"Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing history in the making today. The Kwangya University Kwangya Warriors have just secured their third consecutive championship in the Women's Volleyball University Sports League!"

"Indeed, this remarkable feat wouldn't have been possible without the outstanding leadership of their young captain, Karina, who plays as the team's setter. She's truly a force to be reckoned with on the court!"

"Karina's exceptional skills and strategic plays have led her team to this triumphant 3-peat. The Kwangya Warriors are now synonymous with excellence in university-level volleyball!"

"And there you have it, folks! Karina Lopez, our outstanding setter, has just been named the second MVP setter in the league! What an incredible achievement!"

"Absolutely, it's well-deserved. Karina not only impressed as the league's second MVP setter but also took home the title of the Best Setter. Her skill and precision on the court have been simply unmatched this season."

"Karina Lopez's exceptional abilities have been a game-changer for the Kwangya Warriors, and her recognition as the league's top setter is a testament to her dedication and talent in the world of university volleyball!"

Mga narinig ko mula sa mga tao dahil 3 years in the row na champion ang Kwangya Warriors sa University sports league. As a captain sobrang saya ko na champions again kami and I got the finals MVP after 2 years kong paglalaro as Setter.

"Whooo!! Let's celebrate now. You're truly something talaga, Karina," Giselle says as she wraps her arm around me.

"Kaya nga sophomore pa lang yan at naging captain and finals MVP," Ningning adds as she also joins in, on my other side.

Ningning and Giselle are my teammates, classmates in the mechanical engineering program, and my best friends.

Tumingin ako sa kanila then napangiti ko kasi alam kong na they genuine na bestfriends.

"Ang galing talaga ni Rina. Monster setter talaga. Happy ako panalo kami. Happy ako may magaling ako setter," Ang basa ko sa thoughts ni Giselle.

"Happy ako teammates ko sila Elle and Rina. If sana itutuloy ko sa professional league ito. I want pa rin kasama sila," ang basa ko sa thoughts ni Ning.

Kasama sila sa one percent na I think na gift itong special ability ko. But madalas 99 percent ang tingin ko sa ability ko ay curse.

"Karina always gets all the attention. It's like hindi kami nageexist sa team."

"I bet she thinks she's better than the rest of us just because she's the captain. Lalaki lalo ulo niyan ni Karina."

Minsan nakakasad na ganoon pala tingin nila sa akin.

"Congratulations on your MVP award, Karina. I guess some people just have all the luck," Jade, my teammate, greeted me with a fake smile, thinking that I couldn't read her real thoughts.

Besides, luck? Sa tingin niya luck lang kung bakit ako MVP. Magsasalita sana ako but nagsalita si Ning.

"Tama ka Jade. Some people just have all the luck also may talent. Some lang kaya siguro hindi ka kasali kasi wala ka na ngang talent, wala ka pang luck kaya lagi kang nasa bench. But you know what, you could be the MBP - Most Bench Player," Ningning retorted with a hint of sarcasm.

Giselle and I just laughed because among the three of us, Ning is the feisty one, always getting into arguments with Jade and sa mga haters ko. I don't know why ganoon sila when I'm not doing anything wrong.

As I mentioned earlier, I have a special ability that only my parents know about. It wasn't something I was born with; I gained this ability after a car accident when I was 16 years old. I was on my way home with my Dad after agreeing to join him in a game of golf. On our way back, there was a speeding car that suddenly cut us off. All I remember is waking up in the hospital. Since that day, my world is filled with two sets of sounds.

One set is the sounds that everyone else hears, and the other set is the sounds that only I hear because I can read minds.

Sa una nakakatuwang isipin because I can read minds malalaman ko kung sino genuine sa akin but eventually hindi pala. Kasi nakilala ko yung mga taong totoo at hindi sa akin. I used to have many friends but ng makabasa na ako ay lumako ako. Masakit kasi tinuring ko sila as friends but nagpepretend lang pala sila na gusto nila ako.  But deep inside they don't like me na ginagamit lang nila ako. It's painful to hear the unspoken criticisms, the envy, and the hidden judgments of those around me.

Naghanap kami ng parents ko ng answers sa nangyari sa akin but walang scientific na nagpapaliwanag kung bakit ako nagkaroon ng ganitong ability.

I can read minds when tumingin ako sa kanila. Mas ok na ngayon kasi nacocontrol ko na siya na one at the time than earlier na nagkaroon ako ng this curse. Kasi hindi ko kayang controlin at lahat na malapit sa akin mga tao ay nababasa ko mga inisip nila na sabay sabay. Kaya hindi ako nagpupunta sa maraming tao dahil sumasakit ulo ko. Sometimes, I wish I could turn off the constant stream of thoughts invading my mind. It's like a never-ending torrent of voices and secrets, a curse that never relents. Knowing what people truly think, their hidden desires, and even their darkest thoughts, can be overwhelming. It's a power that often feels like a heavy burden, and I can't escape it. As if I have no privacy, and I'm always exposed to the true feelings and intentions of people. It's a gift that often feels like a burden, leaving me longing for the blissful ignorance that others enjoy.

Naisip ko nga baka if nacar accident ulit ako baka mawala ito. Like siguro may naalog sa brain ko kaya ako nagkaganito.

Before we returned to the locker room to celebrate, I glanced at the crowd, searching for someone. Apart from Giselle and Ningning, there was one more person among the 1 percent I considered a blessing ang pagbabasa ng minds. I like reading her thoughts so much.

Nakita ko siya at nagkalock yung mga mata namin. As always wala siyang emotions na pinapakita but I knew she supports me at ako yung pinuntahan niya here. Hindi ko lang mabasa for my pwesto yung mind niya. But alam ko gumagawa na siya ng scenarios between sa aming dalawa. I smiled at her and waved, but she suddenly left. Shy type siya but invested ako sa kanya.

"Kanino ka nagwawave?" Ang asked ni Giselle.

"Kay Winter."

"The quiet one, almost like a robot, emotionless, like introvert transfer student who you always end up sitting next to because you share the same last nameb, Lopez kapag may seating arrangement. Her name is Winter Frost Lopez, right? For the past three months, na naging classmate natin siya–she's still always alone. You can only talk to her during may paactivities lang," ang sali ni Ningning.

"Friends na kayo?" Ang asked ni Giselle.

"Hindi pa but I like her," ang smile ko kina Giselle na papasok na kami sa locker.

"Seriously? Hindi ko nga kayo nagkikita naguusap madalas at lagi ka niya iniiwasan," ang takang-taka na sabi ni Giselle.

Yes, hindi kami masyado naguusap but I can see her thoughts and it's kinda refreshing to me.

Wait...

Actually...

That was seven years ago...

Like, we totally became girlfriends, but then things went south and we broke up...