Nineteen

October 2019

Last month was full of stressful moments, overthinking, hard studies, and more. But, I'm glad that despite all of that, I achieved the place that I was aiming for. Mom was happy for my brother and I.

I'm also happy that she was not disappointed, at least I felt that kind of emotion after 3 months since the school year started.

This month will be packed with lots of works and trainings. The ASC19 has started.

On the first day of October, Mr. Led called out a meeting for the coaches of each sport. And since Mr. Eric recruited me on their team, he told me to come and join the meeting too.

We talked about the organization of each team. Next week we will join an opening ceremony for the teams of each school. Mr. Eric assigned me to tell the team about the information, so after the meeting, I told Roller to call the rest of the members and meet me on the field where they usually go.

While walking with the team to go to the field, I'm checking the papers that I printed out earlier until we got to the spot. They all sat down and looked at me while I was walking to their front, still reading the papers.

I then took my eyes off the paper and looked at them. A smile painted my face while they were forcing themselves not to laugh.

"You guys are so buggin' lame." I chuckled.

They finally laughed their asses off. I was laughing because of their position earlier. They sat like a formal man waiting for an interview with their legs crossed and their hands holding their knee.

I laughed again and stopped, "Alright, shut your holes." I said while smiling then handed the papers I was holding earlier. They passed the paper to each other until everyone got their own copy.

I then started talking while their eyes are locked on the paper. "That'll be your schedule for this month. Next week we will have an opening ceremony, therefore we'll meet your rivals and we will be able to have a chance of getting to know their advantages and disadvantages." I explained with my arms crossed in front of my chest.

Jared then glimpsed at me, "How do we know that?"

"Know what?" I confusingly asked.

"The advantages and disadvantages," he answered.

My mouth parted and then I realized that I am the one who only does that. I have this weird kind of ability that when I look at people for the first time, I can see their strengths and weaknesses. I've proven this to myself 2 years ago when I saw a perfectly shaped woman and I thought to myself that she has weak legs. And then someone slightly bumped into her then she fell down quickly.

Weird? Guess so.

Anyways, I responded to Jared, "Hmm, because of their looks." I smiled at him and he nodded.

"But there's a saying that 'do not judge a book by its cover' right?" Jason cut in.

I looked at him and nodded, "Yep. That's actually right."

"Then why are you judging a book by its cover?" the locker bastard joined. I looked at him too and pressed my lips.

"I'm not." I said.

"But, you just said that-"

"No, it's for me. It's my thing-a complicated thing, so just mind your own business. Take the rest of the time to read the papers because I gotta go now." I stuttered then left them without waiting for any response.

After that quick meeting, we all went to our classes and spent the rest of the day.

In the afternoon, the students have left the school, except for the athletes. This time, each team will have training every day. Since the sports competition will be held by the end of October.

We are isolated by the other teams because Mr. Eric came up with a bunch of training ideas. The team started warming up and did runs around the whole court. And I am on the bench, scrolling through my laptop and waiting for an update or announcement for next week's opening ceremony.

While waiting, a notification appeared on my phone beside me. I peeked on my phone while I am holding my chin like I'm thinking of something.

I'm an idiot for just staring at the phone and then my presence went back and I picked up my phone. I saw one message notification from Justin. I opened it and then saw his message.

Justin: Dude, check this out.

That was his message and then it followed up by a photo he sent. I squinted and held my phone closer to my eyes.

It is a picture of me looking at my cellphone with a laptop on my lap. Then I realized it was taken just now. I immediately looked around and saw Justin at the entrance waving and smiling at me.

I rolled my eyes as he rushed from the entrance to the bench where I am sitting.

When he got close and sat at my side I immediately asked him, "What the hell are you doing here?"

He stretched his back, "The girls are training and so are you, I mean you're not really in the training, but you are a manager of a team so apparently, you're still at the training and I felt completely lonely so I wanted to join you." he said rapidly and smiled.

I squinted my eyes at him. "Alright." I sighed then put my hands on my chin again and looked at the laptop.

