The Choice

Chapter 6

(Ruth's POV)

After I met him that day, nothing has changed. He just disappeared. There was no second time.

Was I expecting something?  I shrugged on my stupidity. I am talking about him. When did he do something I've expected? He was always like that.

I continued my days as usual. I also auditioned for the basketball team and got in. My day is consisted with morning classes and afternoon practices for the incoming university Intramurals. It was just like that for months now.

Friends? I think I have some. Mostly, they are my classmates. I don't usually mingle anyway. I'm still talking with Leizl though but now we're both in college, we don't meet that much anymore. She calls me now as a basketball junkie because most of my free time is spent practicing. Actually, she just don't know that I'm doing it so that I cannot think about Felix.

I can easily finished my architectural plates so I got too much time in my hands. I don't want to waste it thinking why he suddenly appeared that time.

Maybe he's bored?  I sighed. I'm already on my way home now. Because my place is on the southern part of the province, I have to ride at least two jeepneys going home. While waiting for my second jeepney,  I found myself looking for him in a crowd of students from his school. I stopped myself from hoping to see him. There was never a time I saw him when I want to. It was always him suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Finally,  I was able to ride the last jeepney for home.

Next day, there were no afternoon practice so I was able to go home early. A classmate of mine who also lives on the southern cities went with me this time. Her name is Crystal. Actually, we go home together some times because we have the same route. It just that my stop is a few kilometers earlier than hers.

Now, we are waiting for our second jeepney. I found myself looking for him again.

"Hey, Ruth." Crystal said.

"Yes?"

"I actually noticed this for awhile now. Who are you looking for within those students? Aren't they from a Maritime school near here, right?" I was dumbfounded. Was I that obvious?

I chuckled. "Am I that obvious?" I asked.

"Not really. It just that if someone knows you I'm sure they'll also noticed. You don't usually looked around that much. It always feels like you have your own world during our classes or any school gatherings."

"Oh," This girl is just observant.

"So you are indeed looking for someone."

"It's a long story."

"I'm willing to listen. The line here is still long anyway.  We got time." She said as she adjusted her glasses and smiled sweetly.

"Where do you want me to begin?" I asked.

"Somewhere I can understand."

I laughed. "Okay then." It's actually unbelievable that I will be sharing this to someone for the first time.

(Around January 2018)

"Okay, guys!  You all know that graduation is this coming March, right? We will be having a summer camp for you before we, Seniors, will be leaving. Starting next school year,  you will be the new Seniors and will be guiding the new recruits, okay?" Our team captain said.

Even though, we are consisted of both genders. We have one team captain for the whole team and two team leaders, one from the boys and another from the girls. This way, we are organized and united as a team,

"Do you really have to graduate, Captain?" One of the girls asked.

Our captain, June, laughed. "Silly. Of course, we have to." Then he smiled sweetly. He actually looks very good that most of the girls from the team got a crush on him. "So Juniors, we will be looking forward for the summer camp. We will be practicing and preparing you to take the lead for the next year, okay?"

"Yes, captain!" We, Juniors, answered. Juniors are actually consisted with Grade 11 students. Then for 12th Graders,  they are called Seniors.

"Seniors, we will be having a meeting about the regime for the incoming summer camp. So team, the summer camp will start around April, okay? We will give you updates in our group chat."

"Okay!" We answered.

"Okay, dismissed!  See you next practice." June said. We stood up and went to the locker room to change into our school uniforms. Locker rooms are separated by genders. After I changed back to my uniform, I bid goodbye to my team and went home. When I checked my pocket,  I realized that I left my wallet inside my locker so I immediately went back. No one was there when I arrived.

"So everyone already went home, eh?" I said to myself as I entered the locker room and got my wallet. Afterwards, I immediately left the room and bumped someone. I fell on my butt.

"Sorry! I thought no one was here." I looked up and saw a boy. He looks familiar but I cannot pinpoint where I saw him. He helped me stand up.

"It's also my fault. I just immediately went out the room to think our doors are just opposite with one another." I said. Then, I realized he was still holding my hand. I withdrew my hand from his grasp.

"Oh, sorry about that. I didn't realized I was still holding your hand." He smiled awkwardly. "By the way,  we haven't met yet, right? I'm not around that much anyway." He said then he offered his hand for a shake. "I'm Felix, a senior."

Ah, so he's that Felix, the one who's in charge with the tournaments and coordinating with other schools. "Ruth." I said then I accepted his hand and shook it for a bit.