Miss nobody strikes back

Sport

Chapter Thirteen

    "Buns, are you ready? Today we're going to the sports center," Uncle Jack said with a grin.

    "Sports?" I asked, confused. I had no idea what he was talking about.

    "Ah yes, we didn’t tell you. First, we’re going to work out, and then you'll play basketball," Aunt chimed in with excitement.

    "I don’t know how to play," I admitted, feeling a bit out of my depth.

    "Don’t worry, I’ll teach you. That’s going to be our new routine: Monday to Friday, workout; Saturday, family outing; and Sunday, sports," Uncle Jack explained with a big smile. I couldn’t help but smile back. They were really trying their best to make me happy, and it was working. Aunt had even bought me a whole new wardrobe, filled with clothes and shoes.

    I loved them so much. They were everything I could ever ask for. I got dressed in black joggers, a white shirt, black socks, and white sneakers. "I’m ready," I announced. Just as we were about to leave, Aunt stopped me, gently removing my glasses.

    "You can’t play with your glasses on. That’s why I got you contacts," she said, reaching into her bag.

    "Contacts? I can’t wear them because of my eyesight," I said, a little worried.

    "I know, but these are medical contacts. Sit down," she instructed. I sat down as she pulled out a pair of contacts that matched the color of my eyes. She carefully placed them in my eyes. I closed them for a moment to adjust, and when I opened them, I could see everything, even things far away.

    "Wow," I managed to say, blinking in amazement.

    "Thank you so much," I added gratefully.

    "Oh, stop. Come on, we’re going to be late!" she said, pulling me up as we hurried to the car. We zoomed off to the sports center.

    When we arrived, I saw that the place had an in-built gym. I’d never been to a gym before. People were everywhere, working out intensely. Uncle Jack ran on the treadmill while Aunt and I did some exercises together. I was exhausted after a few sets.

    "No, no, no, you can’t be tired yet. After working out, we’re going to do basketball training. Come on," Uncle Jack urged. I reluctantly stood up.

    The basketball court was empty, but there were other people training nearby—mostly boys and men. I felt shy about stepping onto the court.

    "Don’t be scared. I’m here with you," Uncle reassured me, and I nodded, feeling a little braver. We walked onto the court together.

    "Safety gear first," he reminded me. I put on knee and elbow pads for protection, just in case I fell.

    Uncle Jack started teaching me the basics of basketball, explaining the rules, how to dribble, how to dodge, and most importantly, how to aim for the basket. We spent hours training, and by the end, I felt like I’d learned a lot. While I was removing my safety gear, a guy approached me.

    "Hey," he said, and I turned to look at him.

    "I’ve never seen a girl play basketball before," he added, looking a bit surprised.

    "Yeah, it’s just something I like to do in my free time," I replied, not giving it much thought.

    "Don’t you think it’s too much? I mean, girls are supposed to dress up, go to parties, and hang out," he said, a bit smugly.

    I smiled at his outdated thinking. "Well, I guess I’m different then," I said, turning to walk away, but he grabbed my hand.

    "Do you think we could hang out sometime? You know, somewhere other than this place? Somewhere nice?" he asked, flashing a crooked smile that I found more annoying than charming.

    "Am I your type?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

    "Well, I usually date girly girls, but you’re different. Something new. I think I want to try it," he said, still smiling that smug smile.

    I so badly wanted to slap him. "So you want to hang out until you get bored and move on to another girl, right?" I asked. He fell silent, looking taken aback by my response.

    "I don’t think I’m the right person for that," I said, pulling my hand away from his grip before walking over to where Uncle Jack was standing.

    "Wait, I didn’t even get your number yet, or your Snapchat!" he called after me, but I just shook my head, ignoring him.

    "So, Uncle, how did I do?" I asked as I approached Uncle Jack.

    He smiled proudly. "You’re a fast learner. With a few more practices and games, you’ll be good to go," he said, raising his hand for a high five. I smiled and slapped his hand.

    "Are you guys done?" Aunt called out from the bleachers. Uncle gave her a thumbs-up, and we both walked over to her. She handed us towels and bottles of water.

    "Let’s go to the restaurant, but first, you both need to shower," she said, and we nodded in agreement.

    After showering and changing into fresh clothes, we headed to a nearby restaurant to eat. I ordered a beef burger and a drink, while Aunt and Uncle both got rice and chicken stew.

    "So, Hanna, I saw you talking to a boy. What happened?" Aunt asked excitedly, almost like a teenage girl gossiping.

    "Well, nothing much," I said, trying to downplay it as I took a bite of my burger.

    "Oh, come on, don’t be a buzzkill. He must have said something," she pressed, clearly interested.

    "Yeah, he did. He said he’d never seen a girl play basketball and that I should be doing something more ‘girly.’ Then he asked me to hang out, saying he usually dates girly girls but wanted to try something different with me," I explained.

    "I’m not sure I’m ready for a relationship, especially after Shane," I added, feeling a bit somber.

    "That’s okay. You shouldn’t feel pressured into anything. Besides, you have to focus on your studies and building yourself up before even thinking about boys," Aunt said with a supportive smile.

    "Yeah, I agree with your Aunt. So, how do you feel?" Uncle asked.

    I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. "I feel good—really good. I actually feel ten times better than when I was back home. I’m more confident, and... thank you so much. You guys are the best," I said sincerely.

    "Now that’s what we’re talking about—Hanna, the confident swan you are!" Uncle said, and we all laughed together, enjoying the moment.