Twelve

I was shocked, surprised, confused, and I can't even move. "What now?" I stared at him. "I, uh, I don't play basketball, Mr. Eric."

"What? No..no. Let me finish first." he said then leaned back on the desk behind him. I nodded and listened to him. "I want you to be the manager of the team. Not to be a player." he continued. Then my confusion ended.

"Why me?" I asked while straightly looking at Mr. Eric. He let out a breath and went at the back of the desk where he was leaning earlier. "Well, I need an apprentice. I can't handle the whole team by myself, specially I am a teacher also and expect that I'm not always around, because I'll be in the office for most of the time."

I leaned back into my seat and looked up. I sighed and started thinking again.

Out of realization, I don't have a choice. I don't have sports anymore. My friends also tease me about being a manager because they said it suits me well. I sometimes play this kind of role play things with them. Sometimes I become their bodyguard, their manager, their waiter, or even their butler. But that's just us messing around.

This thing, the manager thing that I am offered right now is serious.

I sighed and looked at Mr. Eric. "Alright. I'll take it. I'll tell my mother about this too." I said. He smiled at me and called the whole team. They entered the room and I stood up and went to Mr. Eric.

Then he introduced me.

"Alright, everyone. From now on, Asher, will be joining us." he said while focusing on everyone in the team.

"Position? Point guard?" someone cut in.

"Shooting guard?" someone also said.

I shook my head, "Neither." I answered. Then Mr. Eric continued, "No, not to be one of our players, but, to be your manager. I need assistance because I can't handle you that easily."

All of them looked like there's a lot of questions going through their mind. Because who knew that a student will be their manager? And that student is me. Yes, the tall-sarcastic-hard-headed-punk is the manager.

I don't know all of them except for Jason, Roller, and Jared. They're my classmates, so, at least I do have someone that I know to talk too. The guy who's struggling with his locker earlier is there too.

After that encounter with the team, I went back to the bench to look if Justin's still there. But, I ended up finding no one, so, I left the bench and went to the building. I have a favorite spot where I can chill out.

It's at the roof of one of the buildings in this school.

I always go there when I wanted to be alone and think or just chill out and look at the town's view. I even eat lunch there sometimes. To get there is not that tricky. There's a little ladder that you can climb on.

I climbed on the ladder and put my hand on the roof to push myself up. Then I sat with my knees in front of me with my arms placed on it.

Looking at the beautiful view of the town, I smiled and felt relieved. I always enjoyed doing this. Just me in the roof with the beautiful view and the calm fresh air.

Silence was broken when I heard a loud bang that came underneath. Then I thought someone must have followed me here. If it's one of the teachers or the staffs then I'm screwed. I was just staring at the hole where I climbed out, waiting if someone might come up.

Then I saw hand pushing out from the hole and the ladder. When the person's face showed up, he immediately saw me and glared at me. It was the locker guy. My eyes widened.

"What the slick fuck are you doing here?" he angrily asked while still struggling to get out of the hole.

"I'm the one who should ask you that." I finally talked.

"Joke's on you I asked it first." he continues to push himself while grunting in annoyance.

"Do you need a hand?" I stupidly asked.

"Piss off." he's still angry.

"You look like you need help."

Then he glared at me. I didn't have second thoughts and came to help him, even though he keeps denying he needs one. I grabbed his arm and I pulled him through the hole and then he finally got out.

"I didn't need your damn help." he said then sat beside the hole. I stared at him with disbelief.

"You're welcome." sarcasm coming through my mouth then I took my eyes through the view again. There's a small silence that occurred then he started talking.

"What the hell are you still doing here?" he asked angrily, again.

"What do you think?" I asked back.

"I'm not going to ask you again."

I broke my gaze to the town and looked at him in stern. "Hey, just so you know, I was the one who was here first. And to add up, I helped you climbing up here. So shut your hole and sit down quietly."

He looked like he was about to punch me, but lucky me he didn't do it. He looked away from me and fixed his eyes on the view where I was also looking at.

Damn. This dude us in a nutshell.

