Maze

39

I watched with my hands clenched as the basketball I threw for the third time hovered around the ring. Third time was indeed a charm—its desperate attempts to escape from the hoop succumbed to gravity as it entered through the net and plopped right into my hands.

"Gosh, nice job, you finally did it!" Adelynn cheered, applauding. She then raised her palm, as though she signaled for a high five, but proceeded to dodge my reciprocating hand. "But you still have a long time to go!"

I pursed my lips; why she intended to do that, I wished I knew—perhaps as some sort of a joke or something. My nerves were pricked by her actions, but I forced myself to chuckle and pretended I saw that coming, regardless of whether it sounded fake or not. I don't know Lynn can be such a prankster too...

Seb raised his arms at me, requesting the ball. His figure was small due to the distance and so with all of my utmost strength, I stepped forward and flung the ball up in the air. Luckily, it reached him and he somehow caught it with one arm; not even his entire body budged.

The men quickly pursued after the silver-haired man as he dribbled through the court, fighting for possession of the ball, but he blocked them with his back and slipped through them. With a smirk, Lynn watched as Seb jumped up high and slammed the ball on the hoop, earning him cheers and praises.

After a few more laps around the field, Edward eventually jogged towards us. Seb offered the basketball, but Edward shook his head and waved the back of his hand. Huffs and puffs rocked through him while he slowly caught his lost breaths, rubbing the dripping sweat off his chin, before he snatched his bottle he had placed beside me.

"Why don't you go and play with them, Ed?" Adelynn asked, raising an eyebrow at him and placing her arms in her hips.

His response was not as expeditious as how he ravaged all the contents in his bottle, his dignified gaze cast up high towards the horizon smeared with various shades of blue.

"After all of that bullcrap? Fuck no," Edward grumbled and brushed the back of his neck. "I'm taking a break from it. I'm gonna focus more on my work now."

Ironically, I found myself surprised at how unperturbed I was. Steering clear from those triggers was an understandable decision, especially when there were familiar faces from the team. In fact, Edward had been the primary source of their attention for most of the part, Jason being the most obvious one. Thankfully they were mature enough, unlike that Alfred jerk, to know his personal space.

He seemed to have taken notice as well.

"No matter what they do, I won't be back," he reaffirmed, clenching his hands. "They were the ones who told me to scram off and so I did, for their reputation. That fucking asshole better be the happiest man alive."

"Yes, Ed, we get it, you hate your team." Adelynn sighed as her gaze gravitated to Seb and the boys as they zoomed through the court for the ball. "I was saying you should enjoy basketball as it is, just like Seb. Don't let them drag you down."

He said nothing, rather his attention crept upon me when I acquired a basketball rolling towards my direction, having been abandoned by the other students. My spirits lifted up as I successfully dribbled the ball, but when I slowly transferred it to my left hand, it broke off and bounced away. I still can't do this right...

"You're doing good, Rena. It needs a lot of practice using your non-dominant hand," Edward suddenly advised as he picked the ball up and bestowed it to me. "A lower stance helps you control and protect your ball, don't bend your knees too much."

"Okay... will try." With the ball clutched in my hands, I slightly straightened my body, keeping my legs steady.

"Good, now try dribbling it."