33

The game is over, and we’re still 3 on 3. I’m not sure why it hits me like a Frisbee hitting on my chin – trust me, that hurts – because I would never be so freaked out about some game of Netball.
Gessi immediately dropped to the ground as the other players scatter themselves, distinctively disappointed, too. I saw the players from our school hurry to Gessi, but Gessi didn’t budge. She stared at the white ceiling above us; her hand wrapped around one of her ankles. My body sprang up, like it was on automatic mode. I scurry down the bleachers, leaving Mary alone. Gessi came closer to view, and before I knew it, I had jumped over the boundary and is nudging her.
“Gessi!” I shouted softly in her ears. She seemed distracted, but her face was still wretched in pain. “Gessi, you alright?”
Her face turned slightly to face me, “Yeah, I’m alright.” I grab her arms, helped by Lynette, and walk her to an empty bench. She plopped softly, and my gaze focused on her ankle. They were bruised red, and it looked excruciating.
“Ow!” she yelped, as the pain dissolved into her body once more. I sat beside the bench, “Go get some ice,” I ordered Lynette. She obediently did so. A coach came to view then, and I walked around blindly.
A well-built woman with the whistler, probably the empire, blew the whistle and the audience started buzzing. “We have to start over a new game as it’s a tie.” She announces; her voice steady.
Katy, Gillian and the other girls’ eyebrows furrowed. I watched them jog towards that woman and whisper urgently to them. The woman’s features didn’t change, and she mouthed the words clearly. “Sorry but the game must go on.”
The girls dropped their hands, their eyes flooded with worry and something else. The woman turned to walk away, the whistle around her neck. I looked in Gessi’s way, and she didn’t look better than she did before. I looked for Mary, and spotted her, with a vacated seat beside her, her face concerned. “You alright?” she mouths.
Of course I am. I wasn’t hurt. What’s she saying?
“Yes.” I mouthed back.
“Game starts in 5.” The same woman says again, now taking her seat on a chair. The opponents’ team was geared up and ready, all of them doing small warm-ups and are clapping their hands and cheering. Our team? Well, they weren’t doing much except display their scared faces.
Lynette came bursting in through the doors, her hand holding a bag of ice. She handed it to the coach, and the coach massaged it on her ankle. The room was getting louder, and blur. The other side was filled with excitement and positivism. Our side was facing troubles and negativism.
I could feel it in my skin. We were losing, big time.
If Gessi’s out, they could still stand a chance. But they would not play the game as focused as they did, having their minds clouded like it is now. I jogged to the girls; they were in a circle, discussing the matter. Lynette had also joined them, and she was calmer than anyone on the game.
“Look girls,” I broke them off, sounding coach-like, “if you could just do without one person, it’ll be alright.”
“But she’s WA for one of our strong opponent, and she’s undeniably the best wing attack on our team. If she’s out, every other defender on their team can bring us down like, in 5 secs.” Someone adds.
I pondered for a moment, the other girls waiting for my words. I snapped my fingers, “Okay, which of the opponent here is the weakest?”
They exchanged glances. “Well, they’re equally good.”
“Shucks, if one was weak, one of you could have left your opponents and defend the one Gessi was appointed to. And if you get your head in the game, it wouldn’t make a different of Gessi’s presence in the game.”
They didn’t seem to comprehend.
I cleared my throat, “What are you all planning to do?” It’s a better thing to ask of what is happening than of trying to explain what I want them to be doing.
They shrugged.
“Oh people!” I groaned. “Who’s captain?”
“Katy.” Everyone changed their direction to Katy’s angelic yet perturbed face.
Katy backhanded her forehead that was beaded with sweat. She looked so stressed, poor girl! The empire stood up and announces one last time, “Game starting in 1 minute.”
DANG IT.
She sticks her finger in my face, “It’s the one and only way to do this, Winnie.”
I stared at her blankly. For a few seconds, I blinked. She grabbed my wrist, and I turned to look at the other players. Their faces seem to show that they know where this is leading. Who’s going to tell me?
“What is going on? We need a solution, not a push-me game.” I demanded, twisting my wrist to be free. Her grip was stronger than I think.
The empire stood up now, her whistle in her mouth. I knew she was going to blow it, but I still looked as if that was an unmistakably big and vital scene. She blew it then. I looked at my arm, to my wrist, still grabbed by Katy.
