8 THE MAD GAME

The speck of heat from the sunrays stings a little as it touches my facial skin in this warm and rough morning. With my non-air-conditioned bedroom, sunbeams can freely get inside as the morning breeze shaves away the covering curtain. Blinking my eyes, gaining consciousness, I heard my mom's faint voice coming from downstairs, "Time to wake up! Breakfast is ready!"

Getting up and a brief stretch to wake up my muscles. I aim my view on the calendar hanged on my wall. It's Saturday, a day before the 4th game for the CESAFI Basketball Championship. Zig and Nixon's team won themselves three straight wins, one more win for tomorrow, and they are the champion. And a few days to go for the school year-ender party and weeks forward will be my Debutante's Ball. School folks and home are preoccupied and are getting stressed out on the preparations, myself included, most especially. On the other hand, one good thing that happened is not being with Nixon every day since he engages too much in his basketball practice. I don't know, but it seems he's getting toxic when he's stressed; he is tensed and nervy. Though I tried to understand him, I would still prefer not to disturb him when he tends to act that way.

I went down straight to the kitchen after I heard my stomach grumbling.

"Good morning Tita!" Bettina's voice echoed across the entire household, the instance she gets inside. "Good morning Cuz." She greeted me with her lively visage. I bring out a slight wave and smile quietly to greet her back since my mouth is full of food.

"Come, sit down here, have some breakfast first, and I'll go upstairs to get you the invitation letters." Mom invited Bettina and move on.

"By the way, Tita also includes Ziggy's invitation. I'll hand it to him." Exclaimed Bettina; right after, she turns her attention to me. "Cuz, Isn't it tomorrow will be their championship game? Can we go together, because we are not allowed to go with the players, since they have some game preparation to make."

Considering that I just woke up and not in a perfect mood or for whatever else reason. I replied with just "Okay," a bare nod, and a blankly, courteous smile. She smiles back and not long she moves ahead. In hand are the invitation letters of my Debut Party for her family and Ziggy.

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The enthusiastic crowd's clamoring noise meets Bettina and me as we get inside the teeming coliseum. A group of fans is wearing uniformed colored shirts and holding various shapes and colored balloons and pompoms and meters long banners with logos to support their University's team.

We got in near the patron set entrance. I followed her, settling down on the sits just behind our boyfriend's team bench.

Bettina made an air- splitting call towards her boyfriend, "Ziggy!Baby!" together with a wave. Seeing that, I can't blame her. The noise of the entire coliseum is really deafening.

I, too, scan the fullness of the basketball court for the presence of my boyfriend Nixon. Whereas, Ziggy, not a split second, move his feet towards us the very moment he heard Bettina. Even though Bettina's having a hard time since there's a waist-high metal fence dividing them, she still manages to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him near the chin, the only place she can afford to reach, since Ziggy didn't bend down for her.

Why does it feel like I'm being punished, watching scenes like that between the two of them? Bettina and Ziggy, flirting with each other. I take a deep breath to compose myself. I got to hide whatever feelings I have in here.

Ziggy was taken aback, flustered after he noticed me watching them and give an awkward smile. " Hey, I didn't see you there. Uhm… by the way, I saw Nixon…" Ziggy hasn't able to continue, what he supposed to say when…

"There he is!" Across the court, I spotted Nixon just came out from a door. I have no idea what's behind that door, but he came out together with Amabel. The only thing I can perceive is, maybe she's just interviewed Nixon since she's the editor of the University tabloid and Nixon is the Team Captain. Besides, Ziggy had mentioned to me once that they are close friends. That fact also makes me slightly worried since he also mentioned Amabel's plan to run for Student's Government President the same as I planned. Worried that it might give Nixon a hard time since there's a conflict of interest between his friend and me. But there's another case that makes me wonder right now. " Zig, how come Bettina got inside? Hadn't the guard noticed?"

He just shrugged his shoulder for an answer, but I can sense some meanings and hint from his stares. I can see anxiousness and forlorn in his look.

