｢NEXT HOOP｣

[x] Preview [x]

“But, the fact still remains that until she return, our ace is gone.” Anne said solemnly. Biella nodded and they both remained silent as they looked out of the café window as they saw the world walk by.

Chapter 3: Coach Ng Junior!?

Germaine stood alone in the empty basketball court. Her bag was slouched at one corner of the polished floor of the indoor hall. In between her smooth palms was an orange basketball. Taking a deep breath, she bounced the ball on the smooth surface and caught it. Gazing at the rim of the hoop, she quietly recited the things that she had learnt from the stranger yesterday. With a soft flick of her wrist, the ball took flight but it slammed onto the board and rebounded. Scratching her head wondering what went wrong, she failed to notice somebody picking up the basketball. Suddenly, she heard the sound of a basketball entering the hoop. She turned in shock and saw a tall lean boy with raven silky hair and a pair of breath-taking ruby red pupils.

“3-pointer.” He broke into a grin.

‘Wow…’ Germaine thought silently as she subconsciously stare intensely at the lad. Noticing her intense gaze, he turned and met her stare.

“Ah, aren’t you Germaine?” The boy exclaimed like a boy who just saw a humongous lollipop.

“Uh, yah…” Germaine mumbled as she looked at the boy puzzled as to how he knew her name.

“Wow, I’ve always wanted to talk to you!” the lad rattled on not noticing Germaine’s confused look.

“Wait!” Germaine squeaked as though she was pressurized by the lad’s question. The lad stopped and looked quizzically at Germaine.

“Just who are you?” Germaine implored. Laughing, the lad broke into a boyish grin.

“Jeez, your looks really expose your character like an open book!” the lad jested.

“You really have no idea who I am?” the lad pressed but Germaine shook her head furiously a bit offended by the comment made by the mysterious lad.

“Jeez, I’m in the same class as you Miss Louise, my name is …”

“Akishiro! What are you doing here? Flirting?” A girl with short platinum blonde hair which was tied up into two stubby ponytails stood at the door way looking at the blushing black head.

“Ah! Akishiro! Aren’t you the guy sitting beside me?” Germaine queried.

“Bingo, jya~” Akishiro waved with his back facing Germaine, he left with the lass. The exodus of Akishiro and the platinum blonde lass made the hall once again similar to a ghost town except the fact that there was still Germaine in it. Sighing, she turned around missing the glare that the platinum blonde lass who was clinging on to Akishiro shot at her.

Germaine was so busy reasoning with herself how she could actually forget the person sitting beside her the name that she failed to remember that the ball was still lying on the floor, blocking the pathway.

“I’m intruding.” Germaine suddenly heard coach Ng announced as he entered the hall. Without looking at where he was going, he tripped over the basketball that was lying on the floor and fell flat on his face. The basketball hall for one instance was filled with a deafening sound of somebody falling. All the other members who were in the changing room rushed out to see the 1.80m coach on the floor. Immediately, Claudette grabbed a chair and helped coach Ng up. Without hesitation, Claudette instructed Biella and Anna to get the first aid kit when she saw coach Ng’s forehead covered with blood.

“What happened?” A senior by the name of Hazel posed to the only girl present at the scene, Germaine. Stuttering, Germaine told Hazel everything truthfully. Hazel looked disappointingly at Germaine.

“We better call the ambulance, coach Ng won’t stop bleeding.” Claudette asserted. Nodding, Hazel fished out her cell phone and dialed for an ambulance.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After doing all the checks, a young sir wearing a white coat with several pens in his coat pocket came out to face Claudette and the basketball team.

“The patient needs to be warded for further check up. We suspect that the patient has suffered concussion.” The doctor informed the team before he continued with his rounds.

“What shall we do?” Katriel a 2nd year wailed.

“It’s my entire fault.” Germaine blamed herself. But Biella put her hand on her shoulder and reassured her that it was a pure accident.

“We need a coach to substitute coach Ng. that’s what we really need now.” Hazel grumbled. The team then sat down to ponder about this problem. Then, he heard a rumble of footsteps running down the hall way, than there they saw the boys’ team ace – first year – Akishiro. Panting, he asked Germaine how their coach condition was. Suddenly, Claudette’s dull eyes brighten up. She stood up and patted Akishiro’s shoulder.

“Mr Akishiro Ng, son of coach Ng, I, Claudette Yeap, captain of the girls’ basketball team hereby ‘hire’ you as our substitute coach. Ready, Team greet.”

“Good Evening Coach Ng Junior.” The team chorused.

+END+

A/N: WALAH!! How how? Hehe :D finally passed my author’s block. SO happy! :D anyway, review okays! Hehe! ♥