Chapter 14

Richard woke me up for breakfast. The boys had already begun to prepare, and we will meet at Noel's compound. They also know that I’m here in Richard’s house.


The boys are so excited and ecstatic about the game. I was even more amaze about their attitude. It was only a fun game. They just tried doing basket for that day with others outside Noel’s compound. The days of playing basketball have been followed and followed until they got used to it and every year they are invited to play basketball league



This year's league, I imagine, will be more yelling and screaming than previous years. The boys' exercise routine is beginning to bear fruit. The boys have kept their bodies in good shape.

They won’t miss to flaunt it!


Hours passed and Richard is my driver. I check my phone to see if anyone has texted me about my whereabouts.


I guess he won’t care. He didn’t even asked what I felt. How was I?


I'm almost out of time. I'm not sure if I'll wake up tomorrow or the next day. It was the most terrifying time for everyone, including myself.


That's why I lived every second, minute, hour, and day to the fullest. I'm just pleased I made it since other people won't.



I've already had one operation when I was younger, and this will be my second heart surgery. I'll have it in States. I already have a heart donor, a perfect math of everything, and it's really unusual because my blood is extremely rare.


Her name is Hope. She’s younger a year than to me, but we just can’t wish or pray someone to die for me just to be saved. My brother and her parents discuss the heart transplant, and she was a happy blind woman. She's stunning, and it breaks my heart that she won't be able to see the world.

We are both fighting for life and hope, living in what ifs, but if it is my turn to say farewell, I have no choice but to wave my hand, silently, fearfully, and in tears.




When I feel a hand on my shoulder, I snap back with my thoughts. It was Richard. He smiled looking at me.


"We've already arrived," he said. I nodded and wandered about. I didn't realize we were already inside Noel's compound. When Richard opened the door, I saw the boys standing there, smiling and wearing a blue jersey.



“Jette Aime!” Everyone screams. Staring at them, I frowned and scrunched my face. You're still using the Jette, huh?


“Since we are all complete then let’s go!” Easton yelled happily.


I turned to face Noel. "Where is Marie?”

Noel replied. “She'll be here in an hour."
I'm right. We hadn't even arrived at the basketball court when people began shouting my friends' names. And when they finally entered the court almost everyone went to them to take pictures



They were popular both private and public school, and now the boys that didn’t even matter or looking cold to these people. The guys didn't seem to mind how different we were, especially in terms of life and opportunities.



It took them an hour to finish everything. I was all there smiling and enjoying the moment.

The boys placed me in front of the court , and there are some players wearing blue and they are all unfamiliar to me. David stepped in front of me, and I groaned as he messed up my hair.


“Stop it, Dave.”

"Please don't go outside without us. You can if Marie is here. "There are jerks outside," he said clearly, "And…and don't talk to Chris."

I nodded. Chris is an admirer of mine here. He was also a basketball player, although he was a bunched player. He was also aggressive and violent in court because he refuses to accept defeat.

I almost forgot about Chris. I don’t even remember his face anymore. The referee blew his whistle, and I spotted Easton and Andrey in the middle, ready and prepared to steal the ball from his team.



The screams and chants are what keep the game exciting. The girls were yelling and arguing.


“She’s pretty too.” I heard a whispered. When most of the teenagers were looking, I darted my eyes from the left side.


When most of the teenagers were looking, I darted my eyes from the left side. I smile to see a familiar face. She was roaming her yes around, and where she met min.


She waved her hand, cutely. I'm glad she came because I can't watch properly because some men have gone or called me to ask about something or even ask for my phone number. If they saw me with someone here and I think they would back out.


My boys would glare, but the approaching guy didn't mind because they knew my friends were playing.


"You just arrived in time," I said as she took a seat beside me. She gently takes my hand in hers.



"Shit, I almost didn't make it," she cried, clapping her hands, and everyone turned to look at her. "Go go, Baby!" My husband, Noel, go! " She screamed. Everyone was staring at us as I stood stiffly and roamed my eyes.



Noel laughed.



“What about us? Where is our cheer?!” Easton yelled running towards the enemy.

Marie and I both laughed.


"Hmp, they already have a lot of fans. I don't think they need our support, do you? " Marie asked, and we both shrugged. Perhaps this is also why some players invited the guys because it attracts a lot of people, particularly women.


I thought we'd be at peace while watching the game, but a group of men came up behind us and started calling.


I noticed the boys stopping to look at us. The game just stopped!



"Miss, we'd want to invite both of you-

"Someone already invited us," Marie interrupted. “I have a boyfriend.”


“Then what about you Miss?” Their eyes are on me. I also nodded. “I have a boyfriend-

"What is going on here?

"As we heard Noel's cold voice, our eyes widened.


Our eyes shifted, and the boys approached us. The women yelled to continue, and some boys yelled to kick the lads behind us, who were the cause of the game stopped.


“We just one-


Noel cut the guy off. "These are no longer available. They've come to see our games. So, tell your filthy group not to mess don’t mess and interrupt with the girls. They are here to watch peacefully.”



That hit the boys as they looked around. They averted their gaze, cleared their throat, and walked away.


Noel turned to face Marie and me. Marie sighed and shrugged. “We can’t help it.”


The boys returned to the court, and the game resumed. "I never think what you've been through while you've been alone here," Marie said, looking at me.


I'm not as straightforward as Gretta or as eager to speak as Marie.


I smiled as I watched Richard steal the ball. His eyeglass did not fall or shift, as if he had glued it to his eyes. The girls cheered as Richard passed the ball to Noel and he shot for three points. They were louder than Marie.


The players requested a substitution. Easton took a step closer to us. He grinned. He took a seat near me, and I handed him the water.


Continue watching the game while Easton clapped and cursed behind me. After a few minutes, the game was called off and he returned to the court.


When we see girls, our gaze is drawn to my side. We returned our gaze to the court. I assumed they had just moved to get a better view, but when she poked me lightly, we were puzzled.

"My cousin wants to ask the two of you to our house," the girl grinned, while the three of her companions gazed at the court, pretending there was nothing out of the ordinary. "Since the festival, we had a small celebration."

Marie sighed.


She pointed somewhere, and we moved our gaze, and the boys waved their hands and mouthed we didn't know.



“We can’t-


Marie interrupted me. "Hello, it's lovely to meet you, but we're not really up to that, and we both have boyfriends."


The girls had left. "They're only beautiful because they're rich," they mumbled.


Marie is scowling, as am I. Is there a connection? We just want to say no.


She sighed and rose to her feet. "Let's just get out of here. We don't want to ruin the game, do we? ”


I stood up and nodded. As the game comes to a halt for substitution, Noel is jogging around us.


"Noel, Babe, we're just going to leave. Just phone us when your game is finished."


Noel nodded slowly. "Don't go wandering around, please," Noel said gently. "Don't leave Aime," he whispered, kissing Marie on the lips, making the girls groan.


I chuckled.


He kissed her on the forehead one last time before moving closer to me and kissing my cheek. “Don’t leave my girlfriend side, okay?”


The players called Noel, who jobbed back and we waved to my best friends. They were looking at us, but Noel moved closer and murmured to them.