The crowd erupts from their seats with a terrible noise. The Maaravi Warriors wins their first game.
"I LOVE YOU, MARK MERCADO!!!"
"CHEF MARK! CHEF MARK! CHEF MARK!"
His teammates flock towards him in droves, shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Nice one, Mark! You are the buzzer-beater!" Justin says to him.
"You have won our first game, Mark!" says Cesar.
They praise Mark while walking towards their coach.
When Mark comes face to face with the coach, the latter says to him, "You are the man!!!". And Coach Perez hugs him. "You've done an amazingly great job."
Coach Perez lets go of him and sees Samantha and Ruth by the stands waving at him.
Samantha holds her hand over his mouth and shouts, "Great job, Mark!!"
Ruth also holds his hand over his mouth and shouts, "You're my hero!!!"
Mark smiles at them and bows.
'I hope Samantha is impressed by my performance today.'
He then sees Cesar going up to the stands towards Samantha. When he meets and hugs Samantha, a sting pierces through Mark's heart.
'Why do you have to like him when I like you? Why can't you see my love for you? Why must you be far away? Why are you in my heart all the time? Why is my heart longing for you, most beautiful maiden? Can't you see this aching heart of mine?'
The opposing players shake each other's hands as the game reaches its conclusion. When Mark shakes the hand of Managaytay, the big man smiles.
"I will see you again next year. Next year is my chance to beat you before moving up from junior high school. I just want to say that I see a potential in you. You'll be a special player soon, Mercado. And I'm glad that I can see it firsthand. You have defeated us fair and square, congratulations for your victory, my friend."
Mark smiles and says, "We will see each other again and I will remember this day how you became a monster on the court. You fought the good fight, you may have lost but life must go on."
By lunch, Mark, Justin, Cesar, Ruth, and Samantha eat at Jollibee. Mark orders a burger, he doesn't need to order rice because he brings his own rice; Justin just brings his own lunch; while Cesar, Ruth, and Samantha order spaghetti and chicken with rice.
They bring the beeper to notify them of the foods they order and they go up the stairs to the second floor. They sit at the one side of the long table. From left to right are Justin, Mark, Ruth, Samantha, and Cesar.
Ruth smiles at Mark and says, "I'm so glad you made that last shot. You are awesome, Mark."
Mark smiles back and says, "Thank you, Ruth. I can't believe I made the shot. A couple of weeks back, I'm just learning how to shoot. But by Cesar's guidance and teachings, I got better very quickly."
"And all because you helped Cesar from Junrey, he never forgot your act of deliverance."
Justin puts his hand on Mark's shoulder and says, "This man is a hero to us all." Then Justin laughs and eventually, the three of them are laughing.
Cesar looks at them and smiles. Samantha looks and smiles at them, and then looks at Cesar.
"Thank you for teaching Justin and Mark how to play basketball, it's the best thing you have done."
"Nah, it's just nothing. I'm just returning the favor."
The beeper beeps and Mark voluntarily grabs it and stands up.
YOU ARE READING
Hold my Hand
Teen FictionIn Toledo City, a boy drifts through life with challenges and woes. He likes a girl but she doesn't like him back. He wants to live in accordance with the path God has given him. And he strives to be good at basketball as he aspires to become a bask...
