As time passes away,
“Tomorrow marks the start of preliminaries for the interschool basketball competition. Teams are separated into brackets. There are 14 schools participating in our bracket, all of them wanted to become the best.” Clave said “Only two out of this 14 school will participate in the Interschool championship rounds. We placed second last year in overall but now we won’t be aiming for it instead we’ll aim to be the champion!” Clave looked at everyone in the court “Let’s do this!!!”
“YEEEEEAAAHHHHHHHH” Everyone shouted
“I’ll be calling the starting five” coach Vincent said “Clave and Enson will be joining. The other three are, Zanji, Albert and Glenn”
“What about Aldrin coach?” Clave asked
“He’s our secret weapon” Coach Vincent explained “We can make it to the preliminaries even if he doesn’t play. I’m saving the best for last.” Coach Vincent looked at Andrein “You’re the person I needed for the championship” Coach looked at everyone. “Get back to practice”
“Hey, you look sad” Clave whispers to her
“I want to be in the starting position and I want to play”
“Coach Vincent has a point you know… just like what he said, He’s saving the best for the last and it’s a relief for me. I don’t have to worry for you”
She sighs “Let’s practice”
As the practice ended,
“Looks like your girlfriend’s already here” Clave said
“I should be going then” Andrein said as she run towards Trisha
“Are they together?” Enson asked
“Yes” Clave answered
“Hmm… Good for Trisha. She looks happier now”
“Tomorrows your first game” Trisha said as they’re walking home
“Yeah”
“You sound sad”
“I’m not playing until the championship.”
“You should not be sad for that. I know there’s a reason”
“There’s always a reason for everything”
“I’ll be cheering for you”
“Why would you cheer if I’m not playing?”
“Don’t be sulky.” Trisha said and kissed her
“Trisha?”
“That’s to cheer you up”
Andrein smiled “Thank you.”
“I love you”
“I love you too”
As the preliminaries started,
“Your girlfriends watching” Clave said as he found Trisha
“Yeah, even though I’m not playing”
“Is that’s the reason you wanted to be in the starting five”
“Yeah”
Clave smiled “I’m sorry about that”
“It’s fine.” Andrein looked at Trisha and smiled
“Gross” Clave said
“Shut up and good luck”
“Ha, you should told that to the other team”
The team played well and they won the first game and so as the next games.
As day passes and a winning strike, the interschool championship started.
Two days after their last game,
“I got the schedule for the championship” Coach Vincent said
Everyone gathered around Coach Vincent
“Alright” Coach Vincent looked at them “We’ll be playing with Shenen High tomorrow. The winner for this game will advance to the next game. If we win three strikes in a row, then our position in the interschool championship is secured but I’m not telling you to go easy after that… as what your captain said, we’re aiming to become the first, the champion! Now! Let’s do this!!!!”
“GO!!!!”
“Coach” Andrein called
“What is it?”
“Am I playing for the game tomorrow?” she asked
Coach Vincent looked at her “I know you’re itching for a game Aldrin but I don’t want to take risks. Tomorrow forward will be facing strong teams but there are only one team stronger than us and one team equivalent to us. St. Thomas Academy, the third placer last year, we won by one point to them. It’s a miracle for Clave three points shot went in that time”
“Really? Captain seldom shoots for a three points. Watching him playing, he’s a person who’s not really good in long distant shots. He could only shoot 4 out of 10”
“The same as St. Thomas knew. They value basketball the most in sports. They have high tech facilities and good trainers. St. Thomas and Densel High always compete for the championship not until last year. Geez, I always consider Clave as our ace player but Dylan always took the credits. St. Thomas Academy are also known as keen observers, once they studied the team they will face, surely they will win the game. And I know, after what happened last year, they’ll never stop observing our team.”
“I see”
“Aldrin, when the game won’t favor us then you’re the person I needed”
“Very well”
As the practice ended,
“I heard from the coach that you’re not still playing for tomorrow although it’s already the interschool championship” Clave said while they’re cleaning the gym
“I guess.”
Clave looked at ball he was holding, “Somehow you’ll feel incomplete not playing the thing you wanted”
“Hmm?”
“This year is my last year playing basketball”
“You can still play in college”
“College is a very crucial phase for me. My family expects a better career for me rather than basketball. It’s hard for me to convince them about what I wanted the most”
“Hmm… “
Clave sighs “We should win” he said while he shoots for a three.
