The morning rose and stared at my face as I slowly got up.
The festivities at our university are starting today, my head held high for the event that I will be participating in.
When I glanced to the side, there was no one there. Our family has only one room we use, so they must be already up and ready to go to their respective work.
"You're already awake," My mother suddenly arrived by the door, though it's a hole in the wall that's taken the shape of a door.Ā
Our home was not finished even though it has been years since the foundation of this house, nevertheless the happiness I felt in this house never let me feel down by the state of our home.
Though cleaning the empty rooms flooded by the rain is quite annoying.
"Your father and sister are already in line for the bathroom, and you've just woken up! Hurry up if you don't want to be late in school."
'Late?' I thought.
When was I not even late in waking up? It's my father that always let me arrive in the campus in the nick of time.Ā
"Got it," I said before standing up and heading downstairs.
Let us skip the boring part and just say I rushed it all; eating, bathing and dressing up.
Today's the start of the intramural festivities so not being in a uniform takes a lot from dressing up.Ā
My class has a game today that I was participating in so I made sure I brought my cleats and all.
As soon as I arrived at the campus, I immediately went to the gathering place for all students, the covered courts.
Seeing as the time was already at 7:00 it was no wonder that quite a few students had already arrived at the venue.
I searched for a seat in my class and waited there until the opening ceremony had finally concluded.
Almost all opening ceremonies of sports-related events are similar.
A torch-bearer running throughout the oval and lighting up another unlit torch by the other side to properly start the program.Ā
Following some formal message by the higher ups of the education, though truthful speaking, students most likely don't listen to long speeches unless they're attracted by certain sentences, phrases or words.
After the ceremony concluded, they let us leave to our respective rooms to prepare for the games to follow.
"I'll not delay this any longer seeing that all of you are looking pretty excited," Lizo slammed the table and said, giving the rest of the students some adrenaline rush.
Of course, I'm included. My heart was beating so fast and my feet were ready to run at the moment's notice.Ā
It didn't take some time before the tournament bracket was given and the few of us that had a game already, rushed to change clothes.
I went to the comfort room with my bag in my hand and immediately changed into our jersey, with me being my teammates.
"Just properly guard the goal keeper." Our captain said to the selected goalkeeper.
"Defenders, don't let the ball get past you, Me and Gab will try to score against them. Just do all of your roles and we will win," Our captain continued.
We hurried up changing into our jersey and proceeded to the field.
The field was as fresh as I recall. We played around here every lunch and dismissal, but seeing the grass field maintained and cut for the intrams felt brand new.
"Let's go," I said as I saw the referee calling us out since our opponent was already there.
I was shocked when I saw which team our opponent was since one of my friends was there.
"May the best man win," Mike said with a smile as he offered a handshake. I didn't decline and also said the same thing. Though I want to win, I also want to play a fair and just match.
After a few seconds the officials started the match, we all went to our different positions with Nan and me at the forefront.
With the blow of the whistle, the kick off started and we made a rush towards the other side.
The defenders off the other side were quite adequate and with the support of the forwards, they were able to steal the ball. These repeated with the ball rallying between both our teams.
That is until the opponent saw a crack in our defense and immediately slipped in. As soon as their forward got into a possible scoring place, he shot his shot.
Together with the whistle of the referee, they were able to land a goal on us.
It left an unimaginable pain in my heart, I couldn't explain it nor could I move from where I am standing.
It's not though my life is over, nor was I playing for the country. It was just a simple game from an intramural event, there was no need to think deeply. But the more I stared at the ball inside the net, the more it felt heavy.Ā
Why wouldn't it be, I really tried my very best.
I controlled my emotions until we shook all our hands.
"Good game! That was really close," Mike reached out his hand.
I accepted with a faint smile and as our opponent left the field with cheerful demeanor, our team left with tiredness and sadness.
I took up an empty spot below a tree for some shading. I bawled my eyes out quietly, it was a really disheartening match. I tried opening my mouth but no words came out, only tears from my eyes.
It took quite a few minutes before I calmed myself down. I searched for my water bottle and poured the contents onto my head so I could mask my red eyes and tears.Ā
I met my teammates as I was walking away from the field.
"Did you cry?" Someone asked.
"No, why would I? It was quite refreshing so I poured my water bottle onto my head," I explained.
"Is that so? HAHA of course you're not crying, it's just a game. We'll stay here and watch the volleyball girls' matches." My teammate laughed and waved goodbye.
I continued walking but the words my teammate told me and his feelings left a wound in my heart.
Him not even having a little bit of regret, just even a little made me feel uneasy. Was soccer this much simple for them?
Questions and emotions bothered me as I walked; without me noticing I arrived at our room.
I quickly got my clothes and headed to the restroom to change into my civilian outfit.
After getting back to the room, I decided to roam around.
In the canteen.
I saw our president with pieces of paper in her hands.
I called for her and asked, "What are those for?"
"Oh, Gab. Didn't you know that the futsal girls are playing right now."
"Oh?," I was so preoccupied that I forgot their match was right after our match.
"Let's go and watch," Gil said, as she led me to the futsal court.
The match was currently ongoing.
Amidst the players running around the court, there was one that caught my eye. I have never specifically taken notice of my classmates but when I saw her I felt relieved. The seriousness in her eyes reminded me that there will be someone who'll take the game they play seriously.
I focused on the match, I don't know if she had really played before but her play is alright compared to the other players.
As I watching the match Gil called out for me asking, "Who do you think is the best player in ur team?"
I think for a few seconds before answering, "Rosalie, maga-"
Before I could continue, Gil interrupted me saying,Ā "Maganda siya?"
My face flushed red, "What? I meant she's good at playing, I didn't mean it that way. You're putting words in my mouth.
With a grin on her face Gil said as she handed me a paper with Rosalie's name, "Sureā¦sure, Let's just say she's just good at playing, but she's pretty right?"
"Yeah, I can't deny that." It was an honest and innocent smile but it might've been the sprout of a long year.
ā¦
In a bar
"That's the story of my first love! Though I wasn't reciprocated, that scene always goes back in my mind." An old man said to the bartender.
"You always have a story to tell when you go here," Michael smiled.Ā
Michael is the bartender in this bar the old man frequently visited. The old man always tells him all kinds of stories he knows that the old man's story is fabricated.
"Of course, I can't just drink without letting any words come out from my mouth"
"You say that it's your story but you don't play soccer and your first love is your wife right now, I don't even know if you're really telling me the story of your life or someone else." Michael sighed.
"What do you know, it's my story not yours," The old man harrumphs.
"Okā¦ok, Let's continue this next time, it's quite late already. Your wife is sure to come here if you stay any longer." Michael reminded me.
"Ok then, I'll be sure to tell you another story next time, lover-less bartender." The old man laughed.
Michael just smiled at the old man's back as he left the bar.