Page XIII - Icarus

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"Gwen! Go, go, go!" The women on the sidelines cheering on their school's basketball team. Loud roaring shouts of uplifting messages were flowing out as to hype their own school's team.

The intense heat was felt throughout the whole court as the contestants were sweating and every droplet were spread in the ground.

The woman who was holding the ball is having trouble getting past the defender. "Catch!" She immediately passes it on to Gwyneth Cadence.

Like the lightning she is, she's also the thunderstruck in their team. For she just grabbed the ball and everyone's eyes were locked on to her. Right now she's facing someone who is a grade above her. But everyone was confident that Gwyneth will be able to get through her.

She lowered the ball to her knees, she then began dribbling. The defender tried to reach over to the ball but Gwyneth stepped back. The defender's balance was broken causing her to fall onto the ground.

She didn't take any chances so she rushed in immediately getting past one defender. The quick reflexes of the other team were something to be amazed at. Their targets immediately changed as soon as Gwyneth got past the first one.

One more came at her, she then did a crossover. But the defender didn't budge at all. She then tried to rush at the defender's right side in which the defender immediately reacted. But this was merely a feint as she immediately dashed through the defender's left side.

But another defender revealed herself to be guarding the left side. It was a screen.

"Not bad." Gwyneth muttered. "But not good enough." She quickly did a spin move to get over the next defender and finally did a fadeaway shot which went in incredibly cleanly as the satisfying sound from net echoed throughout the entire court.

"That's enough!" The referee then blew his whistle implying that the game is over.

"KYAAAA!!!" The women in the sides of the court were shouting trying to get Gwyneth's attention.

Gwyneth looked at them and did a small wave and a smile. Everyone was even getting crazier by the second.

"Line up!" The referee ordered everyone. Despite the defeat of the other team, their faces were extremely satisfied. "108 to 63, the winning team being the Nerivilya Academy!"

The teams shook all of their hands and bid farewell.

...

A few minutes later, everyone was drying themselves off the dirt and sweat they accumulated in their locker rooms.

"AHHHHH I'm tired!" The woman sat nearby of Gwyneth. "Gwennnn~" She performed a large big hug on Gwyneth. "Good work today."

"Thanks Phoebe... I'm tired too. Those people were ganging up on me all day! I couldn't score my normal points..."

"You scored 18 today! Jeez!" Phoebe Neistine, Gwyneth's friend since they were in middle school. Both of them enjoyed the same hobbies and unexpectedly, the same sport. Which is basketball.

"I know, I know. But my usual is around 25 or 30. Well either way, good thing I redeemed myself at the end there didn't I?"

"I know! I thought you were amazing but the way you scored against three people was amazing! You did a step back, a feint, a spin and a fade away in less than 10 seconds! That was amazing?"

"I know. I'm cool aren't I?"

"..." Silence was felt throughout the entire locker room. Whenever Gwyneth did that, everyone's eyes were fixated on her. She was the perfect example of an amazing athlete.

Her eyes burned with passion followed by her smile which showed mockery but it's not just that. With her face she truly expresses the phrase, "Come and try."

Everyone laughed but it wasn't meant to be an insult. All of them laughed as they were all trying to get to her level. All of their minds were thinking the same thing, "Seems like she's gotten better."

Everyone has always been in a tight bond because of one person. Because of Gwyneth. Her passion for basketball inflicts inspiration and dedication to those around her. That's why she's the captain of the basketball team.

Phoebe stood up and held her hand, "Heh. You're amazing Gwyneth!"

"I know. Alright, everyone pack up and head back! I'll be going now."

Gwyneth went back to her dormroom, but before she went in, she took a detour to the tree which behind it was a stretch of hundreds of meters of greenery. It was something that she longed for.

She took off her jacket and wrapped it around her waist and sat down on the grass and leaned against the tree. She then opened up the case behind her revealing a guitar.

It was clearly worn out but it's clean. Several cute stickers like bunnies were all around the guitar and a sign of her name at the right corner of the guitar and another one at the back. But that one is not hers.

With a sorrow smile on her face, she lowered her hand and began to strum the chords on her guitar. It was like a breeze of nostalgia as soon as she sang the first verse. She was trying to get into the music by closing her eyes.

It was a beautiful piece for she imagined a greenery. A utopia. There was only her and a small little kid. She pushes him higher and higher on the swing.

"Higher, sis! Higher!" The kid in her imagination shouted.

"Heh. You really like this don't you?" She muttered to herself.

"Of course! Someday, I want to jump at least this high as I dunk the ball into the hoop like you sis! Everyone will cheer when I land it and I'll get the trophy!"

"That so? Hehe. Alright then. I'll be waiting for that moment then."

"So for the time being sis, push me higher! So that I can reach heights that even you have never jumped!"

"Alright then." She grabbed the end of the swing and pushed it with all she's got.

"WOAAAHHH!!!" As soon as the kid reached the peak, he fell off of the swing. But he didn't land in the ground. Instead, wings grew from his back as he flies higher and higher.

He flew so high to the point that she could no longer see him for the sun overtook his figure with a bright light.

Gwyneth raised her hand as if trying to reach for him, "Wait... that's too high... No, don't go!"

"G..n... Gwe... GWEN!" Someone shouted at her ears which caused her to jolt and was forced to wake up.

"Phoebe..." She hid her face and secretly wiped off the tear on her eyes.

"You slept here again! What would you do if men came here and did something to you!?"

"Haha, sorry, sorry."

Phoebe let out an exasperated sigh, "Let's go back. Don't sleep here!"

"Yeah, yeah." She clenched her fist tightly and looked up at the sky. "Someday... Definitely, someday."