Chapter 8
*Sportsfest Day**
"Let's goooo Juniors!" malalakas na sigaw ang sumalubong saaming mga players sa aming headquarters. Everyone was so happy and excited for this sportsfest na halos 2 buwan na pinaghandaan.
We already finished the annual parade kasama ang lahat ng students at participants ng event, and right now we are just waiting for the announcement of our 1st game.
"Goshhh it's so hot" reklamo ko habang hawak ang jisu fan ko. Nakaupo na kami sa isang sulok at may nakahanda ng snacks sa mesa. Marami na rin na players ang nandito at kumakain dahil maaga pa para magstart ang mga games.
"Teh nakafull make up ka ba naman ???" i rolled my eyes at Sage na katabi ko. Si Jill mamaya pa atang hapon while Amara is at the Student Council office doing some paperworks.
"Ano oras game niyo Sera?" Marga asked me after she sipped on her Lemon Juice.
"Magbubunutan pa mamaya if sino ang first game. Pinapapunta kami sa auditorium ng 1pm" sagot ko
"Okayyy manonood kami kaya galingan mo ha" tumango nalang ako dahil kinakabahan na ako sa totoo lang.
Today, though, everything felt different. There was something electric in the air as the school was gearing up for the much-awaited sports competition. Serafine quickly grabbed her phone, feeling a little rush of excitement as she typed a quick message to Max.
Serafine: "Hey Max, good luck sa game mamaya! Manonood ako, kaya galingan mo!"
She smiled at the screen, Malamang max manonood talaga ako dahil baka magkalaban pa nga tayo. imagining Max’s reaction. She was always so focused during games, but she couldn't help but feel a little mischievous today. She had a feeling—just a hunch—that today’s game was going to be intense. The whole school had been buzzing about the Juniors vs. Seniors matchup, and as she hit send, Serafine couldn’t help but laugh to herself.
Pagsapit ng 1pm, pumunta na kami ng teammates ko sa field. Napakaraming tao sa auditorium, maraming may dalang banner, tarps maski lobo na kakulay ng kada year level. May nakita pa akong tarp ni Maxiene! Famous nga talaga haha
"Team, get ready 1st game kayo versus seniors" lahat ay shocked. We know na magaling ang seniors at wala kaming chance manalo pero malay naman natin di ba.
Bago ako sumali sa stretchings, chineck ko muna ang cellphone ko kung may message ba galing kay Max. There was 2 messages actually the other one was from Hero.
Hero:Goodluck sa game Aleyah, I'm always cheering for you :)
His message made me smile. Alam kong proud siya saakin at bumalik ako sa sport na kinalakihan naming dalawa.
Maxiene: Thanks Ms. happy pill!! Nood ka ha talaga ikaw lucky charm ko eh. First game kami btw, pag nanalo kami baka naman magpakilala ka na? hehe
Serafine couldn't help but chuckle at Maxiene's playful message. Her heart skipped a beat as she read the last part. Magpakilala? Her cheeks turned a little pink at the thought of it. She quickly typed a response, trying to keep it cool but feeling a little giddy inside.
Serafine: "Hahaha Max! Don't worry, I'll be watching. If you win, maybe I’ll consider it. 😉"
She hit send and immediately looked up, seeing her teammates getting into position, ready for their first game against the Seniors. Her heart was racing now—not just because of the game, but because of the excitement that Max’s message had stirred up.
The match was about to start, and despite the nerves crawling up her spine, Serafine felt a rush of adrenaline. This was it. This was what they'd been working for. She stood up and joined the team, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of Max and focus.
"Alright team, we got this!" Coach D and Alysa said in Unison, trying to pump everyone up as they huddled together.
As they walked out the right side of the court, the roar of the crowd filled the air, and Serafine caught sight of a few familiar faces in the stands. There was Jill waving at her with Sage and Marga, and Amara sitting beside the Student Council crew, clapping and cheering. Her eyes scanned the crowd for any sign of Hero, but there were too many people.
It was time. Game on.
Isa-isa na kaming humilera katapat ang seniors at nag-apir. When it's my turn with Max ngumiti siya and she mothed the word "goodluck" i nodded and smiled back.
The whistle blew, and the ball was in play. Despite the daunting challenge of facing the Seniors, Serafine’s focus sharpened. She ran harder, moved quicker, and gave her all in every pass, every block, every shot. It wasn’t just about winning anymore—it was about proving to herself that she could rise to the challenge.
