Arch of the Centuries

10

VINCE’S POV

Nang matapos ang practice match ay binigyan kami ng five minutes break para magpahinga. Pagkatapos nito ay pinapila kaming lahat sa isang linya para mapili ang mga bagong recruit na members ng basketball team.

Habang nakapila lahat ay pinagmamasdan ni Coach ang bawat isang manlalaro. Dala-dala ang isang clipboard at ballpen, abot ang tingin nito mula ulo hanggang paa at tila ba may sinusulat sa papel na nakaipit sa clipboard.

“Bago ‘ko iannounce ang mga bagong members ng UST Growling Tigers, gusto ko munang magbigay ng pasasalamat sa bawat isang lumahok sa tryout na ito. Sa mga hindi mapapasama, better luck next time.”

“Also can I ask your inspirations or motivation kung bakit niyo gustong mapabilang sa team?”

“Let’s start with you.” he pointed to the first player in the line.

“For extra curricular points po.” sagot nito.

“How about you?” he asked pertaining to the second guy.

“Para po mas mag improve ang skills ko po.”

“Now you, Vince?,”

“What motivates you?”

I don’t want to open up, but that’s the real reason behind my hardworks,

“My big brother. He’s name is Ken Arthur Enriquez, the former basketball team captain of Growling Tigers. I promised him before that the next time he watch me play, captain na ‘ko ng former team niya.”

“Ken? You mean the one with a three small moles like triangle shape near the eyes?” tanong nito.

“Yes, Coach!” I answered. I was shocked, saktong-sakto yung description niya sa facial features ni Kuya.

“I will never forget that one player, kapag tumingin ka sa kanang mata niya makikita mo yung tatlong taling niyang triangle shape, but the thing that i will never forget is his style and play, it’s good to watch him because he enjoy playing.” pagkukwento nito.

“And I hope that all of you here will not think of basketball as a competition, but a sport you enjoy playing the most.” dagdag pa niya.

“Yes, Coach!” sigaw naming lahat.

“I like to commend both of you, you gave us a really good fight. So that’s why you Vince remind of someone, your footworks, style and even the shooting form is almost as identical with you brother.” he said pertaining to me and Lance.

“Maybe na adopt ko na po since me and Ken played basketball everyday.”

*Tumango si Coach*

“Okay so here’s the result of your tryout. Out of 20 participants, only 8 players passed the evaluation.”

“Mark Sanchez,David Salazar, Jay Reyes,

Shan Nico Lim and…”

While Coach is announcing the players who passed the tryout, a sudden call rang Vince’s phone.

Nagtaka ako ng makita ko ang pangalan ng taong tumatawag ng kunin ko ang phone ko sa bulsa. Why is Manang Ester calling? I didn’t expect that it’s her,since hindi naman siya malamit tumawag not unless it’s an emergency.

Hindi na ko nagdalawang isip pa at sinagot ko na agad ang tawag kahit posibleng mapansin ito ni Coach.

: Viel, si Marco sinugod namin sa Hospital. Nakita namin siyang walang malay sa hagdan.

That line struck him so hard, sa mismong oras na yon ay tanging kapatid na lamang ang laman ng isipan niya, wala na siyang pakialam sa kaniyang paligid gayun rin sa tryout nila. Kusang gumalaw ng mabilis ang paa niya at dali-daling tumakbo papalabas ng gymnasium.

“What happened?!” Nagtatakang tanong ng Coach nila.

Dahil sa katabi ni Lance si Vince kanina ay tila napakinggan nito ang ilang bahagi ng usapan ng dalawa.

“Coach, if I heard it right naaksidente raw po ang kapatid ni Vince at sinugod ito sa Hospital.” sagot ng binata.

“Pls, turn a blind eye on this one, Coach.” pagmamakaawa ni Renzo.

“ I understand, the last four members to complete the team are the group na late kanina.” he announced

Ikinatuwa ni Lance, Renzo at Drake ang anunsyong narinig nila subalit ang tatlo ay hindi makapagsaya dahil sa pagaalala kay Vince at sa bunsong kapatid nito.

“Basically, it’s you three Lance, Renzo and Drake, pakisabihan na rin Si Vince na pasok siya sa team.” he made it official.

“That’s all for todays tryout, thank you and welcome to UST’s Growling Tigers basketball team!” he concluded.

“ Thank you, Coach!”

****

LANCE’S POV

Matapos ang final announcement ay umupo muna ‘ko sa gilid kasama ang dalawang tropa at mamaya ay balak naming dumiretso na sa Hospital para samahan si Vince at dalahan ito ng mga kailangang gamit para kay Marco.

Habang nagpapahinga ay biglang may lumapit sakin na isang estrangherong babae at inabot nito sakin ang isang drink.

“Uhmm, what’s this?” nagtataka kong tanong.

“Pretty Steff?” banggit ko sa pangalang nakasulat sa drink.

“Ikaw ba ‘tong Steff?”

“Hindi po, pinapabigay lang po yan sakin nung babae kaninang nanonood sa inyo.” pagpapaliwanag nito.

“Parang kulang yan ng dalawang drinks? Pano naman kaming dalawa dito? Ano kami hangin? Wala ba kami dyan?” sunod-sunod na tanonh ni Drake.

“Wala po, yan lang po pinadala sakin, sa poging lalaki daw po na nakahubad iabot.” sagot nito.

“Am I joke to you? Dalawa kaming nakahubad oh.” tanong ni Drake, napangiti bahagya ang babae dahil sa tindi ng humor nito.

“Sige po, alis na po ko.”

“Iba ka talaga boss Lance,” ani ni Renzo.

“How to be you, Boss?” singit naman ni Drake.

‘Di ko na sila pinansin, sinubukan kong hanapin sa taas ng bench area ang babaeng nagbigay sakin ng iced white chocolate mocha drink na ‘to, Ito pa naman favorite ko. How did she know?

Unfortunately, hindi ko na mahanap pa ito dahil karamihan sa mga nanonood kanina ay umalis na rin agad after ng practice match.