"Adrian."

"..."

"Adrian."

I heard someone calling my name, but my mechanism towards these unknown persons calling me is to just ignore them, and to act as if I'm doing something or just staring blankly somewhere. But now, I prefer just staring blankly to the view outside the classroom daydreaming on images I wanted to become reality. The clouds are gathering and gradually turning light gray. The wind is blowing a bit more intense. "A rain is brewing," I sighed.

"Adrian?" A guy kept calling my name, but I kept on playing numb.

"Adrian." The voice changed. It was more familiar. It was warm yet sounded so cool. It was from Nathan.

I looked at him radiantly expressing that I was glad he's calling me, wanting to smile. But there is a swamp of guys staring at me with him, then I realized I was already creasing. "Yes?" I said and looked back outside through the window of our classroom.

"It was just announced that we will be playing basketball with the other class for our Physical Ed. And we were just wondering if you could play with us," he asked shyly. "Some of the guys do not want to compete to lose. Most of the basketball varsity players are on the competing class," he explained as I tried to not show any interest.

Basketball is a game I consider as no-brainer. No offense. But it's basic idea is to dribble the ball while avoiding it to be outran by the opposing players, and shoot it to the basket to score points. I was initially introduced to this sport by Nathan. He invited me to play the game when we were in fourth year of grade school. He kept in inviting me to play every day after our class. But in everyday he invited me, I refused.

I ended up no choice to play basketball when a group of students from another school challenged the team whom Nathan always played with. They were playing smooth and nice at the start, but when Nathan kept on scoring points on the first half of the game, the opposing players started to become wild and were acting like rugby players wild out in the field. I felt agitated to stop them, but the team where Nathan belonged was on the heat on playing.

A few more minutes passed, I saw a built-boy bumped into Nathan that made him fell on his knees until his head hit the ground. His teammates rushed onto him, some were starting a fight and pushed other team's players away. Yells and curses of provocation were floating in mid-air. I rushed to Nathan and held him within my arms. "Nathan. Hey. Are you okay?" I panicked. "Wake up!"

His eyes squinted a little. I took a deep breath. "Hey." I just said.

"I'm fine," he smiled. He clasped on my shoulder. "I'm fine," he said with reassurance and stood. "Let's continue the game."

"Yeah, let's play." I mumbled. I stood up and unbuttoned my shirt, rolled up my sleeves and said, "You punks. I'll smash you to death with your own-played fiasco."

Nathan's eyes opened very wide, like he has seen a tiger went out of its cage. "Hey, hey." He acted so frantic. "You don't have to do this," he held me back.

I became an instant substitute to one of the players who I insisted to be benched for the remaining half of the game. "Nathan, pass me the ball once you have a grip on it," I instructed him. "I'm haven't tried dribbling a ball. Just pass it to me," I insisted. "I'll just have to score anyway."

The game started. I was just standing on the edge of the curve arc where three-point shots are usually being basket. No one was guarding me since no one has never seen me play this sport before. Everyone laid back and focused on guarding Nathan, who has always been a star player.

"Adrian!" Nathan yelled as I see the ball flashing towards me. After realizing it was a chest pass, I held my hands just inches away from my chest to catch the ball. No one rushed towards me to guard. After a second, I was able to score three points from where I was standing.

"Adrian!" Nathan yelled again, running towards me. He anchored his arms around shoulders and started clapping my back, "You're so cool!"

The game continued. One-by-one, players from the opposing team started to guard me. Two guys where hunting me, trying to stop me from making more three-point shots. But I realized that I may have had innate reflexes to playing basketball. Score after score, we ended up winning the game.

The game ended where Nathan was still in awe. "Did you practice basketball without me, huh?"

"I – I just watched you play," I stammered shyly.

Going back to their invitation to play basketball with our class against the varsity group, I did not distinctly say yes, I just ignored them. But Nathan interpreted my silence as, "Deal. You'll play with us."

His friends looked happy on what Nathan affirmed on behalf of me. "Thanks!" some of them said. "It would be great playing with you," excitedly said by another guy. The other guy said, "Let's have fun and kick their asses!" while punching the thin air.

Why do I not name names my classmates? I do not remember their names. I can recognize them, but remembering their names would be hard. Unlike our first and second years in the senior high where the classes were re-shuffled to meet the concept of 'co-mingling with one another with sense of unity and togetherness', we had permanent class when we reached third year. It was quite a luck that Nathan, Pia and I were still at the same class ever since our first year.

"Nathan," I called him while making a gesture implying, "Come here."

"I'll follow you guys in the gym with Adrian," he said as he was waving with the guys. "Yes? Something else?" he asked me seating on my desk.

"Nothing," I just responded calmly, but threw a light jab on his side. He responded awfully with his wince face. "Why and how did they know that I play basketball?" I asked with a wolfish expression, ready to make a bite on his arms, which rested on my shoulders. "I have never played it in front of anyone else aside from you and our classmates in grade school."

"I told them," he instantly answered as I was about to make an excuse of not playing. The atmosphere became heavy and air became warmer; while the chattering noise of the people was suppressed by his ragged breathing. He looked straight at me with eyes so mild, "We're on our last year in senior high."

"He's starting a profound long conversation," I thought.

I noticed he lowered down his supposedly tensed shoulders and loosened a bit. "Of our classmates, for more than one academic year, who among them have you exchange contact numbers or added in your messaging app?" I responded with silence while still looking at him. "Okay, let's make it easy for you," he stretched his leg with his face near me. "Who among our classmates have you known the name?"

I just glazed at him. "It's a ~ No, Nathan. I haven't had any chance to know any of them because I don't see it necessary ~ mindset. ~ Don't you?" he said imitating my tone and gestures in an argument. "And you're smug about it, huh?" he added.

I almost felt blank and to just ignore his snide speeches. Until I snapped out, "Were you throwing your gauntlet at me, just now, huh, Nathan?" I was trying to just act normal but it felt like I need to provoke him to end this conversation.

He stayed calm, leaned backwards and crossed his arms on his chest. "Now tell me. Who are your friends here?"

I failed to change the topic, so I had to answer looking away from him, "Nathan and Pia."

"I knew it," he sighed. "Don't you think it's not enough? We have a bunch of other teens here, and yet it is only me or Pia you always hang out with?" He's looking away from me. He took a deep breath. The hubbubs returned, the throng of people are around.

Behind the clatters around, I whispered at a softness enough for him to hear, "It's enough for me. You're enough for me."

"You're not getting the point, Adrian," he's still calm; but his eyes, which were staring afar, were shaking.

"Why did you ask?" I whispered again. But this time, I don't want him to hear.

A movement vibrated along the desk of my chair. He stood up, stroking the tips of his fingers on it. "Huh? Nothing. I just asked, randomly, perhaps." I looked at him. He painted a smile on his lips, but his eyes are deep and dull.

I felt a pang. It was sudden and a bit light, but I felt it. My hands shook for seconds. "I'll ~ I'll pee." I can't say anything else. I am not sure what to say or should I say anything.