She turned to look at me while pulling me to the court. “You’re taking Gessi’s place.” And then she whipped around, grab Gessi’s beep on the ground and threw it to me.
Oww.

*

Nooooo. I’m screaming at them and nobody seems to know it.
“I CAN’T DO THIS!” I whispered again, but to no avail. I’m thinking they’re pretending they can’t hear me to avoid talking about this.
But I’m telling you, I can’t play!
Okay, I can scream and coach and insult them, but I can’t exactly grab the ball flawlessly and pass it on to someone.
“Remember the ones that loves you, and not the ones that hates you.”

Suddenly, it rang in my head.
It is irrelevant, my Lord. Irrelevant.

Before I knew it, the ball flew across the court and hit off my face like I was some bouncer or something. I feel so utterly used, I tell you.
“OUCH, OHHHH DANNNGG IT!” I rubbed my cheek vigorously. I have officially changed my view on Netball.
“Come on, I suck. Proof number one: ticked.” I said to the nearest girl to me. She shook her head, “You’re still in, so stop wasting time.”
Ugh, fine.
The whistle blew again, and at that moment, I looked up and see Mary again. She looked unperturbed, and that really disturbed me. Hello, best-friend-captured-and-forced-to-play-sports-that-might-distort-best-friend’s-face-forever help here, someone?!
She caught my gaze and gave me a weak little wave. I didn’t smile back, I was fuming.
It was like she knew I was going to be here all along.
Playing.
Wait, does she?
The ball smacked onto my chest then, and I didn’t waste time groaning. But ohh maaaan, that totally did it. It hurt like burning flames and I think…it’s flat.
The ball sprung back and I grabbed it in between my hands and landed a firm grip on the ground. People were gasping, mainly because I had the ball that would worry them, and also because I was clearly no player of this game.
“Winnie!” my friends hollered. It’s as if I could see them from this crowd. Gosh, why can’t they come up?
“Come out and spread, you people!” I growled. Seriously, who was their coach needs serious training, a do-over in her career.
They did, and I found one that was not defended, and I high-threw it to her. She caught it like she’s been born for it. Perfect. She stopped and the destiny is now in her hands, all of us ran like wind, just waiting for the ball to be in our hands.
Lynette caught it this time, stopped and looked around for another one to pass it to Katy. Once again, we ran, ignoring the presence of our opponents. They were getting confused, we could tell, and we were enjoying every minute of it.
The audience stayed down and quiet, and sometime then, I had really forgotten they were there. This would be a small yet big confession, but I enjoyed it.
Because then, little things in life should be enjoyed, no?
The ball threw itself into Katy’s hand, her opponent failed to block her because she was concentrating hard on Lynette, and not on Katy, and Katy, knowing this could be her last and only chance, snapped her eyes sharp and it was all quiet and tense for a split second, and then she left it to fate. She threw the ball up, our hearts thumping along to the rhythm, the air whooshing out of our lungs, I leaned down and got ready to close my eyes, and sure enough, as the ball rounds and rounds, it dropped, and BOOM, baby.
All heaven broke loose.
I slapped my mouth shut. “No. Way.”
“Way!” Lynette rushed over to hug me. We hugged each other for another second, and she pushes me off. “Whoaaaa. This is WRONG.”
I managed a smile. “We have one more game, Lynette. Let’s see if it’s wrong THEN.”
She nodded, her grin still bright clear on her face. She was, undeniably, happy. And nice.
Once more, the ball was thrown up, and the center of our opponent’s team got it, landed with a thud and got to work. We could see it on their faces then. Theirs were set to stone in just a lightning, and the others around us started running like freaks.
Okay, not freaks.
They ran like, they had air underneath them.
Our heads turned around and around to keep up, and before long, we started running too. Some attacking and some defending. I attacked, of course. I ran, not caring if my defender was hightailing me all the way or not.
It’s like a bulb suddenly lights up in my head, because I felt like shrieking all the way. That would cause a phenomenon, no doubt.
I glanced and take a peek of my defender, my lungs still gasping for air. She looked like she was about to be run down by a car, but I don’t blame her. This could be a big deal, for all of us.
I could pretend to be like her, I could scream for the ball, I could confuse the girl holding the ball, and we could win. But I have to know her name, so I could shout it out.
I’m praying that someone could call her name out or something. Dearest God, please –
“Amanda!!!!!!”