Serafine noticed Max’s intense demeanor from the other side of the court, her face as still and focused as ever. They won the first set and she knows mas lalo pang magseseryoso ang Seniors. Serafine could feel the tension in the air. The way Max held herself—almost like she was always in control, despite what was happening behind the scenes—was something Serafine admired. It reminded her why Max was the team captain and why everyone had so much respect for her.
As the game continued, Serafine found herself more immersed in the rhythm of the match. Her mind was no longer clouded with doubts. The crowd's cheers were a distant hum as she locked in on the game, her movements sharp and precise. Every pass, every jump, and every serve felt like they were all meant to bring her team closer to victory.
But she couldn’t shake the thought of Max. There was something about her quiet, unwavering presence on the court that both intimidated and inspired Serafine. She knew Max wasn’t just pushing herself to win for the sake of it—she was pushing herself to lead her team to greatness.
Despite the heavy pressure, Max’s focus was unshakable. Even when the Seniors came back strong and started to close the gap in the second set, Max remained calm, and Serafine could sense her determination to keep the team together. She admired how Max never let the tension show on her face, even if she was clearly frustrated by the ongoing critiques from her coach.
As the second set wrapped up, the score was neck and neck. Serafine wiped the sweat from her brow, eyes scanning the court for her teammates. They needed to stay strong. This match wasn’t just about physical skill; it was about the mentality they carried into the game. They couldn’t let the pressure get to them—not now, not when they were so close to winning.
Max’s coach seemed to be talking to her intensely during the break, but Max stayed quiet, nodding along and keeping her cool. Serafine couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. What if the Seniors get their act together? What if we lose? But the thought passed quickly, replaced by the growing realization that this was her moment to step up—just like Max always did.
"Let’s do this," Serafine whispered to herself, giving herself a mental pep talk. She knew the last set would be the hardest. Every move had to count.
As the third and final set began, she caught a glimpse of Max again. This time, their eyes met briefly across the court. Max gave her a small, encouraging nod.
The game wasn’t over yet—but Serafine felt ready to fight for it, knowing that, no matter the outcome, this was a battle worth giving everything for.
Nagsigawan ang lahat ng maipanalo ni Max ang last set dahil sakanyang service ace. Bakas naman sa mukha ng teammates ko ang panghihinayang dahil sa muntik pa kami manalo. Pero sabi ko nga alam na namin na mangyayari ito.
Nilapitan namin ang seniors at nakipag high-five sakanila for a nice game.
"Nice game Sera, muntik na kami dun. Pero ang galing mo talaga. Halimaw sa court!" ayan na naman po si Max at ang mga compliment niya huyyy.
Serafine couldn’t help but smile at Max’s compliment. Halimaw sa court? She had heard that from someone before, but hearing it after such an intense match felt different—more genuine, maybe. She blushed a little, trying to keep her cool, but she couldn’t deny the warm feeling spreading through her chest.
"Thanks, Max," Serafine replied, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in her stomach. "It was a tough match. You guys were incredible too. That service ace was insane." She laughed softly, trying to shake off the nervous energy.
Max grinned at her, her usual confident smirk on her face, though there was a hint of admiration in her eyes. "You’re being modest. You played like a pro out there. Seriously, I thought we were gonna lose for a second."
Serafine’s eyes widened, surprised at how close they had actually come to pulling off an upset. "I was kind of thinking the same thing," she admitted, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But hey, we’ll get them next time, right?"
Max nodded, her expression softening a little. "Definitely. You guys have potential. You’ll be a tough team to beat next year."
The air between them felt charged for a moment, and Serafine couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more to that compliment than just sportsmanship. Did she mean it?
The other members of the teams started to gather around, and the conversation shifted back to the usual post-game chatter. But Serafine couldn’t shake the feeling that Max had said something important—something that lingered in her mind long after they’d congratulated the Seniors and headed back to the sidelines.
As they walked away, Marga gave her a teasing grin. "Teh, parang may something kayo ni Max ha. Ang haba ng ngiti mo."
Serafine rolled her eyes, trying to laugh it off. "Huwag mong gawing issue, Marga. We just had a good game, that’s all."
But deep down, Serafine couldn’t ignore the fluttering in her chest every time Max crossed her mind. Today had been intense, but maybe it was just the beginning of something else—something that had nothing to do with sports. Okay crush ko na nga siya ulit.