Chapter 5: Newbie

'Rina! Rina!", Luis called on to Rina as he hurriedly ran towards her. Luis is in his second year and like Rina, he is also a newbie at the basketball club. Usually, it was the newbies' responsibility to come early and would leave late at the gymnasium because they are the ones in charge of the cleaning, before and after each practice. 'Yes, why?", Rina smiled as she faced him, he was breathing heavily because he ran from the entrance of the gym towards the end where she is currently at. 'Ho, ho… catch your breath first.", Rina added. "Rina, let me do the mopping. Just sit over there and relax because I know for sure, your teammates will give you a hard time again.", Luis said and Rina felt his sincerity. "No, there's no need. I can do it by myself.", Rina frowned because she doesn't want anyone to make her feel useless. "Rina, I am just thinking that you will be exhausted again later because I know your teammates like to order you around.", Luis insisted and went to get the mop from Rina's hand. "Nah, you don't have to. Just let me do it. I don't want anybody talking around saying I am being treated here as a princess. I don't like that.", Rina shivers with the thought and grabbed the mope from Luis. "It's just right to treat you like a princess, Rina… with that beauty, it's just fair. You know Rina, you had become my idol because you are so courageous! Cool!", Luis smiled as his dimples appeared on his cheeks. Rina rolled her eyes, it seems like Luis is having a good time teasing her. She had known Luis for a few months already, he befriended her ever since she had started in the basketball club. Luis is indeed a happy person and Rina finds him funny every time he flatters her exaggeratedly. "Whatever, Luis, whatever. Stop teasing me, I am older by a year with you. I am your senior, okay?", Rina widened her eyes to Luis as if she was threatening him over her seniority to him. "Hehe but it seems like we're at the same age so, it doesn't matter you know?", Luis answered. Rina looked at him in disbelief. "Oh really? How old are you by the way?", Rina asked. "I'm twenty-one already. How about you?", Luis asked back. Rina was stunned as she realized they are both of the same age and couldn't use her seniority over him anymore. "Well… I'm going to be twenty-two… uh next year.", Rina stammered. 'See? That means you're twenty-one like me. So, let's treat each other casually.", Luis insisted happily. 'Stop grinning or else I'll strike you with this mop!", Rina joked in annoyance but it only made Luis smile even more. "I can't help it… it's because I admire you so much. You're my idol, Rina. You're so brave especially when you confessed your feelings to Captain Lambert. And now you're here… you followed him here. It's very rare for women to be strong at heart and persevering.", Luis complimented Rina again. Rina smiled in defeat, she always smiles when she hears Lambert's name. As a reply she messes up Luis's hair, this is the scene that the members of the men's basketball team saw when they had arrived at the gym, including Lambert. Everyone was walking towards Rina and Luis. "Of course, Rina Montecruz is different!", Rina proudly said, feeling her moment as she is still unaware of the people that had just entered. 'I know. That's why if I were able to have a girlfriend, I want a Rina Montecruz too. I mean, someone like you, courageous, persevering, and of course… pretty too.", Luis smiled, and Rina smiled even more as if she was flattered by his words. Lambert as well as the other team members clearly heard what they were talking about as they were already passing by beside them. "Stop flattering me! Come on, let's just start cleaning. And next time, be sure to take your own mop. Don't steal mine because I'm not a weakling… even if Captain Paula and my other teammates will give me a hard time, I can handle it!", Rina lively said. 'Wow! You're indeed admirable Rina!", Luis complimented and clapped his hands. "Hey, it looks like this newbie is making a move towards Lambert's suitor eh?", Alex commented as he noticed Luis and Rina's closeness. Alex is one of the regular members of the team. Lambert didn't answer, after all, he is not sure if Alex is talking to him, and it doesn't matter for him too. Anything and everything about Rina is no longer his concern. "Maybe. That's possible because if you notice that newbie speaks casually with her despite him being in a lower year.", Yuan answered. Yuan is also another regular member of Lambert's team. 'I've noticed that too. And look, had been constantly clinging unto her. Just look at the way he looks at Rina... Such a flirt! Tsk, boys will always be boys.", Justin laughed, he's another regular member of their team. "Well, that's good. It would be better if Rina is able to find her partner so she would stay away from our captain... What's that newbie's name again?", Alex again, he laughs along with the other team members. Lambert suddenly dropped his face towel on the floor forcefully which surprised the others and they fell silent. They were all wondering as they looked at Lambert. Lambert stood with furrowed brows, facing the direction where Luis and Rina are, who are still both joking at laughing with each other. "LUIS SANTILLAN!", Lambert yelled as he calls Luis's attention. His voice sounded like a roaring thunder at the entire gym. Luis and Rina stopped laughing, and everyone else was shocked to hear him. It's not only Luis's attention, he had caught but also the other members from the club either from the men or women's, all heads were at Lambert. Luis hurriedly ran towards Lambert. "Yes, captain!", Luis said, still wondering because Lambert doesn't seem to be happy to see him. This is an unusual moment, nobody calls for him, he is just a newbie but now the captain itself called him. "Run around the gym, 100 laps! NOW!", Lambert ordered, sounding irritable. "T-thirty laps, c-captain?! N-now?", Luis stutters, he couldn't believe it. He is not sure if Lambert was being serious but his face seems to mean it. "Why? Do you I need to repeat myself for you?", Lambert answered in a sarcastic manner. It was scary and everyone shivered at the way he said it. Everyone couldn't understand Lambert's sudden change of behavior. He had been the captain of the club for three years already and, it is the first time they had seen him like this. Typically, he is the epitome ng serenity at calmness, at times he seems cold when ordering people around. Luis hurriedly obeyed and he seems to be in a panic because he immediately dropped the mop he is holding on the floor. Rina picked up his mop as she stared at Luis with worry. 