"So," he rubbed his hands. "Whatchu doin?"

"Just checking for an update." I sighed again.

"What update?"

"For the event next week."

"There's an event next week?"

"Yes, an opening ceremony for the players of each school."

"And you're coming?"

"Yes."

"How come are you invited and I'm not?"

I then stupidly looked at him. "It is an open event, Justin." I stated.

"Oh." he realized. I shook my head and went my eyes back to the laptop. Still not having any single update, Mr. Eric called me. I gave the laptop to Justin and told him to hold it then I ran up straight to Mr. Eric.

"You go watch them. I'll just go and grab something to drink." he said. I nodded and he patted my shoulders then he got out of the court.

I walked to the side of the court and then watched them, literally, just like what Mr. Eric asked.

Roller and that locker bastard were doing something. Roller passes a ball to the locker bastard and the bastard shoots it directly to the hoop. Amazed by the thing, I watched it closely then I found myself smiling and clapping every time the ball hits the hoop.

Mr. Eric got back with a bag of water bottles. I immediately went to him and helped. He called the team for a break and I distributed all the water bottles to each member.

"So, you're like a water boy too, huh?" I heard Justin whispering to my right ear.

"Shut up, Justin." he just made a chuckle and chugged a bottle of water. I looked at him again confusingly.

He noticed that I was staring at him, "What?" he asked.

"You just chugged that bottle like a thirsty dog." I teased him.

"We need to stay hydrated, dumbass." he glared at me. I shook my head and laughed.

The team decided to play a friendly match before going home. I was assigned to handle the scoreboard and keep the numbers on track while I have Justin at my side. He has a bit of knowledge at basketball so I need someone to accompany me.

Mr. Eric whistled and that's when the game started.

Watching for only 30 seconds, my eyes were literally amazed. The spectacular fine movements of their feet, the synchronization of their body, their fast reflexes, their endurance, and the skills they are showing off. It's all ridiculously awesome.

They went all out even though it's just a friendly match or just a part of their training.

After maybe an hour, the match ended and Roller's team won. It is expected because he is a star player since last year and that's the reason why the made him the captain of the team.

They were packing their stuff and I am sitting at the bench with Justin and my laptop while still waiting for an update. "You gotta get your eyes off that screen." I heard the locker bastard said.

I looked up and saw him staring down at me and Justin.

"I need to check every second if there will be an announcement regarding the event next week." I faked a smile and looked back at the screen.

"Suit yourself. We don't wanna deal with a blind manager." he grinned and walked away. I glared at him for a couple of seconds then Justin moved close to me, "I hate him." he whispered.

"So do I, Justin." I responded, still glaring at that bastard. "So do I."

We all left the covered court. Mr. Eric secured the lock before leaving. I didn't get any announcement, but I'll still be checking it from time to time using my phone. Or in my house using my laptop.

Walking outside, I noticed that we were the only team left. The others went home early or we just stayed a bit late. But, that doesn't matter, at least the team enjoyed the friendly match earlier. Scrolling through my phone, Justin tapped my back and said goodbye to me and the team.

We were already far away from the school. I was really busy waiting for that announcement without noticing that we are already walking for a while now.

I was left at the back, walking with my left hand in my pocket and my right hand on the phone. Head's down and not having a single point of care around me. Minutes have passed and I am still on my phone.

Still unbothered, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back. That's the time I laid off the phone and looked at the person who pulled me. The locker bastard.

"Are you fucking crazy?!" he shouted. "Can't you see the red light? Or are you just blind?"

Still, at the state of shock, I looked at the other side of the road where a stoplight is located and I saw the walking man sign with a red light turned on. I didn't respond and he let go of my arm. "If you wanna die, getting hit by a car is not a good way." he stated.

I didn't know if it is a joke or a threat. I still remained silent until the light turned green and we started walking again. We were the only ones left, others have parted ways. This time, I put my phone in my jacket's pocket and walked straight.

Moments after that, I felt a hand tightly gripping at my left shoulder. Feeling quite pain, I looked back and saw the bastard grunting and holding his right foot.

