Chapter Text
Lygel AU: breeze of solace
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Heavy breathing.. sweat all over my body as I try to focus myself to block her kanina pa s'ya nakaka lusot sa block minsan binabasag n'ya pa blockings ko.
“Angel.. Canino!” That was the last point.. ni Hindi ko man lang s'ya ma block ang lala naman nitong number 12.
After the game, the hand shake uttering compliment towards the opposing team... I couldn't stop myself na tumingin sa kanya malayo pa lang s'ya Hindi ko na ma iiwas ang mga mata ko.
And when she reached my position she gave me the brightest smile I have ever seen..
“Good game! Galing mo kanina!” her cheerful and soft voice echoed through my soul as if an Angel indeed opened the door of heavens for me to hear.
I smiled softly and nodded my head “Ikaw din ang hirap mo i-block” she immediately laughed and patted my shoulder as she walked past me.
After the game lahat kami nasa gilid at nagpapahinga muna may iba kausap yung Taga ibang team.
“Grabe ang hirap I-block nung Canino no?” AC who's half laughing and amaze utter beside me.
“Totoo naka ilang block attempt ako sa kanya parang Wala lang” Ac immediately nodded even gesturing gaano ka taas yung contact n'ya sa bola.
But our conversation was put into a pause when the girl we are talking about walked towards us…? Am I assuming o samin talaga s'ya lumalapit she's even waving and smiling brightly.
“hi! Ang galing n'yo kanina! Pinahirapan n'yo din kami ah!” She smile brightly as she cheerfully praise me and AC
“A-ah salamat!” I couldn't even utter my words properly “Ikaw din grabe ang hirap mo i-block parang Wala lang sa'yo na may blockers hahaha”
She laughed.. the laugh that will make you stop for a moment to glance at her.. to listen to enthusiasm. It feels like time has stopped as she excitedly talks to us.
Angel.. that was her name.. ironic how I just literally called her an Angel awhile ago.
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As I thought.. we will never cross paths again. But she remained on my mind. Naalala ko pa din kung gaano s'ya kabait at kasaya na nakipag kwentuhan samin ni AC na para bang tuwang tuwa s'ya na makipag interact samin na kalaban n'ya.
She even drag me para bumili ng siopao dahil masarap daw yung siopao sa labasan.
“Eto oh! Tikman mo promise! Masarap!” She cheerfully said as she gave it to me. Halos hindi ako mag salita pero okay lang sa kanya. Wala lang sa kanya.
Tumango ako habang nakangiti at tinikman yung siopao na sinasabi n'ya.. masarap nga. Halatang bagong luto dahil mainit init pa ito at mas nagulat ako ng sabihin n'yang home cooked daw yun nung nag bebenta. Kaya siguro gustong gusto n'ya kasi.. it feels like a comfort after a long day of sweating yourself off the game.
“So Anong pangalan mo? Kasi alam mo na pangalan ko ang daya naman kung ‘di ko alam yung iyo” I chuckled at her small whining.
“Lyann.. Lyann De Guzman”
“Ay teka! Ikaw yung sinasabi nilang magaling na kayang mag open hitter staka opposite wow!” Nagulat ako sa lakas ng boses n'ya na para bang gulat na gulat s'ya na ako nga yun.
Napa iling na lang ako at tumango.. tinuloy n'ya ang pagkukwento kung paano n'ya ako nakilalq sa pangalan. Wala akong ibang ginawa kundi ang pakinggan s'ya habang kinakain yung binigay n'ya sa'kin.
Nang matapos kami kumain ay bumalik na kami sa may court nakasalubong namin dun si Coach Reg.
“Uy Angel! Kilala mo na pala si Lyann nako yan yung sinasabi ko sa'yo na magaling mag laro din!” Agad naman tumango si Gel at hinila na ako pabalik sa loob.
Mga ilang minuto pang din ay tinawag na kami ng mga teammates namin kaya naman nag hiwalay na kami pero bago yun agad s'yang humarap sa akin at kumaway ng may ngiti sa mga labi n'ya.
“See you when I see you!”
