Chapter 4: Basketball Club

"Okay, start dribbling.", Paula instructed. Paula Castillo is the team captain of the women's basketball team. She is smart and also belonged to the fast learners' group like Lambert. She is so lucky to be with Lambert every day., Rina thought. Aside from being smart, Paula is also active in sports just like Lambert too, she couldn't possibly become a team captain without a good reason, and if she is a weakling like… Rina. And adding to her good qualities is also her stunning beauty which is well-known not only throughout the entire university but also to other schools as well. She is Lambert's female version, no wonder she also gets many admirers from everywhere. "H-huh? Dribb--drib... What is that?", Rina asked her team captain curiously. Rina doesn't know a thing about basketball, she just wants to be near Lambert so if you ask anything about Lambert, then she would be able to answer it. "Dribble, like this.", Paula answered as she demonstrated what dribbling is, it only made her look even more cooler. "Because you are new in the basketball club, this is the basic step you need to practice. Even though you're 3rd year already, Rina... You're still a newbie and you must not skip the basics.", Paula added. Rina was surprised that the team captain knew her. 'Y-you know me?", Rina asked. Paula just smiled and she looks so beautiful. 'Of course. Who wouldn't know Rina Montecruz who got turned down by Lambert? And also, your name is written here in the registration sheet.", Paula laughed and it made Rina embarrassed again as she reminded her of that humiliating moment but despite this, she still admired Paula. Rina is thinking about how is Paula able to maintain her elegance and lady-like appearance despite her basketball outfit. She doesn't look like a tomboy at all, and even though she is sweating from constant running, she doesn't look haggard or untidy, her sweat had just added to her appeal even more. Rina felt insecure upon looking at Paula because she seems to be the perfect girl and she isn't comparable to her not even a little bit. To forget her insecurities, Rina decided to follow what Paula had instructed her to do. Rina is at the corner, dribbling alone while her other teammates are having a practice match with one another. Rina sighed, she hopes that she would be able to play with her teammates someday. Rina was in low hopes when Lambert suddenly entered the gym. He was already in his basketball uniform and it only made him even more handsome in Rina's eyes. Lambert's presence inspired Rina even though she is just doing dribbling moves. Lambert is so cool! He looks good in any outfit anyway!, Rina complemented Lambert in her mind while her eyes are stuck on him. Lambert played basketball with his team members, they went to test each other's abilities. Lambert is the team captain of the men's basketball club and he is also considered to be the ace player of the university. It was because of Lambert that they were able to bag the gold for 2 years in a row already, and most likely will bag their 3rd gold this year as well. Rina was even more captivated when she saw how Lambert leads his teammates. However, she still felt he is too far away from her despite being on the same sports team. Though their gap saddens Rina, she accepted it and became to be content to see Lambert from afar. What matters most for her is to prove to Lambert that he is wrong, that love does persist, her love for him will persist no matter what it takes. Ever since Rina had started playing basketball, she also had been going to the gym every day, having no miss, not a single absence and everybody has been her witness of how determined she truly is about learning basketball even though all she does every day is just plain dribbles, or not she helps in picking up the balls to pace in the basket container and also cleans the gym after each practice. Every day, Rina had endured body pains and exhaustion especially since she is not a physically active person. Aside from her physical pain, she is also being patient every time the whole team would gang against her to bully her, constantly orders her around even with the things that have nothing with basketball, at times they tease her one-sided crush with Lambert and makes fun of her. There was a time someone had ordered her to fill up the water jug but someone purposely tripped her and everyone laughed at her as they give meaningful glances at each other. However, Rina doesn't want to make it a big deal and didn't drop the names of her bullies. She could endure this all because these petty tricks are not enough for her to give up her love for Lambert that she had taken care of for three years already. She readily faces everyone with a happy smile without pretensions because for her to see Lambert, it is sufficient enough to make her smile every day. The thing she had said before with her friends that she will forget her feelings for Lambert had been long forgotten, instead her feeling for him had grown even deeper and deeper each day.