I turned my body around to check on him, "You alright?" I asked.

He glared at me and let go of my shoulder. "Yes. Obviously." he immediately responded and that is when he fell down and landed on his butt. I immediately reacted to kneel down beside him.

"What's wrong?" I asked, this time I was hoping for a serious answer.

He grunted out of pain first and pointed at his foot. "My foot." he said, I can hear the pain in his voice.

"Is your house far from here?"

He shakes his head, enduring the pain from his foot. "Can you walk?" I asked again. He didn't respond but just glared at me. "Right. Sorry." I nodded repeatedly.

Since his foot doesn't want to cooperate, I decided to help him stand up and walk him to his home. Thank goodness he can stand up, but the problem is he's still having a bad time enduring the pain. He stood up with one foot and his other foot is hanging.

I went to his right side and there I grabbed his arm and wrapped it around my neck and held his left side for the back support. We were about to walk when he realized that he's not holding his bag. So, I have to make him lean at the nearest pole while I grab his bag.

We then walked slowly. He takes a step by hopping. And I am at his side supporting and guiding him while counting.

"You don't have to count." he madly said.

"Then how am I suppose to know if you're gonna take a step or not?" I glared at him.

"I can hop faster and since you're helping me, I don't have to worry."

I looked at him and shook my head. "Okay, but don't hop like buggin' kangaroo." I warned him.

He started hopping faster and kept on doing that until we reached his house. We were at the front door and he told me to get the keys in the pocket of his bag. I unzipped the pocket of the bag and quickly grabbed the keys.

I was startled, "Holy mother of keys." I said, looking at the keys I was holding. "How many doors do you have in your house?"

"Shut up." he said. "It's also my uncle's keys."

I held the first key and was about to shoot it in the keyhole when he told me to stop. "That's the garage key." he said. I held another one and showed it to him. He shook his head, "That's my file cabinet's key."

I held another one and showed it again to him. "Nope." he said. I repeated the same action until we found the right key. I twisted the doorknob and my eyes quickly saw the couch. I went there and made him sit down.

I put down his bag and sighed. "Maybe next time you should put a mark at the keys." I sarcastically said.

He shook his head and dropped his head back. "Give me glass water." he uttered. Without any complaints, I went to their refrigerator and grabbed a pitcher of water. I poured the water into a glass and drank it straightly.

"What the-" he was about to curse when I gave him a shush hand. I sighed after drinking two glasses of water and looked at him.

He glared at me, "I told you to give me a glass of water not drink two freakin' glasses of water."

"Oh, right. Sorry." I said and poured another glass. I went to him and gave him the water. He also drank it straight and gave me back the glass. "Another one?" I offered.

"No, I'm not a fish like you." he teased.

I shook my head and went back to the kitchen to put the pitcher in the refrigerator and the glass in the sink. I went back to the living room and stood up looking at his right foot. "Do you have bandages?" I asked.

"Yeah. There." he pointed at the wall beside me. I opened the medical kit, grabbed the bandages, and went to the kitchen to grab a pack of ice. Then I went back to him and knelt down to hold his foot.

"Here, hold this." I said and gave him the pack of ice to apply it to his foot. I am holding his foot while he holds the pack of ice. We stayed in that position for a couple of minutes until I told him to put away the ice then I wrapped around a bandage on his foot.

I stood up and went for my backpack. "Rest your foot for the rest of the day." I told him. He agreed to what I said. Silence occurred as I put the bandage inside the medical kit.

"Archer." he broke the silence. At first, I thought I heard my name.

"Come again?" I engaged him to repeat the word he just said.

"My name's Archer." he answered, checking on his foot then looked at me.

"Oh, I thought you said my name." I said. "Well then I'm Asher."

He surprisingly chuckled, "Okay." he said then leaned his back on the couch. "Thanks, Asher." he then uttered.

I nodded at him and grabbed my bag. Before leaving, I said one thing. "It's also my job to take care of the team." I cockily said and bid my goodbye.