NICHOLAS
When they announce that the first five should already line up, Jasper tapped my shoulders.
"Good luck."
He will play in the 2nd period. When we all line up, we shake hands with them. I knew this guy.
"I saw you once, you're Nicholas, right?"
"Yeah."
"That's right you are also invited to Mr. and Mrs. Monteverde's wedding anniversary."
"They're my aunt and uncle."
"I see, nice to meet you. Good luck on both of our teams."
"Yeah."
It was our team who got the first ball, and it was Mico who take the first shot.
"Nice one, Mico!"
"Allen pass!"
I heard his teammate say that but instead of passing it to him, he made a three-point shot.
"Nice one, Allen!"
The crowd cheered and when I look where he is looking I noticed that he was looking at Rosalyn.
"Nicholas, stay focused."
"Mm."
The whole ten minutes that we are playing my mind was on something. I just can't believe I am acting like this. I thought everything was fine before I stepped inside this university?
"Monteverde, what are doing out there? How come you did let someone take the ball from you?"
"I'm sorry coach."
"You should take a rest you need to reflect I won't put you there until you calm yourself. I will then put Monteverde."
"Yes, coach."
"You do look like you're competing with him."
I look at Allen who was running towards Rosalyn.
"You're taking it wrong."
"Okay~"
"Stop it already."
"You're not jealous because of that right? Is that the reason why are you pissed?"
He pointed Rosalyn who was talking to Allen.
"I can tell that they were close and I'm not jealous of him. I know my worth."
"The confidence level bro."
"What?"
"We'll see that."
When the 2nd period started the crowd went cheered for my cousin he seems to enjoy it since when the 2nd period ended the score was 48 - 30.
"You should learn from me, Nicholas. I was focused in game and was playing smoothly."
Jasper grinned and I sigh. So cocky.
"That was a good play, Monteverde."
"Thank you, coach."
I was not listening to our coach since Coach will enter me in the 4th period. This is the first time I did that. It seems that I'm still not calm. When the game starts gagain everuone was on the edge of their seats.
The 3rd period was so intense that Flinton University manage to tie the score 58 – 58, Allen will have two free throws and I'm sure he can work to shoot them.
When the 4th period started Allen will now take his free throws when...
"Go Al!!"
Everyone's attention went onto Rosalyn who shouted that. He was focused and didn't look at her but I saw how the corner of his lips lifted. The game was so tight. The Flinton knights were making sure that we won't be able to make three-point shots since they were keeping close our scores.
Five minutes passed and the coach of Flinton Knights call a time-out. Both teams were listening well to the instruction of the coach. When I got the ball I was buying time since the score was 68 – 66.
"Nicholas."
I passed the ball to my teammate and he made a two-point shot. 70 – 66.
Since they don't have much time to eat the remaining 3 minutes Allen was trying to make a three-point shot. Jericho who was guarding him failed to steal the ball from Allen.
"70 – 69, don't miss a shot, Jasper."
"I know."
I can feel the tension in the gymnasium when Jasper tried to make a three-point shot but failed.
"Get the ball!"
When I steal the ball from Jersey #04, I can feel it again the feeling that this one minute was so long. When I made a two-point shot the crowd went cheered, 72 – 69. I thought that'll be the end and we are the winners but Allen takes the ball and rush to the ring and before the buzzer rings he throws the ball. We all watch the ball shoots in the ring, his three-point shot made our score tie.
"O my gosh, Allen that was awesome."
The play ended with a score of 72-72 and even though our scores were tied I feel like I lost to him.
"Tsk."
"Congrats Nicholas!"
"Thanks."
After that, the cheerleading squad of both teams perform and I was told that there will be a party together with the Flinton knights.
"Come Nicholas this won't take long."
My coach said and I nod. But I don't want to celebrate when we didn't even win. Thst tie really did left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Just this one, we won't be able to do this next years."
"Okay."
"His Highness already approve so let's go now! Coach I want Barbeque please."
I glared at my idiot cousin and sighed. He keeps on teasing me these days.
"Yes that would be great."
The basketball team eat barbeque at the near restaurant and we go home straight after that since the class will resume tomorrow. It was 1 in the afternoon at that time and I am alone in our house since Mom and Dad were at work.
When I got bored I went to a bookstore and find some interesting books when I bumped into Jade.
"Hi, Nicholas."
"Hello."
"I didn't expect to see you here, congratulations again, Nicholas. But don't you think it will be great if we do win instead of a tie score?"
"Yes, but Allen was that good."
"Yeah, ahmm... so what book are you trying to find?"
"Anything that seems interesting."
"Try this one Love With You, it was a romance story, or this one Back To You."
"Actually, I still haven't tried romance books."
"Pfft."
"Why are you laughing?"
I avert my eyes and get the book titled Year 3050.
"You look cute."
"Stop it."
"Okay, sorry. Hehe."
After we buy some books, I noticed that Jade was looking at the food stalls.
"Do you want to eat?"
"Huh? Me?"
"Yes, I'm asking if you want to eat."
"Yes!"
"A café will do right?"
"I'm good at anything."
"Then let's go."
"Okay."
We go to the second floor of the mall and entered a café. I ask her what dessert and drinks she want and did buy them while she was looking for our seat.
"Nicholas!" 
She wave her hands at me and I walked towards our seat.
"How much is this?"
"It's my treat."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Thank you then."
"Eat well."
"Yes."
I saw how her cheeks turned red. Is that normal? She takes a picture of her food before she takes a bite of her strawberry cake.
"O my gosh, it's delicious."
While we were eating our food we are both reading the books we bought a while ago. We are both drowned in the book when I was distracted because of someone. Both of us were staring at each.
It was Rosalyn who looks like she was on a date with Allen.
I sighed when her face crumpled.
"Are you okay, Nic?"
"Nic?"
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to call you by that."
"No, I was just surprised since Mom used to call my dad Nik."
"I always saw your Mom, she's beautiful and she looks kind too."
"Yeah, her hands were warm and kind."
"You must really love your mom."
"Of course, and I think your Mom too was kind and you must get her looks because of her. I saw her a while ago, you two look like each other."
"So, you're saying that I'm beautiful?"
"Jade everyone knows that you're beautiful."
"But what about you?"
"You are beautiful, Jade, and talented that is why everyone likes you."
"Hearing that words from you made me happy."
I stare at her and just stay silent. She just smiled at me and continue eating her strawberry cake. I look outside and sighed.
Why did I have to see her? Tsk.
-IAmRoseee