"Then what are you waiting for?"
She asked. Even I had no idea what I was waiting for.
"I do not know either."
It reminded me of the time back in high school when I was unable to decide if I should take up on sports too when I had earned my sports-based on my academic skills.
It was true that I played volleyball like a champ but I had to put it behind me to qualify for the scholarship.
Coach Pamella stood in front of me waiting for my response. She was also there in the district championship where I was competing for my previous school.
She recognized me from then, "a good player who's skill could not be let gone to eat hay", she had said.
"Take some time to think about it. I think we just need you to beat the Richmond High this upcoming match."
She let out, putting a hand on my shoulder.
My team and I had defeated this school but could not beat the Richmond High in the quarters.
"She will think about it, Ms. Pamella."
Viviana grabbed the card from the coach even before I could say anything. She smiled and left us two in the corridor.
"Why would you do that?"
I asked her. I was not even ready to think about it. The school stuff was too much. It had been only a month and there was still lots to cover if I had to keep up with it.
"Our school volleyball team really sucks. I will not lie about that. "
Viviana mumured. I shrugged it off, nothing something I need to be conerned about.
"It could give you a pass to the sports scholarship."
And all of a sudden, it was a game-changer moment for me. I looked up at her not being able to believe her right away.
A week ago I did my calculations if I could admit myself to Harvard Law with just the academic scholarship without the hussle of a loan but it seemed not very promising.
It made me think about getting closer to my father because he was wealthy and analyse at my mother's angle of viewing the future.
Maybe she knew about it and urged to forge a sudden relationship with his family even though I should not force it on him, being his daughter but our circumstances were quite different.
If I could land myself this sports scholarship, if it was really possible, I would not need to worry about that at all.
I quickly snatched the form from Viviana, making her smile. She knew what she was doing and I fell right into her trap.
Not saying another word, smiling at myself about it, I made my way to the next class.
Being so engulfed in reading through the form that I knocked against someone, dropping off my books.
"I'm so sorry."
I apologised and got down to pick up my books right away, not seeing who I had knocked against.
The hands grabbed the form before I could and stood up so I did. Facing him eye to eye, now I know who had collided against me.
"The Volleyball team!"
He read out. The noise made me realise that the passerby had their eyes set on us, whispering things I could not clearly hear.
One month in the elite school and I had come to get one thing about this person here was that anywhere he would go, he grabbed unwanted attention as if he was some sort of a celebrity.
And indeed he was one. Arthur Smith, a more than average student, and the best soccer player in the school had in three years.
His extraordinary skill set came from the fact that he maintained both sports and studies together which was quite a hard thing to do.
I knew it because I had to leave one to concentrate on one. But Arthus Smith makes it look so easy...hence everyone's element of obsession here in the school.
"Give it to me."
I tried to get the form from his hold but he dodged my attempt making me feel more self-conscious.
"Are you now eyeing for the sports scholarship too?"
How did he come to know?
The question popped out in my head like a siren. Viviana and Cole knew that I was the school's charity case. I had not told them about my father's side yet wanting to build my own name.
Everyone here came from an affluent family. So did him as he eyed me with amusement.
We had regular face off down the corridor or in the class that we were about to take, the one he and I shared.
Sometimes he would kick Vance out again to make place for me beside him but I had avoided it ever since I came to know that those silly tactics somehow was amusing to him.
I did not hold back from voicing out answers to Maxwell and he did not stop pulling my leg in every answer I gave, making everyone else laugh right after.
A month gone by like this, I was finally setting in well. We never held a real conversation and from what I have observed that he came with unwanted attention, I was glad to stay away from him or such a thing.
"Mr. Smith, Ms. Johnson."
We both turned sideways to see Maxwell right there and hinted us to quietly walk back into his class that was about to start.
I took that chance and snatched the paper from his hold when he was distracted and immediately turned around to walk towards the class behind Maxwell.
"An opportunist!"
I heard him clear, and could not hold back that soft smile that curved my face, not daring to turn and look at his usual smirking face...if it had faltered then because I got him?
By lunch I made up my mind to be both. If he could so I can. I just had to put extra hard work.
As I tied my hair in a pony, opening my bun, Viviana and Cole was here too to cheer me up. I needed to qualify for the entry match to make it to the school team and I was nervous considering it had been a year or two being on the ground.
"Look who is here..."
All the girls started making noise making me turn to see who it was...and it was him.
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The story will begin with a soft and static note before all the drama unfolds. It will transition between the past and the present.
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