Call from Destiny | COMPLETED | English

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX: Basketball Playoff

C L A I R E

"Welcome to the annual Basketball Match 2017! This is it, folks. The moment that all of you had been waiting for! The championship, the all-knowing battle of the best! Maple Ridge vs Westwood!" the announcer shouted as I could hear the screams of hundreds of students.

Sam and I sat in the front so we'll be much closer and I wouldn't have a hard time standing up when I cheer. I looked at Sam as she ate Pringles and waited for the match to start.

The announcer called the opening prayer and then all the players from both universities and then made them stand in the middle. 

There was only silence in the arena and we prayed that they would win. 

As soon as they finished, I saw Ethan and Benedict staring in our direction. Sam probably noticed it since she nudged me on the shoulder. 

"I think Ethan's looking at you," she told me before she smiled and offered me food. 

"That's impossible." That was the only answer I could tell her before shaking my head. No, I'm sure that Ethan was probably staring at someone else. It couldn't be me. 

Once we heard the cheers of people, Sam and I both looked at the court as I saw the two teams shaking hands. They both smiled and looked at the fans as they went to their positions.

The shouting got louder when the game started. We can see that their opponents are ready while ours is just smiling --- getting ready as well.

"Let the game begin!" the announcer shouted as students cheered as the players finally started. Sam and I both cheered as Benedict looked at Sam with a smile plastered on his face before eventually running to get the ball from an opponent.

So sweet. 

I saw Ethan smiling at me as he prepared for the game. Oh? That was unexpected. 

My lips curled into a smile while the players were also in position. He saw my reaction and I almost jumped when Ethan immediately got the ball while dribbling the ball into the opponent's basket.

Someone tried to take the ball from his hands but Ethan dodged and shot the ball right in the three-point area.

"Three points go to Maple Ridge!" suddenly the people around us shouted and continued to cheer. The tension in the match did not disappear when the opponent got the ball from Benedict as he ran it again and snatched it again from the hands of Westwood.

This continued until Westwood took the lead over us. Of course, that didn't stop us from fighting.

Until the points are announced.

"The official score is 24-22. In favor of Westwood! There is only one minute left before the next quarter." Right now, we were sweating bullets. Our cheers were silenced as the voices of the students of Westwood rang throughout the arena.

We saw that one of the players of Westwood was holding the ball and shot it to our basket. This is it. They're going to win.

Sam and I stopped watching and just closed our eyes for a second. I know that this was the first match and they're not losing just yet. But the possibility that they might not win it still scares me. 

Suddenly, our eyes shot back open when our classmates shouted Ethan's name and slowly got louder. Looking back, I saw Ethan dribbling the ball - avoiding his opponents with a spin move.

He looked at me for a moment before smiling. After that, he took a deep breath and threw the ball.

We looked at each other as it flew. It circled around there at the top of the ring as if it wanted to fall down from the sides. I could feel my heart thumping loud.

Sam was even beside me, gasped as she watched. Eventually, she covered her mouth in surprise once it suddenly entered the hoop and bounced to the very floor of the court. 

It rolled and stopped abruptly at the feet of a Westwood player who looked at Ethan in shock. Everyone fell silent at first before the students of Maple Ridge suddenly burst into loud cheers for our school's victory. 

"Unbelievable! Maple Ridge takes the crown for the first match! Three points from Maple Ridge had made the crowd go wild!" There was a hint of amazement in the announcer's voice as he saw what happened. 

This might be the first match but I guess we have to see the actual victory to believe that we have already won, once and for all. 

Sam faced me, giving me a pat on the shoulder. "They're just getting started and yet it's a close match."

"Do you think they could win this?" I couldn't help but ask Sam as she just laughed at what I said.

"Trust in the power of love. Both of our boyfriends are there, playing their hearts out." My brows furrowed once I heard that. Sam probably heard my silence so she just waved it off and smiled.

Ethan was not my boyfriend. 

I shook my head and watched the match once again. 

This time, I noticed that Benedict had stepped up and kept on being the one to shoot the ball. But, this one particular guy from the Blue Eagles kept on defending the opponent's area.

Though, Ethan and his other teammates seemed to handle it pretty well, saving it until the last match. The Maple Ridge players won with a one-point advantage and it was a close game. 

Everyone cheered and Sam practically ran towards Benedict. I soon followed to tell them that they did a great job but I quickly saw Ethan walking away from us --- answering a phone call.

Benedict probably saw my reaction so he decided to give me a tap on the shoulder. "Hey, he's just settling something important. Don't worry, he'll be back."

The only answer I could manage was a nod. 

"You guys did a good job! Maybe we could celebrate the win?" Sam decided to chit-chat a bit as I looked around the arena. I saw a few players here and there but the one that caught my attention was one of the players of Westwood Academy looking directly at Benedict.

Wait, that was the guy from earlier.

I was about to tell Benedict if he knew the guy since he was staring too much but Ethan suddenly appeared in the frame.

"Hey, nice game!" I couldn't help but tell him as he smiled at me. 

"Thanks. You guys gave us that strength. The cheers were so loud," he told me as I couldn't help but chuckle. It was true though. 

A pause came a bit between us before I saw Ethan's hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Right, Claire...can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Right now?" I asked him as he shook his head.

"Like, without the crowd. I just need to let this out of my system. It's important."