Page 26: Dumped Or Not Dumped?

There was a time when I struggled so hard to please my mother and still failed. Times I secretly slipped out from the house to play and still felt guilty. But, now seeing the utter guilt on my mother's face I couldn't help but have my remorse transform into anger.

I wasn't sad about what had just happened anymore.

I was just angry.

Angry at my family for hiding something so precious to me, for banning me from the passion flowing through my father's blood and keeping this secret about my own dad being a popular public figure in Basketball to his own daughter.

"Mother.. You have been lying to me.. For my whole life..?"

I muttered softly.

"No Amelia. What I have done is for your own good.."

Mother said.

"Is hurting me continuously so pleasing to you mother..?"

"Amelia it's not.." Mother started again.

But, at this time, I couldn't help but break down to tears in front of her.

"All my life..I have been living in a guilt for loving something that has been forbidden to my family. I have tried going part time jobs, secretly join middle school's basketball team as a secret pawn members, stayed up after school hours just so I could use the court... Even though I am the daughter of a famous Basketball player from the Winter Knights..? Mom.. Are you doing this because you are hate me..? Do you not want me to be happy-"

I sobbed rubbing my eyes when a warm embrace suddenly wrapped me up.

"No. Ame-dear..! No! It's because I love you so much that, I am saying no to basketball.."

I blinked with tears at the unexpected shower of love expression by my usually unsentimental mother.

Stella, my elder sister rushed behind us and witnessed my mother hugging me and rubbing my back along with Alex.

"Your father.. has indeed loved basketball since his childhood and I as his own childhood knew it well."

My mother and father were childhood sweethearts. That was a new realisation for me.

"But, ..watching him for all these years I know it was this favourite sport of his that took his life... I.. I know, I just cannot allow you to follow his path, Amelia!"

"Basketball took his life..? Y-You mean.. Dad's suicide is related to this..game..?"

I was more shocked then ever.

I mean, Dad's contant yearning for the game, my relatives especially from my father's side hating basketball and my mom repeatedly warning me my dream is short and I am banned to play the game..??

It all made sense now.

"But... Why..? How did his passion become his own pain mother..??"

I asked her. My mother unwrapped her arms around me and said.

"Your father was betrayed by this one couch whom he trusted a lot in the past, darling.."

"B-Betrayed..?"

My mother nodded softly in an yes.

"There was this coach of his who accompanied him on the journey of his career, it's beginning, through falls and glories. Your father went through thick and thin with him. This friend was very special to him especially because the son of this couch was his very close friend.

Your father looked so happier everytime he finished his game. But, when the couch started to charge illegal money from his own students everything started changing.. "

I widened my eyes. I knew the technical difficulties about the team.

It is only for appearances that many coaches collect money for the total payment of the year. But, as soon as they join the team students who give extra money get special treatment while the others are left in the ditches..

Is that the problem dad suffered too..?

"You know how stern your father is about his self righteousness and good morale. So, when the coach pressurised him and charged more special fee, he quit the game as whole.... But.."

My mother's face paled as she thought about the experience the two had probably gone through in their past when my sister was just a ten year old while I was simply at five. I don't remember much but, I knew my father was suffering and unemployed for a while then. Our family went through a hard time at those period.

After that my father became a banker who repeatedly grew drunk at night and rambled incoherent words at the sofa. I never understood them then. But, now since I am of the age, I was starting to relate everything that happened around me.

I thought my father couldn't suffer more when my mother confessed he did exactly that.

"The couch didn't like your dad and his decision since many other students followed your dad's path and quit. It was after three full years that your dad discovered that all the awards and achievements he had won was given over to another person, who happens to be the coach's son and your father's friend. And, that was the last straw for your father.. On November 18, when the first rain of the season fell from the sky, your dad was found dead at pur house's basement.."

Mother's words made all the four of us to slip into silence and made me remember everything we had gone through.

Her past explains her hatred for basketball in life of father.

But.. Still..my dream..and my father's dream.. is it really all gone..? If we just had a proper coach. If I just had someone to properly mentor me..? If someone just shared my dad's dream..? Maybe would I see myself on the field someday..? I did not dare ask my mother now.

