Beneath the Ice: A University Love Story

8 | When the Heart Speaks

NOW had been a hectic week for Freen. Ever since she kissed Becky in her office, they hadn't seen each other once. Their class tests had kept them both busy, and with the upcoming sports championship looming, Freen had buried herself in work, coordinating with her team to ensure everything went off without a hitch.

Today, though, Freen had an important meeting-one that made her heart pound in anticipation and nerves. She needed to discuss something with Heng, her best friend and the captain of the basketball team. The issue wasn't just about the match strategy; it was about why Becky was in the starting lineup after joining the team only a month ago.

The other council members were already gathered in the office when Heng entered. Freen gestured for him to sit down, her face stoic, though her thoughts were spinning.

Ohm, the sports president, didn't waste time and immediately brought up the issue. "Heng, why is Becky in the starting five and not other more experienced players?"

Heng smiled, his confidence evident. "I know Becky just joined the team a month ago, but I can assure you, she's one of the best players we've got. She's got the potential to be a game-changer."

Ohm frowned. "But she's only had a short time to train. There are players who have been on the team for years."

Heng leaned forward, his voice firm. "Other players suggested Becky themselves. They admitted she has more skill than they do. Trust me, if she wasn't up to par, I wouldn't have put her on the court. She's fast, strategic, and her athletic ability speaks for itself. She's more than earned her spot."

Freen nodded, reassured by her friend's confidence. "I trust your judgment, Heng. If you believe she's ready, we'll back her. But if things go wrong, we need to be ready with substitutes."

"Fair enough," Heng said. "But I promise you-she'll be on the court until the final second. You'll see."

Freen gave him a nod, signaling the end of the meeting. Heng left the room, and Freen felt a strange mix of emotions settling over her. She trusted Heng, but hearing Becky's name in this context sent her thoughts spiraling. She was proud of Becky's achievements, but the possessiveness she felt around Nita's comments a week ago hadn't gone away.

......

The next day, the much-anticipated basketball game between IDF and Bangkok National University (BNU) finally arrived. The court was packed with excited students from both universities, the air thick with anticipation. Freen sat in the bleachers with Nam, Noey, and Kate, all wearing jerseys with Heng's name on them. They were here to support Heng and, secretly, Becky.

The atmosphere was electric, with cheers and chants filling the air. As the teams from BNU entered the court, the noise level in the arena skyrocketed. But when the IDF team entered, the crowd erupted into an even louder frenzy.

"REBECCAAAAAA!" a girl screamed from the stands.

"I LOVE YOU, BECKY!" another shouted.

The crowd's energy intensified as more students began chanting Becky's name. Freen glanced around, surprised by the amount of support Becky was receiving.

Nam nudged her playfully. "Looks like Becky has quite the fanbase," she said with a grin.

"They never miss her boxing matches," Noey added. "When they found out she was playing basketball, they went wild."

Freen stayed silent, watching as Becky jogged onto the court in her jersey. Her eyes landed on the number 8 printed on Becky's back, and something about it made her heart skip a beat.