Chapter 21: The Preseason Showdown! When Sweat Meets Destiny! Part 3 : A calm before the storm

We're lounging outside the hall, enjoying a makeshift picnic feast that's been expertly prepared by Slyvia. She's whipped up sandwiches and drinks for everyone, and Priscilla's even contributed some delicious-looking cakes that are impressive for a princess. I'm sticking to light bites, though, since I've got a big game coming up.

The gang's all here – Devinson, Sadie, Albert, and Amber, plus Uncle Usman and Uncle Habeeb. Yon strolls over, and I offer him a snack. "Damn principal, she's really pushing us to promote this school," he grumbles.

I nod in agreement, and Mr. Rahman joins us, looking relaxed. To my surprise, Mellissa and William show up, selling their own food. Slyvia comments on the lively atmosphere, and Yon explains that the principal used to teach in Japan, so she gave the school a major overhaul. "Talk about a serious makeover," he quips.

Yon gets back to basketball talk, saying, "I never seen Awang get this hyped... at least this game is getting more fun than ever, thanks to you." I raise an eyebrow – he's the one who's been making everyone edgy.

Just then, Tyrone approaches us, greeting me with a "Yo, homie..." I'm surprised to see Latifah with him. Mariam swoops in to hug Latifah, while Latifah's busy checking out Slyvia. "Jeez, she's a looker... wait till Mika sees her like this... I'm pretty sure she's gonna jump here." Oh great, just what I need – more girl drama.

Tyrone starts trash-talking about the Wild Cats, saying they're decent but only Gabriel's really worth watching. Latifah promptly knocks him on the head. "Just because you're good at it doesn't mean you can diss others. At least you've got a career lined up." Tyrone takes the hit, looking sheepish.

Latifah's eyes are fixed on Slyvia, and she whispers, "Seriously, she's really hot... I started to think that Mika's nowhere close to her..." I raise an eyebrow, wondering what's going on here. Latifah explains that she's studying arts and fashion, something relatively new in Sabah.

Tyrone chimes in, saying he's studying sports science thanks to Mr. Hawk's offer. However, they had to pursue it outside the USA due to their background. Tyrone turns to me and says, "Homie, that move's really familiar... you know, like those speedy entries and scoring together. But I'm pretty sure you're gonna burn a lot of steam just doing those stunts. They can't keep up with you, bro." It's a constructive criticism from Tyrone, and I notice how much he's changed since we first met.

"Yeah, I agree with that, homie," he adds, his language more polished and standard English, a far cry from the street slang we used to use. I'm curious about their background, so I ask him, "What made you guys decide to study sports science?”

Tyrone replies, "Mr. Hawk taught us, and Isabella too. They covered everything we need to know." It seems like they've had some great mentors. As we continue to chat, I realize that Tyrone's growth is impressive, and I'm glad to see him thriving in his studies.

As we chat, Mariam suddenly puts her phone on speaker, and Natalie's enthusiastic voice fills the air. "Babe is playing basketball!!! I really wish I could cheer for him!!!!" Mariam's laptop is open, and Natalie's wearing a cheerleader outfit that's surprisingly hot.

Latifah's eyes widen, and she whispers to me, "Ooo boy, she's also hot in that outfit…"

Mom and Dad exchange a knowing glance, smiling. "Man, look at that, another future daughter-in-law..." Dad says, chuckling. Mom adds, "Yeah, son, looks like you need to improve your Islamic knowledge..." Uncle Usman and Uncle Habeeb chime in, "Yep, he does…"

I throw up my hands in mock exasperation. Come on, I'm just a 15-year-old kid! I don't have those kinds of thoughts yet. As I step outside with Yon, he leans in and whispers, "You know, a scout from the Malaysian national basketball team's around here. They were impressed by your last game, bro." My eyes widen in surprise. What does this mean for my future in basketball?

“The scout's words hang in the air, "They never believe that someone from this part of the island has a really talented player..." I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Frankie's one of them, Wesley, Awang, Thiru, and Devinson are already on their scout list." I feel a mix of emotions, glad that my friends are recognized, but also a bit surprised that I'm not mentioned.

Just as I'm about to respond, Yon hesitates, "Well... umm..." before Arie interrupts us, "Someone from the NBA is looking at you..." My eyes widen in shock. What the hell? The NBA is looking at me? "They were supposed to look at Tyrone, but when they saw you, they suddenly had eyes on you... but I'm not sure what team they're from," Arie adds.

