THE TEAM

"Why is brilliant green bile lactose broth used to test the presence of coliforms?" tanong ng guro namin sa microbiology. Natahimik naman ang buong klase at tila wala ni isa ang nagbabalak na sumagot. Tch. Ako na naman.

I lazily raised my hands. "Any other hands?" Nang makumpirma niya na wala nang ibang nagbabalak na sumagot ay isang malalim na hininga ang pinakawalan ng guro. "Mr. Ramirez."

"This selective broth contains bile and the brilliant green dye that inhibits the growth of gram-positive bacteria and some gram-negative bacteria. Coliforms are resistant to these inhibitors. Moreover, coliforms can ferment lactose and produce gas. Thus, the presence of gas in durham tubes after the incubation of coliforms in this broth will determine if the sample is positive for coliforms." After I answered, I took my seat and waited for the class to finish.

It was always like this. Lagi na lang ako ang ang tagasalo ng mga recitation. Kung wala ako, paniguradong nakakahiyang katahimikan lamang ang babalot sa klase. Hindi naman ako nagmamayabang, pero ilang beses ko nang sinubukan iyong gawin at palagi itong nauuwi sa pagtataas ko ng kamay. I don't even know why these people cannot answer basic questions when they have plenty of time to study.

"Prepare for a short quiz about selective and differential media for the next meeting. Class dismissed." Pagkalabas ng guro ay tamad akong tumayo at lumabas ng class room. I don't have any time to waste. It is already 9 o'clock, and our volleyball practice is scheduled at 10. That means I have only five minutes left—25 minutes for my matcha latte, 20 minutes for changing into my gym clothes, and 10 minutes for walking. It will take me a total of 55 minutes, I only have 5 minutes free.

I went outside the school and went to Cafe San. Ayoko man ay napipilitan akong tumango sa mga taong bumabati sa akin. Nakikita ko pa ang ilang cellphone na pasimpleng nakatutok sa akin. It's a good thing I am getting used to this now. I am handling it better now than the past two years. Hindi ko man gustuhin na makilala e sikat masyado ang university na pinapasukan ko at palagi itong kasali sa Top 4 finalists ng men's volleyball. It was a good thing my love for volleyball exceeds my hate for attention.

I am Khai Aiden Inei Ramirez, but I am known as Kai. I am a third-year biochemistry student and the setter of La Verde University's men's volleyball team. Biochemistry is a tough degree, and I don't know how I survived up to this date with the extracurricular activities I have.

When I reached the cafe, the familiar smell of their pastries seeped through my nose. This is heaven. "Good morning, Kai!" bati ni Kuya Jay, isa sa mga barista ng Cafe San. "Good morning, Kuya, I will have the usual, but do it with oat milk this time. I'll also have a peanut butter waffle. To go. Thank you."

I scanned the QR code for my payment and then sat on the chair near the counter. It only took 10 minutes before I got my order. I sipped on my drink when suddenly, the image of the barista and the taste of matcha latte last Friday appeared on my mind. Oo nga ano...sino kaya ang taong iyon? At bakit parang may kulang sa timpla nila ngayon? Hindi, ganito ang normal na lasa ng matcha latte nila. May iba lang sa timpla ng taong 'yon. Ano namang itatawag ko sa kanya? San?

With a questioning look, I approached the counter again. "Say, Kuya Jay, who was the tall man at the cashier last Friday?"

He stopped shaking whatever it was in the bottle and looked at me. "Hindi ko alam e. Absent ako nung Friday. Hindi mo kilala?"

"Iyon nga e. He's not familiar. It was the first time I saw him. He's a tall man, taller than me." Nagtaka naman siya at para bang hindi rin kilala ang tinutukoy ko. "Taller than you? May mas tatangkad pa sa'yo? Ano 'yon, engkanto?"

"Moreno. May canines. Kinuha pa nga niya ang name at phone number ko."

Pungalumbaba ito sa counter at tumingin sa malayo. He mumbled something I wasn't able to understand. "Ah, kilala ko na." Matapos nito ay bumalik na ito sa ginagawa.

"I will just confirm it. You will meet him again soon, I think." Nakangiti ito ngayon sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. Baliw na ata. Nagpaalam na lang ako sa kanya at umalis na ng cafe.

Pabalik na ako ngayon sa room ko para magpalit ng damit. Hindi ko naman na kailangang maligo dahil naligo na ako kaninang umaga, bago pumasok.

Medyo malayo mula sa dorm ko ang cafe dahil nasa kabilang side pa ito ng university. I usually take the jeepney to go there. Pero dahil may dala naman akong inumin at pagkain e naglakad na lang ako. Maganda naman ang umaga at hindi naman ganoon kainit sa loob ng school dahil maraming tanim na puno.

La Verde is really one for the books. Ang ganda ng main campus kaya hindi nakapagtataka na dream school ito ng karamihan. Nakaka-relax din maglakad-lakad dito—

Natigilan ako nang maramdaman ang pag-vibrate ng phone ko. Kinuha ko ito mula sa bulsa ko at tiningnan ang notification. It was a message from the coach saying our practice would be moved to 11 a.m.. Salamat naman.

