Chapter 6

Bivianne

"What's the matter?" aunt asked. "Oxem, what's going on?"

I looked away and immediately took my things to get out of there. I don't want to be rude to aunt but I don't want to stay here with her son anymore. Her son's making me uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable.

"Let's go first, aunt," I informed. "Sorry for the trouble and thank you very much. I have to go home too."

"Okay. Be careful. I'll take you all the way outside."

I couldn't look at Oxem anymore and quickly left their house. If I stay there any longer, I might not be able to breathe forever. Fortunately, Kenneth didn't ask any more questions about what happened. I don't know what to say.

I said goodbye to aunt again before leaving. Oxem never left their house, thankfully, so I never saw him again.

I leaned back in the chair and sighed. What the hell is wrong with that guy? How can he say that without stuttering? Pay him more attention? Why? Why do I have to do that? I pay the same attention to him and to other people I know.

I don't know about him. Whatever is said. I don't understand what's going on in his mind. Or maybe he just likes messing with my head. And my heart. I don't have time for the likes of him.

The next day, I was immediately overwhelmed when I met Yeshua in the hallway. He had a teasing smile while looking at me but I ignored him like I used to.

"So," he began as he followed the king to walk, "I heard you and Oxem answered."

"We did not answer each other. He is what you said."

He nodded. "And you didn't say anything back? It doesn't seem like it either. Knowing you, I know you have come back to what other people say. And I know you're as hot-headed as my cousin, so it's impossible not to answer each other."

I glared at him before sitting in my chair. She sat in front of me. "I don't get hot."

He laughed loudly. "See? Your head is getting hot right away."

I just shook my head and calmed myself down. She's right. My head is getting hot again because of him. They are both his cousins. They both like messing with me.

"Please tell your cousin to stop me. I don't have time for people like him. I have enough of you already.”

He clutched his chest and acted like he was hurt. "You can talk a lot, huh? But even if I tell him that, I can't do anything if he doesn't follow. Besides being hot headed, he is also stubborn.”

I just sighed. "Nevermind, then. I will never go back to their house again. We will never see each other again."

I looked at him when he didn't answer. That's his teasing smile again. But before I could ask, he stood up and said goodbye to me. They said they still have training for their upcoming game.

While I was left in the room to arrange what would be passed on to ma'am Aquino. The sooner we can pass, the better. He might even give us extra points because we finished early.

Kenneth also edited the video quickly without losing quality. He seems to be used to it. Fortunately, he became our group mate. If not, I might end up with all such tasks.

Yeshua's game day came. And since I promised to come and watch, there's nothing I can do. I told Kiko too and he didn't object. He said he was just there in the parking lot and waiting for me.

When I got to the gym the crowd was already disappearing. Here at our school is another branch of our school in the province. Here is the main campus, which is us, the Meneses campus and the Hagonoy campus.

My eyes seek Yeshua and they have not yet begun. They were stationed near the players' bench and were watching the men's basketball match. The match is hot so I think it's over.

When Yeshua saw me he immediately waved. "Sit here. We're leaving to warm up. Our bench will be here later."

He introduced his teammates Keisha, Gina, Lyla and Miya. Lyla is the one wearing different clothes because she is said to be the goal keeper or the one who guards the goal wearing gloves.

"Don't leave here, Biv," said Yeshua when the five of them stood up. "My cousins ​​are coming to join you. They're a little late because they also have a class and they're still waiting."

I didn't ask anymore because they left. My heart beat faster because of what he said. His cousins? He didn't say it right away. But what else can I do? I'm here. And one more thing, some of them will definitely go because they are also studying here. They are close cousins ​​so it is only natural that they watch Yeshua's last game before gr-um-aduate.

The basketball match ended and Yeshua and the opponent entered immediately to warm up. The goals have been placed at both ends of the court and the nets have been tied with basketball rings.

It wasn't long before I heard Peter's voice. "Bivianne! You're here. My best friend is supportive."

Paulle, one of their cousins, hit him. "Your best friend?"

He snorted. "I mean, Yeshua's best friend. Whatever you think. Then you know, we'll be good friends. You'll never know."

"Really? Alright. I'll report you to Erika."

One of their male cousins ​​entered the conversation. I forgot his name but he was always smiling. "It would be good if he would pay attention to you, eh, you don't care about Peter."

"I'm so ashamed of you, Kise. Why? Has Keisha noticed you yet?" And they started arguing so I started getting dizzy with them again. I can't really keep up with their trips.

"Don't make a fuss. Let's sit down."

I stopped in my seat when I heard his voice. I just bowed down in fear that our eyes might meet again. What he said to me at their house is still fresh in my mind. I'm not that ignorant to not know what he meant at that time.

"Hey." I was surprised when he stood next to me. "Can we talk?"

"We're talking."

He sighed. "I'm sorry."

I frowned but still couldn't look at him. "Why are you so-sorry?"

He didn't answer right away. "I—I don't know. Maybe because I pissed you off?"

