Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Isabella's pov;

I let out a yawn while entering Mr Martinez's room. He was on the bed working on his laptop.

I walked to him and sat beside the chair and let out a yawn again.

"Are you tired?"

I leaned back on the chair and said, "Yeah, I had practice today."

"Practice?"

"Oh, didn't I say? Sorry, I thought you would have known it since Big Brother did a background check on me."

He laughed and said, "He's like that."

"Um... I play basketball for my school team. We have a competition tomorrow, so we practised a lot today."

"You play basketball?"

"Yeah, don't I look like one?"

He smiled and said, "No."

"Why are you being so straightforward, Mr Martinez?"

"Is it bad?"

"Kinda not, but it could bring trouble sometime. Not everyone thinks alike. You know it right?"

"Yeah. But being like this we can find how people treat me."

"What do you mean 'being like this, does that mean you're trying to be straightforward and you're not straightforward?"

"In your language 'kinda'."

I broke into laughter and said, "That was good. You got me good." And continued laughing and let out a yawn. "Sorry for yawning, Mr Martinez. I couldn't hold it in."

"If you're tired, you can leave."

I sat straight on the stool and saluted him while saying, "No, Sir! I'm at your service, Sir!" and held his hand calmly.

"That startled me."

"Oopsie..."

"After I fall asleep, go straight to your home and take a rest. Understand?"

"Understood, Sir!"

He let out a sigh and closed his eyes to sleep.

After he slept, I pulled my hand slowly out of his grip and made my way out of Mr Martinez's room.

"Here's your payment." Big brother gave an envelope filled with cash.

"Thank you." And I let out a yawn again in front of Big brother.

"I'll accompany you to the car."

"Thank you, Big Brother."

"Why did you meet my daughter?"

I stood still in my place when he suddenly asked me about that.

"B-Big brother?"

"Yuyang told what happened at school. Why did you meet her in the class? Why did you say that you're her niece and why did you bring her ice cream? And why did you say that you'll be there for a dance performance?"

I let out a nervous chuckle and said, "It looked like she told everything, huh?"

He gave a nod and continued walking beside me while asking, "What are you trying to do, Ms Garcia?"

"I just wanted to see her after you said you're having a daughter. That curiosity made me talk with her. After talking with her, it felt like I was seeing myself when I was little so I liked her quickly."

"Don't get so close to her."

"Am I looking like a creep or kidnapper? Why did you say that?"

"If two become close, it'll be hard to be separated after the contract."

"What do you mean by that, big brother? What do you mean by after the contract? Shouldn't I meet her after the contract? Am I not talking to you after the contract? Am I not allowed here after the contract?"

"That's what was mentioned in the contract. Didn't you give it a read?"

"No, I didn't... I didn't give it a read."

I controlled myself not to cry in front of him and walked along with him. I didn't dare to utter another word to him and kept quiet.

I got into the car and the car started. I let out what I dumped inside me. I cried so bad and turned to take a look at the house and cried.

Am I not allowed inside the house after the contract?

On the next day,

"Where's your jersey?" Noah asked me to see him in a jumpsuit.

"It's in my locker. Why?"

"Just be ready when the match starts, don't go search for the jerseys at that time."

I smacked his head saying, "The competition begins at 3 p.m. Now the time is 8 p.m."

"Anyways We have to be prepared." And left.

I let out a sigh and came to where they were preparing the stage for the performances.

I spotted the secretary and asked about the music competitions.

She said, "We're planning to hold a soloist performance at the beginning of the event, following that lip sync battle, group singers, Acapella for elementary, middle and high schools. And dance performances for elementary and middle schools. And your basketball match, like you asked, second graders and third graders, dance performance during halftime and finally dance performance of high school students."

"Wow! You planned it very well. My friends are worried that after the music competition, there'll be no one to cheer us up after getting all tired after competitions."

"No, no, I planned it too. During every music event, we will announce the basketball match to everyone so don't worry about getting audiences for the match. You can rely on me for this."

"Thank you. And when will you start this soloist performance?"

"In about fifteen minutes. You'll be here, right?"

"Yeah, I'll be around. Actually, if I get to the basketball court right now, they will capture me and won't let me out till the match ends." And smiled.

Someone called the secretary while we were speaking.

"You're the busy girl today."

She patted my shoulder and left.

I walked around the people who were preparing for the competition, some were playing with each other, and some were wearing crew member t-shirts and working.

While I was walking around, I saw Liam talking to a girl. I hid behind the wall and sneaked on him. Who is that girl? I tried to hear what they were saying but I couldn't hear anything from them. Ah! What am I doing here? Why am I sneaking on my friend? Idiot!