'Are you serious, captain? 100 laps for a newbie?!", Justin asked, still couldn't believe. 'Even I couldn't possibly do it, Captain.", Yuan added. "Why does captain seem to be angry?", one of the other members whispered from behind. "I was also surprised. This is not normal for Captain.", another one whispered. Everyone wondered, even Rina is shocked to see Lambert acting like this. She looked at everyone, who seems to be talking about Lambert's sudden outburst, then finally rested her eyes on Lambert. Rina was surprised to see that Lambert was already staring at her. She felt her heart skip a beat when their eyes met, but she seized the opportunity to defend her friend while he is still facing her. It's impossible for Luis to finish the 100 laps, a normal person couldn't possibly do it at all. "Lambert?! 100 laps?! Are you serious? What do see Luis as, a robot?! Nobody is capable of doing what you ordered him to do! That's just… cruel!", Rina, with a heavy heart complained. She doesn't want to say those words but she needs to defend her friend who is currently running inside the gym. Nobody wants to oppose Lambert, not a single person would want to stand against a genius… not until now, not until Rina fought back for her friend. Rina's words only angered Lambert even more. She stared at her mockingly. Rina felt insulted at the way Lambert had looked at her but she didn't say anything. It's okay. Eyes are harmless and I take this as a lucky encounter because it's very rare for him to look at me., Rina reasoned out on her mind. "What do you know about basketball?! You don't even have any single idea about this sport when you joined the club. Look at you, you have been here for months but until now, what? Can't you even master the basics? Shut up. You know nothing.", Lambert sarcastically smiled as he insulted Rina. Lambert still looks handsome despite his hurtful words, but Rina just couldn't let this go despite how handsome he looks. She bravely faced his insults, it's not right to trample one's dignity especially when her friend is also being dragged into this. 'W-what did you say? W-what do you mean I know nothing?! E-even though I am just practicing the basics… it's still part of playing basketball!", Rina stammered as she was intimidated by Lambert's confidence and the way he looked at her is making her heart melt. 'S-o... Never tell me that I know nothing because… even though I am not as smart as you or as good as you… I am still doing my best. Even though dribbling is just part of the basics at least you know that without learning it, you couldn't play basketball at all.", Rina still stuttering but somehow she already calmed down. It seems that all her bravery has been absorbed by Lambert already because he still looked confident while she couldn't even look him in his eyes directly anymore. Lambert didn't answer for a long time, for this reason, she looked at him again and for the first time, the most perfect man in his eyes seems to be losing a bit of his confidence. And for this reason, it has given her another chance to speak again. "I admit that I am not that good compared to the other members of the women's team. I couldn't even challenge you in a basketball much. I would just look like a pest ready to be crushed at court because I would definitely lose for sure… but it's just that, I am asking you a favor to have a little consideration for my friend. 30 laps? That's hard. He couldn't do it.", Rina sounded as if she is begging but not too desperate. She swallowed her nervousness as she wasn't sure if she used the right words. She is worried because Lambert might get angry and would yell at her too, or worst he will have her run 30 laps too just like Luis. 'Why? Is it even your concern when it comes to the men's team? What is your position to be nosy with the team I am handling?", lambert sounded so irritable, it was obvious he wasn't calm anymore. 'T-That's why… I am asking you a favor because I am in no position. I have no right but you do. You're the captain that is why I am persuading you. There's no one in your team that could run for 100 laps… not even your regulars. And Luis is just a beginner.", Rina explained nervously while pointing at Lambert's team. All of them grimaced and their faces couldn't be painted in anger. They all glared at her in a threatening manner, looking at her as if she was about to be eaten alive for mentioning them because they were afraid that Lambert would include them in Luis's 100 laps. Everyone in the men's team had become nervous too, they were scared that Lambert might decide to prove the quality of the team, they would all be included in running 100 laps around the gym and they are afraid that wouldn't be able to do it and would end up humiliating the entire team. However, Rina has a point too. Nobody is able to finish 30 laps, only a crazy person would do it, he may even end up collapsing in the middle of running due to exhaustion and dehydration. It's true, there's no one who could do it, everybody knows it… The dumb Rina is correct. Lambert glared at Rina and then he suddenly pointed his finger at her. Rina panicked especially when Lambert walks towards her. Oh no! What is this? Is he going to let me run 100 laps too? Why is he pointing at me?!, Rina thought and looks beside her, hoping he is pertaining to someone beside her but to her disappointment, she was alone. 'I'll prove it you wrong. There is someone who can run 100 laps around the gym. And after this…", Lambert to Rina before facing the whole men's team. They were all sweating coldly, each one of them was nervous which one of them might be ordered around by Lambert to run the 100 laps.