The Ace Player

Chapter 2: The Game

"Reddin Kaede, I challenge you!"

Those were the words I said yet he just ignored me. He gave me one glance then turned to leave but I, who was serious about the challenge, threw the ball directly towards him, and good for him dahil nailagan niya.

Sound of surprise broke for a second, the captain, who was passive all this time tried to take action, "O oi, Natsu!" he called, surprised with what I've done. "What are you doing?"

He was about to come near me but before he could draw nearer, humarap sa akin si Kaede. Nairita rin ata siya because when he turned to me, he has this sarcastic smile that says, "fine," but his eyes sends off the message, "You will regret you challenged me," and he was right.

---

Paunahan kami na maka-score. Kung sino man ang makakuha ng 5 points ay siya ang winner.

May alam ako sa Basketball, at syempre magaling rin ako dito. I wouldn't dare to challenge him kung alam kung hindi ko siya masasabayan. I'm not an idiot.

I'm confident that my skill in Basketball is on the same level as him.

Nasabayan ko siya sa mga galaw niya and I've never thought that I will be drawn to it. Matagal narin na hindi ako nakapaglaro ng Basketball and to think na I'm in the proper condition to play.

The movements, the feeling of holding the ball, the joy in playing, and the desire to play this game, lahat naramdaman ko as I have a one-on-one fight with this guy. I did miss this game. At that moment, I forgot I was even challenging him, instead I was having fun.

He's the first one to shoot the ball, but when I also scored, everyone else was shocked. No-they're already surprised in the beginning nang nakasabay ako sa mga galaw niya. Who would think that a girl like me can match this guy's movement.

Well, hindi dahil Ace siya, siya na ang magaling. To tell the truth, naging Ace rin ako ng Women's Basketball Team dati. *^_^*

Nasa kalagitnaan kami ng laban, and I can feel it... This guy's excitement... 3-3 ngayun ang score, for some reason, nagawa kung maka-shoot despite his tight defense.

Bang!

One point ulit niya so bale 4 points niya na ngayun. Syempre hindi naman ako papatalo, I won't lose to guys like him.

Magsho-shoot na sana ako pero biglang sumakit yung paa ko kaya na-delay ang aking pagtalon. Naagaw niya sa akin yung bola, and he ran directly towards the ring.

SH*T ! One point nalang ay mananalo na siya. Naabutan ko siya and I tried to defend pero nakakita siya ng opening, then tumalon siya para mag-shoot.

With full force, tumalon rin ako, but he suddenly changed into lay-up and medyo nasagi niya ako.

Mahina lang pero feeling ko ang lakas-lakas. I lose control of myself and I also lose my balance. I'm falling...

Biglang nag-flash back sa mind ko ang isang pangyayaring pilit kong kinakalimutan; I was falling and every face I saw shows a terrified expression.

THUD!

Kasabay ng pagbagsak ko ay ang pagkakuha ni Red ng kanyang Final Point. He won. And there's a loud Cheer from the crowd.

I pulled myself up and sat on the floor. This time, I'm the one who's shaking...

"I lose," I thought to myself. "Damn it!" For the second time, Red gains glory. Masaya ka na?

Ugh, I want to cry. The crowd was once again whispering to one another, but I don't want to hear a thing...

Ayoko na! Nakakainis! Why does it need to end this way??? Tch.

Red stretched his hand in front of me. Di ko man lang napansin ang paglapit niya.

"Are you alright?" he asked pero hindi ko ito pinansin.

"Get Lost!" I replied, coldly.

The audience, or more of his fans who heard, rallied. They got angry because of my attitude, and they insisted that I should plead for forgiveness.

Ako na nga itong nang hamon di ba? pasalamat nga dapat ako tinutulungan pa ako diba? But the Hw3LL. I don't need Pity right now.

Hindi ako mag-sosorry. For goodness sake! Siya kaya ang puno't dulo ng lahat ng ito -_-

I hoisted myself up to stand, but once again, I lost my balance and in just a second, I'm back on the floor.

DARN! I hate this.

My feet... My feet hurt so suddenly that tears came flowing down my eyes. A blinding pain made me shut my eyes, thus, I don't even know what's happening already. I crouched on the floor, my arms wrapped on my knees. Ang SsssAaaaKkkkIiiiiTttt! The pain, It's burning like h3ll. DARN it!!! Why now, of all times?!

How can this still happen anyway? It have been 3 years since the accident, imposibleng hindi pa nag-heal yung injury. Ugh~

I can hear shouts and screams, yet no word made sense. Am I even shouting? Because I can't hear it. All I know is I can smell Blood... there was blood all over.

The fear of repeating the past enveloped me. I'm scared. Someone, please help me...

Suddenly, biglang may bumuhat sa akin but seconds later, everything's black.

I passed out.