Five of You, Only One for Me

Immediately after the school bell rang, while the professor dismissed the class and the students left the room, Jade vigorously stood in her chair, put both of her hands on the desk, and whispered to herself, “Let’s get this done. I can do it!” She was nervous. It was obvious by how her sweaty hands held the strap of her bag tightly, and the fast beating of her heart that somehow affected her now trembling body as she went out of the room. She even clumsily almost bumped into one of her classmates going out of the room at the same time as her. The other students also had their own errands to do, their own plans to fulfill, and schedules to meet. It was the second week of the school year, meaning everyone was required to join any extracurricular activities, and she had already chosen hers. Unfortunately, she was not as confident as everyone looked, though she also believed in herself, which was why she would be taking her chances. She went straight to her locker first to change into something a little formal like what was listed to one of the requirements when applying. Looking smart and firm would be a plus point. She hoped only a small number of people would be applying so she could have a higher chance of being accepted. She heard the scholarship would be full once she luckily passed, something she badly needed. She wanted to try something new. Usually, she would try out for the volleyball team. She was a volleyball player from her school in high school, and now that she transferred, she was actually thinking whether to continue that path or pursue another. But she felt like she wanted a change and a challenge for herself, so she would try into a more complex part of sports—being an assistant manager of a whole basketball team. She was told before that she was good at being a leader, even handling the whole class. She was also the very first person being awarded of the leadership award when she was in elementary, and the idea of the two things she was good at, sports and leadership, she would try to combine them into becoming an assistant manager. When she deemed herself ready with her previously flowy hair now tied into a clean bun, her white blouse properly tucked in her tight pencil skirt, and her mind also calmer, though not calm enough to stop the loud beating of her heart, she went straight to the gym. It was said that there was also even an interview for the assistant manager would take place along with the tryouts for the volleyball and basketball teams of Pink Rose University. When she arrived at the gym, there were flocks of people crowding the gym, and once again, the jim-jam in her chest once again felt like killing her. There were a lot of people, some of them probably were just going to watch, while there were a lot more students wearing jerseys, so they might probably be waiting for their time to try out on their sports as well. She pushed herself into the gym and saw how wide and clean it was. There were two courts in one gym. One was where the volleyball tryout was happening with both men and women, and the other was where the basketball tryout was doing the same. There was enough space that separate the two. There were also a lot of students seated on the benches, almost filling the whole gym as if there was a practice game happening. She couldn’t blame them though. These players, aside from they were certainly skilled, some of them were also blessed with certainly beautiful face features that they were naturally gaining fans and audiences. Those two were really the best combination, like, for example, the group of girls there at the top of the bench holding a banner with printed words ‘Go, go, Dave Wood!’, and loud cheers while they were looking at the other court where the basketball players were warming up. They were disturbing the volleyball players. Couldn’t they sense that? “Applicants for Basketball Assistant Manager, please line up here! Basketball Assistant Manager applicants, here please!” She shifted her eyes from them to the other side of the bench where the basketball court was and just at the end of the court was where those girls wearing the same smart casual clothes lined up just as what was announced. She immediately clutched her shoulder bag and walked there with quick steps. She reached the line on time. The person in front of her was tall, she was standing straight as if she was full of confidence, her arms were even crossed, and she had nothing with her but herself, unlike the others who had papers with them, possibly reviewers of what a basic assistant manager should know. She had even reviewed yesterday before she went to sleep. She thought there would be technical questions that she had to know, so she searched for almost everything about basketball. She felt like she could vomit her heart out in nervousness. Her hand became sweatier, and she felt like backing out- “No, no. Jade, pull yourself together. I can do this. What is this simple interview about playing volleyball with a lot of audience, right? This is nothing- No. I have a co-player there and I am alone now. I’m dead.” “Are you talking to yourself?” She looked up and saw the person in front of her looking at her like she was some sort of a weirdo. She internally knocked her head. She might think that she’s crazy. Who would even talk to herself in public as if she’s problematic? No one but her. The way this girl looked at her and stepped back away from her told her that she got scared. Ugh, what a way to ruin the plan, to impress and to look smart. “No! I’m not talking to myself, I’m talking to… you. Yes, you just didn’t hear me clearly.” She chuckled awkwardly and shifted her gaze from her to the court. The way this girl looked at her didn’t seem like she believed her, rather she looked more weird out. Gosh, that’s so embarrassing. “You are new here, aren’t you? I’ve never seen you here before.” She asked, rather a little sternly. Was she trying to intimidate her? She smiled and nodded. She had to appear friendly at least so she could lessen the weird impression she had set in her mind earlier. “Yes, I’m new here. How