Isang Nobela
The Appraiser
“Gazing upon the stars never really felt this heavy. As far as I can remember, those sparkling lights from up above have given me enough comfort to fill my pillowcase. But I can’t help but feel this way as I fixed my vision on the hypnotic Polaris. In my mind is an unquenchable desire to defy the odds, to be the very best. To capture the only trophy that has eluded me all these years. For the past 20 years I have assembled the best bunch of individuals, the hardiest boys I have met and they brought me more glory than I could ever endow on myself. As the years went by, the medals and accolades just kept on coming. As I stared at the Great Square, the vision of one final undertaking flashed into my mind. It’s decision-making time once again. I continually asked myself. Just before I could come up with the answer, I saw the expansions of clouds transforming the bespectacled night into literally a shadow of its former self.”
Vance Jerome Trias is, was, and always will be a man of constraint. He knew he was the perfect man for any job. For him, efficiency is best demonstrated with an iron hand and there is no other way to exhibit such flawlessness. With a legacy that rivaled that of Cone, Jaworski, and even Dalupan, Trias was convinced that there was no one better. He believed he was the epitome of unwavering dominance, the Everest of the hard court, the wizard among the lesser magicians. To him, there was only one way- his way.
Trias was not only born for success, he was built for it. A sturdy, 50 year old with the body of a true athlete. He always wore a coat and tie despite the tropical sundering he encountered on a daily basis. In him the word conspicuous could have been given a new definition. His face on the other hand showed a null expression, revealing the strong, domineering look his peers were accustomed to see, usually with fear. The way he radiated his presence was as intimidating as his facial expression. In all his games he was never seen sitting down. He always had his arms crossed, his eyes piercing through a blank wall. His whitening hair always stood still, despite the tension and excitement, two words, which do not exist in Trias’ vocabulary. In all his victories and defeats he never fluctuated. After the customary handshake with the opposing coach, Trias will go straight to the locker room, have a short discussion with his team, “express” his disappointment then leave. The way he walked makes one feel that he was never a part of a thrilling match. He walked in a straight line, no unnecessary movements, no curves. He never believed in circles, he knew everything has its own sides. To young children, he was dubbed as a walking telephone pole. To sports critics and broadcasters however, he was dubbed as “the One.” A fitting moniker to say the least.
The UP Fighting Maroons were a popular team in the UAAP, yet they were known not because of their record-breaking streaks of championships. On the contrary, they were known for being one of the cellar dwellers of the prestigious league. For years, the Maroons have been one of the league’s laughing stocks, with people here and there throwing at them jeers and insults of every kind. ‘The best university in the country had no place in the realm of sports’ was the banner of these criticisms. There were indeed flashes of brilliance but their detractors thought of them only as mere flukes. The glory of the Oblation constantly incurred cuts and bruises as the Maroons took on the court and give their all. In their noble struggle to salvage some respect, all they had to show are more loses and less wins. As the entire scholars’ community witnessed dejection of their schoolmates, the upper echelons of the university have come up to the sad conclusion: it’s now time for the great Oblation to let go of the basketball. The shining beacon of Philippine college education must now leave its waterloo. Or face more humiliations.
Jasmine Emerald Cortez is a regular junior who enjoys a well-fought grudge match more than a lopsided, dominating performance. Her physical beauty disguised in dirty jeans, faded Chucks and size XL shirts, Jasmine, or Jec as she wanted to be called, reveled in the passionate sport that is basketball. She was not one who had to go to the rest room every other minute, but she was one who would goad her hefty, 5’11” block mate to engage in a one on one shootout complete with the physicalities. While ladies her age had mascaras upon their eyes, Jec had bandages upon them. Her unusual behavior raised eyebrows everywhere she went, even in her own home. Yet she never gave any care on what the world has to say. The moment her brother, senior varsity member Trevor Munich introduced her to the game, Jec literally fell in love. As she stumbled hard to grab a lose ball, Jec immediately realized the intense dedication his brother and those who play the game have for the sport. With that, Jec felt the pain of her brother and his teammates in their agony. The injuries, the sacrifices were indeed honorable but the rewards they reaped were to little compared to what they have sown. Each time she saw Trevor’s anguish on his sprained ankle, Jec would just break down, revealing the daint, fragile damsel perfectly hidden by the bandages. Then, after hearing the board’s proposal to withdraw from the UAAP, the pain inside Jec worsened. Deep within her just wanted to explode. What’s the worth of the players’ hard work if the basketball team will no longer compete? She didn’t know what to expect.
“So, what will I be getting for my services?”
Jec’s eyes widened in disbelief. It was a rather weird afternoon for her. Normally, she was with her closest acquaintances enjoying a good snack at KFC in Katipunan. This time however, she was all alone, sipping her regular Pepsi. The way she looked was rather odd. She wore a formal dress and a long skirt, displaying her hidden elegance. Her face was completely different as well. The bandages were gone and her cheeks are all puffed up with make-up. On her table is a folder is a pile of papers. In her appearance, the brand “scholar” seemed to emanate from her presence. An aura that caught the eye of the other customers. Which made her feel uncomfortable, as if she wasn’t already bugged by her new get-up.
“Good afternoon sir, welcome to KFC!”Jec heaved a sigh of relief as she saw a sinewy figure enter the confines of the restaurant. Eyes quickly turned to the man in the black coat and tie coupled with glares of amazement and amusement. Jec herself can’t help but giggle in the sight of an overly formal individual. Her laughter however came to an abrupt end as she saw the burly six-footer standing in front of her.
(to be continued)
posted by akosialex @ 8:51 PM
2 comments
