QUEEN
The days that we are celebrating were short of magical. The tension that had once loomed over us seemed to dissolve completely and replaced by moments of some sweet and clingy moments.
Vermont was npw back on his old self. His infectious laughter, the way his eyes sparkled when he teased me. There are no dull moments after that.
But just as quickly as the calm settled, the talk of the upcoming sports fest shook the entire campus. You could feel their energy in the air. Students were looking for players, departments were practicing their cheers, and every corner of the school was alive with excitement.
It was afternoon, Vermont and I sat in the campus garden. It was lunch and we decided to eat here. I smiled when the gentle warmth of the sun wrapped around us as we stayed in the campus garden.
"Are you joining any sports?" he asked, turning to me with a casual smile. I laughed and shook my head. 
"Not a chance. I’m not sporty at all." I admit. His grin widened, amusement dancing in his eyes. 
"You? Not even one sport? I find that hard to believe." I laughed and shake my head. 
"Believe it," I said, I grinned and look at him.
"You know how to play chess." He pointed out and I shrugged.
"I’ll stick to being the supportive cheerleader type."
He chuckled, leaning back on his elbows. "Well, I joined the basketball team. Figured I’d give it a shot since we are already in our third year, I think I will have no spare time when we became 4th year." I nod at him. "And to have a beautiful cheerleader! How lucky I am."
I raised an eyebrow. "But you’re in a different department! How am I supposed to cheer for you when you’re technically my rival?"
"Rival?" he repeated, laughing. "Does that mean you won’t cheer for me?" I leaned closer, a smirk tugging at my lips. 
"Of course, I’ll cheer for you. You’re lucky that I'll cheer for you when we are rivals."
"Yeah, I'm quite lucky" he teased, his voice softening. There was something about the way he looked at me in that moment, like I was the only person that mattered.
"But really, I would cheer for you. And of course enjoy the game."
"Thank you." he murmured, his voice is sincere.
The days flew by, and before I knew it, the morning of the sports fest had arrived
"Queen are you up?" Ace’s voice rang out as he knocked on my door.
"Yeah." I mumbled, stifling a yawn.
"Okay, breakfast's ready." he called back.
"Alright, I'll be downstairs in a minute." I replied, stretching before dragging myself out of bed. I went to bathroom and take a shower after that I found myself in front of my closet.
We are free to wear anything we want. And after minutes of looking I just settled with a white crop top, jeans and a pair of white sneakers.
"Morning." I said to my brothers and kissed their cheeks.
"Morning, Queen." Ace greeted me with a smile. He patted the chair beside him and I gladly sit beside him.
"Good Morning." King said. "What food do you want?"
"Fried rice and egg please." King nodded and put a portion of it in my plate. "Thanks."
"Are you going to watch the games today?"
"Yeah, I don't want to stay in the room."
"We joined the basketball team." Ace happily said.
"Really? Then I'm gonna cheer the three of you!" I said and smile widely. "Goodluck, my dear brothers. So when will you have a game? Do you have a schedule today?"
"Yeah. At 1." I nod at them.
"Okay."
Every student I saw was excited. The university held a three day celebration for the sports fest. HAHA. We are free from school works! There are also food stalls in there.
Since Vermont and my brother game is still in the afternoon, I found myself at the court, watching the engineering department against the architecture students. The game was intense, the players are diving, spiking, and blocking with such precision that the crowd was constantly on the edge of their seats. The cheers were deafening, and in the end the engineering department won the game.
After the match, I decided to grab some food. As I stood in line, my phone buzzed.
Vermont
Where are you? I want to see you.
Me
Okay, I'll be there.
A smile tugged at my lips. I grabbed an extra sandwich and drink for Vermont. I then went to the players’ room, and Vermont’s face lit up when he saw me.
"I miss you." He said and pulled me in a hugged. I was relieved because no one saw us being clingy.
"I miss you too, did you already eat?"
"No, but I have ordered food. What about you?"
"I still haven’t eat but I bought sandwich." Then I showed him the food. I saw how he frowned.
"And that is your lunch?"
"Hmm, I need to diet. I notice that I'm getting fats in my arms." I whispered that to him and he sighed.
"No, you should eat proper food. Is chicken fine with you?"
"Yes." I smiled and he kissed my forehead before he grabbed my hands. We went inside the room and there I saw my brothers with their teammates. 
"Is that for us?" Ace asked innocently and I shake my head.
"This is for me and Vermont," I teased, eyeing King and Ace, who immediately clutched their chests.
"You didn’t bring us anything?" Ace whined dramatically. I shrugged with a playful grin. 
"Ask your girlfriend." King shook his head. Vermont then open the paper bag. He was smiling as he put the food in front of me. It was a chicken fillet with rice and a burger.
"Go on and eat." Vermont said after he handed the spoon and fork to me. I nod at him and smile. We just silently eat because there are ears that are listening. After lunch I bid my goodbye to him first.
"Goodluck on your game." I said and tried to get my hand from him but he just tightened his grip on mine. "Hmm?"
"No kiss?" I cover his mouth and look left and right.
"Aish, what if someone heard you." He just laughed at me and I sighed. I give him a quick kiss on the side of his lips. "I'll be going now. See you later."
"Cheer for me, okay?"
"Yeah, Bye!" I wave my hand on him when he let go of me. He just smiled at me and mouthed.
"See you later." After that I went straight to the gymnasium.
