Chapter 8

The Finals

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Edwin’s love story [flashback]

What the hell I just hate to hear any gossip about Stella. Now when I know she’s already hooked up, I should leave her alone. I mentally convinced myself that it’s a one sided love should leave her alone.

Then the second part of me argued fuck alone. What kind of love is it if I let it go so easily?

 I have to fight for it.

I cannot let her go.

 She’s my chosen one.

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“Bull’s eye” the girl in white shirt, I still don’t remember her name, some flower that hurts.

Whatever!

“What do you mean?” I asked astonished looking here and there if there was any Olympic games being played on the Led screens of the cafeteria.

“I mean exactly what you said earlier. She’s the chosen one. You have to fight for her, not cry for her.” She answered sincerely.

“Okay…” I felt a bit awkward by her sudden gesture. I mean a prostitute guiding me with relationships.

Oh hell yeah. She’s also doing some psychology.

“Back to the LOVESTORY” she pleaded

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Edwin’s love story [flashback]

“What happened to her boyfriend?” I snapped the question as I came out of my reverie with determination to snatch my girl away from that ass of a weight lifter.

“Is he dead already?” otherwise I am here to cut his balls off’ I told the rest in my head not to show others that I am some kind of psychic lover boy.

“Oh was caught nude with one of the gymnasts making out with her in one of the changing rooms. That event manager was on a round there and she caught them red handed. I wonder if  he still has his dick attached to his pelvic because what we heard was that she was pissed off like shit and is been worst of her temper after that.

“So that asshole has already fucked up his relation with Stella? All the odds were in my favor. My girl she is.” I spoke to myself and I knew Stella would be very upset about it and would amiably need a shoulder. Who else would be better than her ex neighbor?” I smirked at myself and was about to leave in desperation.

“No shit business Parker. I want you in your rooms now. Warm ups at 5 and I don’t want to see your asses burned up with anything other than the game of basket ball” he gave me his fiercest warning looks.

“Sir please I’ll be back soon.” I gave him my most innocent pleading looks.

“Back to your room Mr. Edwin Parker.” This was really stern of his attitude. I better not mess up with him and I quietly headed towards my room.

The more the time passed, more restless did I get. Would she leave the entire event and just go away and I’ll never see her again?

Or may be the entire tale is a mere grapevine and she is still hooked up with that guy.

Possibilities that she is so troubled or heartfelt with her last relation that she doesn’t want another one….

OOoooooooh god I am wretched completely gone crazy over this girl when I heard a knock on the door.

“Parker time to screw off the Oliver’s. Come in 5” Mac shouted from the door.

‘Yeah I’ll be there” I replied. It was better to physically exhaust myself and burn up my thoughts in the game other than to fuck my head thinking about it. “

Let’s kill those Oliver’s.”

Oliver’s was our opponent team, the strongest one in the entire series that’s why they were in Finals.

“Focus!! Focus!!! On the game. FINALS!!!!! FINALS!!!!!” I kept on repeating in my head to stop visualizing those questioned eyes that were staring back at me when she was swirling rounds in that guy’s arms, that son of bit…  STOP. Focus!!!!!!’ “ I kept on repeating to myself.

We had a nice 1 hour warm up session in which we ran, sprinted and did footwork exercises, stretching followed by moral boosting lecture by our coach.

“Very few people get to here where we all are. 35 colleges participated in the event and there are only two who reached the finals. You know why? Because we are the best.

But I am hungry for more. Are you?” the coach asked.

“Yeah” we all shouted in unison.

“So let’s play hunger games. Pounce on the ball like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, never let it go. Bit by bite hit the basket like the predator enjoys its prey and satisfy the hunger. SO ALL SET FOR HUNGER TO WIN”

“YEAH! Victory to Wilford High” we all roared together.

We went to the changing room to dress up in our basket ball costumes, my eyes looking for the girl, I have been longing to see since afternoon but she was nowhere to be seen.

We changed and went to the basket ball court which was full of audiences. Half the crowd were holding Black and red flags which was color of our uniform and the other half were holding Yellow and orange flags which was opponents costume

There were special people in strands on either side who were supporting the team by wearing the t-shirts of the teams they supported. There was yelling and shouting all over. We had cheerleaders too with their micro skirts and hot tops but none of them appealed to me. My heart was whipped by that ocean eyed girl who was still missing. Expecting her to wear that t-shirt was insane but atleast she could have come to see the Finals for our good times sake or simply to monitor the Finals as she was the event manager there.

My coach hit me on the shoulders. He did not speak anything. Even if he would have said I wouldn’t have been able to hear as the crowd was at its best shouting their throats out.

He simply pointed his two fingers to my eyes and then the pointer in between my eyebrows. It was a signal saying Focus. He might have learnt from my body language that I needed a warning and so now I had my eyes on the court, watching the opponents, their moves, their talks and coordination. Attack their minds and your game lavishes so I was doing the same to plan my strategy. I called my team mates and explained them the strategy I felt was right to be followed.

“Anybody any better suggestions is welcome” I asked my team mates but they were quite contended with the one I suggested. The play order was already directed by our coach so I did the planning thing where to go with the ball, which opponent player looks fit, whom to attack and whom to keep a watch and so on.