The ball went in swiftly
Clave smiled “I need to rephrase that. We’ll win”
She smiled “We will”
The next day,
“Alright!!! This is the first game for the Interschool Championship!!! Let’s win this!” Clave shouted
“Fight!” shouted everyone as the starting five enters the court
“Looks like you’re in high spirit” Enson whispers to him
“There are thousands of people watching us right now but one row up there, I know they’re observing us. I’m gonna show them how fearless I am right now”
The jump ball started, they got the ball first. When the ball was passed to Clave, the first thing he does is to shoot for a three.
The ball went in as everyone cheered
“What is he up to?” Andrein asked
“Let’s find out” Coach Vincent said
Again, when the ball was passed to Clave, he shoots for another three.
It went in swiftly like the first shot
Clave smiled as he goes back for defense
As the game went on
“Another three, that’s his seventh time and he never missed one” Coach complimented
“Unpredictable” she said
At the second half of the game,
When the ball was passed to Clave again, two players guarded him
Clave smiled as he jumps for a shot
The two tried to stop him but he fake the shot, run towards the ring and dunk
The stadium was filled with noises.
“He’s unstoppable” coach Vincent said
“Yeah” Andrein agreed “Playing both the shooting guard and a power forward”
“We should had tasted championship 2 years ago if only he had joined earlier”
“What do you mean about that coach?”
“Well, he joined late on his freshman day. The interschool already ended the time he entered basketball”
“What is the reason?”
“His parents died the time he entered high school”
She looked at coach “What?”
“His parents died in an accident and being the eldest of three, he carried a big responsibility. He was really an amazing person. I still remember when he joined the team. We were all down that time after losing in the interschool, he entered the gym, took a ball then dunk it. He looked at us and he said ‘You’re all losers” We were annoyed to his behavior then he said ‘I’m sorry… I should have come earlier. Will you let me join your team?’ I could see sincerity in his eyes, so I let him join and then told him to do a hundred sit-ups.”
Andrein laughed “He’s really an amazing person…”
The game ended as they won against Shenen High, 51-119. The team advances for the next game.
“So what do you think about my game?” Clave boasted to Andrein
Andrein smiled “You are the best. Your long distant shots improve”
“That is what I’m practicing. Now, they’ll fear me”
“Let’s go home”
“How about a one on one game for tomorrows practice?” Clave said as they’re walking out of the stadium
“You’ll beat me”
“How can you say that?”
“Because I don’t love basketball the way you do. For me, basketball is the same as other sports; it was just ‘something’ to do in my free time”
“You sure are one talented person.”
“But not as talented as you are inside the court. You are amazing there.”
“Hmm” Clave smiled ‘Thank you for noticing me’ he whispers
“You’re saying something?”
“Nothing. Let’s go home.”
As days went on, they won their second and third game securing a position in the interschool championship. Now the semifinals will begin with St. Thomas Academy as their opponent.
At the locker room,
“I’m pretty confident that we’ll win” said one teammate “Having captain with us, no one can beat us”
“Don’t be sure about it” Coach Vincent said “I want you all to do your best!”
“We will!!!” everyone shouted
Coach looked at Clave “Do your best, make us a winner”
“I will”
“Enson, you do the same”
“Yes coach”
“Remember, you’ll be the next captain of this team.”
“I will”
“Let’s go!!!” Coach Vincent said as they went to the court.
They were cheers as both teams went on the court
“So that’s St. Thomas Academy” Andrein said as she saw the other team
“Yeah” Clave said
“They have a tall one with them” Andrein said
“That’s Weller. He’s St. Thomas ace player and Enson’s half brother”
“So vice captain have a half brother from other school”
“Yeah”
The referee whistles announcing the start of the game, starting players went on the court
“Looks like you don’t have your ace player playing for this year” The captain of the other team said
Clave smiled “You’re not that observant this year St. Thomas. If you’re talking about Dylan, he’s out of the game. We have a new ace in our team”
“Huh? A new ace? We watched you play the last game. Your long distance shot improved but it’s not a threat to us.”
“Really?”
