It's five in the morning and still foggy outside but I decided to go for a run. Ever since I joined the track and field, I run every morning to train my legs. I am still new to it so it's the least I can do to train myself and keep up with the others.

As I was jogging, I noticed that there are a lot of people who also jog, while some of them are just taking a stroll with their dogs. I didn't notice them before as I don't really go out this early.

Everyone seems to be in a good mood even at this hour, they don't seem like the type of person who lives for fame, power, and superiority. I smiled bitterly, if everyone just think maturely, I wont have to do things to try changing the world.

"Why are you staring like that? Creep!" Some person said as she perhaps caught me staring. I just shooked my head as I already expected that from a person like her. I thought she will leave after but she's not.

She actually waited for an answer to her question so I just humbled down and apologized. I don't want to ruin my morning by wasting my time arguing with some lady that I don't even know. Good thing that she just left after rolling her eyes at me so I sighed out of relief.

I am about to start running again but my phone's ringtone stopped me to do so. It is unknown number but I still decided to pick up in case of emergency.

"Hello, is this Ms. Marquez?" I am quite hesitant to answer as I am uncomfortable talking to a stranger on the phone but considering that it might be important, I swallowed my pride to answer.

"Speaking, who's this?" I asked and it turns out that it is my coach who's on the phone, I didn't recognize his voice as it sounds different in phone call. He told me that all track and field athletes should go to the university to practice as there is a short notice about a 59th Founding Anniversary of Palladium University along with the intramurals so athletes should go including me.

Hindi pa ako nag-aagahan kaya umuwi din ako agad, baka mahuli kasi ako kung magtagal pa ako sa labas. Pagpasok ko sa kusina, naalarma ako nang makitang mag-isa si Mom na naghahanda sa hapag kainan.

"Mom, tulungan ko na po kayo." Presinta ko, gustuhin ko man layuan siya dahil sa guilt ko, nananaig pa din ang concern ko sa kaniya lalo na ngayong kakagaling lang niya sa ospital. Pinipilit pa niyang maupo na lang ako pero hindi napigilan non ang pagtulong ko sa kaniya.

"Ang aga mo yata ngayon ah. Did you go out for a jog?" I just nodded to her question as I remembered that she still has no idea about me joining track and field.

"Wow, that's new. Dati-dati kasi lagi ka lang nakakulong sa kwarto mo, pagkatapos mong kumain magkukulong ka, pagkatapos mong maligo, magkukulong ka, dahil doon halos wala ka nang time makihalubilo sa tao pero ngayon, natutuwa ako na kahit papaano ay lumalabas-labas ka na."

I forced a smile at her remarks, while it's all true, I still can't bring myself to talk about it because there are stories behind my isolation. There are things that I can't bring up to others, not even my family.

"Well, I am currently a track and field athlete. I joined a week ago." I said while she's surprised to hear the news. That's when Dad comes in, I thought he would scold me for joining such tiring events but he gladly supported me.

Ever since he proclaimed me as his heiress, he done nothing but to be nice to me. I wonder what would it be like if he done this ages ago? But the fact that he's like this now, I'll just enjoy the moment as it is a wonderful sight.

We spent the morning talking about my participation in track and field, they asked how did I ended up there, if I made the decision alone, and they're also asking about my inspiration for doing so. We talked every detail until we finished our meal.

I prepared myself to go as I don't want to miss my practice. Along the way of travelling, I saw a news in a jumbotron displayed outside of a building. It is about Klarisse's debut. So she really got a name for herself, I can't wait to see how good she can perform.

Pagdating ko sa university, usap-usapan na ang founding anniversary ng Palladium University. Weekend ngayon pero halos lahat ng estudyante ay narito para paghandaan ang nasabing event.

At sa unang pagkakataon, nakita ko ang mga estudyanteng magkakasundo at nagtutulungan, ano man ang kanilang status, isinantabi nila ang kanilang nararamdamang hindi maganda sa isa't-isa at para bang ibang tao sila ngayon.

