Science Assignment

FWWEEE!!!

The whistle was loud enough for Sherla to almost feel her eardrums vibrate and her brain feel like it was being knocked over and over again. She couldn't hide her upset face and immediately moved slightly away from the coach who was standing on the sidelines, rubbing her ears.

Kein and the other nine players left the court with the same look on their faces: upset, dissatisfied, and exhausted of course. None of them accepted the result after knowing the score of both teams was quite disappointing for each individual.

Although there was no draw in basketball, this was a practice match so whatever the score showed, it would not affect anything in the game. Kein rubbed his face and hair repeatedly, he could feel the droplets of sweat that kept flowing after 12 minutes of constant movement and barely getting a chance to rest or take a breath.

"Damn it, the final score is 15 : 15? How am I supposed to sleep well tonight?" He really showed such deep disappointment at the result.

"You're such a little boy! It's just practice and there's no need to have such a high obsession!" Damian tried to calm her down even though it was a bit counterintuitive.

"Aren't you tired at all after we defended and attacked for twelve minutes without a substitution? Dude, we just did an athletic training session a while ago. Coach Marlon thinks we already have the lung capacity of a bunker!"

"Shut your mouth, Damian! Our problems are quite different. Although I too am almost out of breath when forced to play without taking a breath, what separates us is ambition. I always want to win, especially against an opponent like you. How can I be satisfied with that result?

"Ha? You mean you underestimate me for having low ambition! You bastard!"

A small quarrel started when their heads and hearts were both hot and out of control. As the captain, Gilbert acted quickly before they started fighting as their words gradually fuelled the fire in the cannon.

He calmed them down easily. Simply stand in front of them and stare at both of them in turn. No words, no bluster, just a sardonic glare from one of their seniors. The two chuckled silly and then joined the other friends sitting on the sidelines.

***

After all the mock drills were over and they got their turn in the queue, a few minutes later, they all gathered together as well as Coach Marlon and his assistant who brought a push whiteboard. On it was a basketball court with the coach's art and scribbles that only he understood before the explanation began.

As is always the case during match practice, the coach always gives feedback and what they should do and avoid during matches. Not forgetting the feedback for each individual after what they showed during the match practice. Some players receive a lot of praise, and vice versa.

As their captain, the praise for Gilbert outweighed the feedback for him. He was calm and made few risky moves, so his team rarely lost the ball during Justin's team's transfer of possession and then thought quickly in determining scoring moves that didn't need to be fancy, but could lead to victory.

Justin was equally praised by his captain. However, the coach emphasised that Justin to control his emotions somehow.

Although the session was important for their development, Kein could not focus because he was completely exhausted and could not focus on the conversation. He wanted to go to bed as soon as possible even though before the practice he was willing to leave his lessons to fulfil his sleep hours and be able to attend the practice without interruption.

After Sherla and Coach Marlon had spent almost half an hour giving their best to each individual, today's practice was dismissed and they got up with stiff and sore bodies. Some complained about being too tired and some complained about having to move again after their bodies had rested for too long.

Meanwhile, Kein and Damian left the basketball building with a small run, then stopped the next second after Sherla called out to him.

"Where are you going?"

"Can I ask you something more urgent? Of course, I'm going to shower and sleep as soon as possible... oh, eat first." Kein interrupted her when his stomach whined.

"Fool! Did you forget what you asked me earlier?" Sherla scrunched up her waist as she frowned, looking dazed.

"Me? Ask you what?" Kein shrugged his shoulders, not thinking at all about what had been decided earlier.

"Use your brain, little dog!" Sherla pushed his forehead with her index finger.

Kein was pushed back even though he could have withstood the push.

"Let me think..."

Kein closed his eyes too tightly into the darkness and had trouble remembering. Meanwhile, his friend had already left him when his stomach rumbled. Damian was suddenly hungry and didn't care about his stuck friend.

Sherla let out a long sigh. She did not expect someone who asked for help to forget what he needed. Until finally Sherla intended to leave him and could breathe a sigh of relief if Kein forgot about the agreement. But when his body had not turned around, Kein had already remembered what should have been remembered.

"Yes, yes, I remember. But... I want to sleep!" Kein's face looked annoyed and tired but had to be forced to think.

"It's up to you. If it's cancelled, it's much more beneficial than what we agreed before. And you'll have to accept the punishment from the science teacher. Hahahaha!" Sherla laughed loudly like an explosion, startling the few people still there.

"Damn it." Kein felt like crying but it was much more embarrassing to get punished by the teacher. "Alright, alright. I'll see you at seven."

"Shhh! You'll see me, not me. If I come to that place and don't see you, then I'll go back to my room." Sherla stuck out her hand as a threat.

"Okay, fine! I'll wait for you!" Kein lost half of his enthusiasm and decided that he would first come to their designated place to complete his punishment.