Is that her name? I looked at where the voice came from, and it was our opponent, a girl that looked timid but strong at the same time.
She scares me.
So Amanda must be the name of the one that’s holding the ball on now.
Wish me luck then, because I’ll need it.
I walked slowly to where she stood, nearer, and cleared my throat. She frantically searched for someone who was empty, and I could be her rescue. If only she could lose focus and stay reckless as she is now.
Ready?
“AMANDAA!” I called out, “HERE!”
I’m still praying.
She turned her head at me, and her eyes searched through my face. Come on, pleaaase give me the ball! Her arms were outstretched now, and she was ready to throw me the ball.

Good, she really had mistaken me as one of her teammates. This is what Netball games could do to your head. I counted the seconds in my head.
Five, four, three, two, one!
The ball was thrown to me, and she cried out because she realized, that I am NOT one of her teammates.
Someone suddenly blocked my view of her, and instead of feeling something solid between my hands, I felt air.
Empty.
Someone had come in between us and grabbed the ball before I did.
AGHHH!
Now the game was continued again, the opponent was leading now. “Come on, Winnie!” I heard Mary from the bleachers. I ran, too, and prayed for some escapes. The girls were nearing the Shooter now, and it’s only a matter of time. Throw, throw, throw, one more throw and it’ll reach her. Gillian!
I pushed Gillian forward with a force I never imagined I could, and she yanked herself in between the shooter and grabbed the ball. OH MY GOSH!
Her eyes started giving signs: What do I do now?
I ran forward and she threw it to me, and I searched for another person. Great, I’m the victim now.
I only have 3 seconds to spare, so come out now! Realizing everyone in my team were blocked, I have to do this.
My eyes looked over all of them, and I gasped, adding the pretense to act shocked. Everyone’s head turned in the direction I was referring and everyone got distracted. This is my time.
My ONLY time.
“LYNETTE!” I screamed. She turned her head back, her hands already in fists. Everyone else started getting back into focus, but it was too late – Lynette was already in front of me. I threw the ball at her with an easy smile.
She caught it and returned my smile.
Turning around, she caught Melissa – I think that was her name - and she caught it, too. The crowd started cheering like crazy, and our opponents were starting to panic. I can’t help but grin.
“Come on guys!” I shouted, running forward if anyone needed assistance. Currently, nope. The team was really focused now, and they threw the ball until it reached Katy. The other team didn’t get a chance to defend us as we were too swift, and I had a blast laughing at them running round and round.
“Shhh.” I heard the crowd once more. Everyone quietened down. If anyone thinks that you could distract Katy from shooting her goal, then you’re wrong. She’s so good in her job, I don’t even know how to say it.
I didn’t pray this time because I knew Katy could do it.
Everyone froze in their positions and everyone was breathing hard. Katy looked super serene, and in that time, she looked beautiful. I looked at the others, their eyes glued to her. Lauren looked at me for a moment, and I mouthed, “Relax.”
She did eventually, and I was ready to dance. Katy threw the ball up, her defender late to defend again, and whoop! The ball went in.
The audience cheered once more, longer and louder than anything. My grin spread wider I thought my ears would be covered by now. The whistle blew, “Home wins!”
I shrieked. Everyone came and hugged me. “OH THANK YOU!”
“WE WON!”
“NO WAY!”
“I-I,” I started stuttering, I what? “Ah, nevermind.” I hugged them back. Mary came tumbling down the bleachers then, followed by Cece and Dame, and embraced me.
“I knew you could do it.” Mary exclaimed.
Let’s not forget she has some explaining to do. I gave her a look.
“Okay Okay, I’ll explain it to you later.”
I nodded. Right now, I feel really happy. I’ve saved our school from pure embarrassment, and had won the match. And I think Lynette and I are okay already.
“Did you smile at Lynette? Or was it my contacts?” she started rubbing her eyes. I slapped her hand away, “I smiled at her, you bimbo.”
“Me, Bimbo?!” She feigned shock. I laughed. Dame and Cece, as far as I could tell, were ecstatic too.
“I’m ecstatic!” Cece said, jumping up and down.
“So am I!”
Dame gave me a peck on my sweaty cheek, and I stopped, mid-laugh. Whoa.
“Uh,” I started, he turned away, clearly knowing that he’s caused us both nervous.
“Mary, wanna go outside and celebrate with them?” Cece asked Mary, looking in my way. “We’ll leave you two alone for…a second.” She giggled and grabbed Mary, who gave me a really mischievous look.
