“Why are you suddenly acting like a jealous boyfriend?”
—Eullah
“EULLAH!”
Damn. I am doomed.
I should not have come here. I am putting myself in trouble.
What am I going to do? I just wished that Tim was not around. I didn’t really dare to face him after what happened in the cafe.
I searched for that someone, looking around as I turned my head in the court. I suddenly caught my breath upon realizing something. Did I ever tell you that Tim is a regular member of the basketball varsity team? And a captain as a position?
In my mind, I was voicing in a silent prayer, trying my might not to cross paths with my best friend. 
I could now relax as I saw one of Tim’s friends. I would rather talk to this guy than my best friend. My heart was not ready enough to face him. I will really do my best not to be in his sight. I should survive today. But how can I do that when it was me who threw myself in a lion’s den? This basketball court was Tim’s territory.
Crossing my fingers and shutting my eyes closed sharply, I prayed to the Heavens. I hope my prayer can reach Him.
Out of breathing and while on his knees, a man with distinctive hair color, particularly in blonde, was coming to get in front of me. The basketball team’s official seal was on his shirt with his number on his back; number 08 was written on it. Under that number was his surname, “FREGO,” in capital letters. His hair was drastically bouncing as it dangled on his forehead.
My eyes glimmered upon seeing his familiar face as I called out his name, “Calli!” I waited for him to be on my side as I let him catch his breath and turn to normal. “What are you doing here?”
It was like the attention in the court followed him as he continued running smoothly to get near me quickly. I was aware of the heavy pressure of those stares coming from the girls who supported them loudly, as most of the people here in the crowd were now focused on Calli.
If I remember it right, I often see him on the soccer field and not here. So I was a little bit surprised when I saw his figure slicing the crowd of his fans.
Being on a sports team is one hell of a popularity, and when talent and looks were added, the players were treated like instant celebrities on the whole campus.
That automatically applies to Tim and his team. Considering their good looks and standing in academics, their fans could surely vouch for each of them.
Calli smiled softly and laughed mischievously. “Did you forget that I play for the basketball team?” 
Callistus Frego, preferably known as “Calli,” is Tim’s friend. The closest one besides me. Among many other guys, Calli, Tim, and his friends were a bunch of famous guys here on the campus. 
Who would not recognize someone like him? Calli is the ultimate boy-next-door of the campus and that cool guy who plays soccer like her first love. There’s no question at all why most of the women here are always following his every single move.
Sometimes, I would think that he loves the attention; that is why he tolerates it. Or maybe, he is just kind and approachable. Or maybe, both.
He stood tall compared to me. Even if he was bending his body, catching his breathing to come back at an average pace, his height was hard to ignore, and even his presence.
I could almost feel the unwanted stares that if it could kill, I am dead already. My eyes were wandering, but I instantly stopped myself. I should not be doing this. I don’t want to see Tim, remember?
Facing Calli, I spoke. “Yeah but, what about soccer?” I asked while chuckling. “You’re still playing, too?” I questioned him in delight.
“Oh, that? Of course, I’m still the captain. I’m just here to have some warm-up for a morning practice.” He coolly stated.
Oh, I guess I get it now. There are only a few who could play sports with the same passion and determination. “How are you even surviving?” I laughed unbelievably. I mean, that’s too exhausting. But well, I am no athlete, so who am I to react?
“Well, I play basketball in the morning, and I gather the soccer team for an official match practice every afternoon. If lucky, I call the other team captains of our neighbor universities for joint training here. Fascinating, isn’t it?”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re still full of yourself,” and I laughed again.
“Hey, I am not!” Calli defended himself as if my words hurt him.
“Kidding.” I jokingly added.
And then he looked behind me like he was looking for someone. That made me confused. “Where’s Ultimus anyway? That guy is still not here. Why aren’t that jerk is with you? It’s unbelievable.”
That was a shock on my part. I did not know what to say until my stares went on Calli, trying to cool down his body for a bit. He was still out of breath when I noticed that Calli needed to be hydrated. I suddenly remembered something in my bag. He was drenched in sweat that made me look for my water tumbler and gave it to him.
“I don’t know,” I simply replied. Calli stopped for a moment and glanced at me, wondering for the first time that I didn’t know my best friend’s whereabouts. It was just for a short time when he answered me.
“That’s new.” That was all he could say.
I stayed silent and offered him something to drink.
“Here,” I said, extending my arms out to him while offering the water. I distract my mind from the question, but I know I need to answer to avoid follow-up questions.
Calli was taken aback. He even blinked a couple of times. That made me think too. It was just simply a tumbler with water in it. But he brightly smiled as he received it anyway. He then looked at me, his eyes dancing in the light, with a smile etched on his calmed face. “Is this really for me?”
I nodded as a reply. But Calli seemed to be enthralled that it took him minutes to get the tumbler in my hand.
I exhaled inexplicably as soon as he forgot what he was asking me a while ago. That made me relax for a moment or two.
“Yes, but if you don’t, then give it back to me,” I was about to take it back because I felt a bit embarrassed that I was offering him my tumbler. I was not even thinking about it!
It was a personal belonging for Pete’s sake! Gosh! How embarrassing.
But like what I have said, Calli was tall like Tim. How can I even grab that tumbler when Calli is raising it in the air?
That was quite a vulgar move for me to offer him that. You must be out of your mind, self!
“You’re giving it to me, right?” Calli asked in amusement as he was trying to get away from me.
I knew that people around me were watching me closely. I want to remind myself that Calli is one of the famous guys here. I should have observed myself around to stop getting involved with him because we would never know when and where someone could suddenly pull my hair out of frustration and jealousy. I was aware of his reputation.
“No, Calli. I change my mind. Now, give me that, please.” I asked out in defeat. I could not take it on my own. He kept on raising my tumbler above his head, and no matter how desperate I was for taking it, I just couldn’t.
Calli laughed happily, and maybe he was glad for seeing me miserable as if I was making any sense here. “Nope, no one’s taking this away from me. This is for me, and I’m taking it.”
I could already hear his teammates shouting for support. Was there anything to be cheering about?
At the back of my mind, I should not have come here. I was just giving myself a hard time.
Not to mention that if the team was here, there was a high possibility of Tim attending his practice, too. I should get away this instant.
I blew a frustrated breath. The varsity team stood up from the benches. Clearly, they were now making fun of me.
I saw the entire team talking about us now.
“Look at this, look at this. Callistus is a grown-up now, dude!”
“Can you see that? Man, he’s now making a move.”
“Are you kidding me? Callistus, we only have a short break. What are you doing?”
“Hi there, Eullah!”
“Oh-oh. Someone’s in rage.”
“If I were you, I should stay away from this,”
“Yeah, dude. Someone’s surely in a bad mood right now.”
“You would not want to be on his bad side.”
“He’s totally different when it’s about his best friend.”
“Well, I don’t know if he is seriously overprotective or there’s something more to it.”
I could not understand what they were saying because my body stilled when I felt a pang of nervousness in my chest when I felt a dark and heavy presence on my back. My skin went cold, and my feet were glued to the ground.
“Thanks, Eullah—” Calli was about to thank me when someone just abruptly stole the tumbler on his hand. That was enough to make the crowd speechless. Gasps filled the air, and the team toned down their voices. The atmosphere in the gymnasium changed too quickly.
And then, out of nowhere, I saw my best friend’s back. Tim slowly turned around and whispered, looking at me in the eye, his voice full of conviction and viciousness. “This is mine.”