The coldness of the room was starting to spread to me. Stella and Alex looked awkward at the atmosphere. Stella looked like she already knew about this story. And, Alex seemed to have the same feelings of the matter like me.

A strange silence filled in.

But, Miracles still do appear when we expect the least. Just like that calling bell rung.

Stella rushed downstairs to get rid of this conflicting atmosphere.

"Yes! You are.. Oh.. MOTHERRR..!!! SOME ONE IS LOOKING FOR YOU. BRING AMELIA ALONG WITH YOU TOO!"

Stella yelled from the front door.

After washing my tear strained face, I walked out into the living room to find my mother sitting with a familiar yet unfamiliar person at the sofa.

It was the same couch with the hawaiian shirt and messy hair. But, this time his face wasn't filled with a slyness, pride nor even nonchalance but, just pure guilt. Just like how he looked when my mother pulled me out of the basketball stadium.

"I am Stephen Ha Jin. It is a pleasure to meet you all, Mrs Maria Jeong and Miss Amelia Jeong."

The couch made a deep humble bow, that's usually made to someone superior than us. He then introduced.

"I am the son of your father's coach and your father's only best friend on the field..."

A silence filled in again. And, we all soon discovered an unexpected individual we had never really know really had appeared to us in the blue.

________

Monday,

Still at Busan.

Amelia,

Dear Diary,

I am officially allowed to play basketball under the guidence of Couch Stephen as of now, who is also the current couches of a new team, Spring Blossoms, that is the offspring of their predecessors the Winter Knight Team!

I cannot believe such a miracle could actually happen to my life. And, the greatest joy that I had received was playing basketball under my mother's watch and permission!

Couch Stephen gave us a great shock when he came clean with everything that happened in the past and apologized us deeply.

Of course, the betrayal his father had done to my father was very bitter and life ruining. But, as karma exists, it seems both the my father's couch and Couch Stephen had suffered quite a lot after my father's suicide.

According to the news, it seemed that it was true Couch Stephen's father tried to push all the achievements of my father to him.

But, what happened next was, Couch Stephen confessed he could not continue to bear with the behaviour of his own father and gave up basketball as his own to become a better responsible coach than his father.

What happened to father was something that remained as a deepest remorse for all his life. That was the reason he never had a separate agency like his father and requited members based on their raw talents and interest they had towards the game.

Just like he discovered me.

He also confessed, the reason he looked interested in me was because I had similar moves as ny father.

I was a bit flattered at that. I..who could never remember a single game my father played as a child would actually follow his moves..was something unbelievable.

I could understand his reasons and his moves. But, my mother didn't. She was still stubborn to let me play basketball. When, Couch Stephen promised he would never let something like that happen to me, my mother was more determined than ever.

But, still I am glad it all worked out well and after this storm I am in a better situation I ever imagined I would be.

I pressed my palms on the balcony wall and let out a deep sigh.

It was a beautiful night. The stars were twinkling. The moon shone the brightest on the skin. And, most importantly.. The city lights of Busan..they looked like golden dust sprinkled around in a Tinkerbell magic spell.

They looked amazing.

"So.. You could finally follow your dream and become a sports person. I am so happy for you, Amelia.."

Alex joined me at the balcony.

"Yeah.. I cannot wait to tell this to Sarah..!" I chirped him.

Alex laughed and then smiled.

"You've done well, Ame. You stayed firm and unfazed at your decision on what you wanna do and was rewarded accordingly. I am so proud of you..."

I blushed abruptly and looked away.

H-His.. smile..

I am still not used to it.

"Haha.. Ha! Of course, I might look like a simple girl. But, I am more stronger than.. I look..buddy!"

I punched Alex and then smirked in the memory.

"Oh.. Look at you being, humble and petite. Weren't you the one who played a major role at all this..?"

Alex blinked.

"I still remember how an usually calm and nonchalant boy like you suddenly held my mother and cried.

'Auntie, please just give Amelia a chance to prove herself. Uncle was never able to fulfil his dream as a basketballer. Do you not want Amelia to make his wish come true for him..??? Auntie.. I .. I know I have no say in this and .. I certainly do not have any rights to involve myself in your family matters... But, Do you think Uncle Ferdinand would be happy with what you are doing to Amelia..!?!'

