Courtside Connections

Chapter 1: 1st Day in College

Chapter 1: 1st Day in College

In the dim light of dawn, Aria stirred from her sleep, her mind still lingering in the realm of dreams.

As the remnants of her subconscious adventures faded, only one memory remained vivid: a scene from her childhood, etched in the corners of her mind like an old photograph.

She found herself standing on the sidelines of a dusty basketball court, watching with awe as a young boy, slightly older than her, effortlessly dribbled the ball with skill and finesse. His laughter echoed in the air as he weaved between defenders, his movements fluid and graceful despite his chubby stature.

Intrigued by the game unfolding before her, Aria felt a spark of curiosity ignite within her. But she was shy, so she waited until the game ended.

As the game ended, Aria took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to approach the chubby boy. He looked up at her with a friendly smile, his eyes reflecting the same curiosity and excitement that Aria felt.

"Hi," Aria said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I'm Aria. Ano pangalan nyo po?"

The boy's smile widened as he replied, "I'm Orion. Nice to meet you, Aria."

Aria felt a rush of relief wash over her as she realized that Orion was just as shy and nervous as she was. With a newfound sense of confidence, she continued, "I, um, I was watching you play, at ang galing mo po."

Orion's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but he grinned sheepishly and said, "Thanks. Matagal na akong naglalaro eh."

Encouraged by his humility, Aria smiled back and asked, "Pwede mo po ba akong turuan kuya Orion? I've always wanted to learn how to play basketball, pero I never had the chance."

Orion's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of sharing his passion with someone else. "Of course! I'd be happy to teach you Aria."

Aria felt a surge of gratitude and excitement as she nodded eagerly.

With a warm smile, Orion led Aria to the edge of the court, where he began to explain the basic rules of basketball and demonstrate fundamental techniques. Patiently, he guided her through each movement, offering encouragement and gentle corrections along the way.

With Orion's support and guidance, she began to dribble the ball with more control, make accurate passes, and even attempt her first few shots at the hoop.

With each successful attempt, Orion cheered her on, his enthusiasm contagious. "You're doing great, Aria! Keep it up!" Encouraged by his words, Aria pushed herself to do better.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky darkened, casting long shadows across the court, Orion and Aria reluctantly called an end to their practice session. But as they gathered their belongings and prepared to part ways for the evening, Aria couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future.

"Thank you, kuya Orion," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I had so much fun today."

Orion smiled warmly at her, his eyes shining with pride. "Anytime, Aria. Practice tayo ulit ha?"

With a nod and a smile, Aria bid farewell to her new friend.

As the dream faded, Aria couldn't shake the warm feeling in her heart.

*Brrrrnng brngggg*

Aria woke up suddenly, the shrill sound of her alarm jolting her from her reverie. She reluctantly turned off the alarm and sat up in bed, the warmth of the dream still lingering in her mind.