I kept my phone in my pocket and continued walking. I chose to walk on the lover's lane. Wait, is that right? That's what the students call this pathway, right? I don't know where the name came from, but they call this lover's lane. And true indeed, lovers walk here everyday, holding hands like the couple sitting on the bench at the side. Pinanindigan talaga nila ang pangalan ng lane. Mga pauso talaga ng mga tao.

When I reached my room, I changed my clothes and flopped my body on my bed. Maybe I can sleep until ten-thirty. Just when I was about to close my eyes, my phone beeped. It seems like I got a message.

You have three unread messages: GC Ka Soho.

It was what was written on the notification bar. This is our group chat on messenger. The members of the group are my only friends in the university. Bukod sa kanila at sa mga member ng team ay wala na ako halos kilala sa La Verde. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako dahil alam ko na kung ano ang laman ng GC.

GC Ka Soho

Ram: Mga ungas, warm up na tayo by 10:30. Walang pwedeng ma-late sa inyong tatlo.

Sabi ko na nga ba. Sa tuwing nagkakaroon kasi ng adjustment ng time sa practice e nagcha-chat si Ram sa group chat naming apat. He's always telling us to go 30 minutes before the time of practice so that we would get the maximum amount of time for our warm ups. Wala naman kaming magawa dahil siya ang team captain. Tsaka nasanay na rin kaming tatlo na ganito siya kaya ayos na rin. Para rin naman ito sa amin. We don't get unnecessary muscle cramps even after intense training when we were able to do our warm ups properly.

Ram Chua is our captain, and he is a junior Civil Engineering student. He wears the jersey number 1. He is a wing spiker.

Justice: Okeh mi l0v3 :>

Napangiwi ako nang mabasa ang message ni Justice. He's Justice Ivan Alvarez, our team's libero. Also a third-year engineering student. Isa siya sa mga pinakasikat na volleyball players sa bansa. He knows he looks good, and he's so confident about it on camera, and he's flirty, too. But he flirts only with the captain. Siya ang source ng ingay sa grupo. He's number 7.

River: Yuck! Get a room!

River Ezekiel Martinez, on the other hand, is our middle blocker. He is my classmate, a biochemistry junior. Aside from these, he is also my best friend. Siya talaga ang madalas kong kasama sa kung saan-saan. Katulad ko ay mahilig din siyang maglaro ng mobile games, at hindi rin siya madalas lumabas ng bahay. Parehas na parehas kaming dalawa ni River kaya napagkakamalan kaming magkapatid minsan. We were known as the LaV U twins. We even have shippers all around the social media platforms.

Khai: Noted, caps!

I fixed myself and changed again into my usual fit during practice, black gym shorts, a black shirt, and a pair of black rubber shoes. I also wore my prescription glasses and put on my watch. It was already 10:15 so I decided to go out. I picked up my duffel bag and went out of my room.

It was about five minutes before the call time when I arrived at the gym. The three of them were already starting to stretch. They greeted me, so I did the same. I left my things on the bench and joined them.

"Sayang at hindi ka na-late. Malilibre na sana kami ng iced coffee," dismayadong sabi ni Just. "Who told you to speak? You are only allowed to open your mouth after stretching." Naisarado naman niya ang bibig nang tingnan siya nang masama ni Cap. Napailing na lang ako at sinimulan nang mag-stretch.

Around two minutes before eleven o'clock when our coach arrived, followed by my other teammates. While they were doing their stretching exercises, the four of us sat down on the bench.

A heard a ping from my phone so I picked it up. Kumunot ang noo ko nang kusa. There is a text message from an unknown number. I don't recall giving my number to anyone.

I opened the text message and read the contents. I swear, if this is another spam message, I will buy a new sim card. They have been coming in my inbox recently, it is bothersome.

Unknown Number:
Hello, is this number correct?
Received 11:00 a.m.

Sino na naman 'to? They didn't even introduce themself. I won't reply. Bahala ka r'yan, kung sino ka man. Mabuti pang magpalit na lang ako ng number—

My phone beeped again.

Unknown Number:
This is Cafe San, by the way. For the updates for cream puffs?
Received 11:02 a.m.

Ah, Cafe San pala. I added the number to my contacts and named it Cafe San Cream Puffs <3. Totoo pala na may kumuha ng number at pangalan ko nung Friday. Akala ko kasi e nag-iilusyon na ako.

Yes, this is Kai.Sent 11:05 a.m.

"Let's start training! Stand up!" Coach got our attention. I nodded and put my phone down. I was about to turn my back on it when my screen lit up from a notif.

Seems like I have received a green heart emoji.

"Number 3!"

"Coming, Coach!" Naiiling akong tumakbo pabalik sa gitna.

Oh, I wasn't able to finish my introduction a while ago. I am Kai, La Verde men's volleyball team's setter, Number 3.