"Welcome guests today is the championship game for Women's basketball, fill in your seats and the game shall begin in ten minutes."
The crowd jester announced the remaining time, Aila's heart was beating real fast feeling nervous about the game. Their opponents are tough, they will surely put up a good competition, and it just made Aila more nervous when she saw Glenda talking to one of the players.
"Could that little devil planning another drama villain plot?" Aila blurted out while she was stretching her shoulders.
At the sound of the whistle, the centers jumped for the ball, it landed perfectly on Aila's hands. She directly went for a lay-up while her guard was not paying much attention to her. On the second possession, Aila went for a steal and she was successful, another point was credited to her.
The first quarter was done and Aila's team was up by ten, the second quarter started and her guard was being rough on her defense. Aila was finding screens to get away, but she was met with fouls and hard fouls after the other. A few minutes left in the second quarter Aila went up for a rebound and when she landed, an elbow was aimed at her nose. She felt the impact instantly; she ran to her bench and covered her nose.
The game was stopped by a call of an unsportsmanlike foul on the opponent; apparently, the one Glenda talked to earlier. When Aila removed her hand that was holding the pressure on her nose, blood gushed from it. The whole gymnasium was astounded; the basketball goddess is injured and it was on her face!
Bryan ran towards Aila and helped her to the dug-out where medics were waiting. Yhuan also ran towards Aila, but he was prevented from entering the locker room which is exclusively for athletes. Aila was having a hard time breathing because she was still panting from playing the game, but now her nose is blocked with so much blood.
The doctor quickly checked her nose; it was not broken the sensitive capillaries at the inner lining of the nose were the ones damaged, however, it can easily be fixed with ice packs to stop the bleeding. The game continued, Aila was begging the doctor to let her back into the game.
"As long as the bleeding stops you can go back" The doctor cleared her to come back and play. When Aila came back it was already a crucial possession, only the last two minutes were left on the ball game. The crowd went alive when they saw Aila get back on the court.
Her coach asked for a time out; she huddled her team. "This is it, they are up by five and we only have two minutes left on the clock. I want you to run the play we designed for Aila."
Coach raised her hand in the middle they all raised their hands towards their center huddle; coach shouted "Let's go team Fight, at the count of three; Win! One, two, three." The whole team echoed
"Win!"
Aila inbounded the ball, which made the defense scramble; they expected Aila to receive the ball and now they are lost on who to guard. Aila threw the ball to their center that had a nice position beneath the basket. The defense collapsed on the center and through a series of screens, the center passed the ball back to Aila who was free for a three point shot.
"swoosh"
The crowd went wild, they are only now down by 2. Aila's team is energized by the roaring crowd. The opposing team probably felt the pressure that they missed their shot.
The ball was handed to Aila, she dribbled towards their court and again found her teammate open. The defense again collapsed on the center and just like the set play earlier; the center player passed it back to Aila who was momentarily free. The defense read the earlier play, that's why the one guarding her was on her face again, but her direction was too fast charging towards Aila they had opposite momentum. Aila dribbled towards the hoop and went for a lay-up and was fouled.
The ball went in; the scores are tied now and Aila is taking a free throw. The whole gymnasium was cheering for Aila; if there was one sad soul that day, it was just Glenda. There is just a fraction of a second left that's why this shot is very crucial for Aila's team.
Aila was trying her best to calm her nerves, she dribbled the ball; took a deep breath, and threw up the shot… and the crowd heard Aila's favorite sound...
"Swoosh".
Aila's team won, they were immediately awarded the Championship trophy. Aila was also recognized as the Finals MVP, the tournament committee also gave Aila a special award. Athlete of the Tournament, because of her; the live audiences of women's basketball increased, ticket sales skyrocketed even merchandise like shirts and fans and posters were selling like hot pancakes.
The published inter-university magazine with her on the cover was also successful; they were able to sell fifty thousand copies for the first batch of printing.
Aila and her teammates celebrated their victory they hugged in a group. This definitely was one of the highlights of Aila's journey.
Yhuan has been outside and patiently waiting for Aila when he noticed Bryan, who was also observing Aila from a distance. He approached him with his fist balled in.
"Bro, Aila is leaving the team, you have no more reason to be lurking around her. I know men like you too well, you pretend to be a concerned friend, but you are just waiting to fill in my spot. I am telling you, you don't need to bother because I won't let you; over my dead body."
Yhuan's words to Bryan were strong. Bryan grinned and grabbed him by the shoulder and whispered to him.
"You still don't know about so many things bro." Bryan left Yhuan with those vague words.
Aila saw Yhuan, she went up to him and they came out of the campus holding hands.
"Love, it's our anniversary next week what do you want to do?"
Yhuan asked Aila.
"Surprise me love, how about you, what gift would you want from me?"
"Leave the team."
"What?"