"Dodgeball is a team sport in which players on two teams try to throw balls and hit opponents, while avoiding being hit themselves." Sir Monteza clapped his hands with a smile.
"Very good, Miss Valen. Now, everyone please head to the locker room and change. We will play dodgeball. Proceed to the gym after changing." He left the classroom with a ball on his left hand.
"Lilith aren't you gonna come with us?" Maria asked, her head is tilted to the right. Honestly she looks cute doing it. I stood up and grabbed her arms and linked it with mine. She looks shock about it. Well, I'm sorry but I'm clingy and liked physical touch so much that I can even cling to someone whose not that close to me, she can let go though I wouldn't mind.
"Ah- What's with t-the--" I cut off her stuttering voice with my cheerful one.
"Are you uncomfortable? I'm sorry, my bad." I winked at her before letting go of her arm. Well it's good while it lasts, I looked behind me where Azee is standing and was about to put my hands on his arms when he warned me with a look. I raised my hands trying to look innocent. Geez, I know he doesn't like physical touch that much but to warn me like that.
The past weeks is good, too good. Like a calm before a storm or a fun before a tragic disaster. Azee and I had a lot of occasionally planned meet ups at midnight, we took strolls, eat street foods and do night swimming in the seaside during weekends. I wasn't even that bother like before, about the school buddy hating me and about my grandma's death. I still miss her, I really do but I don't want to die for now. Azee is still here and some of my classmates seems to get a hold of my weirdness these days.
"Gaaahhhhhhhh!" I stretched my arms upwards before yawning, I felt a pull on my shirt. Oh- it's just Azee pulling my shirt down.
"Behave, Lilith." He glared at me as if warning me. I just smiled at him cheekily.
"Yes, dad! Will do!" His glare became even more intense with my response. I laughed out loud while walking down the hallway that I received a lot of weirded stares. I smile back at them with a greet.
---
"First, let me explain the rules again. Players are not permitted to kick or step on the ball.
Players must not lift or support their team-mates in catching, throwing, etc. Smacking, spiking, kicking, or scooping a ball are not allowed, and the hit won't count; however if caught by the opponent, the catch is legal. Eliminated players must not interfere with or touch any balls while 'out'. Players must line up next to the referees in the order they were knocked out. Keep in mind that NO team is allowed to have all 6 balls on their half of the court for more than 10 seconds. Always remember the 5 D's of Dodgeball: Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive and Dodge. Are we clear?" Sir Monteza stated with a clap. He has a habit of clapping hands, I see.
"Yes, Sir!" We answered in unison.
"Okay, good. Now, Team One will be composed of Alberts, Crampell, De Vega, Dotorre, Duncé, Eckhart, Friegnedr, Gomboza, Galvez, Hernanez, Ivanno, Ieza and Jira. Team Two will be the following: Kerr, Llaga, Ludwig, Lazori, Marceau, Nagihara, Paquette, Paris, Rodrique, Ucero, Valen and Verrlois. Please step inside the drawn box, Team One on the right and Team Two on the opposite." Sir Monteza clapped his hands before pointing each sides. I walked to the side where Team Two is located and stood there together with my teammates.
"The winning team will be exempted from the upcoming midterm exam on my subject. On the other hand, the losing team will take the exam and will be incharged of cleaning up the balls after our training so do your best to win!" He explained. The students roared with delight, ready to give it all to win.
"Let's give it our best!"
"Let's win this guys!"
I smiled widely, hehe my first time playing with my classmates. It should be fun right? I looked at the opposite side and caught Azee staring at me. I gave him a smug smile as if I was already winning, I may not look so athletic but I am sure good at hitting or targeting someone from afar, I'm not confident on my catching and dodging skills but as long as I can hit its fine. He secretly raised his left hand with a dirty finger on it as feedback. I frowned a little at him before looking around us to find if someone saw that. I saw Maria's glasses gleamed, her face is facing at us and I'm sure that she saw everything. I glared at him that made him stuck his tongue out at me. He is definitely fearless, what if Sir Monteza sees it? We're doomed.
