Chapter 34

It's Friday, and it's the day for our test in P.E. but it's not just a test, it's a physical test. We need to play basketball with the other class. All the boys in our section will play except me because of my condition. I will be on the sideline cheering my classmates, especially my two boy friends, Ari and Cal. They need all the cheering for extra stamina. I became motivated too if someone cheer me up.

The class that we will compete today is the Class 1-B. I hope that my classmates will win. We need positivity today that only I can give because my classmates that are beside me are not doing anything. Well, some did, but it's like they are only cheering occasionally.

Riri joined in cheering too, but only for Cal and Ari. She didn't want to cheer to our other classmates because she hates them. I don't know why, but I heard Riri muttered about them being disgusting. Maybe some boys did something that Riri didn't like.

I put an effort by writing their name in a colored paper (for more fun). It's little and not planned, but what matters is it comes from the bottom of my heart and I'm sincere.

The boys on both sides change their outfit that fits the standards for playing basketball. Seeing our rivals, I am lucky that I did not get to play because man, they will squash me with their fingers. They're so tall!

"Go Cal! Go Ari, you can do it! Woo hoo!." I shouted.

The covered court are filled with people. Some are just strangers who are curious about the play, and some are just sitting there without care about what we are doing.

When I shouted, I noticed that several people looked at me. Ari and Cal notice me too. Ari gave a wave while Cal just looked at me, then went back to what he's doing. Well, even though the court is noisy, it's not that loud for them not to hear me. It's embarrassing though.

What kind of people are not loud when they are cheering? It's called cheer for a reason.

Don't be embarrassed Cooper! For Calvin and Ari! For our classmates, for our grades!

Mr. Abel is our referee today, so it will be a fair play. I hope. It's not in his personality to do favoritism.

He wore his usual clothes and a whistle hanging from his neck. He walked to the center of the field. He raised his right hand and closed it into a fist, signalling that he wanted silence. The noise wind down but not that much, but it's enough for Mr. Abel to talk and said the introduction.

"Welcome Class 1-A and 1-B. We will know who will be the winner for today's exam. We are playing basketball for this test. The participants will automatically pass but, I will exempt the winners in the quarterly exams. So those who are not playing, the one who is sitting, if you don't show support to your class, I will not give you anything." He yelled. His voice was firm. 

After what he said, my classmates began cheering our players. They are more enthusiastic about doing it after Mr. Abel's speech.

I got no problem about Mr. A's condition because I am doing it even before it starts.

It started with the referee tossing the ball upwards and Cal sway it in another way. Our classmate caught the ball and the game started to heat up. The tension between the two sections was so high that I feel my heart racing in anticipation. Will we win? Will we lose? Or is it going to be a draw?

A tall guy from another team took the ball away and he was going to our side of the court. Ari saw this and tried to block him.

With Ari distracting the guy, Cal approach him and steal the ball. The guy looked surprised and went back from playing. Our classmate play support while Ari went to the opponent's court.

The other guy tried to stop him, but Cal successfully shot the ball.

Our section is in uproar. Riri is screaming while I put up my banner above my head and wave it. "Woo hoo! Go Cal! Ahhh!"

This is exhilarating. I can't stop smiling.

The score updated and we now have 2 points. We are two points ahead of them. Hah! Blegh!

Cal didn't look happy about what happen, but he looked nothing negative either. He's just... Cool.

"Go Ari!" I cheered with Riri. Ari heard us and look at us. He smiled and went back from playing.

The game continued. There is a lot of shouting and cheering. The sits in the covered court is almost full. The strangers cheered even though they don't know about the people playing. Just seeing the exciting play made them enjoyed it.

It's now the fourth quarter. The team exchange court and the score was 97-101 with our team ahead of 4 points. There are still forty seconds left, but I don't think that our opponents will still surpass us.

I know that I'm being arrogant or maybe confident about us winning, but who could blame me? Our team, especially Cal is so good. I didn't know that he could play and being good at that. And let's not forget Ari. We are at the same house and I didn't see him play even once.

My throat hurts because of all the shouting. I am sweating profusely with being at the center of a pack of people, plus there is no air-con here.

There was shouting at the bottom where they play basketball. Mr. Abel whistled and stops the game. I don't know why they stop, maybe because a player of the other team crashed with Cal when he was about to shot the ball.

"Is he hurt?" I asked to Riri who was beside me.

Riri frowned. "I don't know, but by the look of it, that guy will get a foul."

"Foul?"

"Yeah. I think it's an intentional foul." Riri stated.

"How do you know all of that?" I inquire.

"Well, I dated a basketball player before and I'm always there when he plays. So yeah..." Riri explained.

"Oh." I nodded in understanding. I focus my attention to the game. I saw Mr. Abel gave the ball to Cal. I know what they're doing.

"It's free throw." 

Riri hummed in agreement. 

Cal positioned. With only ten seconds left, he shot the ball.

No doubt, we have a full score on our test.