CHAPTER 39: BASKETBALL WAR.
Kira got out of the cab and paid the driver. She pulled the strap of her bag with her left hand while the other one was holding onto a bag that was containing some drawing materials. She was standing in front of a university’s gate, a famous one and expensive too.
She had a bright smile on her face as she read the school’s name at the gate before approaching it.
She entered the university and was pleased with the architectural structures. The school was very big and Kira keenly praised the person who came up with the color mixing. The flowers were blooming cause it was their season and it added more warmth to the surroundings. The students were all moving around, some were reading, some were with their partners, and some were laughing and running all around. These were social parts of being a student.
Two particular people caught her attention and they seemed to be dating. The guy gently kisses her forehead, making the girl giggle. Kira smiled bitterly as she felt a feeling of nostalgia but looked away so she would not be targeted as a nosy person.
She had been invited to this school by the Vice Chancellor to help teach the Art students a few things based on art. She was so pleased and this was one thing that she loved doing the most, sharing her ideas with people, maybe not all but a few.
She asked for directions to the Vice Chancellor’s office and she was led to the place. Kira knocked and was allowed in after the receptionist had informed the VC beforehand.
“Hello, ma’am.” Kira greeted her when she got in. The VC was a woman, she looked up from her desk and gave Kira a warm smile. She was an aged woman and Kira easily guessed her age to be among the following numbers that ranged from 50 to 55, she was wearing a recommended pair of glasses that settled on the bridge of her nose, this easily has the vibe of a well-to-do professor.
“Hello, you must be Kira, right?” The VC asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Kira responded.
“That is good, I am pleased to have you here with me. Please, have your seat. I hope you know why you are here today and I suppose that you must be well prepared for the next few days.”
“Of course, ma’am. I am ready.”
“Then let’s go. The earlier the better. I already collected the schedule from the Art teacher for your sake so it will help you in knowing how far you can make it in a day. Follow me.” The VC instructed and Kira did as told, she followed her while listening to the VC speak.
“If I must say, ma’am, I am so honored to be here and if I am permitted to say this, I will.”
“Go ahead, my dear.” The VC agreed, already knowing that it had to be a compliment that she couldn’t wait to hear, after all, it was worth it.
“Your school is very good. It’s certainly the best among the best and the students… are all extraordinary. If this school still exists by the time my children graduate high school then this is where they just attend.” Kira said and the VC laughed heartily. She was indeed pleased.
“Of course, they are allowed.”
As they were walking, they got to the basketball arena. The boys were there playing and the facilities were available. This was another favorite sport of Kira, she was wowed. Her kids were going to attend this school compulsorily. While still admiring the place as they walked, she heard a name and turned to look.
“Richard, take over.” A male student ordered and Kira saw the one person she had been willing to meet up with one day, it was THE RICHARD that left her place angrily that night. So he was a student of this school? Fate must have played a dirty game with her.
He grabbed the ball from the air and bounced it a few times, dribbling the other players before throwing it into the net. His jump was high, making the win victorious. His mates screamed and they hugged each other while the cheerleaders went screaming.
Richard brushed his hair with his hand and smiled, his dimples showing as he received a pat from his coach, his eyes met with Kira for a brief moment before he looked away. Kira was about to wave but faced disappointment when he pretended as if he didn’t see her.
“Kira, are you coming?” The VC asked after standing beside her for a while, she was waiting patiently for her to finish admiring the arena until it was getting unbearable. Kira was embarrassed and nodded.
“Yes, ma’am. I apologize.” She said and they left the place. But she was still unhappy that Richard behaved like that, was he really that angry?
They arrived at the Art room and Kira was more than grateful. The things in the Art studio were more sufficient and she was sure that she only heard about some. The students were already there, doing a few drawings before her arrival.
They greeted the Vice Chancellor.
“Good day to you too, this is Miss Kira, a versatile teacher in the aspect of art. She is one of the recommended artists in the city and works at the famous Art Studio that you all know. She is going to be here for about a week or so, it depends on her teaching and how she feels about it. Please, I need you to cooperate with her.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You can go ahead, Kira.”
“Thank you.”
Immediately after the Vice Chancellor exited the studio, Kira faced the students and curled her fingers.
“Hello, everyone. Honestly, I am a little bit nervous to do this but I will try my best.”
“Please do, we all understand that feeling because we were once in that position last week.” A female student commented and the others chuckled.
“It was terrible, Miss Kira. None of us has that teaching skill so if you can do it, then you barge a standing ovation from us.” A guy added and everyone nodded.
Kira was full of smiles, and the students were all supportive and that was good. That was how the lecture started with different diagrams, examples, and questions being asked. It was fun as the sensible jokers among them played along. The lecture that was supposed to last thirty minutes lasted an hour and more.
“Alright, alright, that will be all for today. Tomorrow is another day.” She said as she tried to suppress the laughter in her after one of the students had cracked a joke.
“Okay, Miss Kira, see you, next class.” They waved at her and she left.
As she was walking back, she followed the same route as she came and found the basketball court empty but there was a person in there with the ball in his hands. He threw it into the net and caught it again. He did it about three times before turning around to look at Kira.
Kira’s heart skipped a bit nevertheless she approached him.
“Richard.” She called his name but he didn’t respond, he continued throwing the ball into the net repeatedly and this infuriated Kira so she dropped her things and snatched the ball from his hand to gain his attention.
“If you are so much invested in having to play this game rather than have a decent conversation then why don’t you take up someone your size?” She dared him. Richard gulped down and wanted to walk away but got hit on his back with the ball.
He furrowed his eyebrows and glared at Kira who scrunched up her nose.
“Is that expression supposed to scare me or what?”
“Kira, don’t humiliate yourself any further than this.”
“The humiliation has not even started.” Kira rolled her eyes.
A few students who were passing by stopped to watch what was happening especially the art students, some brought out their phones to take videos of this interesting moment by tagging it as #artteachervsbasketballplayer.
Richard nodded and stood in position while Kira smirked before getting into position too.
“I…2…3 Begin!” The students yelled and the game began with Kira serving and dribbling while Richard tried to overtake her. It wasn’t easy as he got pushed by her and the ball was thrown into the net for the first round.
“So that’s how it’s going to be, huh? I intentionally went easy on you earlier but not this time.” He whispered.
“Good to know that you have snapped out of your unconsciousness.” Kira smiled and the other round began. The girls started yelling Kira’s name as the ball passed under her and over with her expert bouncing. Within a few minutes, she was able to win three rounds against Richard who won none.
The game ended and Richard was surprised and dejected at the same time. Kira flipped her hair, her lips curved up in victory as she approached Richard.
“If you want to know how then you know where to find me.” She whispered and walked past him to put the ball back in its place before picking up her items and finally exiting the whole school building without looking back.
Richard just stood there, left stunned and utterly speechless.
His two friends looked at each other, “Was this the reason he waited behind?” The first one asked.
“If that’s the reason then it is bad.” The other replied. The first looked at the second for a while and they both burst into mocking laughter before running toward Richard.
“I can not believe you lost.”
“Against a girl.”
“Bruh, your reputation is ruined.”
“Shut up,” Richard said and left their midst while the guys kept laughing as they followed him from a distance.
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I apologize if the description and words fit into basketball terms. Thank you for reading.