“1!” I screamed. “That’s it, ONE SECOND!”
Dame laughed. “Sorry – I just – nevermind.”
“Let’s get out of here,” I smiled. “and join them.”
Dame still has that incomprehensible grin on his face. “Okay, what?” I asked. He grinned wider.
“YOU WON, BABEHHH!”
“I knowww!” I shouted with him and we jumped up and down. We linked hands and did, go around the mulberry bush.
He pulled me in for a hug. “Ingenious work, the gasping.”
I laughed, “Who knew I could act?”
He raised his hand up, “Me!”
*
My mum told me, there is no Prince Charming.
There might be Prince Perfect, right?
*
“Good job Winnie!” another girl congratulates me. I’ve been having ‘Good Job’ since, two hours ago. After Dame and I had totally celebrated it with our little joy dance, we went out and join the others eating their 1901’s.
“Thanks,” I replied, and slit myself in between the crowd.
Oh great, someone spotted me and is giving me eye contact again. He walks up to me, his palms facing up, “Good job there!”
“Hey, can you do me a favor” I asked, suddenly feeling hyped. He nodded with a big smile on his face, “Anything for the star!”
The star?!
I nodded, enough with the compliments already!
“Could you ask me for my name?”
He blinked, confused and blur. “Sorry?”
“No, ask me for my name.”
“Ask you for your name.”
“My name is Winnie, thank you very much. Yours?”
He laughed a warm laugh, throwing his head backwards. I smiled, but honestly, it’s getting kind of crammed with everyone going around congratulating people and comforting people and buying snacks and chatting and laughing, so if he could make it fast I’d really appreciate that.
“Duke.” He stretched his hand out. I shook his palm.
“Of York?”
He nods, “So I’m told.”
“Great. Look, nice to meet you and all, but I’m suffocating.”
He laughed again, “Let’s save you a life.”
We walked until we found air that is still unused and fresh and both of us took a deep breath in.
“It’s like you’ve never breathed for 15 years!” he commented, giggling his boyish way. I liked that.
My eyes still shut, I replied, “No, just five.”
“Heyyy! I brought you Texan corndog!” Mary shouted over the crowd, practically crawling towards us. She glanced in Duke’s way and gave him a smile.
“Hey, how you doing?”
He smiled at her, “Fine, thanks. Name’s Duke, age’s 15, personality’s awesome. Single and available.” He winked.
I think I saw Mary puked. Okay he’s not, ugly, but if he was single and available, it’s better if he stayed that way. She hands me the hotdog and I shoved them in a second.
“So, anyway.” She dragged me back to reality. “Dame and Cece’s there, sipping something. They’re coming here later and we’re heading to your house.”
I looked at Duke, who shrugs. If he wanted to come, I had to give an excuse. Fast.
A girl with long flowing hair cut in between us. It’s been a lot of ‘between’ lately. She looked appealing, with brown honey-glazed eyes and tanned skin. She clung to Duke, who looked as easy as he was before, and said in a sickeningly sweet voice, “Let’s go, my Dad’s waiting in the car.”
Okay, reality check: Didn’t he – with his own mouth – uttered he was ‘Single and Available’?
Mary’s mouth dropped open. The drop-dead-gorgeous-with-the-what-the-heck-voice suddenly realized we existed. She turned to face us and smiled widely, “Oh hey! My name’s Teresa, nice to meet you.” Her face creased then, “Didn’t you uhm, were you the one that played just now?”
I nodded. Here we go again.
“AWESOME MOVE!” she slapped me a high-5.
“Thanks.”
“Are you in the school team?”
I laughed, “Oh nonono, just…I’m not sure what happened, really. I just played.” I smiled.
She shrugs again like how her boyfriend did, grab her boyfriend’s arm and said, “Well see you around, we gotta go.”
“Why’re you here in the first place anyway? I mean, how’d you know there’ll be a match?” I asked, curious of how many people I don’t recognize had showed up today.
“Oh, cousins and friends. You know. They study here.” Duke replied, walking away with Teresa. She waved at us, turned back with Duke and walked off.
“Bye, Winnie.” He had said. I waved back.
“Whoa, that girl is hot.” Mary said after they’ve vanished. “She’s with…that guy.” She said, unbelievingly.
