The Choice

Chapter 9

(Ruth's POV)

I can't believe he said that.

"Can you focus on me instead, Ruth?"

Was that a joke? Why would he say that to someone like me?

I stood up from my bed and went to my whole body mirror beside my study table. I stared at my face. Who would like someone like me?

I don't have that fair white skin like my classmates. I'm the typical morena. I'm neither pretty nor girly. I'm just not that much of an eye candy. My eyes are brown but looks dull. My hair looks unkempt if I won't put it on a ponytail. I'm just an ordinary high school girl that no one really bothers to notice. Why would he say that to someone like me who is full of insecurities? I found myself crying. I'm such a pretender when I'm outside. Pretending that I'm strong even though I'm like this? Always overthinking.

Ever since Felix told me those words, I tend to avoid him. Even in practice, I was skipping. I simply don't want to see him.

I just entered my room when my phone vibrated. It was a message from Felix.

"Ruth? Please don't avoid me."

I stared at my phone and I found myself responding to his message.

"Am I? What makes you think that?"

"Then why aren't you coming for practice?"

"Our teachers bombarded us with homeworks."

"Is it not really about what I told you? I miss you, Ruth. Don't be like this, please?"

After that message of his, I've stopped responding. I found myself confused. Why am I avoiding him again? Was I scared that what he said was just a lie? What if it was just a tease? Maybe I've misunderstood it?

-Next Day-

For almost a week, I've avoided Felix. When I went to the gym for today's practice, the first one I've noticed was June. He waved at me when he saw me. I smiled awkwardly.

Then, he approached me and said. "Are you okay now? You were absent for the past practice. I was worried."

"I'm good. Thanks." He was worried about me? He touched my shoulders while staring at my face. It was embarrassing. "Cap?"

"Sorry." He let go. "At least you looked better." Then he smiled at me and went back to the boy's team.

My team members from the girls' team gathered around me.

"I thought you quitted, Ruth! You suddenly stopped attending the practice." Lara, our team leader and the center for the team.

"I'm sorry, Lara. I was just preoccupied." I said then tried to smile.

"You should have informed me." She pouted.

"Sorry. It won't happen again."

"Yes, it shouldn't. I don't want to lose my shooting guard!"

"Glad to have you back, Ruth!" Angela, our point guard.

"I missed you!" Ava, the small forward, said as she hugged me.

"At least you're back now." Mia, our power forward.

"Sorry guys." I said while patting Ava's head as she hugged me. I smiled. This is my home. Why did I stop coming here because of him?

That day, I didn't saw Felix.

(March 2018)

Graduation was around the corner. Summer camp will start a week after the Seniors' graduation. Finals were done for the Juniors and will be expecting our grades around the graduation week.

Therefore, Juniors were free but mostly, we were given errands by our respective homeroom teachers. Days were fast.

As graduation week is approaching, seniors were practicing their graduation rites. We haven't done any basketball practice since the start of March.

I haven't seen him since then. I also didn't received any messages from him.

(April 2018)

Finally, we will be starting our summer camp tomorrow. For the whole month of April and first week of May, our club have booked the gym every weekdays. Weekends will be our time to take a rest.

We will be taught on every aspect of each position on the team. This is also to reassess our skills to which position should we will be playing. First week will be the center, next is small forward, then power forward, shooting guard and lastly, point guard.

Around second and third week of May, we will be playing different position in order to understand more about them.

We will be also practicing our footwork, shooting, grip, passing and rebounds around this month.

After all of these, we will be having a vacation with the team and a farewell party for the Seniors.

Will Felix be there tomorrow? I blushed with the thought. Why am I thinking about Felix? Why do I want to see him?