“Don’t think that you can place yourself as the ace of your team, you’re just a captain with no talent after all. Improving what you just merely done last year”
“Don’t underestimate us”
“That is just what we observed in all of your games. Setting the same starters and doing the same thing. A weak style”
“Who said we’re weak” Enson said “We’re halfway for championship”
“You don’t stand a chance with us anymore. Without an ace player, you’ll end up as losers” Weller said “Especially you, brother” he added
“We’ll see about that”
As the game start, the jump ball was taken by Clave
“This first point is ours!” Clave said as he passed the ball
Enson was guarded by his brother, Weller “Let’s see what your team got brother” Weller said
Enson took the ball
“Shoot it brother. Shoot it or you’ll lose”
Enson ignored Weller as he tried to breaks Weller’s guard
“You can’t go in, just shoot it like you always do. Go on brother, shoot it.” Weller manipulated “Where’s your fighting spirit now. You said you’re talented than I am. Then try to shoot it”
“Shut up!” Enson yelled as he tried to shoot
“Enson!” Clave shouted
“What the hell is he doing?” Coach Vincent said
The ball missed as the other team took the rebound
“Defense!” Clave yelled as they run towards the rival’s court.
The ball is on Weller’s hand as Enson tried to snatch it “Your team is weak, brother” he said as he took a shot.
“No” Enson said as the ball went in.
Weller smiled “This game is ours”
“Fuck” Enson whispers
As the game move on, their team is 8 points down
“Pass the ball Enson!” Clave said but Enson ignored him “Enson?”
Enson took another shot but it missed again.
“What is with him?” Coach Vincent shook his head again
Andrein looked at the time clock, 10 seconds left until the first quarter ended.
Weller took a shot as the first quarter ended. It went in.
“Damn it!” Enson yelled as a ball hits him behind “What the hell?!” he turned around
Andrein was walking towards him
Everyone in the court was watching them
“What was that you son of a bitch?!”
“It’s a wakeup call” Andrein said “You’re becoming selfish again”
“And who the hell are you?” Weller interfere
Andrein smiled “I’m someone who’s waking him to beat your ass and go home crying”
“Who do you think you are, you lame son of a bitch” Weller said
Enson interferes “He’s my teammate” he looked at Andrein “I’m sorry. I’ll do it right” he then looked back at Weller “I will not be manipulated by you again” he said and smiled
“Go kick his ass” Andrein said as he went back to bench
“Let’s see whose going home crying!” Weller shouted
As the second quarter started,
“Let’s see what you got” Weller said as he guarded
Enson has the ball. As he run towards the ring,
“You won’t make a shot brother” Weller said
Enson smiled as he fake a shot and passed it to Clave whose open at the three point spot
“No” Weller said as Clave took a shot. Weller tried to stop the shot but he was too late
“Three points!” the referee announced
Enson looked at Weller “I won’t make a shot brother but my teammates will” he smiled
Weller smiled at him “Guess it will not be easy at this point”
“We’ll win” Enson said as he runs toward the other court
At the beginning of the last quarter,
“We’re still 8 points below” Clave said
“I’m sorry, it was my fault.” Enson apologized
“It’s not yours. St. Thomas Academy is a strong team, they improved the same thing we do”
“Well then, you’re going in, Aldrin” Coach Vincent said
Andrein smiled and stood up “I’m waiting for this”
“It’s up to you now. Beat them”
“I will”
As the game started,
“Who’s the new guy?” The captain of the other team asked
“He’s… the ace player I’m telling you” Clave answered and smiled
“The ace player?”
“He’s not. He’s Aldrin Powell. He’s a genius but a lame. If he’s the ace player, he should have been playing all throughout the game but he was just in bench all the time. I wonder why you let him enter your team” One of St. Thomas Academy player said
“Well, he is kind of lame. We beat him 1 point in a practice game” Enson said and smiled
“Then I guess we don’t have to worry about him” Weller said
Enson grinned
The ball was passed to Enson
“Try to shoot it brother” Weller said
Enson smiled and took a shot
“And I thought you have change, you still don’t think of your action Enson”
“Oh, I told you I’m not going to shoot” Enson said
“What?” Weller turned around to see the ball as it missed the ring then Andrein just came out of nowhere and slammed the ball inside.
Everyone was silent as the ring shake
“He’s....” Weller can’t believe his eyes “You said you beat him 1 point”
“Yeah, 5 players against 2 players, he and the captain are a good combination. Don’t go home crying, brother” Enson said
“Heh, that’s why we’re keeping him from observers like your team, he’s our secret weapon.” Clave said
“That dunk doesn’t change anything. We’ll beat you” the other team captain said
In the middle of the last quarter,
“Guard him!” The captain of the other team yelled as Andrein is going to shoot
Three of them tried to stop her but she surpassed them all and took the shot
“Damn it!!!” St. Thomas coach yelled as the ball went in
Now the score is even. The rival team called for a timeout.
