Chapter 2: Prologue
"Hello, Kuya?" Tawag ko sa kabilang linya ng telepono. "Can I hire you to be the engineer of my restaurant?"
"Kailan ba sisimulan? I have a lot on my plate right now." Sagot n'ya.
"Sobrang tagal pa naman." Sabi ko. "I think, five years from now."
He chuckled. "Five years from now? Seriously?"
I rolled my eyes though he couldn't see it. "I was just wondering if you could be the engineer of it. Just tell me if you couldn't,"
"Sure, I will. Kapatid mo ata 'tong pinakamahusay na engineer. Not to mention na may good looks pa,"
I snorted. "Ang kaso, walang girlfriend."
"Foul,"
I laughed before ending the call. I am planning to build my own restaurant. I'm tired of being bossed around.
I took a break in the kitchen and decided to temporarily work as a sport coach. Though it is still early to plan for my restaurant, pinaplano ko na para makapag-budget na ako ng gagastusin.
"Kez, magluluto ba ako ng ulam for lunch? Uuwi ka ba mamaya?" Tanong ni Penelope, kaibigan ko, bago pa man ako makalabas ng bahay namin.
I immediately shook my head. "'Wag na, hindi rin naman makakain kapag ikaw ang nagluto. Plus, hindi ako uuwi mamaya."
She rolled her eyes. "Tangina mo."
I laughed. "Bye!"
Sumakay ako sa kotse ko papuntang Ateneo. Nang makarating ako, dumiretso muna ako sa office ko para i-check ang profiles ng aking mga estudyante.
"Coach, breakfast po?" Tanong ni Ryle, assistant ko.
"No, I had my breakfast already." I lied. "Thank you,"
I'm too busy to even take a bite. Masyado akong napatagal ng gising kanina kaya nawalan ako ng time para kumain.
"Sige po, Coach. Ipapa-line up ko na sila,"
I nodded. "Okay, thank you."
I browsed through my students' profiles. Tinitignan ko kung sino-sino ang dati nang may experience sa track and field at kung sino naman ang wala para alam ko kung sino ang dapat kong pagtuunan ng pansin.
Kakasimula pa lang kasi ng school year, which means new batch of track and field team.
Nang matapos, kinuha ko na ang cap ko at pumunta sa field. I'm wearing my sports uniform. Nang makarating ako roon, nakahilera na agad ang mga students ko.
"Good morning," bati ko.
"Good morning, Coach!" Bati nila pabalik.
"I will introduce to you first the rules and regulations of this sport," panimula ko.
"In all races run in lanes, all competitors shall keep within his/her allocated lane from start to finish. If a competitor is pushed or forces by another competitor to run outside his/her lane, and if no material advantage is gained, the competitor should not be disqualified."
"If an athlete will either run outside his/her lane in the straight or runs outside the outer lane on the bend, with no material advantage thereby being gained, and if no other runner is obstructed, then the competitor shall not be disqualified."
I'm showing them examples and demonstrations on how to deal with the rules and regulations of being a runner — track and field. I am a sport coach in my alma mater, Ateneo de Manila University.
"Runners should—"
"Miss Lim! Miss Lim!" Napalingon ako nang may tumawag sa akin. "Someone is injured! Hindi maayos ang pagkahinto n'ya sa pagtakbo at—"
"Then what are you waiting for?! Call the medics immediately!" Natataranta kong sabi at agad pinuntahan ang estudyante kong nakahiga na sa sahig at iniinda ang sakit ng paa.
"Wala pong nurses sa campus, but there's a visitor po—a doctor."
"I don't care kahit karpentero pa ang ibigay mo sa akin basta I need someone to help me here!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Naiinis akong tumingin sa kan'ya dahil dada s'ya nang dada e nahihirapan na ang babae rito sa harap ko.
"Where's the patient?"
I stiffened after hearing a familiar voice.
"Dito po, Doctor Padilla!"
Padilla.
Hindi, nagkakamali lang ako. Posible naman sigurong pareho lang sila ng boses, trabaho, at apelyido, 'di ba?
"Excuse me, miss." Hindi pa rin ako lumilingon at tinuon lang ang tingin ko sa pasyente.
"Uhm—" He stopped talking when he saw who he is talking right now. Kanina kasi, natatabunan ng buhok ko ang mukha ko.
Tumayo na ako at hinayaan na s'ya roon. He was stiff for a minute pero agad ding gumalaw nang makabawi.
He's wearing a white shirt with a heartbeat minimalist sign printed on it. He paired it with a gray jagger and white sneakers. Halatang hindi s'ya lumabas para sa trabaho.
He really changed a lot.
And of course, madami ring nagbago sa akin.
Kung dati ay mahal ko s'ya, ngayon, hindi na.
Napairap ako habang tinitingnang ginagamot n'ya ang paa ng babae.
He couldn't even mend our relationship way back then, so, why bother thinking na maaayos n'ya ang paa ng babaeng 'yan?
"She's okay. There's just a mild fracture in her ankle. It needs rest for now." Sabi n'ya at pinaalalay si Andrea, 'yong student ko na na-injure, at dinala sa clinic sa labas ng campus.
Oh well, mild fracture can be mended by anyone but a serious problem in a relationship cannot.
My brows furrowed when our eyes met.
I hid my smile when i felt nothing kahit na nakatingin na s'ya sa akin.
Well, man, i cannot love a cheater once again.
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