It is just obvious my mother who practically thinks you as her second son would be moved by your passionate speech."

I teased him.

Alex looked fazed by my teasing and yelled.

"T-That's only because you do not know how to do this on your own. It is certainly not because I like you or anything, idiot..!"

Alex said looking away.

"I know." I grinned. "And, that doesn't matter anything to me since I already like Derrick.."

Alex suddenly grew pale again.

"Oh.. That's nice.." He mumbled.

I have noticed it before but Alex never fails to get disappointed everytime I mention Derrick Han. I am positive they are still best friends who truly care about each other. But, .. Was it because Alex feels inferior when he stands next to Derrick..? If that is true.. then he has no reason to worry about that..

Even I would personally love to date Alex if I could. It's just that I don't really stand a chance with him and we are too different that Alexander might reject me in seconds.

But, still what he did today was..

"You were quite cool today, Alex.."

Bathed in the moonlight and the city lights, I brushed the hair from my ears due to the blowing wind.

"... I think..today.. you looked just a bit more cooler than Derrick that I almost fell for you.."

I confessed laughing thoughtlessly.

At this Alex's face suddenly turned beet red that he had to turn the other side to stop blushing.

"Alex.. Hey.. Are you alright..??"

I asked the boy who looked like he was about to explode.

I then immediately realised how awkward it would be to hear such a confession from a person you thought as a friend and a little sister.

So, I quickly changed my words.

"M-My words are too misleading right?... Haha.. I am so sorry, Alex. I shouldn't have said that. Just calm down.."

I tried speaking softly to the still red faced Alex.

"You see... I..do not have any experience with boys nor ever recieved a date ever before in my life. That's probably because I am such an idiot that no guy ever finds me attractive.. I.. know, this is an embarassing secret. Even I am embarassed about it. So, don't-"

I rubbed the overwhelmed kitten like Alex's back and tried calming him down when he suddenly caught my arm. It seemed like he didn't really listen to my current rambling.

"Then.. Why don't you just date me, Amelia..?"

Alex asked with flushed cheeks holding my palm with a serious face and a bent back. His head however was lifted up at me and deep blue eyes glistened under the moonlight.

"....."

I blinked at him.

Alex repeated as though he wanted to make himself very clear.

"If you think I am..slightly cooler than Derrick Han.. Why don't you just become my girlfriend, Amelia Jeong..?"

"...."

There was a few seconds of silence. I was rendered speechless for a while. But, I then said.

"T-Thank you.. Alex.."

I felt quite moved by Alex's flattering words.

Alex's blush was abruptly gone as though he did not expect such a reply from me. He looked more confused then ever and immediately blinked at me.

"H-Huh..?"

I on the other hand couldn't help but feel more grateful for him.

"Alex.. I was just embarassing myself about how I haven't dated any guy because I am an idiot. But, you want to comfort me right..? Isn't that why you faked a confession to me, Alex..?"

"What..?" Alex blinked again. "What what ...??! But- that's.. " Alex seemed more confused than ever.

"You are really a great 'friend' to me, Alex. You seem to know the exact timing to enlighten me with your light hearted 'jokes' though you usually seem to have very less EQ..!"

I said with a light chuckle.

Alex's face looked like ge just too two massive blows on his heart and he held his chest with a shakey smile. And contrary to how Alex was a few minutes back due to his red face now he was looked overwhelmed and exhausted for a completely different reason.

"Haha..ha. Yes. That was a joke. Totally a joke! I must be the brother of Shakespeare's Dog Berry for making such a good joke.. Haha. I am gonna sleep earlier tonight. I am tired. Take care, Amelia.."

Alex yawned mumbling some shakespeare nonsense and walked in with a slouched neck.

Looking at his lanky non erect back, I really couldn't help but wonder.

Is Alex really that tired? But, I could kinda relate to him. With all the drama that happened today and the match Alex and I played at the court, I feel quite tired too.

I am gonna sleep early tonight since we have a train to catch early morning.

Goodnight diary.

____________