Genius Rivals (Ongoing)

18 - THE ATHLETIC FREAK

"GOOOO DARK NIGHTS! GOOOOO DARK KNIGHTS!"

The energy inside the gymnasium of Saint Wilhelm's University is unrivaled. Blue flags held by students waves in response to their explosive support. Loud cheers reverbrates across the whole stadium. I sit beside the court, witnessing the varsity team warming up for the upcoming match. The opponent team also does the same.

"It's already 6?" I murmured to myself. Whatever, I have all the time in the world. Let's say I'm "supporting" my "friend."

"This is the first time I've watched a basketball game" Solene talked beside me. Naivety drawn in her face.

"Tristan's going off in this game. He'll show those 360 dunks he's been doing in practice!" Raine exclaimed. Her fists tensed.

Yeah, this gorilla's a showoff when girls are involved.

Meanwhile waiting for the game to start, a feminine shouts from the entrance is what I hear. Seems like a famous actor or idol has come judging by their excitedness.

"What's that noise?" Raine asked loudly. She looks in the opening hallway of the gym.

A person shows up among the flock of girls sorrounding him. Emerging like he's in a movie. I don't know if that is intended or just his natural charisma.

"What took you so long?" I asked France after he sat besides me.

"Traffic..." he said lazily. "Also, getting inside here as an outsider isn't easy. You didn't even wait for me at the gates."

"I'm not trying to stand the whole time watching this game..." then I crossed my arms.

France, Solene, and Raine greets each other while I'm im the middle absorbing their thoughts.

"Virgil!"

Tristan shouted at me and taking my attention. Pointing at me with large grin in his lips. His dark blue athletic suit blends in with the other. I look at him with blank face.

"This for you!"

He shoots from the side 3 point line. The ball rotated heavily while in the mid-air. Heh, he sank it. Just like what they call "splash" because the ball went in smooth and the net barely moved.

"Steph Curry is inspired of me!" Tristan boasted to us. He directs his finger to me.

"Pure luck" I said to him.

"35 points tonight, Virgil, and a couple of highlights too" he said in a daring way.

"Worry about winning, fool, or all that boasting goes to waste."

****

"DARK KNIGHTS VS THE BULLS! WHO WILL WIN IN THIS EPIC MATCH UP BETWEEN THE ACE PLAYERS TRISTAN ARCEO AND KRIS SILVER?!?!?!"

The commentator hypes the crowd. Fueling the fire between two teams.

The jumpball sequence starts. The two tallest players of them, or what they call the "center", readies their form to tip the ball. The referee threw it. Both jumped high and their arms reaching for the ball at the highest point. The white team's center first touched and redirected the ball to their side. The difference in wingspan did the job for the away team.

"Number 7 dribbles the ball! Passes to number 1!" the announcer passionately screamed. His electric voice from the speaker is heard of all.

"Number 1 attacks the rim!" and the announcer paused before the first highlight of the game.

"AND ARCEO BLOCKS IT RIGHT IN THE RIM!!!"

The whole gym is about to explode with this energy after Tristan's nasty rejection. Everyone stood in excitement. Raine did too. Hanging her arms in the air after the highlight.

"WOOOOOOOHHHH!!" she exclaimed in high pitch. "GO TRISTAN!" putting her hands near her mouth as a gesture of shouting.

Tristan makes a proud stance after what he did. Stretching his limbs to proclaim himself.

"Showoff..." I whispered, but somehow France hears despite of the loudness.

"He got all the reasons for it" France replied.

"If you say so..."

"What would you do if you have the same talent as Tristan?" France asks me.

"Huh? That's so sudden" I look at my cousin  in jean jacket vaguely. "But I'll probably fly just like him."

"There's your answer."

"A lot of effort to something I never asked."

"So it seems."

Dark Knights rushes to their basket. Their rubber shoes squeek due to the friction with the floor. Their pounding on the floor is strong and each bounce of the ball on the floor synchronizes with it. The Bulls gets ready on defense and contains the Knights, but not until Tristan got the ball on his hands...

"SILVER DEFENDS ARCEO IN THE LOW POST!"

Tristan pushes against Silver but in the matters of strength, Silver cannot be underestimated. He has a bigger build and 2 inch difference in height against Tristan. It seems like he can't move this guy any farther, but Tristan has a counter move...

The blue freak spins around Silver. Catching him off-guard. Tristan's body is in full control of itself and if that were me, I would have stumbled and fell. The sheer talent and years of hardwork is in motion. Before Silver realizes, Tristan is already in the air and shoots.

"BUCKET! A NASTY FADEAWAY SHOT BY ARCEO!"

The cheers erupted like volcanoes of adrenaline once again.

"WOOOOOOHH!" Raine exlaimed. Waving her hands in the process. But she spilled her drink, drenching her arm in juice. I looked at her with cringe written in my face. France and Solene had a similar reaction but lighter.

"Whoops! Sorry! Got too excited" she apologized.

"Careful Raine! We're in a public!" Solene gives her a handkerchief to dry herself up.

"That girl's too wild, huh?" France says to me. Expressing his interests.

"Definitely. What she did is the minimum."

"Your type?"

I look at Tristan wearing my blank face. "Hell nah."

"Why's that?"

"Why's that? Because she's annoying as hell. That's it."

"Hmmm, if you ignore the fact then maybe..."

"Have you ever seen me with a woman, France? Don't get me wrong, you're my cousin, but you definitely kind of not paying attention to me the whole time."

France looks at me weirdly. Clenching his eyes to me. "Are you gay?"

I cringe at what he said. Rolling my eyeballs. "Duh, of course not."

"Alright, alright" he relaxes his back to the seat. Freeing himself from the position which slouched his back. "Calm your tits down."

To be continued...