We were in high spirits now when we gave each other a high five joining our hands together and throwing them in the air showing the opponents that we were an excellent piece of team work.

 Its works huh!

I made one last glance at the stands of authorities to see a silky haired girl but no trails. I punched all my team mates one more time Lets fuck their asses down and went to the centre.

When the ball was pitched in the air, we missed the pass and the opponent team took it passing and reaching their basket.

They reached the three point line and were about to throw, my team mates ready to pick the ball , Mac jerked which distracted the hitter for a fraction second and the hitter leaped  a step forward winning two point. Alex smarted enough to run with the ball dribbling passing to Steward, back to him then Steward and after three consecutive self and Steward passes he passed to Alex who then passed to me. I was waiting at the three point line perfect angle to hit the basket but shit I missed!!! To everybody’s disappointment. Any ways Alex managed to get the ball back passing to Mac, then him, back to Mac and finally to me again at the three point line. I was not confident, I passed it to Ben who was ready and won a goal with two points.

Though the coach was not very happy with my hesitation, he still cheered pushing us forward. We had a pattern. Three passes to and fro and then the third one who would forward it to me or Ben whoever is in advantage position to hit a basket.

We won 18 points in which I could only make 5 of them. Gosh this is too lame a performance for a hitter especially when the opponent team was leading with 21 points. Though we had planned a strategy to follow their dribbler like a shadow and get they ball at a spur but still they were on fire.

We were pins and nails too trying to get the ball and basket the ball. After all it was finals and now only 30 seconds left for first half. We were 21- 19 down and Mac passed the ball to Alex who dribbled for extra second than decided breaking Mac’s rhythm and now I had to take over. I took a giant leap and took the ball running and bouncing to my three point position. Eyes completely focused on basket and then “Go Edwin Go” I heard aloud in the speakers. I in a reflex turned to the strands watching the same beautiful girl in our t-shirt, 9 seconds to go.

 I nodded my head smiling and focused on the basket, 5 seconds to go and a hit and not three but I did score 2 point leveling up the scores.

“Hurray” we all shouted in unison. What a grand finish to the first half. This was the first time we equaled the scores and before that we were all lagging behind.

In the time out, the coach was busy explaining the strategies where in my eyes were glued to the most attractive girl in the stadium who was jumping with excitement and thrill. Were all those rumors? I asked myself when my coach patted on my shoulders demanding me to focus back on the game. It was crucial and we were on equal scores.

“Edwin I want you to be straight. No missing three points now. The opponents are getting confident. Crush it, Thrash it. Just do it. Win it.” My coach said and I winked with confirmation.

 The second half started with our same gesture of team spirit, standing in circle with hands joined and then throwing in the air “Go Go Go” we shouted back to the courts. The crowd was at its level best, cheering, shouting dancing and jumping adding to our spirits and the best part was there was someone I had longed for in my t-shirt. I could do nothing but feel lucky about it and give my best shot.

 This time with the start of the game when the ball was bounced I grabbed the ball just like eagle perching its prey, dribbling and bouncing and passed it to Mac, who then passed to Alex, then Steward then it would reach me at three point and if I miss there was Ben for cover up just beyond two point line. But I cannot miss it for the world. I have to win this match and then go ahead to win that girl of my dreams.

The pattern also needed a change because the opponent team had judged our strategy and were answering it well. So we initially in first ten minutes with new strategy were leading 40 points to 36. Then I guess there was a sudden rush of adrenaline among the Oliver’s and they were on fire grabbing the ball with a sprint moving in curves and getting the baskets. With short and quick movements they were now fighting hard. The scores were now fast reversing with the Oliver’s leading 45 to ours 43. There were only 3 minutes for the play left. So we planned an aggressive strategy to lead the scores in next one minute and than continue the defense as they were moving very fast. A close check had to be maintained. So I changed the pattern I dribbled the ball passing to Mac, back to me then Alex who bounced to and fro to Alex and back him and then finally reaching me and I hit with a perfect throw and the score board rose to 46 to 45. 1 minute and 25 seconds left for the game to finish. We had planned to defense and were running after the opponents from one player to another, doing a fowl or two and avoiding the basket.

45 minutes to go and I could no longer resist my urge. I stopped the defense, dribbled the ball towards our basket, back to Mac who was in utter despair and back to me and with my big steps and three dribbles I reached three point line ready to kick, 18 seconds left. The opponents fouled by pushing me but I still hit it enough to score 2 points  before the time up and before I could realize I was lifted in the air and bounced up and down. Crackers were bursting.

 Congratulations to Wilford High was displayed with neon lights on the boards and lot of cheering and greetings to our team. I do not remember how many and who all shook my hands to congratulate me, but I still do remember a girl trying to push the crowd away to reach up to me. She was pushing people aside and so was I trying to reach her. I extended my hands so I could pull her close to me and so did she. Our fingers met and I got a blow on my abdomen, my coach hugging me and lifting me throwing me away from my love, my eyes only glued to her and so were hers on mine.