybody had been waiting for him to speak.

“Hi, everyone! I’m Valdis Constelo. I’m a freshman student from the Faculty of Arts and Design.” Saglit siyang huminto at pilit na ngumiti bago nagpatuloy. “I used to be… alone. I don’t have friends,” he said and looked at Cali who was also gazing at him. Their eyes met but for Val, it was the same cold eyes na malaya niyang napagmasdan nang nasa loob sila ng bus.

“A lot of people think of me as a weak person. But, I believe that I can improve myself and I will have good friends also. I am glad to meet you all.”

Val went back to his position after he introduced himself but Cali seemed unbothered, naka-cross ang arms at blangko ang ekspresyon. Hindi alam ni Val kung narinig man lang ba nito ang mga sinabi niya.

He felt so tired. Hindi pa man nagsisimula ang training ay parang wala na siyang lakas. While everybody had been introducing themselves he was staring at Cali the whole time. He couldn’t understand kung bakit hindi man lang niya kinakitaan ng kaunting concern man lang. After a few moment, he went for his bag sa bench and realized na wala pa pala siyang dobok. Hindi niya man lang ito naisip when he dicided na mag-join sa team. He stayed sitting there while watching the other newbies na papunta na sa restroom para magpalit.

“How can you be so negligent, Val?” he whispered to himself.

Hindi niya alam ang kaniyang gagawin dahil hindi naman puwede sa training ang hindi nakasuot ng dobok.

Mula naman sa kinatatayuan ni Cali ay tahimik niyang pinagmamasdan si Val. Nakatingin lamang ito sa mga kasama niya. Alam niyang wala itong gagamitin sa training kaya hindi ito umaalis sa kaniyang kinauupuan.

Naisip niyang pahiramin ito ng extra niyang dobok. He scanned his bag at mula doon ay kinuha niya ang uniform na maayos ang pagkakatupi. Hawak na niya ito sa kaniyang mga kamay at lalapitan na niya sana si Val when he saw Rave na papalapit dito.

Rave handed him his extra uniform. Nakangiti naman si Val na tinanggap ito. Napahinto siya sa ginawa ng kaibigan and when he realized na nakatayo pa rin siya habang hawak ang uniform na ipahihiram niya sana kay Val ay dali-dali niya itong binalik sa kaniyang bag. He didn’t know how to handle the embarrassment kung sakaling may makakita sa kaniya sa ganoong sitwasyon.

“What are you doing, Cali?” himutok niya sa sarili.

Padabog niyang isinara ang kaniyang bag. He acted a little desperate and guilty ngayong na-realize niya na hindi niya dapat pinagsalitaan ng ganoon si Val. Hinimas niya ng kanang kamay ang kaniyang batok habang nakapamulsa naman ang kaliwa at bumuntong-hininga.

Hindi niya napansin na nakalapit na pala sa kaniya ang kaibigang si Rave.

“I think, they’re now ready,” sabi nito na nakatingin sa mga trainees.

Cali looked at Val and scrutinized the way his belt was tied. He then noticed that it wasn’t done correctly.

Napansin naman ni Val na nakatitig sa kaniya si Cali. Nakalagay sa likuran nito ang kaniyang mga kamay. Maya-maya pa ay dahan-dahan itong lumapit at huminto sa harapan niya. Sinuyod ng mga mata nito ang kaniyang kabuuan hanggang sa tumigil ito sa kaniyang puson.

Napakunot ng noo si Val nang mapansing nakatitig pa rin ito sa bahaging iyon.

“You’re wearing it wrong,” said Cali matapos titigan nang matagal ang belt na suot niya.

“What?” naguguluhang tanong niya.

“I said, your belt. You’re wearing it wrong.”

Ibinaba niya ang kaniyang tingin sa belt na suot nito at nakitang hindi nga ganoon ang pagkakatali niya rito. Maayos at malinis itong tingnan ganoon din ang ibang trainees.

Hahawakan na sana niya ang suot na belt upang ayusin nang maunahan siya nito at bigla siyang hinila na dahilan upang magkalapit ang kanilang mga mukha. Nakatitig ito sa kaniya, pero hindi katulad ng ekspresyon nito kanina ay kakaibang emosyon ang nais ipahiwatig nito.

“What is it? Does he feel sorry for what he said to me?” tanong niya sa sarili.

Cali slowly untied the belt na bahagyang nakayuko kaya amoy na amoy niya ang mabangong buhok nito. He acted like he didn’t feel embarrassed for what he did kahit na pansin niyang pinagtitinginan sila ng iba niyang mga kasama. Rave was also looking at them intently.

