The Journey Series

HALF TIME-FIPA

The gymnasium is jam-packed with students from different universities, it is the start of the basketball season and it is one of the things we’re all looking for. Keith and I haven’t spent a lot of time together the past few weeks since he needs to undergo training with his team and well most of the time I'm with Belle and Henry. I really don’t mind as well since my professor in one of my majors bombarded us with paper works and close-knit deadlines.

I really need to watch this game not just solely because of Keith but for myself as well. Watching live basketball games keeps me pumped up and well, I can still remember how much I saved when I was in middle school just to watch the Lakers play Kobe.

I wear a blue shirt in support of Keith’s team color and pair it up with my worn-out chucks and a simple body bag. Keith made sure I was sitting near their bench. 

I can hear a lot of girls screaming Keith’s name as the emcee called his name during their line-up. I can’t help but be proud of him. He clearly established his reputation as one of the best players in the entire league.

During the game, Keith keeps on looking at me whenever he scores, and I can’t help but get really conscious since I can hear some girls talking behind the bench.

“Fip! H-E-L-L-O!! What were you thinking?! I came up to my senses as soon as Belle arrived.

“Nothing! I’m just shocked to see, you know or to realize that Keith is really famous here in the Uni”, I told her.

“Cheer up, Fipa! Don’t think too much or too low of yourself! You’re stunning and you’re sexy! Don’t ever lose that confidence of yours! You don’t need to wear trendy clothes to stand out girl!

A few seconds before the half-time ended, Keith managed to score three points. As soon as the bell rings he goes to where we are seated and sits beside me. Why do I have this feeling that all of the people are staring in my direction including his teammates?

“Nice game, Keith”, I told him and then I gave him a bottle of water.

“Thanks, Fips!”, and then he did it again! He pinched my nose!

“Whoah! That kinda hurts you know! Is that your way of greeting me, Keith?! Like seriously?”

He put his face near me and then whisper something in my ear.

“I would love to kiss you but we don’t want to be the headline of our school paper tomorrow, don’t we?”.

I just bit my lips to control my emotions, if I am Olaf, I am probably melting right now here in the school gymnasium. Damn! This boy never fails to amaze me. He can be a badass player in court and then a sweet talker during half-time.

“Hey, I think your teammates need you’. I told him.

“I gotta go, babe, wait for me later and stay close to Belle and Henry’.

“Yup, I will! Good luck!”, I replied to him. Then, that’s when I realized, what did he just call me? Did I hear him right? Babe? Well, is it just me that what I pictured out as babe is the pig in the “Babe’ movie?

Keith was on from the very first play of the game. The game was quite close during the third quarter. I can see Keith is quite stressed as some of his teammates are having a bad call from the referee that results in a lot of his team’s turnovers. I can see a totally different person inside the court. He’s aggressive and dedicated to winning. He’s being tagged as the Black Mamba of our University and well, he’s really like Kobe when it comes to the way he played.

From what he has told me, Kobe is his hero. The reason he is wearing 8, is for Kobe. He even wanted to play in the NBA someday and with the way he plays, I can see a very good chance of him being drafted a few years from now.

Keith managed to lead his team to their first win through a buzzer-beater three-point shot. This guy deserves a treat later. 

Keith is asking me to go near him and I do as he says. He gave me a quick hug.

“I’ll make it quick babe, see you in a jiffy!” he said and turned his back at me to go to their locker room.

We waited for Keith at the lobby of the exit gate of the gymnasium. I was busy talking with Belle when someone grabbed me at the back. I’m really on my way to throat punch the culprit if I didn’t smell that Cool Water cologne.

“Ops! Sorry to startle you, babe, I am just so pumped up and starving, so where do you wanna eat guys?” he asked.

“Dude! Let’s try this new resto around the block. I heard they serve to-die-for steak.”, Henry responded to him.

“Do you like to try it there, Babe? he looked at me and waited for my confirmation.

“I’ll eat whatever, Keith besides you deserved to enjoy your meal Mr. Star player!”, I teased him.

“Call! I’m actually craving some meat and fries! I saw this post on Insta and I can’t help but drool!!”, Belle animatedly said.

“Oh please, woman! Don’t do that in front of me”, Henry told her with a longing look in his eyes.

“Why? What’s the matter, Oppa?! asked Belle.

“Never mind, let’s go. I’m famished!”

We started to walk to the parking lot when Keith started to grab my shoulders to be near him. Ah! I could never really get tired of that smell. His manly scent makes me feel at ease.

I looked up at him and said, “ You did great tonight, Kobe!”.

“Ha! Ha! Kobe?! How I wish babe. I’m too far to be compared with the great Black Mamba but you know, coming from you, it has this different vibe, you know?. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek.