The Page Turner

6

“Go Blair! Go Phoenix!!”

“Blair, focus on the ball!”

“You are missing out on the game, Blair!”

Everyone was cheering, including my friends and our coach. How am I supposed to focus on the game if Nygel is in front of me?! It was so annoying because I always get conscious whenever I have a crush on our school and then they are watching my game.

The Wolves or tenth grade is our opponent in this first game. After the opponent served the ball, it went straight to me. I backed away a bit to get the ball right and when I received the ball, it was too strong so it went outside the line on the other side. Damn, another error!

“Coach, can I have a substitute first?” I motioned for my substitute first and the referee immediately whistled to replace me. I ran closer to our bench.

“Blair, what’s wrong with you today? Are you okay?” The annoyance in our coach’s voice shows when he asked me that question. Our opponent is ahead to us by five points. It was already the second set and we won the first set earlier. I was fine during the first set but suddenly Nygel came and watched the game. That’s why I couldn’t focus anymore.

“I’m sorry, coach. I’ll get it back later.” I excused myself to get water from the water dispenser. As the water drew in the cup that I am holding right now, I was surprised to see a man approach me. I looked at Nygel then I immediately walked away from him. I knew I was sweating and also smelled of sweat, I became more and more conscious because he was close to me.

“Are you okay?”

"Yes, maybe I just lacked warm-up earlier. I also haven't had a game in a while.”

"Good luck, you'll be fine later." He said, smiling.

"I think you should support your team, am I right?” I teased him. He laughed then looked at me again, "I prefer to support you than them."

I heard our team timed out so I said goodbye to Nygel that I would be back on the bench. I told the coach I was going back to the game.

"It's only the last five scores of the opponents so you need to catch up. Diaz, fix it. Don't extend until set three because you're tired then and you still have a game later. You might lose this game if it reaches set three." We just listened to the coach's instructions and when I got back to the game, I was so focused.

We caught up and I made no mistake after I returned to the game. I was very motivated by what Nygel said earlier but I immediately lost my joy when I saw that he was no longer in his position. I even rolled my eyes around and Nygel was gone. He didn't even finish watching my game.

When we won, we shook hands with the tenth graders and I approached my friends. We have another game this afternoon at four in the afternoon so I have to rest.

"What, girl? You won, but you look like a loser," Alliah said.

"Maybe she’s upset because her crush didn’t finish her game." I immediately looked at Candie because of what she said. She raised an eyebrow at me, "If you're wondering how I knew and said it, I used my mouth of course."

"You really are a stupid woman."

"Because you are stupid, so you did not focus on your game earlier because you were distracted by Nygel. I see girl, you have been looking at him during your game!"

We got to our room and I cooled the air conditioner to dry my sweat. Since there are no other people here besides us, I just changed my shirt here. I took off my jersey and changed into a black oversized shirt and then jersey shorts so I felt like I was dressed because my shorts were short.

"So she’s acting like that because Nygel didn’t finish her game? What are you, his girlfriend?" Alliah continued.

"I saw them warming up on the basketball court. They're the next game so maybe that was the reason why he couldn’t finish your game, Blair." I looked at Lei immediately after hearing that.

"Oh my gosh, really?! Is it true?! Let's watch!" I powdered and lined my eyes and then tied my hair up again and perfumed it.

"She look like a kid when having a crush." Candie whispered but I just ignored it. We immediately went down to the court to find a good place. It’s a good thing that there aren't many watchers yet so we are now sitting near Nygel's bench. They were against our team on the first day, just like in volleyball earlier.

My eyes immediately searched for Nygel and saw that they were shooting the ball. I took out my phone and simply took stolen pictures of him holding the ball. He is handsome even if it was only a side view or he just turned his back. Only now did I realize that he was telling the truth about what we talked about last time that we should have 8 jersey numbers together. He said he was tired of the number 10 jersey numbers so he wanted to imitate mine. Since I was a child, 8 is my favorite number and it is on my jerseys.

“Buy your baby an energy drink, Blair." Alliah teased me. I stared at her, “ No way! Energy drinks cost so much and he’s not my baby.”

"Then by him water, at least. Ugh, you’re so clueless about love," Candie added.

