Basketball, Friends, and a Girl Friend

My introduction has come at last. I cleared my throat, trying to get a grip from giggling at Tony earlier. Gathering all my focus, I firmly introduced myself.

“Ahem. My name is Keith Wallace. I’m a freshman and 6 foot 6 inches tall. I play as a Small Forward here. Even though I’m only a reserve, I want to learn from you guys. I’m in your care.” I bowed down to them.

“What?!?” Brandon looked shocked. “You have that kind of physique, and you are in the reserve? What the fuck?”

“Well, apart from a dunk on a fast break at the beginning of the match, Keith didn’t manage to score any points in the opening scrimmage. So, the coach…” Sean responded, before getting interrupted again by Brandon.

“Still, he has a lot of room for growth. I don’t understand why the coach is putting a player with such potential in the reserves. I mean sure, he can’t beat Edward or Xavier yet, but he is going to improve. If I was the coach, I would have put Ryan in reserves and put Keith on the bench instead.”

“Speaking of which, Carlos had already beaten Ryan earlier. Ryan was rotated down as Carlos took the 6th man position as a Point Guard.” Sean replied.

“See???” Brandon opened his arm wide. “That’s what I’m talking about. Ryan doesn’t improve himself and now even is overtaken by his junior. Ryan’s spot should be given to Keith, no joke.”

Feeling that I was not worthy, I humbled myself to the team captain.

“Well, I’m not that good yet, captain. I still have long ways to go. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to learn from you guys.”

“Oh, come on! Chill! You don’t have to be so tense, Keith. In my dictionary, all my basketball teammates that try to learn their best and spend time learning basketball with me are my brothers.”

“Ooh, a big family, yo?” Carlos looked at Brandon.

“Yeah, you all are my brothers in basketball!” Brandon replied as he smiled, looking at us. I could feel the sincerity on his face.

“Okay, Keith, look.” Sean looked at me. “I’m busy with my fourth year, and we have a different schedule. Well, let’s see. My weekdays are full. Sunday is my shopping day, not to mention church. I’m free on Saturday if that works for you.”

Wow, Sean is quite religious. Despite him being busy, he still attends the church. I mean, I am a Christian by birth, but I can count how many times I went to the church on one hand. Seriously, he deserves my respect.

“Sure, that works for me. Thank you, senior.”

“Don’t sweat it. I just wanted to help a fellow.…”

“Wait, Sean, did you forget I told you guys I would teach him?” Brandon looked at Sean. “I am also free on Saturday, you know? I’ll join you guys.”

“Yo, don’t forget about me! I’m in, fellas.” Carlos chimed in.

“Hey Brandon, are we taking them to that spot?” Tony looked at Brandon.

“Where else? That park is a good place to practice.” Brandon looked confused.

“I mean, we usually go there with three of us, playing three-on-three. Bringing them would just….”

“Tony, five-on-five would do just fine.”

“But we have two Point Guards, one Shooting Guard, one Small Forward, and one Center. We don’t have a Power Forward.”

“Oh, come on, Tony. Who fucking cares if we are out of position. Do you think those people playing at the park are a full team with the correct positions? We are going to practice some basketball there, not to play some scrimmage, dammit.”

Brandon looked at me as he continued.

“Anyway, Keith and Carlos, the park is a ten-minute walk from here. Kelloch & Velasco Park, you guys know that place, right?”

“Yes,” I replied while Carlos nodded.

“Okay my juniors, see you two on Saturday at ten. We will wait for you there.”

Sean looked around at our surroundings, noticing that everybody had left the Aula, leaving them alone in the vast building space.

“Okay, everyone, we should get going. There’s no one else but us now.”

“Sure, let’s get…”

Before I could even move away from my spot, my phone vibrated as a notification sound was ringing from my pocket. Curious, I picked up my smartphone and checked the message. I was shocked to see who the sender was.

It was Jessica Lawrence.

I internally screamed, almost letting it out. Panicked, I almost dropped my smartphone. Thankfully, I could juggle it and catch it again, preventing the phone from falling. I didn’t want my smartphone to have a cracked screen on my first day.

Looking at the message content, it was enough to make my head fly in the clouds.

“Hi, this is Keith, right?”

Feeling the need to give her a response, I quickly typed a reply.

“Hi Jessica, this is Keith. How’s it going?”

Shortly, there’s another message notification. I looked at my screen, and it was her response. She sent an emoticon before she sent another message, ringing my phone again. The emoticon is a bunny character mascot that waves its hand with “Hi” text above it.

“I’m fine, thank you. How about you?”

In excitement, I tried to reply to her. But before I could do so, Carlos tapped my shoulder.

“Yo, what’s this? Keith got a girl?”

I was shocked as Brandon put his left arm on my left shoulder and his head on my right shoulder, looking at my smartphone screen.

“Whoa, guys. Keith has a girlfriend.”

“Uh, guys… It’s just a girl I met in the library earlier…” I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment.

“Oh… So not yet? Ah, shame. I want to meet your GF. Wanna know her face so I can drive Tony away from her.” Brandon looked at Tony.

“Hey!!! Do you think I’m shameless enough to take someone’s girl?” Tony was annoyed.

“Yes! Tony! You would do that. That’s why I will ensure you won’t touch my favorite junior’s crush.”

“Guys… It’s not like that…” My face was flushed in embarrassment.

“Man… He was hoopin’, and now he is hookin’. My buddy is cookin’ and rollin’.” Carlos chimed in.

“Yeah, on the first day, no less... You have balls in both fields, eh? Way to go, Keith!” Brandon pats my back.

“Guys… I…”

“Hey, what are you students still doing here?!”

Following the shout of a grown man, we turned around to look at the person that just shouted. A cleaning officer stood at the Aula’s entrance, entering with mops and cleaning tools.

“Uh, sorry, we had some chats and…” Sean trailed off.

“Okay, I don’t care… It is already half past seven. You guys need to go home now.”

“Guys, now we really need to go… Keith, you can continue that at home.” Sean chuckled as he finished his sentence.

“Alrite’. Keith, I’m rooting for ya’. Good luck.” Carlos grinned at me before he started walking toward the exit.

I’m trying as hard to cover my face, holding my embarrassment in check.

“Guys!!!”

Brandon lightly taps my shoulder with his fist.

“Keith… Go get her…”

I couldn’t hold my embarrassment in anymore, my face was flushed as they started to leave the scene.

As they left, I quickly opened my phone again and typed her a reply.

“Hmm, not quite good, but I’ll manage somehow. Thank you.”

A message notification popped up again.

“What happened? Did you injure yourself?”

Before I could type anything, another message pops up.

“Oh wait, I shouldn’t pry about your things. I’m sorry.”

Following her response, I swiftly replied before she felt more guilty.

“No, that’s ok. I will tell you once I get home. Right now, I’m in Sport Aula 3. I just finished talking to my basketball buddies. On my way back. I’ll text you later once I get home.”

She sends an emoticon as the phone notification rings again. It’s a bunny sticker waving its hand goodbye, with a ‘Goodbye’ text on the top.

Swiftly, the emoticon was followed by another text.

“See you. Stay safe!”

I smiled for a while before turning my phone display off, pocketing it.

As I went out of the Aula, I was greeted with a sight of the university’s night view. Illuminated by the lamps in the way, I made my way out to the glimmering streets at night.

A few people walked in the pedestrian street around me as I began to walk. Under the starry sky, the moonlight gazed upon me as I made my way home.

I can’t wait to start chatting with her again.