Matapos tanggalin ay muli itong tinali nang maayos ni Cali then left him upang bumalik sa dati nitong kinatatayuan.

The training started with a lot of stretching. If Val could be honest, hindi ito ang inaasahan niya. What he had in mind was merely all forms of cool kicks gaya ng mga nakikita niya sa video at taekwondo competition. He wouldn’t argue when Cali said that it is more than just physical strength but a discipline.

They were soon asked to do the stretching by pair. Sa pagkakataong ito ay kailangang ipatong ang kanang paa sa balikat ng nakaupong partner habang dahan-dahan naman itong tatayo. Val felt so nervous. Pakiramdam niya ay unti-unting napupunit ang pagitan ng dalawa niyang hita. He couldn’t endure the pain anymore. But, thinking of Cali ay pinilit niyang tiisin ang sakit.

“I don’t want him to call me weak anymore,” sigaw ng utak niya.

His partner finally fully erected which caused him much more pain. Nasa level na ng kaniyang ulo ang kaniyang tuhod kaya mas lalong sumidhi ang sakit na nararamdaman niya.

While Cali was assisting the other trainees ay pasulyap-sulyap naman siya kay Val. He noticed that he was struggling but still looked determined na magawa ito nang maayos. After a few moments, napansin niyang bigla na lamang itong bumagsak sa sahig at sumisigaw habang hawak ng dalawang kamay ang kaniyang right leg.

Nakaramdam ng pag-aalala si Cali at mabilis na lumapit kay Val but before he could reach him ay nandoon na si Rave upang tulungan ito. Huminto na lamang siya at pinanood ang ginagawa nito. He could have felt relieved that Rave was there to give him first aid but he wasn’t, na mas lalo niyang kinainis sa sarili.

“How can he try so hard kung hindi niya naman pala kaya. Paano kung ma-injure siya?” himutok niya sa sarili.

Watching Rave while gently straightening Val’s leg made him uncomfortable. Deep inside him ay parang may kumikirot na hindi niya maintindihan. He never felt this strange feeling before na mas lalong niyang kinaiinis.

After a while ay lumapit na rin siya to check for Val habang nakaupo pa rin ito sa sahig at hawak ni Rave ang kaniyang paa.

“You could have taken a break kung hindi mo na kaya, or else you can quit,” Cali said in a serious tone.

Nag-angat naman ng kaniyang mukha si Rave at nagulat sa sinabi ng kaibigan.

“Why do you have to speak like that to a newbie?” tanong ni Rave.

“How can we train someone who doesn’t even help himself?” tanong naman nito.

Napayuko si Val after he heard what Cali said. Masakit pa rin ang right leg niya pero mas masakit na marinig niya ulit ang words of distrust sa boses nito.

“I’m sorry,” he said na nakayuko pa rin.

“For what? What are you sorry for?” seryosong tanong ni Cali.

Dahan-dahang nag-angat ng mukha si Val.

“I am sorry for being weak and vulnerable,” saad niya habang nakatitig sa mukha ni Cali.

Hindi naman agad ito nakasagot. The expression he was seeing from Val’s face was the same with that day na bumaba ito sa Riverpark Bridge. He was very innocent and honest.

“I’m sorry if I interrupted the training. I know that I always mess up. But trying hard is the only way I know to improve myself. So, I’m sorry.” Bahagyang nabasa ng luha ang gilid ng mga mata ni Val sa kaniyang sinabi.

“You don’t have to say sorry to me. You say sorry to your team mates,” sagot ni Cali na pinipilit buuhin ang boses.

Nagbaba ng kaniyang tingin si Val at dahan-dahang tumayo. Pinilit niyang igalaw ang kanang paa kahit ramdam niya pa rin ang sakit. Nakapalibot at nakatingin naman sa kaniya ang mga kasama niya.

“I’m sorry,” paulit-ulit niyang sabi habang nakayukod.

Val can feel too much pressure from the training. Isa pang dahilan ay sobra siyang naapektuhan sa sinabi ni Cali. Maybe he was right, hindi dahil may gusto siyang patunayan ay enough na ito para mag-join siya sa team.

But Val also wanted a shift, a leap from the things he was used to and to try new things. He realized na hindi niya dapat kinakahon ang sarili niya sa kung anong iniisip sa kaniya ng ibang tao. This was the right opportunity for him to prove that he can do something.

While watching Val apologizing to his team mates, Cali could feel that he was really a kind hearted person and very innocent. The way his wavy hair bounced back and forth as he bowed his head made him realized that he should not have treated him harshly. But now that he crossed the line, how can he make up for the rude words he said to him?