The Sweetest Fruit ( Tomboy 🏳️‍🌈Love Story )

3. Basketball

Sonia

" Thank God it's Friday. I can't believe I'm this exhausted," I huffed, after a two-hour lecture ended.

The large lecture hall, with its sloping row of desks and faint smell of chalk and old wood, was bustling with students packing their things. The overhead fans barely  circulated the heavy air, and sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting stripes of light  on the tiled floor.

" I'm there with you, friend. I can't wait to go to bed and not have  to wake up early to attend a seven a.m  class," Aliza groaned, her small frame hunched over  as she stuffed her notebook inside her bag. Her dark straight hair was in a bob that framed her round face and her glasses had slipped down her nose due to all the movement. Her expressive brown eyes darted to me, mischief flickering in them.  "Some people have already started skipping classes."

"Yeah I will wait for another week  before I start," she added with a smirk.

"I don't think I can," I said, gripping the strap of my bag.

"Don't tell me you will attend all of them?" She teased, raising an  arched brow.

" I can't screw this up," I said firmly, my voice tinged with the weight of responsibility. My mother's voice echoes in my mind:  It's not everyday a girl like you gets a full scholarship to an elite university.

" You can't screw this up by skipping a few classes," she said, brushing off my concern.

" If I skip classes and my grades drop my scholarship will be canceled," I said, the tension in my voice apparent.

" Okay, okay " she mumbled, her gaze shifting awkwardly to the white board now covered in faded equations and notes from the lecture.

" It's fine," I said, forcing a smile.

                        —

Back in the room, the faint scent of our freshener mixed with the lingering aroma of books. The small space felt even smaller with my things scattered across the bed and floor. I kicked off my sneakers and climbed on the bed hoping to get some rest.

My mind drifted to MJ who was avoiding me like some sort of plaque. I thought after the bonfire things would be civil, but I guess I was wrong. I  hadn't closed my eyes for a long while when I felt the incessant tap on my shoulder.

" What," I snapped, swatting the hand away.

" You should sleep properly or else you will wake up with  an aching  neck,"  MJ said, looking at me. Oh I slept thinking about you.

" MJ," I called, surprised.

"Did you expect someone else ? " She asked, getting out of her basketball uniform. Her honey brown skin glowed from exertion and her natural curls were damp with sweat. Her toned arms and legs were on display as she switched her clothes.

I couldn't help but stare at her chiseled back, where a tattoo — a series of words written in small letters that I couldn't quite make out — decorated her shoulder blade. I quickly looked away before she could catch me staring.

" No it's just that you're never around."

At all.

" We're practicing for the upcoming match, that's why I'm barely around," she explained her tone casual, as she grabbed a bottle of water from her desk.

I rubbed the back of my neck.

" Is your neck in pain?" She asked, already walking over with a tube of deep heat.

"Kinda .."

" Let me help," she said, her voice softer than usual.

She gently massaged the cream into my neck, her calloused fingers surprisingly tender over my skin. My breath hitched as tingles raced through my body. Her touch felt like heaven, but my mind screamed code red. I need to get out of here.

" Thanks," I mumbled, practically bolting out the door.

I was a few steps from our room when I noticed I didn't have shoes on. Great. Now I have to go back. I opened the door slightly to find her cozy tapping something on her phone as I mumbled something about forgetting my shoes.

As I wandered the corridor again, the walls covered in graffiti and marker pen art, a girl stopped me.

"Are you MJ’s roommate?" She asked eagerly, her curly ponytail bobbing as she leaned towards me.

“Yeah,” I answered,  hesitantly.

"Omg how is it like being her roommate?" She asked, squealing.

"Uhm okay I guess," I said shrugging. failing to say how she is barely in the room. Might as well get my own room.

“Okay? " She asked wide-eyed.

"Yeah it's fine."

She giggled walking away whispering about how lucky I was.

“ I know MJ is hot athletic body, rich blah blah but does she have everyone wrapped around her fingers?”

                       —

I meet Sam at the design house busy working on a kitenge skirt. The place is practically empty and he is busy measuring the length of the fabric. I take a seat opposite of him watching him in his zone.

“What's wrong with you?” He asks, barely looking at me.

"Who else, but my dear roommate.”

He lets out a chuckle leaning on the table.

“Is she still ignoring you?”

I keep quiet and he takes that as an answer taking a pair of scissors and cutting through the fabric. God who told me to take Finance as a major?

"Don't mind her, you should be glad she hasn't kicked you out yet.” I roll my eyes and try not to focus on the butterflies that swarm my stomach whenever she looks at me.

"Why would she do that?" I ask taking out my phone. “She has a track record of kicking out people within a week, and you stayed with her for three weeks.”

I huff deciding to drop the topic cause even if I assumed he would understand he wouldn't. “Anyway why are you concerned if she talks to you or not?”

Honestly — I don't have an answer I just know she makes me feel a certain way. In a good way. “I just… want us to be friends. Since I have to live with her for the rest of the year.”

That is far from the truth but that's all I got. He gives me a knowing look and continues with his business. Later in the day I convince him I'm just going to take a stroll and  find myself on the rooftop of the science building. The cool evening breeze ruffled my braids as I looked out over the sprawling campus. The setting sun bathed the buildings in golden light, and the distant sound of laughter and chatter drifted up from below.

“Why can't I get over you?” I muttered, taking out a bracelet from my pants pocket ready to throw it when someone opens the rooftop door harshly.

“Sonia what are you doing up here?"

I spun around to see MJ, standing at the door, her expression a mix of irritation and concern.

" Chilling," I said nonchalantly.

" You shouldn't be up here,"she said, her tone sharp.

"Why?"

"It's against the rules. Let's go," she said, holding the door open. She looked as if she was in a hurry dressed in a white lab coat.

Her firm, long strides quickly put her ahead of me as we descended the stairs. She disappeared into a physics lab leading me to wander the halls alone.

"GIRLS BASKETBALL TRYOUTS ARE ON FRIDAY  AT FOUR, FRESHMAN ONlY. "  The words seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights.

Should I join?