Chapter 2: Question
'Pero saan ba ako makakapagtanong tungkol sa pagsali sa basketball?' Aria thought, briefly considering her options before her gaze settled on the men's basketball varsity team.
"Baka nandito rin ang coach nila, tingnan natin," Aria murmured to herself as she scanned the gym. Her eyes landed on a man in his forties, offering advice to the players on the bench.
'I think siya na 'yun, the men's basketball coach. I'll ask him,' Aria concluded, feeling a surge of determination as she made her way closer to the coach.
"Excuse me po, kailan po ba ang tryouts para sa women's basketball varsity?" Aria inquired, addressing the men's basketball coach.
The coach turned towards Aria, a friendly smile spreading across his features. "Ah, magkakaroon ng tryouts para sa women's basketball varsity thursday next week," he replied, his voice warm and encouraging.
Aria's eyes sparkled with excitement at the news. "Talaga po? Thank you po, Coach!" she exclaimed, gratitude evident in her tone.
The coach nodded, offering Aria a supportive nod, before turning his attention back to the players. Aria thanked the coach once more before stepping back to allow him to resume his duties.
As she made her way back to her spot in the gym, a surge of excitement coursed through her veins. The prospect of trying out for the women's basketball varsity team filled her with a sense of determination and anticipation.
As Aria returned to her seat, she found Marcus waiting for her with an eager expression.
"Did you find out about the tryouts?" Marcus asked, his eyes shining with curiosity.
Aria nodded enthusiastically, unable to contain her excitement. "Yes! The men's Coach said they're happening next week. I can't wait!" she exclaimed, a grin spreading across her face.
Marcus's smile mirrored Aria's enthusiasm. "That's awesome! I'll definitely be rooting for you," he said, offering her a supportive fist bump.
"Thanks, Marcus! Your support means a lot to me," Aria replied, touched by his words.
As the day went on, Aria found herself drifting through her classes, her mind consumed by thoughts of the upcoming tryouts for the women's basketball varsity team. Each subject began with introductions and syllabus discussions, but Aria's attention remained fixated on the opportunity that lay ahead.
After her last class of the day, Aria made her way back to her condo. As she settled into her cozy living room, she decided to give her mom a call to share the exciting news.
"Hi, Mom," Aria greeted, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Hi, Aiyah. How's your first day of classes going?" her mom replied, her tone warm and caring.
"It's going well, Mom. I already made some friends, Emily and Marcus. They're great friends po," Aria replied with a smile.
"But may sasabihin po ako Mom... I found out there's going to be tryouts for the women's basketball varsity team next week, and I'm thinking of giving it a shot," Aria explained, her heart pounding with anticipation.
Her mom's response was a mixture of pride and concern. "That's wonderful, Aiyah! I'm so proud of you for wanting to pursue your passion for basketball. But remember, your studies should always come first," she said, her voice gentle but firm.
Aria nodded, her mom's words resonating with her. "Alam mo naman ako Mom, you know how efficient I am haha."
Aria continued, "I promise I'll keep up with my studies. Basketball is important to me, but so is my education," she assured her, determination lacing her voice.
As the conversation drew to a close, Aria's heart swelled with love and gratitude for her family. "Take care, Mom. And please send my regards to ate Aliyah, kuya Anton, and my furbaby Poka," she said warmly, her voice filled with affection.
"I will, aiyah. And don't forget to keep me updated about the tryouts. Prioritize your studies okay?" her mom replied.
"Definitely, Mom. I'll let you know how it goes. Love you," Aria said, her words tinged with warmth and affection.
"Love you too, my baby aiyah. Take care," her mom replied, before they exchanged their final goodbyes and ended the call.
With a contented smile, Aria leaned back against the cushions of her sofa.
'Oh yeah.. maam Sincero already given us an assignment.. Pick 1 historical monument and use colors' Aria stood up from the sofa as soon as she remembered their assignment which was due tomorrow.
"Aria's Motto: Never cram a plate! para makatulog pa naman ako," Aria exclaimed and started gathering her laptop and art materials.
Aria opened her laptop to look for various historical monuments. Her gaze lingered on the majestic beauty of the Taj Mahal. Its graceful domes, intricate marble carvings, and shimmering reflection in the pool captured her in an instant.
"Taj Mahal it is. Wokie, I'll start na," Aria whispered under her breathe.
2 Hours passed and Aria finally finished her history in architecture assignment.
'Not bad but could have been better,' Aria thought as she observed her art intently.
It was good, perhaps even great by some standards, but to Aria, it still fell short of capturing the true essence and beauty of the monument that had captured her heart. With a sense of accomplishment tinged with lingering uncertainty, Aria finally set aside her drawing materials and decided to take a well-deserved break.
To unwind, Aria indulged in one of her guilty pleasures: watching basketball TikToks. For the next thirty minutes, she lost herself in a whirlwind of slam dunks, buzzer beaters, and jaw-dropping crossovers, the videos providing a welcome distraction from the pressures of her day.
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