CHAPTER TWELVE: THE REJECTION
R6.
RADJAN
I shake off the aching leg that Daniel Wade obviously deliberately tripped to give himself the opportunity to finally score in our one-on-one game. How pathetic! It was the first time I saw him play. He is obviously Coach Wade’s son, because of his last name. Anyway, it is not the first time somebody tried to hurt me for simply being a scoring machine and embarrassing their existence. Hashtag King of the Hardcourt problems.
Dimitri, the team’s center, comes up to me right away, looking so concerned. “Radjan, are you okay? You’re not seriously injured, are you? Just give Daniel a break. He’s going through a rough patch losing his girlfriend like that.”
“Yeah, I mean, I understand. It’s part of the game,” I say, nonchalantly. No, hurting someone to prove a point is not part of any game. But, wait. What did he say?
“Losing a girlfriend?” I ask, wondering all of a sudden if he meant Mirjana. I remember she told me her boyfriend is in the varsity team.
Before he can answer, everyone starts swarming around me, probably as worried as Dimitri is, wondering if I am badly injured.
“I’m fine, guys, it’s nothing,” I say. “What do you mean losing a girlfriend?” I directed the question to Dimitri. “Do you know his girlfriend’s name?”
“Seriously?” It is Jason who answers. “Why are you interested in his girlfriend?”
“She died. There was a hit-and-run incident lately. Daniel isn’t into basketball mode lately that’s why you’re here,” Dimitri explains.
Oh, okay. Not Mirjana, then.
“Stop gossiping about girls,” Coach Wade reprimands. “I’ll deal with Wade later, go back into position. We’ll start the practice now. Can you walk, Carpiniello?” I nod.
He divides us into two teams for practice and assigns Jason Marsh to guard me. Bad luck, as I am sure this guy is not my biggest fan either. Am I going to get tripped for the second time today? He gives me a threatening look. I do the same.
It is a very close game. I am doing the scoring for my team as usual, and Jason is for his team. He gets away from me so easily a couple of times as I am still feeling the pain on my leg and is half limping, half running on the court.
Halfway through the practice game, I am already very exhausted. I can’t even be useful at defense anymore. I am mostly just walking on the court, dragging my feet, and breathing heavily. Until something catches my peripheral vision. Mirjana.
I suddenly feel my energy invigorated. She is watching me! I try to keep glancing at her hoping to see her smile or wave at me, but she just stands there with an unreadable expression on her face.
It dawns on me. Maybe she is dating Jason Marsh. Well, that only means I need to step up my game. Suddenly inspired by Mirjana’s presence, I score basket after basket and finally give my team the victory. I feel my whole body aching after, but I don’t mind. I beat Jason’s team. With Mirjana watching.
“Radjan, that was awesome!” Celeste says, about to give me a hug. I parry it with my right hand. Her face turns red and she steps back. “Sorry.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” I say, ignoring the awkward almost-hug that’s never going to happen in a million years.
“Oh yeah, sorry about that. I think it was something I ate.”
Something she ate? But she didn’t even eat! I took her untouched food without anyone noticing.
“I have to go,” I say, thinking about Mirjana. Did she pay attention to how I beat her loser boyfriend? I smile in spite of myself.
“Radjan, I have to tell you something,” Celeste says, interrupting my thoughts.
“Later, I need to go talk to someone,” I say, finally standing up at the court and accepting my teammates’ high fives.
“Where are you going?” Celeste asks again, but I ignore them.
I walk out of the basketball court to try to catch up with Jason in case Mirjana shows up but I don’t see him anymore. I try calling Mirjana’s number again. Still the same error.
“Who are you calling?”
Suddenly, Mirjana is standing in front of me.
“You. Your number is not working,” I say. I am so happy to see her again, but I maintain my composure. I am getting good at this.
“That’s not possible,” she exclaims with disbelief in her face.
“Look, I’ll show you,” I offer. I am about to dial her number again but she interrupts me.
“No, I think something is wrong. Something is really, really wrong,” Mirjana says with a worried look on her face.
She looks up at me and laughs out of nowhere. “Oh my god, you’re so sweaty. That’s what’s wrong! I’m kidding. Maybe let’s just talk about it later.”
“No, don’t mind my sweaty face. I want to know what’s wrong. You’re sometimes just so… gloomy. I don’t know. It’s like, you have a bigger problem than your boyfriend.” For once, her laugh out of nowhere doesn’t fool me. I swear she wears that laughter like a mask the way I wear my self-confidence.
“There are some things that I don’t understand anymore. I am so confused and scared. I think we need to talk about this later. This isn’t the right time or place. About my number though, I think it’s glitching. No one calls me anymore. It’s been weeks. Something is happening. I am scared.”
“Have you called their customer service?” I ask. I flinch when she suddenly runs her fingers through my hair.
“So sweaty, ew,” she says in a teasing tone. “That was impressive what you did against my boyfriend, by the way. You beat him.”
I get slightly self-conscious with her teasing. It’s the first time she touched me and her first reaction is “ew.”
I am right all along. Jason Marsh is her boyfriend. Or is it an ex-boyfriend?
“Thank you,” I smile, so pleased with myself. “That was a symbolic match-up. It was like a competition on who deserves… Never mind, I’m just rambling. I’ll walk you to class if that’s okay. As friends.”
She rolls her eyes. “I have to go, Radjan.”
“Wait, you said you need to talk to me about something later.”
“I do,” she confirms. “Just find me.”
“Radjan, are you okay?” I hear Celeste’s voice suddenly behind me. Is she stalking me? I didn’t even notice her.
“Are you?” I ask in an irritated voice. “I told you I’ll just talk to you later.”
“You were just in a hurry. I got curious and then I saw you – ” Celeste trails off.
“You saw me? You didn’t see me. You followed me. What the hell, Celeste? What is your problem? Can’t you understand what ‘later’ means?”
“Please don’t be upset. I don’t have my car. Denise and Brittany already left. Can you – can you take me home?”
No chance in hell.
“I still have to shower,” I say, hoping she would finally take the hint. She is about to speak but seems to have changed her mind.
Of course, Mirjana is gone. She probably got bored with me talking to Celeste.
I go to the shower fully intending to take as long as I could so Celeste would finally leave me alone. Suddenly, she barges in and without warning, kisses me forcefully, shoving me against the wall. I am so shocked. I can’t breathe until she finally let's go.
Hurt registers on her face upon seeing my reaction. I shove her lightly.
“I have a girlfriend, Celeste,” I finally manage to say.
“No, you don’t,” she quickly replies. “I’m pretty sure you’re single. I always follow you.”
“You’re crazy.” -Me
“I always see you talking to yourself. You’re not dating anyone.” -Her
We both speak at the same time. It is I who speaks again.
“I can’t believe you’re such a stalker, Celeste. You’re crazy. And never in a million years will I ever be interested in you.”
She is stunned, but I don’t care. I wipe my lips with my hand in disgust.
“Do not ever kiss or touch me again,” I say. “Get out!”
Celeste does not need to be told twice. She scampers outside the shower, sobbing.
She is long gone when something she said registers in my brain. Did she say she always sees me talking to myself? When did that even happen?