Chapter 3: Key to Step Up His Game

XINCERE CALLIOPE'S POINT OF VIEW

"Xincere, look how many girls are staring at you," Geli whispered while I was watching Zac walking outside the cafeteria. I was not surprised. Actually, most of my block mates hated me for being too closed with Zachary. So instead of pretending nice around them, I just decided to isolate myself from them.

"They all looked so jealous," She added. I chuckled a bit as I saw her facial expression. She wrapped her hands around my waist while we were walking to the restroom.

"You know Beatrix Ava Paisley? The daughter of the Dean of Psychology department?" A girl who was wearing a knitted red top tucked in her mini-skirt and white pointed heels was asking someone who was in the cubicle. They may be in their first year as culinary students based on their ID.

"Are you talking about the Beatrix who was crazy over Zachary Flynn Williams?" They were talking as if no one was around. A girl with shoulder-length hair went out from the cubicle and probably the one she was talking with.

"Yeah. That girl! She was so desperate, and from what I have heard from one of my friends in another department, she was asking for her father's help to get close with Zachary!" Geli gave me a meaningful stare at my reflection in the mirror. I just gave her a quick smile in response. I used to hear things like that. I could not deny that he had the looks that we're able to get any girls he may like, but hearing their admiration toward him, made me curious why Zac never courted any of them. Actually, the girl they were talking about was one of the girls who was crazy over him. She tried all the tricks in the book, but still did not work on Zac. She was our age and our schoolmate even before. A tourism student, who had thick and naturally curly blonde hair that was hanging loose a bit below her shoulders. Her tan skin tone made it hard to see some freckles on her nose. She was a volleyball player who had a bit muscular figure, about five feet, and seven inches in height. She liked wearing revealing clothes.

A girl who was wearing a black tank top, bright red mini-skirt, and navy green canvas shoes entered and that brought to silence in the restroom for a moment. She had been the topic of these two earlier, after some minutes they brought up another topic and hastily went out.

"Hello, Xincere! I did not notice you are here as well." Her high and childish tone of voice kind of annoyed me. I fake a smile when she came closer to hug me as if we were close.

"We will go ahead, Beatrix. See you around." I said before I wrapped my hands on Geli's arm and slightly pulled her out of the restroom. We can hear the loud music together with the noise from the crowd from the hallway as we were making our way to the gymnasium. I saw Zac as we entered. He was wearing a black stated shirt while dribbling the ball. His hair tips were wet. I heard the cheering of the crowd as the ball went flying towards the hoop very fast as he threw it effortlessly. He was walking in our direction as our eyes met.

"Xincere, Justice was here as well, and I asked him to save seats for us two." Geli smiled while raising her eyebrows. Whenever they have a game Zac, even if it is just a practice one, the crowd were able to make it look like a championship match.

"Xincere..." I looked at Zac, reluctantly. I raised my eyebrows in response. I felt his hand on my elbow and gently pulled me closer to him before stooping down a bit and whispering.

"Sit there!" I could barely hear him when the entire gymnasium was filled with the noise made by a lot of students, and I felt that everyone's eyes were on us. I just got what he meant as he pointed the direction toward their bleachers.

"Go ahead, Xincere. See you after the game." I felt Zac's hand on my back as Geli slightly pushed me closer to him, and She winked before waving her hand at me.

"You will not come?" Asked Zac and turned her eyes to Geli.

"Justice saved seats for us. Good luck with your game! I'll be cheering for you. God bless!" She cheerfully answered, and I saw a smile etched on his face before he nodded. I was watching his back as he started walking back to their bleachers.

"Hey, could you walk a little faster?" He frowned and sounded so irritated as he looked back at me. I just rolled my eyes before I half-ran toward him as he was watching me in his direction.

"Hello, Xincere." I slightly nodded my head to Nathaniel as waved at me. He was a best friend of Zac. I was five feet and six inches in height, but being surrounded by these giant dudes made me feel so small. Most of his teammates were familiar with me, but there were a few that I just saw now, maybe they were first-year students.

As I was looking around, I saw the junior guy who gave back my book yesterday. I saw how his lift formed a smile that made me smile back. He was cute, but after seeing his smile, I was just convinced that I was really not into young guys. After a moment, my attention got by a guy who sat right next to me.

"Can you get my towel?" I snorted after realizing just now the reason why he wanted me to sit here. His eyes were on me as I handed him his towel from his black duffle bag. I know how perfect his face was, but I just like it whenever I see him sweaty, together with his round-tired eyes. I just felt how many eyes were on us. As I looked around, I saw how they were killing me in the back of their head.