Minutes later we were dead silent. He didn't mind me after all then I just laid down and closed my eyes.

I don't care if he's still annoyed that I'm still here. My words, my rules. I got here first, that's it. No turning back.

I actually fell asleep, as always, and when I woke up, he's not with me anymore. Maybe he left and got tired waiting for me to follow his instruction to leave. But, dude, that is not gonna happen.

I also left the spot and went back to the classroom. It's 3:00 p.m. and that's when school day ends.

I got into the room and they're already packing their stuffs. I grabbed my backpack from my chair and left the classroom.

I waited for my friends outside the room, in the hallways specifically, and just scrolled through my phone. Not that long enough, they got out of the room and we started walking together.

"Ugh.." Cristina grunted. Wait, speaking of, why do you girls always make that noise by the way? I mean every second your like grunting for what? I mean what's the point? Are you mad or something? I'm really confused.

"What's the matter?" Justine asked, looking at Cristina. She looked at Justin and rolled her eyes. "Duh, we've been running, doing jumping jacks, doing planks, and other kinds of exercises you can think off." Cristina explained then walked faster until she reached the door heading outside.

The others also walked faster, following Cristina outside. Justin and I were left at the hallway. We both looked at each other as we walk and chuckled. He sighed then shook his head, "Girls..girls..girls." he said repeatedly.

"It's Friday, bruv." I laughed. "We both know they have trainings on Friday. And we also watched them do it earlier. So, that's very stupid of you asking her that."

"I don't get it, man. Why are they so moody?" he said with his forehead wrinkled.

"Common sense, dude. They are tired."

"That's the reason why they're moody? Tired?"

"Maybe. I mean my Mom's like that too. But, I know she's tired because of work."

"It's your Mom. She's a parents so that's not an excu-"

"I don't know, Justin. Why don't you ask them that yourself." I said, still walking until we reached the door.

"They're not gonna even have the urge to talk about it." he said then we went outside.

"Well, I don't know. Google it maybe?"

"Asshole." he groaned. I smiled again and greeted him goodbye. He crossed the street and I stayed on the school's side then walked. I plugged the earphones to my ears then played music.

I got home and did my routine again but because it's Friday, it means I can stay up late. Well a little, because I usually sleep around 9 so maybe I can sleep by 11 for now. I went into my room and throw myself into the bed.

I have nothing to do, so, I just went for my phone and watched youtube videos. I've been watching for 30 minutes and was about to sleep until a notification appeared.

It's a message from Candice.

I got up and sat at the edge of my bed. I opened my messages and saw Candice's text.

Candice: What a surprise!

What a surprise... I don't know what that means. So, I replied.

Asher: What?

She took like a minute to reply then it just keeps on going.

Candice: Asher Elcarpe here is staying up late.

Asher: Oh that's what you mean.

Candice: No, not really.

Asher: Eh? Then what?

Candice: Oh my god, Asher.

Asher: Why?

The chat ended there. But the talk didn't because after that message I called her. Surprisingly, she picked up. "Hey, uh, what do you really mean?" I asked immediately.

She just laughed on the other line and I'm sitting in my bed, confused. She stopped then laughing. "I didn't mean anything other than the fact that you're still awake, Asher. That's it." she said then started chuckling.

"Oh, I thought-but, you said-alright nevermind." I sighed.

She chuckled again and then asked, "That's the reason why you called?"

"I mean, yeah. I just wanted to ask." I answered. She was about to answer when I heard another voice on her line. It's another girl's voice so it's probably her Mom, or her sister.

"Alright, Asher. I gotta go. Mom needs me." she said.

"Yeah, sure. Sorry for bothering." I said then chuckled. She tsked, "No sweat."

"Alright, goodnight." I greeted.

"You too, shithead." she said then ended the call. I took off my phone that's on my ears and stared at the wall. I found myself smiling.

This day was not bad, I mean I became a manager of a team. I talked to Candice, even though it was only short. And spent time on my favorite spot but, quite ruined by the locker bastard.

All good.

I guess.