“Guard that monster at all cost!” the coach said “Weller! Stop competing with your brother and guard him. This is supposed to be our game”
“I will coach, I’ll do my best”
“Damn it, I thought they have become weak because Dylan’s gone. Now there someone else better than him and all along they’re just keeping him”
“They’re not weak in the first place… They’re not weak not because Dylan’s gone… I guess because everyone in that team changed. Everyone in that team is stronger than us.” The captain said
“What the hell are you saying?”
“I know what you mean captain…” Weller smiled “Let’s just do our best”
“Are you two giving up?”
“We’re not coach but this game is not ours…”
The game continued and as expected, St. Thomas Academy loses by nine points against East Spring High, Andrein’s team and school.
“You beat us” Weller said to Enson
“Our team did”
“I’m sorry if I told you your team’s weak”
Enson smiled
“You’re good player” the other captain said to Andrein “I wish I could play with you again. That time, we’ll be stronger”
“Then I look forward. Thank you for the wonderful game”
“Alright. Congratulations, your team’s advancing for the finals”
“Thank you”
“Aldrin!!!” someone yelled from the audience
Andrein smiled as she saw Trisha
Clave looked at Andrein “Hmm” He looked at his teammates “To the FINALS!!!”
“To the FINALS!”
“You really are the best Aldrin!” Enson complimented as they enter the locker room
“Thank you”
Enson smiled “Trisha’s waiting for you”
“Yeah”
“Really excited to hug your girlfriend”
She smiled
“Hey Aldrin” Clave called “Are you free tonight?”
“Yeah”
“Then hang out with me”
“Woah, only the two of you?” Enson said
“Yeah” Clave answered
Andrein smiled “Alright. I’ll meet you at seven in front of our house”
“Very well”
Trisha met her in front of the stadium
“You’re great out there”
“Thank you. I didn’t know you’re coming.”
“I begged our club adviser to let me watch your game.”
“How’s your play?”
“Gonna be ready for the next day. I’ll be waiting for you”
“Of course”
“I’ll be cheering on you at the finals.”
“Then I’ll do my best”
That night, like as promised, Andrein hanged out with Clave
“Where are we going?”
“To the convenient store” Clave answered
“So what should we talk about?”
“You should tell her the truth”
“No way will I do that”
“Do you think you’ll be forever like that? What if the real Aldrin wakes up?”
“Then I go.”
“You said you love Trisha, why would you let your brother have him?”
“Because I’m doing this for my brother, Aldrin is inlove with her. He should be thankful of me because when he wakes up, he’ll have Trisha on his arms”
“She’s inlove with you not your brother”
“Would she if she knew I’m also a woman?”
“Then confess to her”
“You’re out of your mind”
“You’re inlove with her. It would hurt you more if you can’t tell her”
“It’s better that way”
“You’re an idiot, I won’t treat you”
“Fine”
There was silence
“You’ve become my best friend even though I learned you’re a woman but I wouldn’t be a best friend to your brother. Trisha would one day realize that the Aldrin she loved is different from the real Aldrin.”
“You know the reason I can’t confess to her? I’m afraid of what will happen next. She loves the real Aldrin and I know for sure she’ll hate me. I’m disgusting because I’m a lesbian who's making her fall for me in a form of my twin brother. So I’m contented right now, until Aldrin wakes up, I’ll love her this way”
Clave sighs “Well, you can cry on my shoulders when your brothers wake up”
“Idiot”
Clave looked at her “Alright, I’ll treat you something sweet for today”
Andrein smiled “You can’t really resist me”
Clave smiled “Shut up”
The next day practice,
Clave was watching Andrein from afar
“What are you doing?” Enson said as he stands up next to Clave “You’re staring at him”
“Just watching his moves”
“He’s really good. I wonder what happened that he becomes good at sports.”
Clave stays quiet knowing the real reason that the Aldrin they’re watching was not the real Aldrin.
“There are so many changes I noticed on him after that tragedy”
“Tragedy?”
“Yeah, the suicide thing, when he came back after that, He becomes so strong, so confident. Everyone knows he’s an introverted person but now, he’s friendly, always smiling, and open. He becomes very good at everything. I learned many things from him.”
“Yeah”
“And looking at him physically, he became paler and have you noticed”
“Notice what?”
Enson whispers to him “He’s beautiful”
“What?”