I walked away from that place like I don't care about them.

"Bella!"

I stopped walking further. It was Liam. Why is he calling my name? Did he see me while I was looking at him? Idiot! You don't even know how to stalk!

I turned around casually and waved at him, "Hi, Liam." And walked to him. Now I can see the girl's face. She's beautiful.

"Her name is Jenny. She wanted to join the basketball team so she asked about you."

He turned to that girl and said while pointing at me, "She's the one you asked for. Isabella. She's the vice-captain of the school team. You can ask her for the details of what you wanted."

So they're meeting for the first time. But, if she wanted to meet me, she could have come to my class or the basketball club. Then why did she ask Liam? Why Liam?

Liam, "Okay. I'll leave then."

I asked the girl, "Hi, Jenny. It's nice to meet you. Have you ever played basketball before?"

While I was talking with her, she was looking at Liam leaving. I let out a sigh and said, "If you want to flirt with him, go and do it for yourself. Don't use others for your flirting."

"I... I..."

"It's fine. I'm not mad. That's my tone of speaking. As his friend, court him directly. That's the only advice I can give to you."

I walked away from that girl and strolled like before. Where is Sophia? I haven't seen her since I came to school. I should have asked Liam when he was with us a few minutes ago. Now I don't know where he left. I cannot ask Noah, if I did, he would make me go to the court. Which left me with Evelyn.

I took my phone and called her. She answered.

"Hey, Eve! Where are you?"

"At home."

"What? Why are you still at home? Okay, When will you come?"

"Since there are no classes today, I took a day off."

"What about my competition? Aren't you coming to cheer me on?"

"I know you're going to win, so why did I come here? I'm going to rest well today. And All the best, Bella!"

"What about Sophia? Did she talk to you?"

"She's with me here. Suddenly, she showed up at my doorstep and said she took a day off too."

"Is she listening to us?"

"No, she went downstairs to pick up her things."

"Okay. See ya."

I ended the call and let out a sigh.

What happened to my friends? It's like I became an outcast again. I sarcastically smiled at my phone.

Someone tapped on my shoulder so I turned to look at who it was.

"Ms Devlin?"

"Where's your friends? Why are you standing alone here?"

"Noah is practising in the court, Sophia and Evelyn took absence and Liam was around here somewhere."

"Does that mean you don't have anything to do right now?"

"Kinda..."

"Your niece didn't show up yet so can you call your brother and ask when she will be here?"

"Oh, okay."

I walked away from Ms Devlin and made a call to Big brother but he didn't answer me so I called Mr Martinez. He answered.

"Mr Martinez, I couldn't get Big Brother on the phone. Where is he? Is he near you?"

"No. He took a leave today."

"Okay. I'll then try calling him again."

"What is it?"

"Yuyang didn't come to the school, that's why I was trying to call Big brother."

"Who's yuyang?"

"Big brother's daughter? Don't you know her name?"

"I didn't know he had a daughter."

"Ouch! I... I need to go." And ended the call.

What the hell did you just do, Bella?

Was Big brother hiding it from Mr Martinez? I get myself into trouble, right?

"What did he say?" Ms Devlin asked me.

When did she come?

"He's on the way, mam."

"Okay. Thank you."

Ms Devlin left.

I don't know how I am going to face Mr Martinez tomorrow. And, what if Big brother came to know that I blurted out his secret to Mr Martinez? Ah! I'm doomed!

Ikea, "Bella, are you trying to hide from Noah as well?"

I gave a nod and said, "And you too?"

She gave a nod and said, "Um... where are your friends?"

"They..."

"If you're hanging out here alone, want to join us?"

I looked around her and asked, "Us? I don't see anyone other than you."

"My friends are over there. Some of them are participating as soloists so we're cheering for them."

"Um, actually I have somewhere to go. I'm sorry."

"Ah! It's fine. You can go."

I left and came to the elementary building and walked to the second graders' class to see if yuyang came.

Yuyang wasn't in the class.

I came to the entrance of the school and waited for yuyang.

Ah! Finally! I spotted Big brother getting out of a car followed by yuyang.

I ran over to him and picked up yuyang and asked, "Why are you late? We're all waiting for you?"

"Daddy spoiled the breakfast so I ate dinner in a restaurant."

"Really? Come, let's go inside."

I turned to Big brother and said, "I'll take her from here, Big brother." And walked into the school.

I took her to the class and dropped her saying, "Did you practise well?"

She gave a nod and said, "What about you? Did you practise well?"

"What?"

"Daddy said you're having a competition today."

"Did he?"

She gave a nod and said, "he said he will be here when my performance begins."

