It’s been a month since the wedding and Nathan haven’t heard or seen Tracy. Every weekend he lived with the hope that she would come back like promised but then the weekend would come and pass and still nothing nor any sign of her. He had dialed her number uncountable times but it was either switched off or not reachable. He had even tried to call her with his mother’s phone, to know if she was just ignoring and avoiding him again but only to be met with the same fate.
He had tried asking his mom about her, to know if she had called her maybe when she was at work and he wasn’t aware but Lucy had said that after the wedding, she hasn’t heard from her or seen her.
Nathan was worried, really worried and every day, he drives to the airport to know if maybe, he would be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her, but he knew it doesn’t work like that but he still had hope.
“Nathan, get your head in the game son,” Coach Harrison yelled and Nathan snapped out of his thoughts to catch the ball thrown at him. He started running towards the hoop but on getting there, he was attacked by the opponent and the ball was snatched from him. He heard his Coach’s sharp intake of breath and panted while glancing at his feet. “Listen son,” Coach Harrison called to him when he was close enough, “we need to win this, you need to win this and you need to give your full power. You see that over there?” he pointed to a group of people that was standing at the back of the cheering students, “those are your supervisors and believe me when I say that you are not making them happy. So if you really need that admission and scholarship, you have to get your head in the game.”
Nathan nodded, “yes Coach.”
“Good, now go show them what you are made of,” he patted his back and pushed him into the arena.
Nathan heaved a deep sigh and jogged to his teammates. “Hey, you okay?” Steven asked, jogging beside him and he nodded.
As the Point Guard, the ball was thrown to him and he closed his eyes, heaving a deep sigh before opening them and doing what he knows how to do best. He pushed thoughts about Tracy at the back of his mind and glanced at his supervisors, determined to impress them enough to get the scholarship. This is not just for him, but for his mother, if he should get the scholarship, he would put the most troubling responsibility off her shoulders and he was determined to make her proud, her and someone else.
He took the ball, avoiding every attacker and not even paying attention to his teammates that was calling to him to pass the ball and went straight to the opponent’s hoop, determined to score a point and not ready to accept defeat. He evaded the last attacker and took a high jump, slamming the ball into the hoop and heard the crowd go wild before his feet touched the floor again. He glanced at his supervisors and saw three of them nod, he smiled, satisfied with himself and almost laugh out loud seeing how his coach was yelling in happiness.
His teammates tapped his shoulders and Steven whispered to him with a grin, “now that’s the Nathan I know.”
Their school students were still screaming at the top of their voices and their cheerleaders led by Cindy did a cheerful dance for the score. The game continued, with Nathan determined to not blackout in thoughts again and lucky for them, their team won the game by three points.
He glanced at the supervisors and saw them discussing among themselves, some of them glanced back at him and nodded before they went back to talking in their group. “Now that’s my captain,” Coach Harrison said, hugging him and lifting him off the ground. “I knew you could do it, you are the best we have,” he said when he put him back on his feet. “It would have broken my heart if they have left disappointed when I know how good you are.”
“Thanks Coach,” he replied.
“So, whatever kept you in that mood and left you blacking out of the game, I hope you settle it before the next match. I would need you full intact in your mind and invested in the game, is that understood?”
“Yes Coach.”
“Good, I will leave you to your team,” he turned and walked away while Nathan turned to be grabbed in a brotherly hug by Steven.
“Damn, that was awesome, I’m sure they didn’t see it coming. You were playing so badly earlier and then swoosh, just like that, you became the leader of the game. I bet they never saw that comeback coming.” He grinned, watching the supervisors who were now talking with their coach.
Nathan scratched his head, wiping away the sweat beads on his forehead. “I just hope it was enough. I really need that scholarship.”
“Don’t worry, it was more than enough,” Steven parted his back, “the guys are going to grab a bite together, you coming?”
“Nathan,” someone shouted and they turned to see Cindy jogging towards them. “Hey, everyone is going to grab a bite, you coming?”
Nathan glanced at his friend who nodded at him and he sighed and nodded, “sure why not?”
“Great,” Cindy clapped, “then, do you mind if I ride with you? Sophie and the girls already left with my car.”
