Fall in Love Secretly

CHAPTER 3

----------------The next week ---------------

Time flew, and the day of the basketball game has arrived.

'Hurry up, weren't you the one who wanted to watch the basketball game?' Debbie urged me.

'Alright, I'm almost ready.' I tidied up my hair, put on my glasses, grabbed my bag, and rushed out the door.

At the venue, there were so many people.

'Jacob really is a popular figure at school. Look, so many people have come to watch his game.' Debbie said.

'Alright, it's about to start. Photography maestro, could you please take some more photos?' I clasped my hands together, pleading with Debbie.

'No problem.' Debbie replied.

The match began.

When Jacob played basketball, the atmosphere completely changed. The gymnasium was filled with excitement, everyone passionately discussing the game.

On the court, Jacob showcased remarkable skills and talent. He maneuvered swiftly, dribbling with agility, every shot filled with power and precision. Whether it was long passes, short ones, or his adeptness in penetrating passes, Jacob displayed astounding skill and insight. His broad vision allowed him to find the best passing lanes amidst chaos, ensuring the team's offense flowed smoothly. His teammates complemented him, constantly passing and setting screens to create opportunities.

But in my eyes, all I could see was Jacob. He seemed like a shining diamond on the court.

Whenever he held the basketball, his fingertips delicately touched its surface, feeling its texture and weight. His eyes fixed on the target, ready to send the ball into the hoop.

In an instant, his body coiled like a spring, then released an enormous amount of energy. The basketball flew from his hand at lightning speed.

His shooting motion was graceful and fluid, his arm drawing a perfect arc, guiding the ball accurately towards its destination. His fingers slightly curved as he gently released the ball, giving it just the right spin and force.

The basketball traced a beautiful arc in the air, spinning, emitting a faint sound, as if narrating its own destiny.

My heartbeat seemed to pause for a moment, holding my breath, anticipating that crucial moment.

He scored! A three-pointer! The audience erupted into enthusiastic cheers, and I couldn't help but stand up and celebrate along with everyone else.

I kept shaking Debbie's hand, joyfully saying, 'Wow! They won the basketball game!'

Debbie replied with a smile, 'Yep, and I captured many fantastic moments too!'

Debbie is such a great friend. After the game, she sent me the photos she took. Now I have a different perspective of Jacob! By the way, I sneakily took his photo during the debate competition.

Since the basketball game, I had almost given up on the chance of seeing him again until one day, I spotted him in the library.

He was seated by the window on the third floor, the sunlight casting a warm glow on his jacket as he sipped his coffee, his eyes fixed on the computer screen.

The intensity of his focus was truly captivating.

I quickly pretended to browse the bookshelves, then casually took a seat nearby.

In truth, my attention wasn't on the books at all; it was entirely fixed on Jacob.

Had my gaze been too obvious? It seemed he noticed someone observing him, and suddenly glanced around.

I immediately lowered my head, heart racing, pretending to be engrossed in my reading. Inside, I felt a mix of emotions, unsure if he had caught me sneaking glances. That blend of embarrassment and anticipation made me feel quite uneasy.

In the past hour, two hours even, he'd been deeply engrossed in studying on his computer.

I silenced and turned off my phone, quietly picked it up, and clicked a picture of him in the library.

Suddenly, he stood up and started walking in my direction. My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest.

Oh, it turned out he was just greeting a friend not far from where I was.

It really startled me; I thought he had caught me taking his picture.

Luckily, he hadn't.

However, this situation also indicated that he didn't seem to notice me either.

That's alright, I told myself, I never really intended to get to know him anyway. It's okay to just keep an eye on him from afar.

In the following days, I often went to the library, hoping for a chance encounter with him.

As a result, I figured out his usual library schedule: typically from Wednesday to Friday, always on the third floor.

Therefore, every Wednesday to Friday, whenever my schedule allowed, I would go to the library.

It was a Friday, and as Jacob hurriedly left, the rain outside intensified. I noticed he didn't have an umbrella. He dashed out of the library, fixated on his watch. Swiftly gathering my books and laptop, I hastened to shoulder my backpack and followed his trail.

I caught up with him by the library entrance. He appeared puzzled, clearly unprepared for the sudden downpour.

'Hey, um, do you... have an umbrella?' I asked, my words stumbling in the tense moment.

He glanced up, paused for a beat, then flashed a friendly smile. 'No, I didn't bring one,' he replied calmly, looking a tad embarrassed.

'Would you like to share mine? I've got an umbrella.' I tried to sound nonchalant, gently swaying the umbrella in my hand.

After a moment's hesitation, he nodded. 'Thanks, let's walk together.'

Under the umbrella, it felt as though the rain had cocooned us in a separate world. We were just passersby meeting in the rain. The raindrops on the umbrella created a gentle symphony, as if this chance encounter added a hint of warmth to the moment.

'I'm really thankful for this rain. It gave me the chance to talk to you for the first time,' I truly expressed my gratitude for this unexpected meeting.

But abruptly, he halted and gestured toward friends up ahead. We were merely strangers brought together by the rain, without a chance for proper introductions. He quickly departed with his friends, leaving me standing in the rain, feeling a pang of uneasiness, perhaps having lost the opportunity for another encounter.

One day, Debbie suddenly mentioned to me that she got hold of Jacob's class schedule from a friend and asked if I wanted to attend an elective course with her. This caught me off guard, but at the same time piqued my curiosity. Her unexpected proposal left me in a state of hesitation and contemplation. It presented an opportunity for me to potentially learn more about him, but it also came with challenges and uncertainties.

'Wow, really? How did you find out?' I asked her, hoping to get some clarity.

'I heard it from Claire. She's in the same class as Jacob, so she knows his schedule,' Debbie said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

'Oh, I see,' I replied, feeling slightly surprised. It was a tempting opportunity for me, but it also had the potential for awkwardness.

'Let's go together! It'll be so much fun!' Debbie enthusiastically suggested, brimming with anticipation.

After pondering for a moment, I eventually decided to accept her proposal. 'Okay, let's give it a try.'

This impromptu plan left me feeling a bit anxious, yet I was also eager to learn more about Jacob. Perhaps, it was another step toward understanding him, albeit with a hint of nervousness.

During that day, in class, I also observed him from afar, as if we were in the same classroom, and there was a sweet ambiance lingering around. By the way, grateful to the teacher for not minding us sitting in on the class.

I always chose a spot close enough to see him but not too conspicuous.

In class, he facing the teacher's questions, his brow slightly furrowed in thought. He focused on the screen, concentrating intently.

As he began answering, his tone was both calm and confident, his gaze reaching out to the entire class, as if seeking a connection with each person.

His responses were concise, yet filled with depth and insight. He not only answered but also brought forth unique perspectives, adding new dimensions to the questions.

I remember one time in class, there was a thought-provoking question posed by the teacher, and he engaged in a fervent debate with the teacher about it.

He presented a completely different viewpoint, firmly articulating his thoughts, endeavoring to support his stance with abundant evidence and logic.

I was so impressed, I almost wanted to applaud.

The teacher, with an entirely contrary perspective, questioned and refuted his viewpoint. Armed with rich knowledge, teaching experience, and an authoritative demeanor, the teacher attempted to challenge his perspective.

The atmosphere of the debate grew intense and nervous, filling the classroom with a sense of intellectual clash. Both of them worked hard to clarify their perspectives and tried to persuade the other.

Eventually, the bell rang, and class ended. The teacher and the student continued discussing after class. Of course, I didn't know the final outcome.

However, his confident expression in class truly captivated me.