SENSES

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Speaking of basketball. There will be an Inter Neighborhood Basketball League. And tonight is the opening day. Let's go check it out?"

"Where?" Adrianna doesn't remember any basketball league from her past life.

"At the Gymnasium."

"Would your dashing knight be there?"

Steffie covered Adrianna's mouth. Her face as red as a ripe tomato.

"Sssh..! He is not my knight, okay?"

"But you want him to be."

"ADI..!"

Adrianna shrugged her shoulders.

Love is a tough opponent to fight against. And its even more hard to fight if the one you want to save doesn't want to be saved at all!

"Well, would he be there?"

"He might."

"You are hoping he would."

"uhm."

"Can't wait to see him again?"

Steffie looked down. A silent admission.

"Seriously Steffie, your on your way to being a stalker."

"Adi, do you know this feeling? Everytime I see him, my heart would always go kaboom!"

"Its the feeling you get when you see a murderer, Steffie. Does he look like a psychopath to you?"

Steffie giggled.

"I can play victim if he plays the psycho."

"Sick!" Adrianna blanched.

Steffie smiled.

"You like him that much?"

"uhm." Steffie answered as she leaned her head on Adrianna's shoulder.

"I always think of him. He makes me crazy."

"I think your crazy too."

Steffie giggled as she pressed her mouth against Adrianna's arm. Muffling her laughter.

"I just can't help myself, you know. He..everytime I see him, I feel like hmmm... I'm floating and I get all this flutters in my belly. He just...I don't know. He makes me want to do crazy things."

"And everytime he looks at me and smile, bam! My world would just stop. I wish it would stop. Earlier when I bumped into him. It was the happiest moment of my life. Adi, do you think he will like me?"

This idiot!

She wants to slap some sense into Steffie then blast that scumbag Mark and all his filth to Kingdom come!

"What do you think?" Adrianna asked back helplessly.

"I hope."

"I will go with you tonight. Let's watch the opening ceremony of the inter whatever league. But, you have to promise me, one thing."

"What?" Steffie raised a brow at Adrianna.

"Since we go there together, we are going home together."

"Okay."

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Adrianna is slumped in Steffie's bed, hugging Steffie's pillow, buried under Steffie's clothes.

With a red cardigan covering her face, Adrianna mentally rolled her eyes in exasperation as she hears the rustle and shuffle of Steffie's movements.

She hears Steffie's rustle as she hurried in a confused and awkward way. She hears the shuffle as Steffie picks and discards shorts, tees and whatever it is she is not satisfied with.

Pushing away the discarded clothes from her face, Adrianna's eyes widen as she saw a pile of clothes littered all over the bed and on the floor.

Did a hurricane just pass?!

She looked at Steffie in amazement.

She really poured out her heart and soul just to catch her prince charming's attention.

What a demented fool!

"Steffie, why not grab a tee and shorts?"

"No! It has to be perfect."

"Perfect?"

"I want him to see me."

"He is not blind, Steffie." Adrianna's mouth twitch.

"I mean see me! Really see me."

"Dress like a peacock. He will see you then."

"Adi!"

"Why the fuss. Just choose a tee and shorts."

"But I need clothes that can fully display my sexiness and charm!"

"Go naked then. That would hit Mark's heart with a bullseye."

"Adi...!"

Adrianna laughed as she dive right into the clothes.

"Steffie, stop dallying around. All the seats will be occupied soon."

Steffie gasped.

"Adi, help me choose! Com'on! Com'on!"

"I told you. Go simple."

"How will I ever catch his eyes if I dress like all the other girls?!!"

"Let's think of something along the way." Adrianna cajoled. But deep inside, she is cursing Mark to perdition.

Man like him has to be shoved right into the depths of hell! Hmpf.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

Adrianna raised her head and scrutinized Steffie's features.

She chose a white, shoulder tie, mini dress and threw it at Steffie's direction.

"Wear that."

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The gymnasium is just some 200 meters away from their High School Building.

It is an enclosed building that has a height of more or less 18 ft with ventilation and exhaust facilities.

The gym is big and wide enough that when divided, multiple games can be done at the same time. There is even enough room for walkers to walk around the outside borders.

Outside the playing court, there are six row stone bleachers on three sides of the gym.

When there are adult programs and activities as well as youth sporting events, it is always held here.

And right about now, the gymnasium is packed to bursting.

Adrianna's eyes flickered and fluttered here and there. The moment they entered the gymnasium, she was assaulted on her senses.

Her ears are blasted with noises of varying degrees. The sound of the exhaust, the small talks, the laughter, the shouts.

Her sense of smell is drowned with various overwhelming scents of food, sweat and other fragrances.

Her eyes are blinded with the flurry of activities, the over bright lights, the different bright clothes.

Her heart is pounding so loud. She felt like vomiting.

"Adi..." Steffie grabbed both Adrianna's hands.

With half lidded eyes, Adrianna focused her attention to Steffie.

"Adi, you have gone pale! And your hands are cold!"

"I....I will find you. Grab a seat first."

"How will you find me with all these swamp of people?"

"Don't worry about it." Adrianna turned to the exit and walked a couple of steps away from the gymnasium.

She stopped at the tall Tamarind tree.

With one hand on the bark, she leaned her head down as she took a series of deep breaths. With her other hand, she repeatedly rubbed her chest in circular motion.

Her world is spinning like a top. It is getting difficult to breathe. She felt suffocated.

Damien! She unconsciously reached out and screamed in her head.

In a split second she can feel someone breathing for her. Guiding her. Then she was enclosed within a soothing warmth.

Adrianna closed her eyes as her body slightly swayed from side to side. Then she felt a phantom touch on her lips and eyebrow.

When Adrianna opened her eyes, it was bloody red.