"Xincere, you're drooling!" He flashed a smug grin. I made face before throwing him my indignant stare.

"Will you just go back to your senses?" I knew from the very start that Zachary Flynn Williams was the last guy whom I should fall into! We turned our backs as we heard that Leo, one of their teammates was being teased by the players as a girl who was wearing a red-knitted mini dress and combat black shoes, probably his girlfriend gave him a good luck kiss.

"How about you, bro?" Asked Nathaniel, half teasing. I saw how Zac secretly nudged him.

"Why don't you give him a good luck kiss, Xincere?" Nathaniel succeeded to get the attention of the basketball players, who were tumultuously laughing while their coach to their opponent team's coach together with the referee.

"He's right, Xincere. For Zac to not be hot-tempered inside the court!" Some of them were shouting even more as Leo butted in. I just flashed a sheepish grin while seeing Zachary laughing along with them. They were the guys whom he had been with most of the time Zac and there were times when I heard them teasing him on me. Maybe because they used to see us together, but I know for sure that we both knew the boundaries between us.

A banner suddenly appeared on the right corner of the gymnasium, which was big enough to get the attention of the crowd. 'LOVE YOU, MY ZACHARY FLYNN WILLIAMS' was written on it. And from what I remember, the one who was holding it was wearing the same as Beatrix Ava Paisley.

"Bro, is that the daughter of our dean's department? As I remember on the last time she confessed to you, she had introduced herself as Beatrix, right? She was badly into you!" Nathaniel threw his right arm around Zac's shoulder while shooing his head. Zac just took a glance at it and immediately shifted back to me.

"Don't worry. She doesn't own me." He chuckled, half teasing while leaning closer just to whisper.

"Why should I? As if I care!" I defensively uttered before turning my gaze back to the screen of my phone.

"Wow." A wry smile flashed on his face as if trying to piss me off and slightly shook his head. He abruptly ran his fingers through his hair.

"Too confident!" I mumbled under my breath but seeing his smile, it seemed like he heard me clearly. Nathaniel laughed a bit as he heard us fighting.

"Pity her. She does not have an idea how hard to deal with your mood swing. She probably did not know how to mean you are. You should be grateful, I am the only one who can bear with you." It was really annoying how he managed to stare at me while smiling as I complained.

"I guess, I already paid for your hard work by waiting for you like a stupid outside your house every morning. I sacrificed my grades for you, did you know that?" He slightly shook his head as if he was so disappointed.

"Whatever!" I just rolled my eyes in irritation before handing him the black paper bag where I put the burger I bought in the cafeteria before we went here to the gymnasium. He looked at it for a moment before a smile etched on his face. He never liked having breakfast every morning, so I guess he was already hungry by this time.

"Team!" He devoured the burger in half as we heard their coach shouting, calling their attention.

"Just wait for me here, even after the game." He messed up my hair before he took some steps going to his teammates who were listening to some strategies their couch was telling them. I slightly nodded my head as a response to him.

Maybe after fifteen minutes, the whistle was blown by the referee, who succeeded to get the attention of everyone, signifying that the game was about to start. I was watching Zac who was half-running in my direction. He took off the silver piercing on his left ear and the necklace with the cross pendant he always wears.

"Keep these for me." I put his necklace on me and put his piercing on my light blue pouch.

"Zachary..." I called his name as he was about to take some steps going back to the court. His round-tired eyes were on me as if he was waiting for the next line I was about to say.

"Don't mess up inside the court. God bless! Break a leg." I quickly uttered a very low tone of voice since I knew that many students were looking at us, but I guess he understood me as I saw a rare smile on his face. He used to have a fight inside the court, the reason why I did not like watching his game. I never liked seeing him fighting with anyone, especially when it was just because of me.

"I'll try being nice. Want to give me a good luck kiss?" His smile can literally kill me, full of teasing. He finally turned his back and walked in my direction. I could not move and just let him come near me, I smell a familiar scent of him. I just felt him closer and gave me a quick peck on my forehead before walking back across the court while smirking. I heard how his teammates laughed and teased him. Even the referee who was waiting for him to come in saw what he did and could not help but smile a bit. I saw, in the corner of my vision, how other girls got irritated from what they have just seen. I just choose not to pay attention to them. But I am serious, this might be his last game, I'll be going to kill him after this!