CarizzCruzem

So I was done telling about my first and second phobias. As I’ve said, I was over with the first phobia.

During my first year in the school I’m attending now, we had our sportsfest. It was a different setup of sportsfest. Usually, sportsfest is a one-week event, or at least three days, and we’re talking about consecutive days here. It was different because that sportsfest was just a two-day event and a week apart. Yes, as in, we, I mean they played one Saturday and then, we played again for championship the following Saturday. Ok, before you all get confused with the pronouns, hear me first.

I have this fear of ball, yes, even smaller and lighter ones like ping-pong ball. I wanted to be precise in the term “ball-phobia” and for added dramatic effect, so I researched on phobia list. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see “fear of ball” in any of the “extensive” phobia lists. Obviously, it wasn’t extensive enough. Anyways, since most phobia terms came from Greek word, I coined my own ball-phobia term… hehe… who said I couldn’t?!?! Ousphobia… there! But with this kind of phobia, I have a reason. As far as I can remember, whenever I came near a court, the ball always found its way to me. I tried hiding behind some other people, but somehow, the beguiled ball still found some way to hit me. Not a mild brush on hand, but mind you on the HEAD and HARD and that was ALWAYS!!! And since my reflex wasn’t fast enough to at least move away from the ball’s path or catch the ball or strike the ball back, I always end up going home with a baby head protruding from the mother head, yes, I always got bump on my head. I think the continual blow on my head somehow damages some brain cells that affect my attitude that’s why I’m like this. Hmmm… just a thought.

Well anyways, so that was the reason why I didn’t go anywhere near a court. There was this one instance when we went to Chiang Mai. There was a ping-pong court there. I mean, it was just a little ball, right? What could be the harm in sitting beside those people enjoying the game, or so I thought. DO-o-O-o-OWNG! I couldn’t be more wrong! As I was fixing in warming the seat and getting comfortable, where else would the stupid ping-pong hit but smack in between my eyes!!! That was the last straw. Since then, I never went any where nearer anyone playing ball. If I had to pass a court, I’d be more than willing to go through the long cut even by myself just to NOT be near it.

So now, here enters the weird sportsfest. My classmates asked me to join the volleyball team as the class had only few players. I refused even before they finished asking. I told them of my ball-fear. Thankfully, they understood. I was sure that if I joined, the ball would somehow always go to me and I’d just stand there and do nothing out of fear. And so the sportsfest started. While they were playing, I’ve decided to do something about my fear. I mean, I don’t want to go through the rest of my life avoiding balls! So that was it.

That week before the sportsfest resumed, I practiced with my classmates. I wasn’t any good at it, but at least, I mustered enough courage to hit the ball when it came my way. D-Day came. I found out in our practice that I could serve pretty good. But the goodness ended in serving. The ball always went outside when it came to me. And my calculations of out and in was really bad because there were times when the ball came my way and I didn’t hit not because I was still afraid but because I thought it was out… but humiliatingly in.

Soon, I got too many serious mistakes that I asked to be replaced. The mistakes were too apparent and almost cost our game that when I came back to the bench I heard some insults and it was more insulting because it wasn’t said directly to my face but to the air. But I didn’t say anything back. At least, now, I know, I am not afraid of any kind of ball anymore and no one could take away that feeling of accomplishment in me even the most damaging insults. Yeys!

Oh by the way, my team was the champion in volleyball.