“Maybe that’s the reason many girls is in love with him. I didn’t notice that at first, but if he could be a woman, I’ll marry her”
“Tch, that’s really lame”
“You know what captain, I’m really jealous of you, despite having him for a few months. You two become close. I wonder if you have fallen for him”
“That would never happen”
“Might happen, this is a liberated country anyway, gay relationship are being considered”
“Shut up and go back to practice” Clave said
Enson looked at him and smiled “I would still accept you if you’re gay captain”
“Are you going back to practice or not?”
“Hey, be cool. I’m just joking” Enson said and leave
He can’t be gay because the Aldrin he’s watching right now is Andrein, a woman. But even though he’s inlove with her, he could never cross the line.
“Good work team” Coach Vincent said “This coming Saturday marks the final game. Let’s win it.”
“YEEEEAHHHH!!!”
“Even though I wanted all of you to practice tomorrow, I can’t. We’ll be having the school fair and everyone is free for practice. Enjoy tomorrow’s fair because the next day, we’ll be practicing hard. Alright, we can all go home” Coach Vincent dismisses “Oh, Aldrin. On the championship, you’ll be in the starting five”
Andrein smiled “Then I’m looking forward to it”
“Very well” Coach Vincent said as he leaves
Clave pat Andrein’s head “Let’s win the championship”
“Yeah”
“So, what’s your plan tomorrow?”
“For the fair? I’ll be watching Trisha on her play”
“Alright”
“Will you watch with me?”
“Sure” Clave smiled
“Can I join?” Enson interrupted
Clave looked at Enson seriously
Andrein smiled “Of course you can vice captain.”
“Cool. I’ll see you two tomorrow” Enson winked and leave
“You should have turned him down”
“Why? It’ll be fun”
The day of the school fair,
“Hey” Clave waved to Andrein as he saw her
“Hey” Andrein smiled
“Good morning captain. You’re late” Enson said
“I’m not, it’s only nine. The play will start at 10”
“Anyway, let’s go already. I’m excited” Enson said
Andrein chuckled “You’re really funny vice captain”
“Thank you” Enson smiled at her
“Geez, I hate him being like that. It annoys me” Clave said as they walk to the theater
They found empty seats in the fourth row,
“Let me sit beside you Aldrin” Enson said
“Sure” Andrein answered
“No, I’m sitting beside him or I’ll deal with you tomorrow” Clave said
“Go ahead then”
Trisha found them while setting up the stage, she walks towards them
“You’re too early and you’re with Clave and Enson”
“I just got here at nine. I wanted to play outside first but Enson insists of going here” Clave said
“Aldrin is more excited than I am. He’s already here when I arrived at eight”
Trisha looked at her “Then I’m giving my best for this play. Hope you will like it”
She smiled “Yeah.”
“I’ll be going back then. Enjoy watching”
“We will” Enson answered
As Trisha left
“You two are really meant for each other ha” Enson said to Andrein “When Dylan is still her boyfriend, she was not that friendlier. She’s always alone and lonely. She was always afraid. You change a lot of things on her.”
“And I wish they’ll be together, forever” Clave whispers
“What did you said captain?” Enson asked
“Nothing”
The show started as scheduled. The story was all about a fairy falling in love with a human but their love ended as she sacrifice herself to save the human. In the end, the human forgotten about her and married someone else.
As the story ended,
“That was sad” Enson said
“It wasn’t. It was a happy ending” Clave said
“He forgotten about the fairy and he married someone else. It was a sad ending for the fairy”
“No it’s not. It would be a sad ending if the human died. The fairy died because she loved him and she was happy because she saved him”
“But still” Enson looked at Andrein “What do you think Aldrin?”
“It’s fine. It’s just a play, nothing important about it. There’s no fairy existing in this world anyway” Andrein said
“You’re such a cruel person”
“Quit being sensitive Enson, you’re disgusting”
“You both don’t have the thing called ‘appreciation’”
“hey” Trisha called as she walks toward them
“I love your play” Enson said
“Thank you then”
“So, where should we go then?” Enson asked
“Well, we’re going home” Clave said as he pulled Enson
Andrein looked at Trisha, “We should take a look at the booths”
“Alright then” Trisha agreed
They went to different booth and played different games
“I’m really happy to be with you right now” Trisha said
“Same here”
“Let’s go get married”
“What?”
“There’s a marriage booth here” Trisha said as she pulled her
Andrein smiled as she watches how happy Trisha is
At the end of the day, they were married in a booth.