“Oh come on, give him a break. Not everyone’s as flawless like you.” I searched for somewhere to sit or something. My legs are buckling under me. The crowd had dispersed then, leaving wide spaces here and there. People were leaving, and I’m grateful no one’s showed up and congratulate me any further. It sounds ridiculous now, not being part of the team, but the MVP.
Sounds wrong, doesn’t it?
“Oh yeah, flawless like me. You’re kidding. Look at this!” she walked in front of me and pulled her curly bangs up. “Zits.”
“Correction: ZIT. And P.S: Normal people have it.” My turn now, I lift my bangs up swiftly. “Scars.”
Her face twisted in confusion, “Hmm…That does look bad.”
I smacked her on her arm. “Thanks, that’s real nice.”
Cece and Dame reappeared then, and they were holding a Mocha in one hand. The school had thought of hiring people in for drinks and snacks for the after-match. Well, it did work. Look at all these people!
“Hey.”
I smiled. “Heading to moi house?”
They nodded.
“My house why?”
“Because it’s comfortable and you’re the star today?” Cece explained to me like I was two learning alphabets.
“Come! On! I, just played the game because Gessi was hurt. And it wasn’t like I had second thoughts on it, I just jumped right in. Seriously, I wasn’t that good!” I waved my hands up.
Mary linked arms with me. “Let’s get you back for a goodnight’s rest. Poor girl had too much of compliments.”
Dame snickered.
I covered my head with my hand. “Okay, Okay, let’s go.”
*
We’re lying on my super-shiny-cleaned-dust-free floor, flipping mags – except for Dame, who is choosing tracks from my mp3 – when I suddenly shoot out a question.
“It’s five, anyone hungry?”
Everyone stared at me, dropped what they were doing, and stood up.
“Let’s go, then.” Cece said. Mary nodded. Dame threw my mp3 on my bed.
“Hey watch it, buddy.”
Mary’s fitting in great with us 3, and it makes me feel pretty good. We’ve been actually hanging out a lot, and I’ve heard Cece had even told her about her history with The Dame.
“What do we eat…” Mary singsongs.
“Whatever Winnie desires?” Dame singsongs his reply.
“I want…” I put my finger on my chin, “mustard.”
They stopped. “Let’s get you some real food. Fast.”
I laughed. We walked down the stairs and Mum greeted us again.
“Hey guys – Mary, Cece and Dame – you hungry?” Mum had also received the news of my victory from the very same blabbermouths, Mary and Cece, and had promised us a big TGIF meal tonight.
I’m happy, really. Because Dad’s coming and Adam’s coming, too.
And that makes Mary happy.
Which makes me happy, and in turn makes Cece and Dame happy.
“YES!” All four of us replied.
“Okay, I’ll go get dressed.” She stood up, “Oh and Mary? Nice to finally meet you. Adam’s been happier after you two have been together.” She said finally like she’s been waiting on it, clinging onto her dear life for that.
Mary was lost for words. And then she blushed. “Thank you.”
Mum walked away.
Mums really do give away this sort of impact on their sons’ girlfriends.
Dame sits himself on that raggy pink sofa.
“Why are you people here again?” I asked, because I never did got my answer.
“Simple, we wanna celebrate with you. We haven’t seen you for a long time, we miss you, aaaaand I wanna spend time with Mary here, too.” Cece said. She’s usually the one that explains.
“Oh.”
I walk to the counter and get myself a mug for a cup of coffee. Who cares if I’m under 18. I’m the star, people!
Oh no, it’s sinking in.
Cece comes around the corner and whispers in my ear, “You have no idea how much Dame’s been talking about you. NO IDEA.”
I turned around while my other hand is stirring the coffee.
“Yeah? Then tell me.”
She smiled smugly and looked around warily. “He keeps talking about you with this weird smile on his face and he’s grateful he’s met you and he talks about it 24/7. He said that you were beautiful and blablablabla and -”
I’m beautiful?
“Sorry, I kinda stopped listening after the ‘blablablabla’,” I said, turning around to get my cup of coffee.
“But you get it, right?”
“Yeah, I’m beautiful, right?” I sipped the coffee and burned my tongue.
She sighed. “How oblivious could you get?”
“Very, indeed.” I swallowed. “I don’t know.”
She grabbed my shoulders forcefully. “Haven’t you heard, or is this your first time? Dame likes you.”
“AGHH!”
“What?!”
“I burned my tongue!”
She rolls her eyes.
*