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They say high school romances don’t last long. Well, that is the case for Jana and Ace. After Jana moved to a prestigious university in Manila, as much as they wanted to keep the relationship going, the two couldn’t cope with the long distance.
And now we are led here, a few years after their breakup. Ace is now the coach for the San Lorenzo High School basketball team, a promise coach Jules kept.
Jana Ramos, who was once the “magaling na volleyball player” to the students of the high school, was now a household name because of her skills in the sport.
The endless hellos to the neighbors were very fulfilling to the woman. And to think that she was once burned out of the sport she now does for a living. Passing by the basketball court made her remember why her love for the sport came back.
Meanwhile, Ace didn’t know that Jana was in town. Why would she want to know? The breakup was clean and had the closure they needed.
While practicing her free throws on the basketball court, na tambayan niya ever since, in her peripheral vision, she saw her first love walk the streets of their hometown. Something sparked in Ace’s heart. Something she only felt with Jana. The two locked eyes for a bit before Ace focused her eyes on the basketball again.
Jana being the (not so) confident person she is, she walks up to the taller. “Long time no see.” She mutters.
“Long time no see!” Ace replied, failing to hide the smile and enthusiasm on her face.
“‘Di ka talaga nagbago. Hindi ka pa rin magaling magtago ng emosyon mo.” Jana jokes. “Anyways, kamusta ka naman?” She adds, gesturing for them to sit on the bench while catching up.
"Eto coach na. Ikaw ba?”
“Alam mo na siguro.”
“Hindi eh! So ano na ganap mo?” Ace sarcastically asks, then her dimpled smile shows.
“Part na nang national team, captain pa.” Jana was now fiddling with her fingers. I mean, she is talking to, probably, the love of her life. Ace noticing the nervousness, takes Jana’s hand and hers, then intertwines their fingers.
The two just continued to catch up, from remembering old memories from when they were together to hearing new ones. The air was familiar. It felt like everything was back to what it was supposed to be, to what Jana and Ace wanted it to be.
After the series of stories and laughs, a comfortable silence engulfs them. Ace takes a deep breath before breaking that silence. “May tanong ako…” Jana looks at the former with the look that says, ‘Okay, go on.’
"Sa tigin mo ba, if ever, 'di natin na-experience 'yung mga circumstances na naranasan natin, kagaya nung 'di ako tumigil sa pagaaral ng isang taon at mag batchmates tayo. Magbbreak ba tayo?" The question was heavy to say. It startled Jana, but it was also a question on her mind for a while. "Para mas madali, dapat ba mas pinaglaban natin 'yung relationship natin? Isang taon lang din naman agwat natin. Malay mo kung nakakuha din ako ng scholarship-" Before Ace goes into a ramble, Jana stops her.
"Tama din naman na nagbreak tayo. Ayoko na ako ang magiging rason na hindi ka naging coach ngayon. ‘Yung puso ni Ace Asuncion ay para sa basketball, not volleyball.”
“Pero ‘yung puso ko ay para sa’yo din. Jana, if I was willing to continue volleyball nung nasa high school tayo, ano pa kaya kung sa higher leagues?”
“All the circumstances we experienced were why we got together in the first place, kasama na ‘yung break up dun. We grew individually.”
“We could’ve grown together as a couple.” Jana tightened her hold on Ace’s hands. “Mag kaibang tao tayo, Ace. Kailangan natin ng space para mag-grow as our own.”
The air is now heavy, still comfortable, but the two’s feelings these past few years will be revealed.
“Gan’to na lang,” Ace started, “may chance pa ba ako?” A long pause came from Jana before answering the question with, “Secret.” The former was left speechless, but soon laughter erupted from both of them.
“Hilig mo masyado magtago ng mga secret, paano na kita jojowain n’yan…”
“Kapal mo naman! Jojowain mo na ako agad?” Ace creeps closer to the face of the woman in from of her and mutters, “Na-mine na kita, eh.” Jana just pushed Ace away to hide her kilig. “Sus! Naging basketball coach ka lang, iba na ‘yung moves mo. Balik ka na volleyball!”
“Turuan ulit kita mag-basketball. Baka malaman mo din moves ko.” Ace stands up from the bench, still holding Jana’s hand, and she tries to pull the latter from the said bench.
They were left into their own little world, and just like that, they were transported back to prom night, playing basketball while “Ikaw Pa Rin” by mrld was playing. The rest of their days consisted of laughter, happiness, and fondness for one another.
There were hard moments, pero si Jana at Ace ‘yan. Makakayanan nila ‘yan.