"Are you done preparing and planning?" What? they planned? They didn't bring me to it? How saddening, well whatever.
"Yes, Sir!" The whole class shouted in unison.
"I like the enthusiasm, keep it up! Well then, START!" With the whistle blown, each of our teams started to run around the drawn box. Well since I am bad at dodging, I chose to stand behind the players and on my left, I saw Maria standing as well and seems uninterested in joining the fight. I shrugged and looked at the balls getting relayed to one another, it seems both teams didn't want to lose the fight.
"Verrlois, catch!" My eyes widened when Nagihara gently passed me the ball. I closed my eyes halfway and prayed that my hands will caught it. I heard a small slapping sound and its in! I caught the freaking ball!
I looked around the enemy base to find a suitable target before throwing it at him.
"Galvez, out! First out of the game, keep it up!" Sir Monteza said before pointing his side. Galvez slowly walked to his pointed side and stood there.
"Nice one, Verrlois!" Nagihara raised his hands at me, I looked at it as if confused.
"High five, Verrlois. Do it." He said with a smile. I nodded my head, finally understanding what he meant and put my hands on his for a high five.
"High five!" I chanted before clapping my hands with his.
"Good job, Verrlois!" Valen said with a wink. I smiled widely at them.
"The game isn't over yet." Vera added with a snort. Valen rolled her eyes up before speaking.
"Appreciating one good thing in this game doesn't kill, Paris."
I laughed nervously at the thought that the tension gets high because of me. They both shrugged it off and continued the game, the balls keep flying back and forth, at the same time, Sir Monteza kept shouting the last names of the people that got hit.
"Kerr, out!"
"Jira, out!"
"Paris, out!"
"Dotorre, out!"
"Paquette, out!"
The calls continued until its only me, Nagihara, Ludwig, Rodrique and Valen that is left on our team, on the other hand its only Azee, Alberts and Eckhart that's left. Nagihara passed me the ball and I started targeting Eckhart and then boom! One down, two to go.
"Eckhart, out!"
The ball is in Azee's hands, I assumed that he will target me so I ducked in advance.
"Nagihara, out!" I looked at Nagihara as he slowly walked away with a pout on his lips. Only four of us are left while they are the last two standing. Valen throws the ball out and unfortunately, Azee caught it and throw it back at her. Valen got hit on the leg and is out of the game.
"Valen, out!"
I have the ball and was targeting Alberts, when he caught it and threw it fast on to Maria. I saw the projectile, it is definitely gonna hit Maria in the face, her glass might be broken and it can cause her serious injuries. Without any thoughts of it, I quickly ran over her to cover her entirety. I closed my eyes as I waited for the ball to hit my back when a small chuckle was heard behind me.
"It was called dodge ball for a reason, shortie. Dodge it and don't get hit, dummy." He whispered behind my ears. My eyes widened as I gasped when I heard Azee's deep voice behind me. I felt a gentle hit of the ball on my head and it was relayed to Maria. It's a double hit!
"A double! Verrlois and Ludwig, out!" I was left dumbfounded and was pulled by Maria to line up with our teammates.
In the end, it was Azee's team that won and we got to take the exam and clean the gym afterwards. Some praise me for being a good aimer and I was delighted with it. I was praised by a classmate! Until I heard Vera utter a very terrible line.
"We would've won if not for that weirdo catching the ball for Ludwig you could just let her get hit for the sake of the many." Silence ensued, the judging stares felt like sharp blades around me. I lowered my head, contemplating on what to do. Should I run or should I just stay and get ridiculed? I smiled bitterly. Funny that it took them one sentence to falter and change their views on a person.
I should've just get hit on the very first round. It wouldn't be this painful if I didn't receive halfhearted affection and assumed that they will at least become more friendly towards me. I looked up at them and showed them a wide smile before walking away.
Will it be more painful if Azee is the one to say it? Now, I'm afraid.