Chapter 22. The Friendship Festival: Day One

Arko Redanda paced in front of the mirror of the comfort room. Once in a while, even someone like him could get nervous. His hands were sweaty and he was feeling too warm in his formal outfit when in fact, the sun had not yet shone on the school. No one was around except for him. It was still 6:30 in the morning, too early for the program to start and for any student to be around. 

His phone rang and his eyes lit at the caller: BOSS.

"Where are you? Come inside the office already," the man on the other end of the line demanded. 

"Right away, sir," Arko said and hurriedly got out of the comfort room. He took the stairs and came upon the hallway of the professors and deans and he stopped in one particular office with a wooden door with intricate designs. The door was even carved with letters that read: Chancellor Pir Eavess of JADE.

Arko breathed in and out before opening the door. He didn't need to knock since he was expected anyway. 

There was the chancellor of JADE, overlooking the school grounds through the glass walls. He already had clumps of white hair and he was holding a cup in one of his hands. 

"You are quite excited for today, sir."

"Why shouldn't I be?" He then turned to look at Arko. "My school is about to host a prestigious event. I have all the reasons in the world to be happy." Like Arko, he was also dressed in a suit but more expensively. Of course, he would be dressing like the rich sponsor of JADE that he is.

"But sir, it's just the opening for today," Arko reminded him. 

"It's not just an opening. My welcome remarks will be the introduction of a new chapter that will unfold in JADE and JEWELS' history. It is proper for it to be grand."

Arko could just smile and nod.

***

Raii Shin sat at the top of the grandstand. 

The place was crowded with JADE and JEWELS basketball fans. Almost everyone had bought their own merch to show it off. It wasn't even starting. Both teams hadn't even made their entrance to the court below but she could feel the tension up to where she was.

"Why are you here? Dawn's not around to play," a voice came from her back and she didn't need to look back to know who it was. If it was any other guy, she would immediately flinch as she was not used to the male species approaching her first, especially at school. But if it was Minus, she was relaxed around him.

"She will come," Raii Shin said.

"Oh? Is that a girls' thing?" Minus asked as he took his seat beside her.

"Maybe. But Dawn will come because I am here," Raii Shin confidently said.

And so they waited. Unfortunately, the speaker had already started announcing the names of the players. One by one, they walked into the court, the crowd erupting into shouts for each and everyone of them. The procession ended but there was no Dawn Laikana to be seen.

"We can just go to the food stalls," Minus offered but Raii Shin shook her head. 

"Be patient with our girl," she said.

Minus was caught off when she used the word 'our'. He scratched his head. Raii Shin didn't seem affected by it so it was only him being silly. Minus just proceeded to watch the game like he was actually interested.

"But if Dawn still doesn't show—" Minus was cut off when Raii Shin placed his hand on his head and made him turn towards the entrance.

There was Dawn, fully dressed in her dark green jersey, panting as she tried to catch her breath. Their coach notices her and immediately ushers her to the team. Their coach looked like he wanted to scold Dawn but he was able to contain it.

The game officially started and the next twenty minutes were full of shoes squeaking, whistles blowing, and balls dribbling. Frustratingly, JEWELS was leading when the second quarter ended. 

Minus was smirking and clapping with the other JEWELS students who were on the other side. Some looked towards him because he was literally in enemy territory but he acted like he didn't see their glares. He was enjoying them.

During their break, Dawn spotted them from below and waved at them. The crowd was hyped thinking that the beautiful and talented star of JADE was waving at them but in reality, her attention was on her best friend.

"You must feel lucky to have a famous friend," he said.

"Not for me," she said and she meant it.

Third quarter started but the crowd was way quieter now, especially on their side. It was like they were already starting to accept the likely outcome of the game.

Not until Dawn suddenly sprinted from end to end of the court having already shot the ball. By the time the ball had circled round the ring and entered the net, the crowd was in an uproar. JADE and JEWELS alike were cheering.

After more than twenty minutes of endless shouting from the fired up audience, the match ended with JADE's win. There was no objection from the other side. No boos, no thumbs down, no disappointment faces–just pure satisfaction from the enjoyment. Because of the excellence that each player showed, the outcome was already irrelevant. Everyone there could testify that it was a well-played great game.

"So? You're going down there to congratulate her or what?" asked Minus.

Raii Shin considered it. More than anyone, she wanted to hug her friend in gladness. But when she saw the surge of people sandwich her, Raii Shin immediately answered, "Maybe we can do that later when we meet up with her."

Minus chuckled. "Yeah, that would be practical."

Raii Shin and Minus exitted the stadium.

***

Out of the corner of Dawn's eye, she saw a familiar stature that was trying to leave the court through the backstage.

Dawn left her hordes of fans that were trying to take a picture with her. Many were handing out small tokens and jersey shirts as well as pens for her to sign them but she politely smiled as she ran to catch up with Arko Redanda.

Good thing she was an athlete and she caught up with him easily. The old hallway located at the back of the stage was deserted. No one was walking that passage because of the stories of ghosts that lurked over there.

"Going somewhere, Mr. President?" she taunted.

"I am a busy man. Your basketball is not the only game in the festival that I need to check," he said in a tough voice. 

Geez, he could just say congratulations, Dawn thought.

"You still won't take back your words, huh. I'm not concerned about your decision to remove me from my captain position. Heck, I've moved on from that. What I can't just stomach is that you underestimated me just because I am not famous. You seem to have a problem distinguishing the difference between a celebrity and an athlete."

Arko just continued walking slowly.

"Arko, you are unimaginable." Dawn said his name like she was spitting saliva.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Oh. By the way, you may keep your jersey number one. See you at the next meeting of the League of Leaders."