On his way to their team bench, Nixon sighted Ziggy and me talking with each other. I shrug and try not to worry about his jealousy right now. Anyway, he also had seen Bettina with us, and she's Ziggy's girlfriend.

He just went straight to their team and had not able to come to me when his coach made a call, for they got to stay back to the locker room for an individual call to start the game.

All the clamor and noise was overpowered by the sonorous sound of the announcer's voice from the speakers, a cue to commence the fourth CESAFI Championship Game. After a few more moments, the announcer introduces every player in each team. Every name called, as the players run out from the locker to show themselves, are air-splitting and sweet screams all over the place. I, too, shouted, of course, to cheer for our school's team and my best friend and boyfriend.

The game had started.

Feeling the cold sweat that slowly slid from my forehead, I frowned as I glance at the score monitoring screen displayed overhead. 14-3, their opponent team now has 11 points ahead of them. Caught by my sight is their team coach, with a puckered brows and pouting lips. His usual serious, fresh and relaxed demeanor vanished, hardly similar from his looks now, as if like a louring sky threatening to burst a downpour.

Ziggy, on the other hand, looks like losing the liveliness that he usually had. Barely running, with his angry and reddish glare on Nixon, who is now busy with the game.

Another point for the opponent. Nixon, as the point guard, dribbles the ball to the position. As soon as all players are in each place and ready, he looked around to find that almost all of his teammates are well guarded by the defending team players. Ziggy moves back unforeseen to trick his guard and slips out rapidly like a fast-flowing river towards the open position, just under the ring. He waved to Nixon, showing that his free and motioned to pass him the ball, the best chance for a dunk. However, Nixon smirks and passes the ball to their other teammate, unprepared and well-guarded by the opposition. By mistake, he made it easier for the other team player to grab the ball, run back to their goal, and get another point. In time for the buzzer's blaring sound drowned the entire coliseum, prompt the end of the first quarter.

The lowered brow, the thinned lips, and the flared nostrils became apparent on Ziggy's angry face. Probably exasperated by how Nixon played the game. He's been playing that way since the beginning of the quarter. With glaring eyes, Ziggy came after Nixon, who's walking ahead of him. He calls him out and pushes him to some extent. "Hey, what the hell is your problem?!"

Nixon stiffened, eyes widened. Slightly off-balanced but didn't fall. He advanced, pushed him harder, hard enough for Ziggy to slump down on his butt, pointing the finger at him. "Huh! My problem? You are my problem; why the fuck, you keep on tailing on my girlfriend?!"

I stood up urgently, the instant I noticed some commotion going on with the two of them. Yet, before I have even decided on what to do next. Without any hesitation, I saw Bettina got herself jumped over the railing, so I deliberately followed her towards our warring boyfriends.

Ziggy stood up with agility. "You scoundrel, you just cheated on my best friend!" and throw out a strong punch on Nixon's face.

My eyes widened, and my mouth gaping in thunderstruck from what I've seen and heard. I'm baffled and can hardly be perceived what happened, but I know only one thing, and I want to do, right there and right then. I don't want to cause more trouble and need to stop them, and I'm terrified to see bloodshed between them. But there's complexity, to get near to them. Large figures of the players surrounded them, attempting to stop the melee. Even so, the two guys struggle to let loose, intending to hurt each other.

"You liar, do tell, you want my girlfriend, and that's why you're making up stories!" Nixon hollered as he is trying to get loose from the one holding him.

I truly need to get in there.

With full force, I pushed away the players' sweaty, bulky torso so I can pass through. Straightaway, I enfolded Nixon in my arms to calm him and whispered. "Nixon, this is enough." Then, I turn to look at Ziggy, glowered at him as I raised my voice in him, saying. "Did you intend to do it, Zig? Is it because you're still angry at me? Can you please leave us alone?"

My eyes are still focused on Ziggy. He didn't say a word, took a deep breath, turn his look aside, he unloosed himself from the one holding him. He looked at me straight in the eye with meanings on his stares, the look of pity in it, before he went straight to the coliseum exit.

Even Nixon hadn't able to join back the game. He, too, is suspended. In his dismay, he didn't send me back home and just leave me went home by myself alone.