The possibility of playing in the States is a dream come true, but I'm cautious. "Umm... well, I think I'd rather keep my feet on the ground rather than impressing the scout... at least my basketball club has a good reputation for them to have a future in basketball," I say, trying to sound cool.

Arie nods in agreement. "Well, that's your call... I'm not interested, as I'm focusing on my studies for university." I smile, knowing that Arie is prioritizing his education. "Yep, same here... this is actually my last time playing for the team after this, me and Arie are going back to being nerds," Yon chimes in, grinning.

We share a laugh, knowing that our priorities are shifting, but the thrill of the game will always be with us.

“Well then gotta go….Arie….see you at the game…” Yon wave goodbye and Arie talk to me

“Well thats my que…gotta go as well…”

As I headed back to meet Slyvia and my family after our farewell, I thought I was in the clear. But little did I know, drama was brewing at the entrance. Priscilla and Slyvia were locked in a stare-down, their eyes flashing with sparks. Siti joined the fray, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

The conversation quickly turned catty. Priscilla sneered, "Looks like someone's been hogging the spotlight... or should I say, hogging the guy?" Slyvia smirked, crossing her arms over her chest, which, unfortunately, made her... assets... pop out. I was momentarily distracted, my eyes widening in a mixture of surprise and embarrassment.

Just as things were about to escalate, Hana charged forward like a tiny tornado. "Big brother belongs to big sis!!!" she declared, her little fists shaking with determination.

Slyvia's response was swift – a gentle yet firm knock to Hana's shoulder, sending her tumbling to the ground. Maya poked Hana's belly, making her giggle despite her best efforts to look tough.

"Hana?" I called out, trying to intervene, but my voice was drowned out by the girls' bickering.

Hana's face scrunched up, and she let out a pitiful moan. I wasn't sure if she was genuinely out cold or just playing the drama card. "Ugggh... big sis... Slyvia's bullying me..." she whimpered, her voice barely audible.

Maya squatted down beside Hana, looking adorable with her concerned expression. "Aww, yeah, I get it," she said, her voice dripping with amusement.

Meanwhile, Slyvia and Priscilla were getting into a full-blown stare-down, their eyes flashing like fiery sparks. It was like they were about to pounce on each other at any moment. I half-expected them to start hair-pulling and clothes-tearing any second.

What really caught my attention, though, is my parents' reaction. Instead of intervening, they were actually doubled over in laughter. Mom was wiping tears from her eyes, while Dad was chuckling so hard he was almost snorting.

I facepalmed myself, feeling my embarrassment level hit critical mass. Seriously, didn't these girls know my parents were here? I glanced over at them, hoping they'd put a stop to this, but they just waved at me, still grinning from ear to ear.

As I gaze out at the chaos, I think to myself, "This is what they mean by 'peaceful'?" Yeah, right. To me, this is just another day in the trenches of crazy. I need to find a way to escape the drama vortex.

I attempt to sneak away unnoticed, but before I can take three steps, a pair of strong hands clamp down on my shoulders. "Babe, where the bloody hell do you think you're going?" Priscilla's voice is like a warm hug with a hint of menace, courtesy of her adorable British-Australian twang.

Slyvia chimes in, her voice dripping with seduction. "Darling, the game's just getting started. Don't think you can bail on us that easily." Her presence is like a ticking time bomb, and I can feel her eyes burning a hole in my skin.

I try to think fast, desperate to escape the clutches of these drama queens. "Uh, I really should get going... I have a match in... um... 30 minutes." Yeah, that sounds legit. Even though it's a blatant lie – we don't even have a match scheduled for another hour, and it's not even our turn yet. I just want out of this mess.

I frantically scan my surroundings, desperate for an excuse to escape this drama fest. Mariam and Amin are too busy being lovey-dovey, completely ignoring me. Great, just what I need – more couple goals. Hana and Maya are still sprawled out on the ground, looking adorable but utterly useless.

My parents are having a blast chatting with Uncle Habeeb and Uncle Usman, their laughter echoing through the room. Yeah, they're no help – they're too busy enjoying the show. I'm on my own here.

Just as I'm about to lose all hope, I spot Arie and Zuan across the room. I shoot them a pleading look, hoping they'll catch my drift. "Hey, guys, help me out here," I silently beg.

Arie seems to get the message, and Zuan gives me a thumbs-up. But instead of coming to my rescue, they just... walk away. What. The. Heck?

