Chapter 32: Chapter 32

“Let’s battle and prove who is better.” Said Natty challenging Drake.

Drake chuckled as if he was belittling Natty. Men and women battle in basketball, this game is like an unbalanced match because it has an absolute winner. Natty was very upset that she was being belittled by her enemy. She again challenged Drake more because Natty hated being underestimated more than anything else. One thing Drake doesn’t know is that Natty is not an ordinary girl but a mainstay player on her school’s girls’ basketball team. They also know her for her determination, and underestimating Natty is a big mistake.

“Don’t complain when you lose.” Drake replied, his gaze made Natty smile sarcastically.

“We’ll see who will cry at the end.” Said Natty.

The match begins. They look very serious as if they are risking their lives on a short 5 point game. Their gazes were so sharp that it seemed like a laser beam was emitting from their two eyes. They do not blink and focus on each other.

The sound of basketball dribbling echoed off the ground and filled their ears. They play like pro players who are competing in the big league. Try hard to score 5 points first.

As time went on, the feel of competition they poured out on the pitch made them closer than ever. There is one point that changes in that game. Thing that cannot be described in words, maybe we can call it a a thought of understanding towards one another through competition ? Suddenly, they seemed to see a new side that they had not seen before. Something that only friendship can get from an enemy in a match.

Time is running out, and they get the same 4 draws. Natty also dribbled the ball and then with her flagship lay-up technique she scored the 5th point which closed their match. Drake, who was already exhausted, could only smile broadly and give his thumbs up, acknowledging Natty’s greatness in playing basketball.

Drake put his arm around Natty’s shoulder like a friend. Their hostility suddenly disappeared and became friends. They smiled together, then sat on the edge of the field to relieve their tired bodies for a moment. Natty took a bottle of her mineral drink in the test and drank it. Seeing Drake’s tired face and sweating, Natty gave Drake her refreshment.

“Thank you ...” replied Drake, accepting the mineral drink and drinking it.

“Why do you suddenly want to play basketball? You never play ball except during practice schedules. “ Said Natty asking with a curious look.

“I’m just looking for an activity while waiting for Stellar to finish training. How about you? Why are you playing alone instead of going to paint? “ Drake asked back.

“I’m just not in the mood to paint ... a few things are bothering me.” Said Natty then took a deep breath as if he were carrying a heavy burden.

“Is it because of Helena?” suggested Drake, and Natty spontaneously looked at him with a surprised look because Drake sounded like he already knew a secret that Natty had kept.

“How do you know?” asked Natty and Drake stared at her with a faint smile.

“You’re wonderful at hiding everything, but for someone who always pays attention to girls like me it’s easy to guess. Also, you looked at her with a look full of love. “ Said Drake.

Natty could only lower her head, feeling miserable and also relieved. I don’t know, her emotions are so mixed that she doesn’t even know what is filling her heart. Holding on to her affections for a long time often drives her feel lonely and sorrowful.

But when she finds out other people knows that her secret, she feels relieved. As if she was sharing her secret with a friend. Sometimes like this Drake sits beside her like a friend rubs her shoulders and listens to her complaints and drives her feel better. Those who used to act like enemies have now become close, listening to each other’s problems.

***

Meanwhile, in the art room, representatives of the art of painting have increased sharply. In the past, they only had 10 members, but today it suddenly doubled, It indeed looked crowded. Mrs. Gale is excited that she can teach so many students to paint indeed though she knows most of them joined it just to see Alex.

As usual, Mrs. Gale opened her class with self-introduction and then explained about painting to express feelings. Everyone listened to her and then when she told them to paint they all painted. Mrs. Gale glanced one by one at the people who came to her club and only Natty was not there. She glanced here and there again to make sure that Natty wasn’t there and was not.

“You guys can go on by yourself, I’ll leave to the washroom for a second.” Said Mrs. Gale.

And all the students answered, “Yes, Mom”

Mrs. Gale also goes around the entire school looking for Natty. She likewise realized that she had at some points become and obsessed with Natty. For her, knowing Natty’s sexual orientation through her paintings was the beginning. She just didn’t want her student to have trouble, but her concern turned into an obsession to have it.

After walking around the school for a long time, she arrived at the basketball court and from a distance she saw Natty sitting on the edge of the court. She saw them talking and laughing together from a distance. She didn’t want to interfere with their fun, but Mrs. Gale found herself unable to move and could only stare at Natty from a distance as if something was holding her back.

Then Natty sees Mrs. Gale, who is watching her. She then said goodbye to Drake saying she had to go because dhe had things to do. Natty jogged over to Mrs. Gale, then picked up her hand and held her to the back of the school where no one would see them.

“What did you do to leave the art room? Shouldn’t you stay there and teach your students?” said Natty, who wanted to expel her art teacher subtly.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere, why don’t you come?” asked Mrs. Gale as she took Natty’s hand but Natty brushed her hand away.

“It’s up to me to come or not. Why do you enjoy bothering me so much? Just ignore me, just like your other students. “ Said Natty irritably.

Suddenly Mrs. Gale grabbed Natty’s face with both hands, and then she kissed Natty’s lips until Natty opened her eyes wide. Natty grabbed Mrs. Gale’s shoulder and was about to push her away, but the kiss was so soft and addictive that she was helpless. The longer the kiss was so alluring and as if it had absorbed all of her energy. Her gripping hand her art teacher’s shoulder weakened until her grip was released and her hand fell. The kiss was so intoxicating that Natty closed her eyes and allowed herself to sink into the intoxicating sensation that swallowed her whole soul.

The kiss was close and gentle until when the kiss ended they brought their foreheads together as they took a deep sigh. Not because they were out of breath but because the kiss made their hearts beat so fast. Natty smiled, she didn’t expect herself to fall so much in that kiss. Likewise with Mrs. Gale, who smiled broadly while feeling relieved to have vented her feelings.