"Are you crazy? They have a water dispenser!"

"Oh my gosh! This is about to start!" Lei shouted suddenly. We got excited again. The number of viewers has also increased. This game seems to be heating up because most of the grade 10 are also varsity players. Nygel is not included in the first five, the other varsity players are first in their team.

"GO PHOENIX!" I shouted after two minutes of the game. The score on our team is ahead now.

"I hope everyone has a cheerleader." I looked at Nygel who was next to me. I did not notice him approaching me earlier.

"Duh, I'll cheer you up later. I'm just waiting for you to enter the game." I laughed and he smiled at me.

"Thank you. I’ll wait for your cheer."

I nodded like a child to him before he returned to their bench because their coach was about to let him in.

"Someone is like a girlfriend-material here. I hope I have a specific someone to cheer to," Candie whispered to me.

"Stupid, then cheer Raf!”

"I don't want him, he’s such a flirt! I want Nygel’s friend which is a volleyball player, so that we can call it best friend goals." I laughed at what Candie said and just ignored her because back to the game again.

I can't shout properly and jump because I videotaped a slow motion take of Nygel when he was the one holding the ball. He is full of fast breaks and assists, then he also has two three-points.

"YES !! GO NYGEL, THAT'S MY BOY!" I shouted.

"Damn, cringe!" I laughed at Alliah's reactions to me.

Our team won so of course I'm still happy, it's our team. Raf and Nygel were the only ones I cheered for. There is no sign on Nygel's face that he is sad. After the game, I approached Nygel, who was talking to his co-players.

"Hey congrats anyway! You're great, I'll send you your videos and pictures later." He smiled at me and gently messed up my hair

"I know we will lose to your team. We will do better next game."

I said goodbye to him to go to my team first to congratulate them on winning the first game. They are having fun with my friends. We are also close to these players.

"HEY CONGRATS!” I shouted to them.

"Hey Blair, I saw you earlier that you’re supporting the other team," said Isaac to me, one of the Phoenix players.

"You're a scam! I am cheering for Phoenix, you deaf!”

"Don't believe Blair, she has a crush on the other side. BANDWAGON!" And I forgot I had friends here and dropped me off. I stared at Candie who was already laughing at my side.

I spent time watching Alliah and Candie play table tennis. They are double and we are now in the table tennis room. Lei, on the other hand, is with Vincent in the room, sheltering. Lei did not participate in any game because Vincent said he was bored after participating in volleyball.

I went online to get rid of my boredom. Nygel immediately chatted with me. I know these two will win. They have been champions for three years since we were in grade 10 and they started to become doubles.

Nygel: Where are you at?

Blair: I’m at the table tennis’ room, why?

Nygel: Do you still have a game later? Can you please send me our pictures and my videos?

I immediately sent his slow-mos that were shot earlier including his stolen pictures to me. I also sent our picture earlier after their cheer dance. We are right about Alliah's suspicion because they are the winners again like last year. Grade 12-Phoenix is 2nd place then 3rd place is Grade 9- Dragons.

Nygel: Wow nice shots and slow-mos. Thank you!

Blair: Of course, I’m good at taking that. Will you watch our game again later?

Nygel: Yes, I will finish your game.

I feel like my cheeks are red from the thrill now. I said goodbye to Nygel that I will be ready for the next game because it is 3:30 pm and 4pm is our game against the Grade 11-Falcons.

While playing, I focused on the ball and was no longer distracted by Nygel because I got used to him just staring at me. I keep thinking that he wants me too! I was so greedy while playing because of my imaginations.

I was very tired when I got home. We immediately stood 2-0. Another win tomorrow, we are on the road to finals. I was about to fall on the sofa when I heard someone shouting from above.

"What? You wasted one thousand five hundred pesos for that damn cheer dance and then you didn't get anything?!" Mom shouted from Dixie and I's room, obviously scolding Dixie now. I even went upstairs to hear what they were saying.

"You’re always wasting money! You just look like your sister who’s always getting money from me. And what 's your jersey?! You’re not a guy to join the basketball!!" Mom shouted again.