I intensify my gaze, trying to convey the gravity of the situation. Arie and Zuan exchange a look, and Zuan gives me another thumbs-up. Are they serious? Do they think this is some kind of joke?

The air is electric with tension between Priscilla and Slyvia, and I'm caught in the crossfire. "Not now, not another injury..." I think to myself, envisioning the worst.

Before I can react, Siti wraps her arms around me, and I'm shocked. She's not wearing her hijab, and... whoa. Tight T-shirt, distressed jeans, and curly hair that's bouncing like a spring. I'm frozen in place, unsure how to process this sudden transformation.

I scan the room for help, but all I see are my teammates from the basketball team, and they're not exactly coming to my rescue. Frankie's bawling, shouting, "Why's the captain so lucky?!"

Yon's laughing like a maniac, muttering to himself like he's plotting something. I'm not sure what's going through his head, but I'm pretty sure it's not good.

Awang struts by, surrounded by a swarm of adoring fans, giving me a thumbs-up like he's enjoying the show. I shoot him a death glare, but he just winks.

Zuan, Arie, and Geoffry give me a gangster stare, like they're savoring my misery. I try to plead for help with my eyes, but all I get in return is a middle finger. Nice guys, eh?

Gabriel facepalms me, shakes his head, and walks off like he's had enough of my drama.

"Seriously?" he mutters under his breath. I'm starting to think he's the only sane one here.

Mariam's eyes light up like a predator's, camera at the ready. She's savoring the moment, her voice dripping with sadistic glee. "Kukuku... can't wait to tell Nat about this..." That annoying "kukuku" is like nails on a chalkboard, and I know I'm in trouble. She's going to make sure I don't survive this with my dignity intact.

Amin facepalms, chuckling. "Bro, you know you had this coming, right?" I shoot him a death glare. "Yeah, great, thanks for the sympathy, asshole. What about my life, huh? Can you spare that?”

Mariam's still snapping away, capturing every moment of my misery. I'm starting to think she's more ruthless than Priscilla and Slyvia combined.

The calm before the storm? More like the eye of the hurricane! After surviving the drama fest with the girls, I think I'm in the clear. But my parents and uncles just keep the energy high, refusing to let things die down. I manage to make it through the next 45 minutes without losing my mind, and then Coach David calls me over.

The game is underway, and I head down to watch the first match between Team Saturn and UMS Rafflesia. Five minutes in, and Arie and Zuan are already gasping for air. I glance up at the scoreboard and my jaw drops. 40:86? UMS is crushing it!

Tyrone strides onto the court, his towering presence dominating the game. He slams down a dunk, and the crowd goes wild. Arie tries to retaliate, but the UMS players are like a brick wall. I notice Gordon on the bench, looking like a seasoned pro supporting his team.

Coach David nods in approval. "They look like real pros. That difference in skill is what impresses me.”

Arie seizes an opportunity and sinks a shot, giving Team Saturn a glimmer of hope. The crowd erupts, but I know Tyrone's team is just biding their time, waiting to pounce again.

I shout encouragement at the top of my lungs. "Strike while the iron is hot, Arie! Push!" The crowd turns to look at me, and Tyrone gives me a piercing gaze, pointing at me like he's saying, "I'm watching you." I smile and give him a thumbs-down. "Wait for me."

Tyrone chuckles and says, "Let's play the game.”

Zuan suddenly finds his rhythm and slams down a dunk. Geoffry takes the pass with ease, and the shot goes in. By the end of the first quarter, the score is 75:90, with UMS still leading. But Team Saturn is on fire, and I can sense the momentum shifting.

As my team warms up for the next game, I can sense the shift in momentum. Team Saturn is on fire! Zuan charges forward, his movements lightning-fast and aggressive. He slams down a dunk, and the crowd goes wild. Tyrone follows up with a shot, and the intensity is palpable. It's like our game against Kings all over again – high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled action.

Awang and Gabriel look like they're about to have a panic attack, their eyes wide with worry. Meanwhile, Albert's grinning like a fool, clearly enjoying the drama.

The game ends with a thrilling 120-120 draw between UMS and Saturn. Team Saturn looks like they're about to collapse from exhaustion, while UMS's Tyrone is the only one still standing tall.

Now it's our turn. I lock eyes with Yon, who's standing at the center of the court, smiling at me like a predator sizing up its prey. "About time," he says, his voice dripping with confidence. "Well then, ace…"

I flash him a grin. "Yeah, can't wait to start.”

The air is electric with tension as we prepare to face off. It's game time, and I'm ready to put everything on the line.