It's Just A Game

Chapter 16 Enlighten us

Brothers?! I said loudly to myself.

I got dizzy there as I looked from my left to right. Both men moved to their respective teams. I gasped upon seeing GFord's back. His jersey embossed with the last name Landon and number seven on it while Chase took the same number as a tribute to my brother Paul. And to think they made a ridiculous bet in front of me. How I wish I can smash their heads together!

Chase never mentioned that he has a brother that we will be playing against with during practice or huddles. I remembered him saying earlier at the lake that we will be fighting our storm. He meant his storm as his brother. Coach Stibbs would never miss this very detail too. Too bad he's in the hospital right now. If I recall it right, New Harold faced Dunhill twice, once in elimination and semifinals both won by our team. I didn't see a shadow of this GFord before or playing for the opposite team.

Scratching the back of my head, I went to our designated bench and sat down a little bit confused. I felt a tap on my left shoulder from the back.

Zareena's happy disposition met my confused mood while leaning towards me. "Cheer up, Myah! You'll do great. Trust the boys. Good luck!"

I can only suppress my emotions right now. "Thanks, bestie! I'm glad you're here."

My best friend's attention shifted to the incoming Luke. There was no need for words between them. They did a quick hug and a good luck kiss. She ended it with a breathless smile and walked back to her seat among the supporters. I sighed watching them. Everytime things like this occur, I turn around. Don't get me wrong for acting as such. I feel rude if I stare at them lip locking.

The official referee called a halt of the warm-up. Players went back to their assigned benches for the huddle and getting ready for the first five announcements.

My hands rested on the hips and breathing unevenly when the players stood in front of me, awaiting instructions.

Jessie, as usual, was hyperactive yet a worried look plastered on his sweaty face. "Can anybody explain why there is another Landon playing on the other team?"

"I really don't have any idea, Jessie."I threw in a frustrated groan when my fierce eyes landed on the new team captain. "Care to enlighten us, Chase?"

He mimicked my gesture, hands in akimbo. "I hate this part," Chase said to himself yet it was still audible with the rest of the guys. "That guy is GFord, my older brother."

All eyes were on him. "I know I haven't said any words about it to the team." continued Chase. "GFord and I are not that close as siblings. Maybe back then when we were kids."

"Obviously." I sarcastically said that made him groaned out loud.

"Don't start, Myah. This isn't the right time." He was pinching the bridge of his nose while the other hand is fisted hard. "We compete in all things. One of it is basketball. Both of us played for South Bernley, I stripped him of his skipper role on his second year and I was only a newbie."

His air of confidence diminished when he told us. "That made the rift between us more unpatchable." He hesitated momentarily. "When I was offered captainship by Coach Stibbs, my parents also decided to transfer GFord to New Harold but he was against the idea. I never knew he has other plans and that would be suiting up for Dunhill."

Phil tapped Chase's back twice as everyone just nodded in understanding. "How good is he?" Seth's question made his gray eyes sparkled. "Very Good. GFord is an all-around player. His strength is on the offense. He's a team captain material, remember that."

"Nothing you can't handle. Am I right?" Luke straightly asked and Chase just nodded. "We both know each other's abilities badly. I can handle him."

"Game plan, Coach?" Xander mumbled on his gum while his twin Xanthy signaled him to discard the gooey thing from his mouth.

"Man to man defense on the first five minutes of the quarter. It always good to test the waters, boys!" I told them seriously with much conviction even though my insides are churning so hard. "The Centaurs won't be predictable as before. Having GFord on their team is going to change their game strategy."

A loud whistle erupted in the air as the crowd cheered and the announcer started calling Dunhill's first five that cut off the flow of conversation. As expected, GFord Landon was included among the formidable four other players.

"And your New Harold Sentinels!" The announcer's voice echoed before the supporting student body boomed into cheering. "Starting with small forward  number 23 Xanthy Marino followed by no other than his twin another forward player number 32 Xander Marino." I smiled watching them on the center court doing a chest bumped and sending flying kisses to the girl population.

"Center #5 Luke Grisham!" Luke did some high five with his teammates before he ruffled my hair. "Point Guard #14 Jessie Lambert. And for the first time playing for the Sentinels as team captain, Point Guard #7 Chase Landon!" The crowd grew louder upon hearing Chase's name.

Chase who was growing restless beside me whispered before jogging to the hardcourt with head held high. "I'm not going to lose you to my brother." My jaw literally dropped at his commitment. I can only swallow hard.

"New Harold High School Sentinels Coach is Myah Roswell." I humbly bowed my head down before I waved my hand as an acknowledgment. "That's my girl!" I could hear Zareena's voice amidst the noise.

The game commenced with a ceremonial tossing of the ball by the InterHigh Commissioner Johnson with Luke and GFord for the jump ball. I took a seat before I'll falter from the sudden increase of nervousness and excitement consuming my body. Not to mention the warmth spreading in my chest from Chase's promise. I don't know why but I'm not worried about the bet at all. Maybe I'm trying to focus on the game. Such fact would sink in after all this hullabaloo.

With the whistle blown, GFord got the better position for the tip-off. He passed it quickly to his teammate wearing number 2 for a quick corner pocket shot. The score is at 2-0.

I kept on stamping my right foot as I watched Jessie did the baseline pass to Xander. Transition defense was quick for the Centaurs but not as fast as the touch passing between Xander to Xanthy lastly to Chase for a fadeaway shot then he pointed at GFord while mouthing "Start counting, brother." The scoreboard changed to 2-2.

First quarter flew so fast. I've been holding my breath for quite some time. The initial quarter was a total shootout between the two teams. No fouls yet. No timeouts called. The players are all hyped up and energized. Nobody is giving up on second-chance points.