about you?” “That makes us even. I’m also new here, but I won’t go easy on you. The spot is for one person only, so I’m apologizing in advance,” she said, smiling at her, but there was an obvious mirth and sarcasm on her tone and face as she turned her back again. She pursed her lips and secretly threw a glare on her head. She didn’t even introduce herself. Whatever. She would just focus on calming her wild heart and cold hands that had never been so used to the nervousness of crowds and auditions when she had been doing that since she was a child. She was more nervous now than before. Was it because this was so new to her? Should she just try out for volleyball like before and sit this one out? “Nah. I’m already here. If I’m not accepted, then maybe I can try out for the volleyball team,” she talked to herself once again unknowingly. She had to discreetly look left and right, hoping no one noticed her. “No, I can do this. I can’t… No, I can.” She stifled a smile upon seeing the girl behind her also talking to herself. She looked awfully nervous, her hair was a little messy and she couldn’t stop moving. At least she could control her nervousness to herself calmly. She wondered if she should approach her or just let her be. In the end, she just chose the latter. She just fixed herself again, straightening her blouse, practicing her confidence, encouraging herself in her mind, making sure her voice would be loud and clear, thinking of all the possible questions that might be given to her, and all the preparation that she had to do that she had to answer without stuttering a bit. She had to do well as much as possible if she couldn’t be perfect. “Alright, listen up, everyone!” A woman, seemingly a senior student and the current graduating assistant shouted to gather them around. “Everyone, meet coach Geraldine Stevens, she’ll be the one to judge you and ask questions. She is also the current coach of the basketball team and whoever gets chosen will be working alongside her.” Jade observed the coach. Her physique looked really athletic, about five and seven feet tall, her figure was slim but muscular and certainly not-to-mess-up-with kind of woman. The woman looked slightly strict because of her Asian eyes, she was not even smiling while she gazed at every one of them, and that added to the nervousness that was already eating her up. “Since we didn’t expect that there would be a lot of you, she’ll just ask around one to three questions only. It depends on your answers if there will be follow-up questions. Since time will be limited and only a minute for each question, make sure to answer it shortly and concisely. Do you have any questions?” Everyone answered ‘no’ simultaneously. They were made to sit on the bench while they collected the application form and call the names of the participants one by one for questioning. She couldn’t stay still on her seat, and she already felt sorry for the person beside her while she squirmed like a person who couldn’t pass the gas out of her gut. “What do you think is the role of an assistant manager?” “For me, assistant managers take care of the players in every game. They give the players water, wipe their sweat, make sure they are well-motivated in playing, and-“ “What? A date with you one by one? Sounds like a set-up date for me than an assistant manager. Next.” The interview passed by quickly because the seemingly strict coach was cutting off the interviewee a lot whenever they would answer something that they wouldn’t like to hear or if it didn’t make any sense at all. Whenever she would hear those straightforward answers and the cut off, she couldn’t help but grimace. What if it happens to me? I really want to get in here for a change. “Jade Eryx Carson? You’re next,” the assistant manager called, beckoning her to come down. She hesitantly stood straight. Her knees even wobbled but she tried her best to walk with confidence as she went in front of the coach. She was facing the bench, all eyes were on her. The whole gym was filled with the sound of bouncing balls both from the volleyball and basketball and distant cheers from the other side. There were balls all over the court, and she could feel the men’s basketball running around behind her. “So… Why do you want to be the basketball team’s assistant manager?” “Honestly, I am here to improve myself.. and the basketball team. I have experienced being a player and a leader, but I never experienced doing it together, so, I wanted to challenge myself and make a change for the team.” Jade answered boldly and directly without even stuttering a word. Whatever happens, at least she is honest and true. Anyways, it is her definite and main reason for applying for the position, other than the monthly allowance, of course. “Uh-huh. And what exactly is the change you want for the team?” The coach is indeed as strict as a judge, as she frankly asked specifically. Is she ready for the follow-up question? It seems not. She smiled a little awkwardly, as if she was thinking about the best answer that would not make the coach cut whatever she would say. “Well, I think I already have a plan, and you’ll know once I become an official part of the team.” What a seemingly unexpected, brave, unsure, and provoking answer it was. Challenging the coach was not part of the interview. It just happened, and she could not think of a better answer than that. She immediately smells rejection after saying those strange words that came out of her mouth. “Wow, fearless. Oh..kay.. Thank you, Ms. Carson.” Jade carefully thinks and reflects how bad and somehow satisfactory her answer while going back to the bench. As soon as she smiled, contented with her answer, she heard multiple screams from behind her and the faces of horror of those who were in front of her. Before she could even look at the side and know what they were shouting at and gesticulating toward her, she felt a strong impact on the side of her head. She felt herself slowly falling. No. The strong hit on her head was followed by her body, until she fell on the floor, and people started flocking around her, until everything went black.