People with high dreams are scary. They often set their goals triple times than other individuals do. Sa sobrang taas ng pangarap na gusto nilang abutin, madalas nagagawa nilang isuko ang kung ano mang mayroon sila sa kasalukuyan para lamang sa isang hindi tiyak na hinaharap.

And I hate it. I hate that there are people who are willing to abandon whatever they had just to seek more. That hunger to thrive, that void of wanting more despite being called enough. It's as if they were born without limits. Or much like they are determined to sacrifice anything to become limitless.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang ngumiti ng hilaw. Sacrifice huh? Curse that word. Curse that future. Curse him!

"Balak mong sumali?"

Agad akong napalingon sa likod nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses. A woman with a flashy aura greeted my unreadable face. Malamlam ang mga mata niyang nakatago sa ilalim ng suot na salamin. I was caught off guard by her warm gaze that I could only shake my head in response.

Tumawa siya. "Kanina ka pa kasi nakatingin sa banner. I thought you were interested."

Gusto kong matawa dahil sa sinabi niyang iyon. Kung alam niya lang na kanina ko pa pinapatay ng tingin iyong isang tao na nasa banner, baka kinaladkad niya na ako sa Guidance.

I forced a little smile, completely washing away the last trace of annoyance forming in every corner of my lips. "Nakibalita lang din ako sa nangyari. People are fussing over the news. Iyon pala nanalo nga talaga kayo."

Those words tasted bitter on my tongue. While others were practically screaming their lungs out just to send their greetings, I was left in the corners fighting the urge not to throw unnecessary comment. I sounded sour. And I couldn't even deny it.

Hindi niya ako sinagot agad. Tumingala siya sa banner dahilan kung bakit hindi ko maiwasang ilayo ang tingin sa kaniya. Her eyes shone with so much pride. May maliit din siyang ngiti, halatang pinagmamalaki ang grupo.

"Tayo," sagot niya. "That game was meant to rebuild our school's glory. Pinanalo nila iyong laro hindi lang para sa team, kundi para rin sa'tin."

That was what she said before making her way in. Hindi niya lang ako iniwang nakatayo sa labas ng naglalakihang bakod ng Aurion. Nag-iwan din siya ng mga salitang hindi ko alam kung paano ko ba dadalhin.

Hinarap ko ulit sa pangalawang pagkakataon ang banner na nakasabit sa itaas. It was glimmering with gold that even in one glance, you could tell they were heroes of the court. Bahagyang sinasayaw ng hangin ang dulo ng tarpaulin, miski ang sinag ng araw ay malayang dumampi roon kaya lalo lamang iyong lumiliwanag.

It was as if even nature encourages them to fly.

Humigpit lalo ang kapit ko sa aking bag. Bakit ko pa nga ba hinayaan ang mga balitang iyon na umabot sa'kin? Kung nagkataon pang nanatili akong bingi katulad no'ng dati, hindi ko sana ito mapapansin. Hindi sana ako masasaktan.

I felt so small seeing them soar so high. Parang kahit sinong mapapadaan dito ay hihinto talaga para lang tignan kung paano sila magningning.

Their victorious journey was a milestone. Ang panalo ng team, ay panalo ng eskwelahan. Ang panalo nila, panalo rin namin.

My eyes stopped at the familiar figure. He's standing in the center, holding the ball as if he was clinging unto his lifeline.

Maybe the reason why I cannot bring myself to celebrate their triumph is because it was never my call to make. Maybe Gailen's words became bitter in my mouth because I cannot accept that this is our reality now.

Hindi ko na siya ulit maaabot dahil sa taas ng nilipad niya.

Ang panalo niya, ay ang pagkatalo ko.