I hope he will.

"Thank you, yeah I did practise well. Will you cheer for me?"

She gave a nod and gave a smile.

"Okay. Go get changed. I have to go meet Ms Devlin." Said while patting her head.

"I want to meet Ms Devlin too."

"She will come here if she knows you're here so I'll go and inform her."

I left the elementary school building and came to the high school building and found Ms Devlin and gave the message that yuyang came to school and came to the cafeteria to get my chocolate drink.

While I was on the line, someone from behind whispered, "Outcast."

I turned and saw Harry standing behind me.

He gave me a fake smile saying, "It looks like there's no one to cheer for you this time."

I ignored him and got my chocolate drink and moved away.

"Bella!"

What does he want with me? I ignored him and walked out of the cafeteria.

The time strikeout p.m.

I came to the basketball court.

"Change into this." Noah gave me my jersey and asked me to change my clothes.

"How did you know my locker's pin?"

"It's your birthday, right? Go and change! Quickly!"

"You're not my coach!" Said and walked into the changing room.

Ikea was changing her clothes and got startled seeing me entering the changing room.

"Where were you? Noah was searching for you everywhere."

"I was around here." And I changed my clothes.

After hearing the announcement, we entered the basketball court along with the members and aligned in a straight line facing the opposite side of the players. I looked in the audience, but my friends weren't there. Noah whispered in my ears, "All the best!"

I nodded with a little smile on my face.

The game started. And the guest scored two points at the beginning itself.

Ikea asked, "Hey, what happened to you? Why are you playing like this? Are you alright?"

"Yeah." Ran after the ball.

I couldn't concentrate on the game. What am I doing? Get hold of yourself, Bella.

"Isabella!" I heard someone shouting my name in the microphone.

When I turned to look, Big brother was holding the microphone. When did he come?

"You can do it!" I heard Yuyang speaking through the microphone.

"All the best!" Mr Martinez? What is he doing here?

They started shouting through the microphone while turning for each of them.

I played hard and started earning points for my team. Soon we are ahead of the guests in points.

Serene asked, "Who are they?"

"That's my family!" And continued playing the game.

The halftime came.

Yuyang along with her dancers went on the field and the performance started. I watched the performance while sitting on the stand. Wow! She dances so graciously. How can someone miss this view?

I shouted, "That's my niece over there!"

Yuyang smiled when I shouted like that while she was dancing.

"Your niece is cute," Ikea whispered into my ear.

"Yeah, she is." Continued watching yuyang's dance.

Noah said, "I'll make a foul move and you try a three-pointer line when the game starts. We'll definitely win."

"Okay, coach."

He smacked on my head and said, "Since you have a cute niece, I'll let it go."

The dance performance ended and the game continued. Noah made a foul move like he said now I'm standing behind the line to get three points for my team. Everyone looked at me like will I have a goal? I tapped the ball on the ground and jumped in the air and threw the ball towards the net. I waited for the ball to fall into the net.

"And That's the goal!" The coach shouted.

"Ohooooo!" I screamed out of my lungs.

We won! Everyone screamed and jumped in the air. We hugged each other and praised each other.

Noah hugged me saying, "We won! We won!"

"Leave, leave, a short girl is coming." Someone said,

When I left some space, I saw yuyang.

"What are you doing here?"

She shouted, "Come cheer for you!" And hugged me.

I lifted her in the air and hugged her back.

"Thank you."

After the Chaos downed a little, I sneaked out of the crowd and searched for Mr Martinez but found Big brother.

Big brother said, "He's behind that stall." And walked to get yuyang out of the crowd.

I found Mr Martinez. He was in his disguise, covering his face.

"I didn't know you were coming here. Thank you for cheering for me. I didn't expect that!" And smiled at him.

"You play well."

"Do ya like it? That three-pointer line move was taught by my mom. She's the one who taught me basketball too..."

Suddenly, Mr Martinez extended his hand, palm facing up and offered me a shake which left me speechless.

I've heard that when men offer their hand for a shake, palms will face down like they're dominating over the other person but his palm was faced up representing openness and honesty. And, This is the first time he's offering his hand for a shake without any intention behind it. It was filled with a genuine one.

I stood still and didn't move a bit. What should I do now? When I looked at him, his eyes looked like it was asking for me to shake his hand back.

I raised my hand slowly up and placed it on his palm and looked at him and maintained eye contact while I was pressing my palm over his palm. He pressed his fingers on the back of my hand and shook it with a firm grip. When he gave me a shake, it felt like my heart skipped a break.

While I was thinking about what to do, I was caught by Sophia who was looking at us. When did she come here? Did she hear us too?