8 Chapter 8: Stay and Play

It was only around 2 pm in the afternoon when the weird-looking trio - Chiko, Yang, and Gantes, finally arrived at the school gym. However contrary to their crowded expectation, the long-player queue is now gone and only a handful of players are left to do the tryouts.

Yang panned his gaze and realized that more players continue to walk away from the gym. Some had gloomy faces while others had excited ones. Another team just moved out of the long line and excitedly moved towards the gate.

"What happened here? Aren't you guys going to do the tryouts?" Yang could not help his curiosity and asked the leaving team on their way out. Chiko and Gantes on the other hand just continued towards the line as nothing else matters.

"There is no point doing the tryouts here. We saw Mr. Gaje leaving an hour ago and we heard rumors that he is currently on his way to the main town going south and visit the Bantayan University searching for potential players." The young man at the front replied at the curious Yang.

"Also, it is no use playing against Rino the Dhalsiem. That guy doesn't even give a chance to new teams and players. Their system is also very stupid, for letting more experienced players bully the newer ones. It was like they don't want to recruit anyone at all. So we decided to stop wasting our time here." The player at the front added with a helpless expression.

"Who knows we might just find a chance to show our true skills at the other school. This small ugly institution can have that ugly long-legged bastard for all we care." the other team member also commented.

Hearing it, Yang could not help but frown. As a school janitor who's used to witness Rino and his team's dirty playstyle, he could basically understand where these young men are coming from.

"Most of the teams who faced Rino's screening team ended up with some facial minor injuries. They were too brutal! Especially that Rino and Kurt would always aim their spikes at the player's faces and pretend it was unintentional. How could you call a series of consecutive spikes towards the face unintentional?" another team member also added, there was an obvious shaking in his voice and fear in his eyes.

"Let's go boys. We need to hurry and catch up with Mr. Gaje at the Bantayan University!"

"Yeah! Let's hurry and leave this poor place."

And so what happened to be a 100-meter queue of players is now left with just nine players, including Yang and his team.

A little disheartened, Yang still decided to inform the other two about the current situation of the try-outs. But contrary to his expectation, Chiko and Gantes do not seem to bother about it at all.

"What does that have to do with our team? Does that Mr. Gaje the one who provides the scholarship and allowance? Isn't it the school?" Chiko asked to clarify.

"I did hear about that school's good reputation. Their school amenities, number of instructors, and even the whole area are about three times the size of the Madridejos Community College. Unfortunately for them, I prefer a small, simple, and quiet school just like this one. So I will pass with groveling for Mr. Gaje's favor." Mark Gantes explained himself.

"Not to mention, this institution is just an hour walk away from my home - although I don't really have a home at the moment, still, this place is closer to my heart!" the farm boy Chiko added.

Yang felt a little relieved, he calmed his heart and confirmed the two one more time,

"Are you guys sure about this? In case we got recruited, there is no turning back. We will be official athletes of this college institution you know."

Chiko and Gantes turned to look at him at the last time, both with irritated faces.

"I said Yes!" Gantes beckoned.

"For the name of mon- I mean scholarship! We will do this!" Chiko shouted as well.

Seeing their still-burning desire, Yang could not help but smile and just hope for the best. He too reluctantly stood as the last person on the line. Now all they have to do is to wait for the current team who are playing against the screening team to finish their game.

Meanwhile, at the gym's sepak takraw court, Rino and his team have long noticed the teams leaving the queue just to go after Mr. Gaje.

"Captain Rino, it seems that the try-out will end up much earlier than we expected," John said while wiping his sweat. They're currently on a 15-minute break.

"That will be for good. We can keep our position and the school had no choice but to just focus their resources on us. So what if there's no team that can qualify? It is perfect for us veterans." Rino mockingly replied while tightening his shoes. Then, he turned to look at the shortened queue and could not help but smile arrogantly.

One of the team members - Kurt, looked at a certain man who remained seated at a table behind them for quite a long time now.

"At this rate, isn't Mr. U-bear gonna get mad at us for not going easy on the newbies? I believed it was him who proposed to the school management about the improved Sepak Takraw athlete program." Kurt said with a little worry on his face.

Hearing Kurt, Rino also turned to look at the man seated at the table behind them. Seeing the sports faculty member keeping himself busy with some paper works, Rino scoffed confidently and replied.

"Just look at that bearded goat. Do you think he cares? I personally think it would be better for the school to keep a small number of Sepak Takraw athletes. Less player, less hassle! Not only they get to save more funds, but they also get to have me - Rino the Dhalsim! The best player on this island! hahaha!"

"But didn't we lost against the Salazar College Takraw team and Bantayan University last year?" John mumbled softly. Unfortunately, Rino still managed to hear his murmur.

"That's because you two are dragging me down! John, if only you could do your tossing job properly, I could have aced all of my spike-serves easily!" Rino beckoned angrily before turning to the other team member,

"And you, Kurt! You have been a spiker for how many years now, yet you still can't do a rolling cartwheel, not to mention your hit or miss timing! How do you guys think are we supposed to win against those bastard teams from another school? Also, I had an injury that time so I was basically not at my peak performance! Do you understand? Or do you want me to pick new players to swap you two?"

"Y-yeah. It was our fault indeed. We are sorry Captain, we will keep training this month." Kurt hurriedly replied.

"We are sorry for dragging you, captain. I will work harder on my tossing too." John embarrassingly added.

Seeing them both agreeing to him, Rino's pride surged even higher, and prepared to play for the next team to bully. He suddenly smiled wickedly and said,

"By the way, to please avoid suspicion from that seated bearded goat behind us, we can just recruit one random team for a substitution regu. You know, for our water boiiize and senior's errand runner purposes! hahaha"

"That's a perfect idea!"

"I could use a good back massage too! Let's pick those with bigger hands then!"

Kurt and John agreed excitedly.

"Now let's go and beat this guy first and give them a chance to be recruited to make them think they owe us big time! That would be the first step of our slavery plan! Huehuehue..." Rino wickedly said as they started moving towards the court and start the next game against a new set of newbie regu.

On the other hand, the so-called, bearded goat-man seated at the table behind them continued to work on his paper works. Unfortunately for them, he heard everything they said but the man refused to utter a single word for disrespecting him. He just smiled faintly.

"Rino, Rino, Rino... I hope you are well-prepared today," murmured Mr. U-bear, a college instructor, school's sports faculty member, and the current coach of the sepak takraw team. Although he looked like he doesn't care at all, the truth is completely the opposite.

He is a true sepak takraw fanatic and also known for his impeccable sepak takraw strategy. The reason he doesn't give too much attention is still unknown, making the prideful veterans think he was just there for the official paper purposes.

"Annnd done."

Just when Mr. U-bear finished filling up his paper works, he heard a couple of footsteps walking behind him. He turned to look and smiled gently towards the trio of foreigners who came in with Mr. Gaje a couple of hours ago. Although the latter has already left a while ago with deep shame and steaming nostrils.

"Finally leaving boys?" U-bear calmly asked, speaking in English language.

"Y-yeah. Mr. Gaje said we have to wait until the so-called Balut-vendor guy came, but we don't see him so we are going back to the hotel now." A dark-skinned Malaysian replied while scanning the Sepak Takraw court.

Seeing the group of players playing at the court, his face was twitching to play.