Trials End

Chapter 54

BRICE POV

"Tig half court tayo girls ahh?" Ayer pointed the half line to the other ring for girls. They all nodded and began to walk.

Earl dribbled the ball and Ayer tried to stop him. I saw Keith in the free throw line and positioning himself to shoot while holding the ball. Fabian is on the side trying to dribble the ball.

And here I am, standing while looking at them. I fixed my eyeglasses with my middle finger.

"Papa Brice!" Claud called my name. They're always calling me papa, fafa and even daddy! Am I that old? I know that they all looked like models straight out from the photoshoot but I am good-looking for normal students.

I looked at him with a straight face."What?"

He passed me the ball and I catched it. He turned around and left me wondering what to do with this ball I'm holding. I looked at it and tried to dribble it.

One.. two.. Three. Oh! I can dribble it.

"Brice! Dito ka!" Ayer called me, gesturing me to come. He's on the three point line.

I approached him while I'm holding the ball. "What?" I asked him.

"Gayahin mo ko ahh." He dribbled the ball and ran to the post of the ring.

"Ikaw naman!" He shouted when he arrived at the other end.

I nodded to him and I dribbled the ball first. I took a step and tried to walk but the ball hit my shoe and rolled. I picked it up and tried to dribble it again. The ball hit my shoe again and again.

I felt that everyone was already staring at me so I picked the ball up and looked at Ayer. He's trying to stop himself from laughing, maybe not to make me feel bad. Though it's okay, because I also want to laugh at myself but I don't want to show it to them.

Graig cleared his throat."It's okay, ngayon lang naman siya nakapag try."

"Oo nga, dito ka Brice try mo mag shoot."Ivo defended me and I followed him to the free throw line.

"I'll try." I held the ball both hands and positioned myself. I bent my knees and jumped.

It....didn't go in.

Ayer passed me the ball for me to try again. I shoot the ball for a second time. For the third time. Fourth. Fith. They all didn't go in.

Ivo faked a cough. "Okay lang yan, first time eh."

"Is my angle wrong? How about the force I'm using, is it okay? I can see the trajectory is okay but how about my position?" I asked them. My forehead furrowed as I began to be annoyed.

They all looked at me and didn't say anything. They're just staring.

Keith approached me."Don't think too much, Brice. Just feel the weight of the ball and release it." He gave me a ball.

I tried following him and still, the ball didn't go in. That's the moment all of their laughs can be heard. It looks like they can't handle it anymore. Ayer is kneeling on the ground holding his tummy. Claud is spanking Ivo.

Aldo tapped my shoulder. "Hindi ka namin tinatawanan ah? Yung ano lang..." He laughed again. "Yung bola kasi diba? Nakakainis?"

I nodded and their laughter echoed. I saw Keith chuckling and Fabian was wiping his tears from laughter. Earl and Graig are laughing while trying to spin the ball with their finger. I smiled with them.

Now, we're trying to play volleyball. We also need to participate in it, it sucks to only have 9 boys. Well, if we'll have more classmates, I don't think I can handle it.