"Azkira Yona Elora!" William announced from the speaker.
Finally, standing up from my position I stretch before walking in front. I could feel their stares on my back and whispers of judgement. I sigh inside.
"Isn't she a bit too short to play basket" a girl whispered which pretty much failed as I heard.
But I shrugged it off, I was feeling rather confident and didn't mind them as I didn't want their judgements to ruin the mood. 'Beware to be amused' as I snicker at my thoughts.
Standing a meter in front of the table, I couldn't put away the wide smile plastered on my face, I know it hasn't started but I was feeling lucky. And when I do, something good is about to happen and I know it.
"Hello, please introduce yourself." Said William who had a grin on, as if he finds this very amusing.
"Hi, I'm Azkira Yona Elora, I'm 17, I'm an architect major, I'm from Indonesia and I used to go to YS. I used to be a small forward and captain there, and I would like to be an official small forward here too." I introduced myself in confidence.
The whispers got louder as I finished my introduction.
"Well Azkira or should I say Akira since you go by that in Basket, you say you want to be a small forward here, and an official one at that, well then since the usual try-outs might bore you, how about this. I Alex Captain of the boy basketball team challenge you to a one on one, and if you manage to get at least 5 scores you are welcome to join the club automatically, but if you don't then you have to keep on following the tryouts and find out the results at the end of the week, so what do you say?" Alex offered.
My eyes lit up at the offer, feeling pumped up I replied in enthusiasm. "Of Course yes!"
And with that Alex stood in front of me with Andra going to shoot the ball up. By now the others were on the side as they waited for what to come.
"OK GET READY AND GO." Andra blew the whistle and he shot the ball up. I got to position waiting for the ball to come a bit closer and jumped. But due to Alex's advantage of being tall, he touched the ball first and went dashing to the hoop, I was seconds away from him.
Going to a defence position I manage to block and tip the ball. 'Man he really thinks I'm at a disadvantage' quickly snatching the ball and running to the ring as I did a layup and it went in.
I patted myself on my back in my thought 'Good job Akira, a month of not playing but still getting the hang of it'
Everyone cheered as they couldn't believe their eyes, the shorty was quick enough to score.
Going back to the middle, waiting for the start I glanced at Alex. He had a wide grin and mouth 'you're about to lose' which made me pumped up ready to shoot again.
As the ball was shooting up, going to my usual position then I jumped and unfortunately Alex was a second too late as I was swinging my body with the ball in hand. Dashing to the hoop I knew it wasn't going to be easy this time. Suddenly Alex went and blocked me leaving me stopped and using my pivot since it was a one on one I couldn't pass it to anyone but in seconds the ball was nowhere in my hands and Alex was halfway off the court.
Realising this I quickly dashed and jumped trying to block him and succeed and went halfway when Alex was guarding me I went and did a trick which led him getting an ankle break and but was quick enough to recover, but since I was at the three-pointer line it went to take a step back and shoot.
Swish
The ball rolled around the ring but it fell, seeing this I was dashing near it with Alex behind me I took the ball dribbling it I was about to shoot, but Alex came jumping which made me trip but I managed to throw the ball from under focusing my power on my right hand and it went smoothly through the hoops.
I was laying on the floor and sighing as I fell trying to take a breath. Looking up Alex was standing and got a handout, I took it and he pulled me up.
"Congrats you in the team and I didn't even manage to score any." He grinned as we walked to the middle.
Tryouts continued as I got to take a leave early, going to the changing room as I showered and changed into a hoodie.
Going out I was greeted by Jo leaning on the walls scrolling at his phone when he felt my presence he looked up. "H-Hey the guys- um we're wondering if you want to go to the dinner together to congratulate you in our team."
I was about to say yes until I remembered the other. "I would love to, but I already have plans with my friend there too. Sorry" I said as I frowned slightly pouting
"No, it's OK, maybe some other time. How about I give you a ride- I mean we." He offered a feeling a bit flustered as he looked to the side as he scratched his nape.
"If you don't mind that'd be great."
And we were on our way to the front walking side by side. We saw the boy already changed and fooling around. William caught sight of us and waved.
"Oh, would you look at that, couple hoodies?" Andra pointed, I looked at him in confusion and I saw Jo looked away from them. I looked at our outfit, which was, in fact, both purple and the same shade of it too.
"Huh didn't notice that you like purple Jo?" I asked looking up at him as he was tall.
"I- uh yeah." He replied Andra looked at him with an eyebrow lifted then snicker at him, Jo said and mouthed 'What'. Andra pointed at the hoodie and mouth 'Purple'. 'Shut up' mouth Jo.
"So you're coming with us right?" asked William.
"Ah I already have plans with my friend there," I said.
