The night came and I texted Elle about the practice and that I would love to meet her after. I don't know how we'll do that or how will she do that knowing that she has a strict dad. I just hoped that I could meet her after the practice.
I showered and put on my white Jersey shirt and short. I wore my high socks and my one and only red and black colored rubber shoes, hoping they will last longer since they were about to have their three years of service.
"Are you done?!" shouted Archie from the living room. When I walked out of the room, I saw him wearing only a white shirt and a normal short. "The heck?! Where are your shoes...and—" I pointed at what he wore. "What are you wearing, dude? Aren't you going to practice?" I looked at him with a frown and he just laughed and pointed at me.
"Dude...it is just a practice. Why wear something like that?" he eyed me up and down as he snorted. The fuck?!
I twitched my lips before saying, "Don't tell me you'll practice with just your sleepers." and raised my brow. He side glanced at my mother and told me that my mother told him to remove his shoes if he wanted to get inside the house.
I, of course shook my head and whispered, "Unbelievable." my mom is a clean-freak. She never wants our house to be dirty or messy, but we, her children do the opposite. I couldn't believe that she even does the same to Archie and what makes it more unbelievable was that Archie listened.
"I'll just change." I instantly went to my room and changed my jersey into a gray shirt.
I groaned when I heard a continuous beeping of horn. Archie wasn't in the living room anymore when I went back.
"Let's go, hurry up!" I heard him shout from outside the gate and made another long beep.
Jeez! He's attracting the neighbors' attention.
"Stop doing that, dude!" I shouted as I hurriedly sat at his sniper's back seat. He used his sniper this time. It was red with a modern decorative design customized only for his bike.
When we reached the Barangay plaza, our coach, boss Erwin was already giving instruction to our team mates. I realized that Elle's cousins were also there. Freddy is one of Elle's first cousin and they were close with each other.
One time, I saw him playing basketball with Elle and by the look of it, he sure was a good shooter. He has a good height considering his age, with curly hazelnut hair, a pair of smiley eyes and a good sense of humour.
Boss Erwin clapped his hands, gaining all of our attentions. He stood up and instructed us to fall in line in the middle of the court while facing him.
"Let's do some stretching for a minute." he stated as he showed us some stretching techniques. After we're done, he instructed us to do the sprinting for ten rounds.
"Hey!" I shouted, getting Freddy's attention. "Oh, Mark!" I ran to his side. "You're playing this year's game?" I asked and he shyly chuckled. "Yeah... Elle pursued me to join this year." I believed that she trusts her cousin this much to pursue him to join this year's basketball game.
Elle once muttered unconsciously, 'If only I can play basketball...' if she can't then she's giving all her hopes to Freddy, instead. I smiled at the thought of my girlfriend playing basketball. She too is a good shooter like Freddy.
A whistle broke me out of my thought. The sprints were over. Everybody was breathing heavily. "Okay... So, I've seen your endurance." boss Erwin stated. "I've evaluated your ability and came to conclude who were to start the game." phasing back and forth, he added, "Later, I'll evaluate you according to your shooting ranges and ability. Those who can't will be of good use for defense, I suppose."
Minutes of explaining, he started calling names to move to the left side. "Dj, Archie, Elmer, Mark, Arnel, Meson." boss Erwin came to us and said, "You... Are the starters and
you—" he pointed at Dj. "You will be a sub if anyone from them will forget how to play their part." he patted Dj's shoulders. "You'd better not disappoint me too." and Dj nodded.
"Okay!" Boss Erwin shouted. "Line up, all of you and start to shoot and pass the ball to your team mate next to you." he instructed and we all followed. These are the basic training a coach would be doing to find out the strength and weakness of its team. How did I know? I am a basketball player from Capital City and have been coached multiple times from lower grade up to this level.
After few more minutes of our simultaneous shootings, sweaty players were all heaving breathlessly. "You... You and you." he pointed at Freddy, Ceron, and Gab. "You will accompany Dj as subs." and they nodded agreeing for their part. ".... And you—" he pointed at Jojo and Boy. "You stay with me and watch your teammates play the game. You still need to polish everything, but I want you both to play our games later on." boss Erwin said, cheering both of the boys who were already had their mood decreased.
"That's all for tonight. Go home, rest well and be ready for tomorrow's game." boss Erwin stated, ending the practice for the night.
__________________
"Are you staying for a while?" I asked facing Archie who was busy typing on his phone. "Naaa....I'll be heading home. Fatima needs me." he answered, smiling while still busy typing. We were already at the intersection and Archie went on his way home which was at the right part of the road.
I continued walking through the way home. At that time, streetlights weren't lighted but thanks to the moonlight, it made the road slightly visible. Half on my way home, I had to walk passed Elle's house. I glanced at their house to see if she's still awake, doing something but no. The lights in their house were already switched off.
No wonder because it's already past nine. I slowed down and brought my phone out of my pocket and texted Elle. "Did you make it out?" I asked, hoping she did. I couldn't help feeling guilty though, because it seemed like I was teaching her to lie to his dad and even teaching her to sneak out of their house at this time.
Meanwhile, her reply popped up. "I'm already waiting here at Karina's house." because of the blissful news I just received, I ran as fast as I could to get home and change my already sweaty shirt.
After changing my shirt to a pastel blue F&H and my jersey shorts to a denim shorts, I grabbed the small box I hid inside my cabinet and quickly went my way out. When I was about to close the gate, it suddenly being stopped by someone.
My aunt, Maria, who has same age as mine quickly came out of the gate. "Where are you going?" she asked with a frown on her face. "Uhh... Just there." I simply answered.
"Pfft! I know." excitedly, she grabbed me by my elbow as she lead me throughout the way to Karina's house.
"Hey! Just release me, Maria. Will you?" not caring if I address her politely or not, I irritably pulled my elbow and made a few distance away from her.
"Wait... How did you know?" I asked her. She's grinning at me like crazy. Jeez! This aunt of mine. "I accidentally saw your messages then suddenly Elle's messages appeared. Promise! I didn't tell anyone else." she pledged as she raised her right hand to show her sincerity.
Why do I have a feeling that she's gonna break this promise soon?
"Just—just don't tell anyone." I narrowed my eyes to scan her expression but she looked at me back with a serious face. "She's my friend, you idiot!" Maria suddenly hit me by the back of my head.
"Shit!" I hissed by the sudden impact. "Stop beating me, will you!?" I glared at her but she hit me again. I was about to scold her when suddenly, the door at Karina's house flew open. Their laughters engulfed the entire house. Wait. We're already at Karina's house and I didn't even notice it earlier.
Elle came out from Karina's house and I made eye contact with her. I was enticed I even forgot where I was when I swiftly grabbed Elle by her hand and pulled her for a hug.