Dixie paid 1,500 for costumes, props and for their cheer dance choreographer. Dixie is in Grade 8 and they did not win there earlier. She joined basketball girls because she was boyish. Actually last year she joined the basketball girls and she was in the mythical five. We both paid 2,000 for our jersey.

"Why do you give and then you also criticize me?! I hope you don't just give up if you are against it." I heard Dixie answered.

"You stupid child! I am feeding you and yet you will just talk down to me like this, huh? Who are you to talk to me like that?!”

I just went to the bathroom to take a shower. I just don't want to interfere, because I know that later when she sees me she will pile up her anger. It's always like that, even if I didn’t do something wrong to her as long as she hates my sister, it's my fault too.

After I took a bath, I took a towel and went upstairs to enter the room. Mom was there and shouting to Dixie. When I opened the door, I went straight to my drawer to look for clothes.

"Your good-for-nothing sister is already here. She didn't even greet me, she was really rude,” Mom said. I looked at her for a moment before putting on my pajamas suit.

"You are angry that’s why I thought you would not accept when I greet,” I answered.

"Tell me you're just really rude. Or what? Did you get anything from your player? No one will come in tomorrow, huh. You only have sports week, you only play games at school and not study, so it's better to just stay at home. to save money." This time, I turned to Mom and frowned.

"Can you hear what you are saying? Your reasons are very shallow. You will not let us go to school because it is just a game? This is just our time to take a break from school works. Even if I have to walk to school and don't eat all day, I can.”

"Oh really? It 's not good if you want to come in tomorrow, you take care of it. You, Dixie?" Mom looked at Dixie.

"Just leave, Mom. For our lives to be equally peaceful."

She came out of our room before I locked the door. I asked Dixie if she was okay and she just went up to her bed upstairs to rest.

The next day, I woke up early to cook for Dixie and me but I saw that Mom left us some bags downstairs so I was too lazy to cook and just went back to my room to spend time.

I read Nygel’s messages last night. I left my internet open so I was still online. I read it one by one while smiling.

Nygel:

"It's very tiring today but we will recover tomorrow in the next games."

"Hmm, it takes time to reply."

"It's hard when I'm not a priority."

"Blair? Are you still there?"

"Did you fall asleep?"

"Maybe because you've had 2 games now so maybe you're really tired."

"You're still online, please call me in case you are disturbed or in case you are really asleep."

"Sleep well and Goodnight, advance good morning too because I know you will wake me up first."

I laughed as I replied to him good morning and said that I actually fell asleep last night. I also said that we will meet again at school later.

In the two months that we have been talking straight, I am always happy when he is the one I can talk to about my day. I’m really comfortable with him. I don't know if he also likes me or what but I also think he is too young for me? I just don't want to be judged because he is 3 years younger than me. I will turn 18 on November 23 and then he will turn 15 on November 11. He only entered in advance so he will be in grade 10 immediately.

Every time I have a problem here at home, I can only open to Nygel. If he only thinks of me as friends, that's fine too. I don't really like him. I'm just happy when he's always there for me, to cheer me up.

The Finals have arrived and the last day of our Sports Week. Our game against the grade 11 Falcons we faced in the championship is over. Fortunately, it was my last year and we won. Grade 11 won the basketball boys. They beat our team and then Nygel took 3rd place. We are awarding.

Nygel is part of the mythical 5! He has a medal. I am the MVP of volleyball girls. It's funny because last year I became MVP. I can also take home a trophy from my game. It used to be just a medal. I always participate in the mythical 6 or maybe best receiver and then we are always 2nd place in volleyball.

"Hey Nygel and Blair, you should take a picture! They have the same jersey number and the same medal,” Alliah said.

I pointed to our jersey numbers and smiled then in the next shot we showed our medal, then in the last shot he hugged me and I hugged him slightly.

"Congrats!" I said happily to Nygel. He also smiled at me, "Congrats too, you deserve to be the MVP."

"Picture! Adrian and Candie!" Alliah shouted again. Adrian is Nygel's friend from the team of volleyball players. Candie and Adrian stuck together so we closed them. For sure, that's Candie's target.

That week was fun because the Sports week was really enjoyable and stress free. But after that week, OJT will be the opening for our graduating students.

Well, I'm excited. To speed everything up and I can finish school so that I have something to be proud of in front of my Mom.