War with the Pointguard (COMPLETED)

21-EXCRUCIATING JEALOUSY

“Shall we talk this over at my apartment like those old times? Or to our usual hangout coffee shop?”

The lady came near Gene once more, just as he saw silvery tears running from Niche’s delicate eyes as she left him with his ex-collleague, Laica. He swear he never wanted that to happen. Never did he want to see Niche cry because of his wretched doing. This was a mistake. A mistake that he has to correct.

“I’m not going back, Laics. Never.” He clenched his fist with burning anger, yet could not give any blow since it was a woman whom he was up to confront. So this is it. He had to settle everything before he could have a face to show Niche.

“I couldn’t see why. You could have been a lot better in ADNU.”

“Only those who could find peace within themselves in a certain place could understand the joy of living in it. I hated basketball when I was in Ateneo. I saw it as a mere tool to became famous and powerful.” Gene closed his fists. Just thinking of his past experiences in ADNU Basketball Team aggravates him. “Players possess different skills with distinct levels. Back then, it wasn’t being deprived to switch places with other members that I hated most, but the absence of some sort of bond that connects everyone. Regrettably, I couldn’t find it there. So I wandered.”

“And you’re saying that you found everything you were looking for in this damn place?” she mockingly asked.

“Watch your mouth, please. I’m not up for an argument with you. Neither am I going to convince you about the betterness of this school,” he appealed.

It’s a couple of seconds before she bursted out her suspicions. “Is this because of that girl? Sinisira ka niya, Gene. Become a Golden Knight again as it suits you.”

Laica is the student medic of the Ateneo Golden Knights since high school. She is the only sister of Gwyn Fernandez who he is used to call only by its last name. They’ve been classmates since freshmen up to college and they’ve been through helluva lot together.

Gwyn got contented to the three t’s of their school-training, treatment and triumph. Sure, basketball players there are treated like gods, and they seem too high to even think of anything else to interest.

Gene, on the other hand, got more and more hungry for growth, seeing the stagnant system. The hungrier he gets, the far he drifts away from the team. He began to search for something to satisfy his great void and he came up with a perfect plan-to transfer into another university.

“I can see that competition is the only thing that matters to you at this time. This isn’t about Niche. It’s me. Friendship, faith, trust, love and most of all, fun. Those are the highest values I learned. At nangyari iyon dito,” he said, pointing to the ground.

“Basketball is about winning and you can’t deny that. Para saan pa lahat ng training niyo kung matatalo rin lang kayo diba? How can you not understand?” Tears suddenly escaped her eyes and she was unable to stop it at the moment it happened. “At saka, friendship? So what do you call me and my brother?”

“You were my co-entrants.” It was like he slapped her with her own definition of basketball. Never did he think that basketball is all about getting the high score and having the crowd to cheer for it.

Basketball is about a good play. You can never be good in anything until you learn to exert passion. Finishing the game with the same goal as of your members is the real taste of victory.

“I couldn’t believe you would do this to us, Boojie. we…need you..,” she knelt down in front of him, unmindful of the growing crowd they’re attracting, “please, just come back.”