Chapter sixteen: Fierce

Half an hour before the game, students were entering the auditorium. The place was decorated with banners of different sport teams. each side had benches for the audiences. players were present before it, they looked busy with their warm up routine.

In white teams practise hour, henry stared at the entry door. he eagerly waited for someone. the more he thought about the game the more impatient he got. he was scared at the same time. He had self-doubt ...can he really live up to his name and win three times in a row?

Just then, the person he was expecting, walked in. He felt like a heavy burden asided from his shoulder. he ran to her. "hey-", before y/n could speak any further, she was firmly grabbed by him. He pulled her to the player's locker room. It seemed empty since the players were not present.

the room was dark except for a little light coming from the window. a long silence fell between them. y/n felt like she should say something but she couldnt. It was hard to make out Henry's expression in the darkness. only a second later, he leaned his head down on her shoulder. His hand slides down to hold hers.

"Nervous?", She spoke out hoping it didnt sound too forced. the other didnt respond. only the grip on her hand went tighter in answer. "Look at you. others are showing off their skills while you're here-"

"Im the weak one right?". He slowly lifts up his head and made eye contact. y/n smiled and cupped his face.  "You're not weak, you're honest to yourself."

"What if... my team loses because of me...

I was the worst one at practise. our opponent is strong...im no match with them."none of Henry's words made the smile on  y/n's face fade away. She still had a hopeful look, "No matter what happens tonight, I'll know you did your best.

You worked hard for this day."

"Why do you have so much faith in me?"

"I've seen you...fighting for your dreams. trust me...that's all it takes." y/n couldnt tell if her words made any difference to his nervous state. It was even harder to see his reaction now. but to him, It did. a lot. He  pulled her into a hug. They hugged for a while and left the room.

Jay was already present. He exchanged his encouragement and Henry walked to his team. Since the game was about to start anytime soon, y/n and Jay ended up sitting together in one of the benches. he didnt want to but there wasnt much vacant seats.

.

.

.

.

.

      ......

.

.

.

.

.

The game began with an intense stare between two teams. they were glaring each other down. The cheer became louder when the red and white team's leaders stood face to face. the whistle blowed. team red managed to get the ball first, but it was quickly passed to white.

players ran from one side to another, It continued until red team won the first round. dissappointment fell over whites. but since it was just the beginning, the audience couldnt make out much reaction. they kept cheering.

Second round starts. luckily it washenry who got the ball first. but more than three reds surrounded him. He quickly passed it to another player.

y/n stared nervously at the game. she subconsciously grabbed Jay's hand. But the game being that intense, she wasnt aware of it for a long time. Jay noticed but didnt budge. her grip went tighter as the game continued.  He looked up at her. It was clearly visible how anxious she felt for Henry. without caring any less, he looked back at the game.

With the leader's incomparable skill, white team finally won a round. The players ran around in joy. Henry looked the happiest. He found y/n and flashed her a relieved smile.

jay remained the same. But he was happy for him. The only thing he was bothered with, was y/n. He kept questioning her weird involvement with henry. how was it that he kept thinking of someone else when he looked at her. He couldn't stop staring.The time seemed to stop for him. y/n took her hand back, "Im sorry! I couldnt tell." Jay smiled in her words. but she didnt seem to notice it, both of their attention went back to the 'Third round'.

.

.

.

.

.

      .......

.

.

.

.

.

A weird tension fell around the place. curiousity in everyones eyes. Third round decides the winner for this years game.

Who could it be? Which team will be the winner? It was yet to find out.

In break time both team went to their own side to rest. red team gathered, they seemed to discuss something. Something more wicked than hurting someone. They could do anything to win. The players had flames in their eyes.

White team gathered to take advice from the leader. Henry stood in a corner, bouncing his ball up and down. He kept flipping his sweaty hair back. y/n noticed it. She knew how much of a pressure he was in. The round was about to decide the winner, players were highly pressured.

she stood up from her seat and walked ahead. but she was instantly stopped by Jay.  "Dont go." his avoided her eyes.

"Why?...he needs someone beside him."

"Let him deal with this on his own. Its his choice. You cant distract him." y/n seemed convinced so she sat back on her seat. "He's nervous for the final round."

"I can see that but the henry I know, doesnt give up. Once he's into somehing, he gets what he wants." At last, they made eye contact "They'll win."

The third round starts with a whistle. the ball was passed. players began to spread in their planned positions. Red team looked prepared than ever. they  surrounded every white when they had the ball and snatched it away. audience could easily predict who would win. whites were taken down one by one as the other won points. White team's Leader took the ball and made it almost to the hoop. but a red changed its direction and it missed the spot.

Again, the ball was continued to pass. Henry stood in the corner.when the ball was close enough, he managed to snatch it.

few red players made eye contact and nodded. according to their plan, Henry was surrounded. But he continued to pass them.

like last time, the ball was almost around the hoop. Suddenly, someone sneak-pushed Henry out of the way. He fell down harshly on the floor.whites team's audience made shocking sounds. Few even stood up.

But the game continued, since it was quite normal for players to lose balance.

Henry hits his fist on the floor. He felt like it was his end. The white team were nowhere near to win. He stood up and rushed to his spot.

.

The audience cheered in joy.Did the red team win?  white players were jumping and running around. The score was more in white side. did the white team won?

.

when Henry was knocked down, he lost his cool. His eyes burned in flame. the competitiveness made him unaware of his surroundings. He snatched the ball from his spot and passed through the red players.

It was so sudden that no one could tell what happened.

Their leader tricked the red into thinking he was the one about to goal. he jumped and  their attention. henry took his chance and threw the ball from the other side. it went to the hoop and white team scored the last point. →2:1

He flashed his most winning smile.  y/n came running and hugged him tightly."Henry! You won!" He hugged back, "I cant believe this!"

Jay slowly reached them with his hands in his pocket. "Well done."

The players started to call for him so he left.

"Told you." Jay said while playing with the abandoned ball.

"That was not the Henry I know. he looked different..."

"You dont know him.

You dont know anything."