The next big game was between the business administration and tourism departments. Students were divided and were screaming as they saw the players.
My left side was busy admiring the business administration team and on my right side was rooting for the tourism department.
"Shocks, Harrison is so handsome!"
"Go, go, go Love!"
"Go Ace!"
"King, you're already the winner in my heart!"
"I love you, Saavedra! Please marry me!"
I harshly look on my left side when I heard that. I was shooting daggers at her when the shrill sound of the referee's whistle cut through the noise. I forced myself to refocus as the game began.
When the game began, Vermont’s team quickly established dominance.
Right off the bat, their point guard, in Jersey no. 5, stole the ball with lightning speed, and quickly passed through defenders before making a sharp pass to Ace, who nailed a clean three-pointer. The crowd erupted in cheers, with that Ace and his teammate exchanged a quick high-five.
"Go, Ace!"
Tourism wasn’t going to back down easily, though. No.7, their shooting guard, countered with a swift layup, putting their first points on the board. It was clear this was going to be a fierce match.
Vermont then started to dominated the court with King. Within minutes, he snagged two rebounds and blocked a shot. King too would shoot three points whenever he got the ball.
"Vermont! Defense, defense!" the coach shouted from the sidelines as the Tourism team pushed forward again.
By halftime, the score was tight, but Vermont’s team managed to pull ahead. Everyone was on the edge of their seats the the score was so close, Business Ad in lead. Seconds later the game started again. The tourism had the ball this time.
"Go, Harrison!"
The tourism player launched himself into the air for a jump shot, but Vermont was there. He leaped up, his arm outstretched, and smacked the ball out of the air with a thunderous block.
"Yes!" I cheered, unable to hold back.
"Let’s go, Vermont!" someone else yelled, and I couldn’t help but smile proudly.
With the ball back in Business Administration’s possession, Vermont passed to Ace, who dashed up the court. At the three-point line, Ace faked a shot, drawing no.1's defense, before tossing it back to King. Positioned perfectly under the basket, King slammed the ball through the hoop with a powerful dunk.
"Woah! That was hot King!"
"Marry me, King Imperial!"
I also couldn’t stopped myself and I also cheered for them. I was happily shouting whenever they would score and get sad whenever the ball would be stole
"Go love!" I happily said when he got another clean three-point shot. 
When the final buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game. I was happily jumping because the business administration just won!
Vermont’s was smiling widely as he notice me walking towards their bench.
“Congratulations,” I said, looking up at him with a bright smile.
“Thanks,” he replied, his grin only growing.
“What’s with that look?” I asked, tilting my head in curiosity.
Before he could respond, his teammates surrounded us like a swarm of playful bees, their laughter filling the space and began to tease us.
"Our lover boy was so inspired the whole game!" Someone said and patted Vermont.
"I mean, who wouldn’t be inspired with a beautiful cheerleader rooting for him the whole time?" He said and I got embarrassed. I felt my cheeks flush, and Vermont raised his hand to rub the back of his neck, a faint blush creeping onto his face as well.
"Could you all stop?" King said in an annoyed voice.
But they didn’t stop. Instead, one stepped forward. "Queen, you should’ve seen him up close. Every time he looked at you, it was like he was in a movie! I’m surprised he didn’t trip over himself with all that dreamy staring!"
Vermont’s blush deepened, and he let out an embarrassed chuckle. "Don’t listen to them," he muttered, shaking his head. "They’re just being ridiculous."
"Ridiculous?" another teammate echoed. "You mean like when you said ‘This one’s for you, Queen!’ after that dunk?" My mouth fell open in surprise, and I turned to Vermont.
"You did what?" He groaned, covering his face with his hand.
"That was… I didn’t actually mean to say it out loud."
I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing because of his cuteness. I could kiss him right now if his teammates were not here.
"Alright, that’s enough," King said and crossed his arms.
"Wait we want to see, Vermont and Queen play!" one joked, nudging Vermont. King rolled his eyes. 
"Could you all stop?" Ace then clapped his hands.
"Actually, that’s a great idea!"
"What? No," I said quickly. "I already told you. I’m not sporty."
"Oh, come on, Queen!" Ace insisted, and soon the others joined in, and in the end I agreed.
This match was set up on a half court, and Vermont groaned when the rules were announced. He could only use his left hand.
"Be nice," I teased as I dribbled the ball. "Let me take a shot, okay?" He crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. But when I flashed my sweetest smile, his resolve seemed to waver. 
"That's cheating!"
"Please." I said and pouted.
"Fine," he muttered, motioning for me to go.
I rushed toward the hoop, I was confident I would shoot it, until Vermont effortlessly snatched the ball away.
"Hey!" I glared at him, but he just grinned, spinning the ball on his finger before taking a quick lap around me and sinking a perfect shot. "Ugh."
The crowd laughed and cheered, and I huffed in mock frustration. But I wasn’t done yet. He pass the ball to me and I dribble it. But seconds after that he got the ball again. He turned around and when he got back he didn't expect that I would be able to grabbed the ball, I marched back to the three-point line. Vermont was in front of me, his grin teasing, but I ignored him. Taking a deep breath, I focused and shot.
The ball arced through the air and swished cleanly through the net.
The cheers were deafening as I turned to Vermont, who looked genuinely stunned.
"Woah, that was hot, Love." he murmured, his voice low enough for only me to hear. Heat rushed to my cheeks.
—IAmRoseee