"You didn't. So don't be sorry."

"But even so, I'm still sorry. When you left that day, I felt like I'd never see you again. But here you are."

I didn't know what to answer there so I just looked back at the court. Fortunately, the game was about to start so he didn't speak again.

Our place was filled with screams. But unlike before, almost everyone in the gym has disappeared. It seems that the game of futsal is not really popular. Or maybe basketball is just too popular.

Yeshua only has five members as he said while the other team has reserve players. The Meneses campus is their opponent.

Since I also loved sports before, I could easily say that the opponent was really good. They seem to have a really hard time with them. There are also good people in Yeshua's group, but Keisha seems to be the only one who has their loyalty and strength.

Yeshua also has movement and is good at dribbling the ball, but I can't say he can keep up with the opponent. He is too small and thin compared to the known body of the team.

Midway through the game, the match heated up. Yeshua can keep up with the enemy, not as I thought earlier. Keisha carried the whole game.

Yeshua and Gina carry the ball well. They exchange blows so that the enemy does not attack them. Keisha was lurking near the goal and looking for an opportunity to leave her defense.

And because of his agility, he often escapes the guard's defense. He doesn't flake if he kicks. It's as if he knows exactly where the hole in the defense is and doesn't give the opponent a chance to react.

Miya was a good last man who was just waiting in front of their goalkeeper. He and Lyla guard the goal. They often caught the ball so that the opponent could not score, but the defense from Yeshua, Keisha and Gina was not really enough so they had more chances to kick after kick. I couldn't help but bite my lower lip. There's this urge that starts to form in my will. I badly want to play too.

The match was close and the game was only a few minutes away. The defense tightened up on Keisha because they had the ball. It seems that Yeshua was offended because no one was watching him so he kicked the goal. The opponent was shocked so he scored.

The game was tied.

"That's my cousin!" Paulle exclaimed while jumping. He almost rushed into the middle. I'm the one who hurts his throat.

When the ball was in the opponent's hands, Yeshua's defense also tightened. Maybe it's because of the adrenaline and intensity of the game that they are like that. And because of that, Keisha quickly grabbed the ball and immediately passed it to Yeshua who is the best ball carrier.

"Take it easy!" Oxem shouted. "You still have a lot of time. Take your time and think, Yesh!"

Yeshua quickly passed the ball to Keisha when she found an opening again. But what everyone didn't expect was when one of the players and Keisha collided. Keisha lay writhing on the floor holding her ankle. We all stood up and looked at what happened.

The opponent took the opportunity to get the ball and score because the foul was not called.

"Hey, ref!" Kise exclaimed. "Are you blind? That's an obvious foul. Anyone with eyes can see that."

But it was as if he didn't hear anything and whistled, signaling that the fight was over and the enemy had won. The group of them screamed while we all just looked at Keisha who had calmed down a bit.

Male officials helped him to walk to the clinic. It was only then that I noticed that Kise was one of those who helped lift him up.

"That's okay, cousin," said Paulle. "The ref is obviously biased. We've noticed it before. You guys are still better."

Yeshua forced a smile and reached out to Peter for support. It was his tenth time and he seemed to feel tired just now. When he faced Oxem, the smile he was trying to show disappeared.

"You did great, Yeshua," said Oxem. And that was the signal for Yeshua's tears to flow. This girl really cried a lot.

"We didn't win," he wailed. "I promised you that we would win this but we failed you. I'm so embarrassed."

Peter ruffled her hair. "You really are! You're really good. The only trick is because there's no foul. You still have a chance to score."

The cousins ​​gathered and joined Yeshua to tease him because of his crying. I just smiled while watching them. They are really close to each other. Maybe because they are close in age and grew up in the same compound.

"Group hug. Group hug!" Paulle exclaimed while pulling them.

They shouted as if they were the only people in the court. They even beat the winner.

"You're welcome, Biv!" Peter asked. "You will soon be our cousin too." My mouth fell open. "I mean, you're like our cousin. Right, best friend?"

I laughed softly but still shyly shook my head. They are not my cousins. It's a shame to join them.

I was surprised when Oxem suddenly pulled me by the arm. I grabbed his chest and quickly stood up straight. I looked away but he still didn't release his grip on my arm.

In the end, I couldn't do anything but hug, especially when Yeshua hugged me tightly.

"Thanks for watching, Biv. Sorry because we didn't win. It's your first time to watch and you're just disappointed."

I laughed softly. "It's okay, what are you! You're even better than them. Partida, there's only five of you, huh?"

He laughed loudly while wiping away tears. "You said it! If you had joined me, we would have won."

I just shook my head. "You know my answer to that."

"Yes. What else can I do, eh, this is the last one? The next one is in college."

It wasn't long before we left there. They wanted to take me out to eat but I refused. I only have one hour to say goodbye, and I don't want to test my luck and my mom's patience.

I don't know if he won't scold me once he finds out that I went somewhere other than the classroom and the library. I guess I just have to cross my fingers.