“Jayson.”
“Jayson.”
“Jayson.”
Voices chanted and chorused. This kind of boost Jayson's morale as he ran through the court and dribbled Matt. He stood ready to throw the ball into his opponent's – Christian's team- net.
He was breathing heavily as he scanned through the ways in which he could throw it.
“One has to be very tactical.” The coach's voice rang in his head.
“Jayson, over here.” Jace signaled to him with his hands. Jayson faced him and was about to throw the ball but then turn on his heels and threw it to Jeremy who was already standing at alert.
This enraged Christian so much since he was the one trying to get the ball from them.
Jayson's team had already scored 104 while Christian’s team was still at 76. They were all sweating profusely and breathing heavily.
The two teams were trying their best to prevent the opponent from finding their into their part of the court. Well, Christian’s team lacked a little defense but Christian was playing good. So good. He liked competition. And he wins competition. But competition without proper preparation?
Phewww!!!
The coach blew the whistle for a break. They all stopped and turned to him with their chests going up and down.
“10 minutes break.” He announced.
They all walked along, breathing heavily.
Christian's team were team Blue while Jayson's team were team Red.
“Guys!” Christian called out of frustration after he had drank water and relaxed a bit.
“You are all slacking.” He said tiredly.
“In twenty four minutes, we scored only 76 while them… They scored a total of 104.” He said, swallowing hard.
“Who was the captain of this team before?” He asked.
“Mark.” Raph replied.
“And where is he?” He inquired again drinking water.
“He got disqualified.” Matt said as he stood up and stretched out.
“Disqualified? Guess he did not lead this team so well.” He said and began lecturing them, telling them about some tactical and simple moves they could use in the game.
*
Jayson watched how Christian kept gesticulating with his hands as if he was teaching them.
“What do you think he is telling them?” He asked absentmindedly.
“He must be telling them some tactics to win.” Jasper answered and passed the water bottle to Jace.
“Guess he was hit real hard.” Jeremy added.
“He likes competition.” Jayson disclosed. “ And from what I have seen and noticed about him, he wins it no matter the cost.”
“Well, man. This competition is only to choose those that will compete against Scholars High so what’s with him?” Jake asked and snorted.
“People who tends to rule every time always tends to have fear of failure.” Jayson said, still staring at him.
Jayson could from afar know what he was telling his team. The tactics. The ways. With the way Christian was showing it, he understood it.
He smiled as soon as he grabbed the last word he said.
“You hit it straight into the net.” Christian said.
Phew!!!!
The coach blew the whistle and the two teams all walked to the court with determined faces.
“Start.” The coach declared.
This time the ball was with Christian.
Christian bent slightly and started bouncing the ball with an hidden smile.
“Use their tactics on them. Let them have a taste of their own medicine.” He thought.
In a swift, he threw the ball at Matt. Matt hurriedly caught the ball and dodged Jace. He went straight into their court and instead of throwing the ball into their net. He tossed the ball at Drake who was already standing close to their net. Drake caught and without further ado threw straight into Jayson's team net.
This brought a smile on Christian’s face and a look of surprise on the J-Stars faces who made sure they hid it quickly.
The game went on and on.
Phew!!!
The whistle was blown and the game was a draw.
“203:203.”
The other students' faces were filled with surprise. It is really hard to get a draw with the J-Stars. Why?
Because of the unity between them. But now.. Now the record was broken.
Christian stood tiredly, breathing heavily with a triumphant smile on his face.
The coach and the other spectators walked towards them with a smile on their faces each.
“Good.”
“Bravo.”
“Superb.”
They all remarked.
“Christian, good job.” The coach turned towards and commended him.
“Thank you, Sir.” Christian said with a little smile.
Jayson walked towards him with a fake smile.
“That was awesome.” He applauded him.
“Thank you. And you don’t play that bad either.” Christian said and looked at him weirdly. Jayson returned it also with a weird kind of smile. Not fake but strange. Like they talking with their facial expression.
“You did it deliberately.” Jayson thought inwardly.
“How does it taste?” Christian asked but he did not say it out.
“Hey..” Jace tapped Jasper calling his attention to what had caught his own awareness also.
“What?” Jasper asked out of frustration.
“What is going on between Jayson and that new student? Do you see the way they are starting at each other?” He asked. Jasper turned towards them also and narrowed his eyes at them.
“Hey, Jayson.” He called out and Jayson caught off the eye contact that he was sharing with Christian and faced his friends.
“Come over.” Jace said. Jayson turned towards Christian and faked a smile.
“Will leave now. See you later.” He said and walked to meet his friends.
“What were you guys discussing?” Jake asked as they strolled out of the basketball room.
“Nothing. Just commending him and that’s all.” Jayson shrugged it off like it was nothing.
“You guys looked like you were about to hit each other, butcher and slice each other into pieces.” Jace said and cringed at the image.
They all shook their heads at him and walked away.
<><>><><><>
“You broke a record, did you know that?”
Christian came out of the basketball room and was about to close it when he heard someone speak from behind. He shut the door and faced the person. Mark stood there with hands in his pockets. He stepped before him with their chests almost touching each other
“What do you mean by that?” Christian asked with eyes narrowed on Mark.