Nathan wanted to refuse but at the end, he agreed and they left the gymnasium where the game was held. Approaching his car, he parted with Steven who walked up to his and he entered the car, while Cindy followed.
“So, my birthday is next weekend and I was hoping you can come over, please? You are the first person I’m inviting.” Cindy said as he pulled out of the student lot.
Nathan didn’t answer immediately and was just surfing through the radio channels till he found the one he want. He concentrated on the road without saying a thing and Cindy sighed, glancing out the window to hide her pain.
“Don’t you get tired?” He suddenly asked and she glanced at him with confusion in her eyes, “don’t you get tired of trying to get my attention every time?” he elaborated more for her to understand.
“I won’t say it doesn’t hurt,” she sighed, “but that doesn’t mean I will have to stop trying.”
“Why won’t you stop?”
Cindy smiled and glanced at him, “have you ever liked someone like very much?”
Nathan didn’t answer nor look at her but a face appeared in his mind immediately.
“Will you stop trying to get close to them?” She asked and smiled, “the answer is no because you will keep trying and hoping that maybe one day, just one day, they will notice you and you can finally be with them.” She licked her lips, “I like you Nathan, like very much and it hurts every time you push me away but I have hope, even if it’s little,” she smiled.
Nathan didn’t say anything but he figured something out with that discussion. She and he were both the same only that their subjects of interest are different. He realized that just the way he fights to have Tracy’s attention is how she fights for his and just because of that fact; he doesn’t repulse her anymore and rather feel sorry for her. Because if anything he is feeling is how she is feeling, then she deserves pity, including an apology from him.
When they got to the diner, the rest of the team and cheerleaders were already there and so they just joined them. They made their orders that mostly comprises of burgers, chicken and chips and pizzas and then drinks.
It was a fun gathering and they talked and laughed about the game and the upcoming one. Nathan was having fun and for once, he didn’t loath Cindy for her advances and just decided to let her hold his hand hoping it would make her feel better as he knew holding Tracy’s would make him feel.
Just then, a familiar red car sped past, grapping his attention. He stared at the car for only a second and immediately stood up, dropping his own share of the bill on the table and grabbing his car key from the table. “I have to go guys,” he said, trying to sound normal despite the frantic beating of his heart.
“Where are you going?” Cindy asked.
“I have to go home, something came up,” he answered as gently as he could, “see you guys tomorrow,” he was already making his way to the glass door by then.
“You didn’t answer Nathan, about what I told you,” Cindy stood up, glancing at him.
Nathan furrowed his brows and nodded when he remembered, “I will be there, you have my word.” He saw her smile before he left the diner, his heart in his throat as he climbed into his jeep. There was no way he could have saw wrong, he once drove that car for sometime so he would know it anywhere. He sped home, hoping that was where she was heading and that his mind was not playing a trick on him.
Arriving home, he saw the car parked in front of his house and his heart leapt up in joy as he parked behind it, noticing his mom’s car in the driveway as well. He climbed out of the car happily, kicking it shut as he jogged to the front door.
He opened it, shouting, “mom I’m home,” but only to stop short seeing the people sitting in the living room. Tracy and his mom were there alright but along with someone else, someone he never thought he would see in his house ever again. “What are you doing here?” Nathan asked Gary who sighed and said nothing.
“Nathan dear, calm down okay,” Lucy stood up and approached her son with a smile.
“Don’t tell me to calm down mom, what is he doing here, what is he doing in my house?” He thundered.
“Calm down Nathan, I brought him,” Tracy said, standing up.
Nathan frowned and glanced at her, “why? Why would you even bring him here?”
“That’s what I came to tell you and we were just waiting for you to come home. Lucy was about calling you when we heard you drive in.” Tracy gulped.
Nathan had a bad feeling in his heart that he won’t like where this was heading but instead, he crossed his arms on his chest and nodded at her, “alright, what do you want to say?”
Tracy licked her lips and glanced at Gary before at Nathan and Lucy again, “Gary and I made up three weeks ago.”
“What?” Both Nathan and Lucy shouted.
Tracy nodded, “yes, and we have a news for you,” she bit her lip and then showed off her fingers with a diamond glinting from one of her fingers, “we are getting married.”