Sana ganito na lang lagi, kaya naman pala nilang makipagkapwa pero bakit pinipili nilang maging mailap sa isa't-isa? Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang marahan akong tinapik ng kapwa ko athlete dahil magsisimula na daw ang practice.

Nang makarating ako doon ay wala na ang masamang tingin ni Lara na para bang hindi na ito naiinis sa akin. Hindi na siya kagaya dati na walang inisip kung paano niya ako matatalo o malalamangan.

Gusto kong makampante sa pagbabago ng kaniyang ikinilos ngayon pero nananaig pa din sa akin ang pagdududa. Maaaring ang mga nakikita ko ngayon ay dahil lamang sa mga kaganapan sa university.

Maaaring nagpapakitang tao lamang ang mga ito at nasa loob pa din ang kanilang kulo. Ganunpaman, hindi ko din dapat hayaang malunod ang utak ko sa kakaisip kung ano ang mga motibo nila sa likod ng kanilang pagpapanggap kung nagpapanggap man sila dahil maaaring tama ako at maaari ding mali.

'Bahala na.'

We've been practicing for hours but nothing weird happened. I am expecting that someone might try to injure me to sabotage me and make me quit the game but nothing like that happened.

I stopped being paranoid and just focused on our training, but I can't focus as my thoughts were driving me crazy. I am not sure about their plans but if there's really a plan about making me fall, I will know about it.

"Ms. Marquez, what are you doing? You've been out of yourself lately." Our coached approached me as he noticed how preoccupied I am. I am so distracted that i didn't realize that it already shows in my actions.

"I am sorry coach, I'll just take a quick break." When I got his approval, I took that chance to refresh myself and think properly. Some time later, Lara joined me on the bench where I chose to sit.

"Stop yourself from spacing out, what are you even thinking anyway? If yiu keep this up you might end up losing from me." She said while smirking, and just like that, she left.

She left me cofused by how she acted as if she's certain that she'll win against me without even trying. I think of the possible things that she may do but I can't think of any.

She didn't ruin my attire to make me miss practice, she didn't ordered anyone to harm me at the middle of the race, she didn't do anything petty to make me a candidate of disqualification. It's driving me crazy that I want to think that she's doing it on purpose.

'That's it!'

That must be it. They must be trying to make me distracted so that I will lose focus to lose the game. Nice strategy, but they keep on making ways for me to find out. If this is what they want I will give it to them, I will use their own tricks against them.

Ininom ko ang natitirang tubig sa botelya ng tubig saka ako bumalik sa pagsasanay. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pag-isip ng malalim sa harap nila, sinubukan kong magpahuli at hinayaang manatili ako sa ika-apat na pwesto para hindi sila makahalatang may ideya ako kung ano ang plano nila.

Hindi man ako sigurado pero pwede ko ding gamitin ito para mas lalo nilang isipin na kaya nila akong talunin. They may have the wit to execute a plan but I have the wit to counter it. Hanga ako kung sino man ang nagplano nito, mahahalata mo na kahit papaano ay marunong siyang mag-isip, sayang lang at hindi niya ginagamit sa kabutihan ang katalinuhan niya bagkus ay ginagamit niya ito para makapanlamang ng iba.

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ng coach sa nakikita niyang performance ko. Malapit na ang foundation anniversary ng unibersidad pero heto ako at patuloy na bumababa para lang isipin ng mga kalaban ko na nananalo na sila.

Maski ang grupong kumakampi sa akin ay hindi na din alam ang kanilang iisipin, halatang naguguluhan sila sa nangyayari dahil sa mga titig na binabato nila sa akin. Gusto ko mang sabihin sa kanila ang plano ko pero nangangamba naman ako na kapag ginawa ko yon ay mabigo ako.

Samantala, malawak ang pagngiti ni Lara na para bang iniisip niya na ngayon pa lang ay sa kaniya na mapupunta ang pagkapanalo.

'You chose to play tricks but you haven't chose the right person to play your tricks on.'