"No worries, maybe next time right Jo?" Andra smirked.
"Ha? Oh- I- uh- yea sure totally- I mean if you want to." He stuttered as if he wasn't paying attention.
"Sure I'd love to," I replied.
"Well, then I guess Jo should give you a ride there then." Andra offered, more like demanded Jo too.
Author POV.
So they were in Jo's car alone. He started and drove behind everyone else.
"So um how do you like it here?" he started as he glanced at the girl beside him before shifting his attention to the road.
Adjusting the seat belt strap she turns to him. "Well today was the first day and I couldn't explore a lot except to the field, my class, and the gym, so I don't know, what I do know is that I'll love it." She exclaimed cheerfully, to which he nodded as and thought how cute she looked when she's excited, he felt the heat rise to his ears.
"Hey I've been wondering; what major are you in?" she asked as she watched him.
"I'm a Law major." He replied as he took a turn to enter the dinner.
"Oh so the first building right?" the girl questioned and he nodded focusing on the road searching for an empty place to park.
They parked and got out, it looks like the others had gotten there before him and were probably already seated inside. As they walked their way Akira looked at the sky which was painted orange as the sun was setting.
Jo noticed and looked up as well. "So what other clubs did you sign up for?" he asked curiously.
The girl still looking at the sky shrugged her shoulders before turning her attention to him. "I didn't," she replied shortly then went to look ahead.
Jo had looked astonished and got more curious about this girl. "Why not? What if you didn't get selected or didn't get a slot? You heard the Principle he's serious about at least joining the club."
The girl now had an amused smile on her and observed him. "But I got in didn't I? I got in first on the first try-out before anyone else didn't I? Plus, I was feeling too happy to care anyways." She replied.
"You are one confident person." He told her chuckling. Stepping up the stairs then holding the door so she would get in first.
Entering the dinner, it was bustling, every table was filled and you would smell the greasy food from where they stood. Looking around the tables Akira finally spotted her group of friends, Stephanie was waving at her.
"Well that's my group of friends over there, it's nice talking, tell the guys I said hi." The girl pointed to the table where her friend was seated.
"Wait- uh Alex told me to get your number, for data and stuff." He said sheepishly while rubbing his nape.
Akira nodded at him and got her hand out asking for his phone, which he swiped from his pocket.
Unlocking the phone Akira was giggling at the sight in front of her, it was a picture of Jo and two dogs licking his face. 'Aw puppies'
Jo thought something was odd, peeking at his phone in her hands and immediately he felt the heat come back to his ears and a tint of red painted on his cheeks. "Um- that's uh Toby and Toba my puppies." He said leaning away looking somewhere to avoid eye contact.
"It's adorable, didn't know you're a dog person." She cooed as she kept on examining the picture, it was a cute sight. And Jo felt like he was going to explode, his face was now fully blushing as and he could feel his heart flutter a bit.
"Yeah, uh your number?" he asked, really wanting to get Akira's attention away from his lock screen.
"Oh right sorry." Snapping out of it she went to make a new contact and typed her number in, then giving his phone back.
"There. Btw I hope I could meet Toba and Toby someday, anyways see ya." The girl waved and went to her table leaving the flustered boy standing there.
-
Akira POV.
I jogged to the table and greeted them. "Hello." I waved and slid in next to Sarah.
"Hey" Haykal waved as he got back with a tray of food.
"We ordered the same thing since it's your first time, hope you don't mind." Spoke Danial as he placed the tray on the table. Looking at the food I was near to drool. It smelled delicious.
Stephanie went to slide in last sitting in front of me. "I saw you two, so who's that cutie?" she asked, smirking.
Taking my eyes off the food I shifted my attention to her. "Jo? He's one of the seniors in the club. I was invited to eat here with him and the other guys, but you guys already planned before them so they insisted on driving me." I explained and went back to the food, I started to take a bite and it was.... Heaven.
"Sure, but you guys look so cute together and you guys wore the same hoodie." She was amused.
I shrugged my shoulders and went back to eating this lovely food I have yet to finish.
I felt a stare on me but I again shrugged the feeling off thinking it was just the feeling from the gym.
"So how was basketball?" Asked Andrew.
"I got in," I replied bluntly.
"EH? YOU GOT IN?" asked Haykal in disbelief. And I nodded not getting why it's a big deal. "I know the basketball club, I've seen how many people there are and they at least needed 4 try-outs for the people who signed up, and you got in the first day?"
"Wow that's as easy as saying Puffy Pancakes!"
Looking up at him this time smirking "I guess my charms worked didn't they." I joked. "Nah I'm kidding, a guy came and challenged me and if I win I get in the team," I told him.
He still had a taken back face remembering from last year, it wasn't easy joining the basketball team.
'This girl is something'