And now we are facing each other in the highschool division of UAAP.. magkaharap kami ngayon sa net pero kitang kita ko ang ‘di n'ya mapigil na ngiti kaya kahit seryoso ako ay nahawa ako sa kanya.
After ng game lumapit s'ya sa'kin sa dugout.
“Naks Hindi ko in-e-expect na magkikita tayo ulit dito! Galing mo pa din ah!” I playfully roll my eyes on her and push her playfully.
“Sus Ikaw nga tong grabe mag laro kaya idol kita eh!” She pushed me back playfully as well..
We kept teasing each other until two of my teammates approached us.
“Ly Tara na daw!” Zey Immediately stopped walking near ng makita sino kausap ko at ng makita n'ya si Jean na papalapit agad n'ya kinaladkad habang tumatawa at pinipigilan makalapit pa samin.
“Oh mukhang tawag ka na! Sige sa susunod na lang babye! siopao!” Halos hindi ako makagalaw ng pisilin n'ya ang pisngi ko sabay alis matapos n'ya mag paalam.
Ilang beses pa kami nag kaharap sa uaap kaya naman ang madalas na pagkukwentuhan namin matapos ang laro ay napansin na ng mga ka teammates ko.
“Hi Angel! Si Lyann ba? Ayun nasa bench na inom lang ng tubig” dinig ko ang masiglang bati ni Jean kay Gel kaya naman agad akong lumingon sa direksyon n'ya at sinalubong ito ng ngiti.
“Uy! Gel, bakit andito ka pa? Nakalabas na ng dugout sina Lyka ah?” Tumawa lang ito at tumatalong lumapit sa'kin.
Agad n'yang hinila ang braso ko at masiglang nagsalita.
“Nakatanggap ka ba ng message?!! Yung sa national team!” Ah kaya pala. Agad akong tumango at s'ya namang pagtili n'ya sa tuwa. Tumatalon s'ya habang paulit ulit na hinihila ako.
Hinayaan ko lang s'ya.. hangang sa Hindi ata kinaya at hinihingal na napa-iling na lang ako at binigyan s'ya ng tubig ko pagkatapos I gently patted her back ensuring her and letting her calm down.
and suddenly thinking about being with her on this journey brings me excitement, as I look forward to everything that will happen to me with her.
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She's breathing so heavily that the coaches have to sub her out. I immediately went to her bringing my water so I could make her drink some.
“ Gel, Kalma lang ah kaya natin yan. Hinga ka muna okay?” I stood beside her making sure that she's alright and like I always do, I patted her back signalling the usual care shared for one another. A silent subtle touch of care that assures you, the one that brings calmness to your system. The type that will eventually defeat any anxiousness or even discomfort you're feeling.
Nakatingin lang s'ya sa'kin pero ng gawin ko yun she immediately smiled at me patting me back.. we don't need too many words to express how much we have grown to care for each other. Even without me saying I know she knows how much I care for her the same way she does to me.
Na kahit yung simpleng tango at tigtig namin ay alam na namin ang gusto sabihin ng isa't isa. We have this deep and silent connection that no one could ever deny.
“Gel hinga muna hinga!” I utter to her softly holding her waist and later on patting it. Naka time out kami ngayon at dahil five setter game so she's so eager but I need her to remember to breathe and calm herself.
“Oo, Gel kalma lang tayo kaya natin to!” Bella utter as she looked at Angel as well.
Gel nodded but I know she's still filled with anxiousness to finish the game. I silently held her hand.. squeezing it a bit to let my comfort for her sip through.
She immediately calmed down with that touch. As if her body remembers and has memorized every each non-verbal conversation we have.
"Bud, thank you! Lagi kang nandyan pag kailangan ko ng kaibigan!" I playfully give her a eye brow raise which she immediately lead to her hitting my arms playfully.
"Aray ang sakit nun ah! Ganyan ka Gel, ina-aalagaan ka na nga inaaway mo pa ako" pabiro kong tampo sa kanya kaya naman tumawa lang ito at umiling sa pinagsasabi ko.
I watched her as she concentrate to watching the game.
Thinking to myself that if other universe exists, I would do anything to find her in each one of it. Because this friendship of ours is worth every universe I'll step into. I will never trade it for anything else in this lifetime and in every lifetime there is.