Monday Morning – University Hallways
The news spread fast.
Lance challenged Section E to a basketball game. Winner takes bragging rights. Loser stays quiet forever.
Students gathered everywhere. Talking. Excited.
Ci-N ran to find Jay. "JAY! DID YOU HEAR?!"
Jay nodded. "Everyone heard."
Keifer stood beside her. Face calm. Eyes focused.
Drew appeared. "I bet 10,000 pesos we win!"
Mayo grabbed him. "Bet on us? That's new."
Drew shrugged. "I believe in Keifer."
John Felix walked over. Basketball in hand. "We got this, Keifer."
Keifer nodded. "Yeah. We do."
Lance walked toward them. His group behind him. Smug faces.
He stopped in front of Keifer. "Saturday. Three o'clock. Main court."
Keifer stared. "We'll be there."
Lance smiled fake. "Try not to cry when you lose."
Jay stepped forward. "Try not to run your mouth when you lose."
Lance looked at her. "Pretty girl talks big."
Keifer moved in front of Jay. "She talks for all of us. Now leave."
Lance laughed. "Saturday, Watson. Bring your whole loser group."
He walked away.
Ci-N flipped him off behind his back. "Jerk."
Rakki grabbed Jay's arm. "You were so cool!"
Jay smiled. "He needed to hear it."
Keifer looked at her. "Thanks."
Jay squeezed his hand. "Always."
Practice – Whole Week
Every day after class, Section E practiced.
Keifer led them. John Felix helped. The others tried their best.
Calix wasn't great but tried hard. David predicted where the ball would go. Edrix and Rory kept score. Eman brought snacks. Even Josh played defense.
Ci-N fell five times. "I'M TRYING!"
Drew yelled, "I bet you fall six times tomorrow!"
Ci-N fell again. "SIX! I BEAT MY RECORD!"
Everyone laughed.
Jay sat with the girls. Cheering. Clapping. Bringing water.
Rakki made signs. "SECTION E FOREVER!"
Grace held Grazel. The baby wore a tiny jersey. "Future player."
Mica waved pom-poms. "WE BELIEVE!"
Even Freya came. Sat far away. But she was there.
Game Day – Saturday – Main Court
The gym was packed. Students everywhere. Standing. Screaming.
One side for Lance. One side for Section E.
Jay sat front row. Girls beside her. Mariano and Watson families on video call.
Jane's face on a tablet. "WE CAN SEE EVERYTHING!"
Percy yelled, "KILL THEM, KEIFER!"
Jasfher nodded. "Win for the family."
Jeana and Serina held hands. Nervous.
Keizer smiled. "My son's got this."
Lance's team first. All tall. All cocky. Wearing black.
Crowd cheered for them. Loud.
Then Section E.
Keifer led. John Felix beside him. Ci-N tripping a little. Drew counting something. Calix determined. David calm. Edrix and Rory focused. Eman flexing. Josh quiet. Blaster holding a drumstick for luck.
They wore white. Simple. Clean.
Jay stood. "GO SECTION E! LET'S GO!"
The girls screamed. Rakki waved her sign. Grace held Grazel up. The baby wore tiny headphones. Protecting her ears.
Lance looked at Keifer. "Ready to lose?"
Keifer didn't answer. Just stared.
Game Started
First quarter.
Lance scored first. Easy. His team celebrated.
Keifer stayed calm. Got the ball. Passed to John Felix. John scored.
2-2.
Lance scored again. Keifer answered. Back and forth.
Ci-N guarded someone. Got pushed. Fell.
"FOUL!" Ci-N yelled.
Ref didn't call it.
Jay stood. "THAT WAS A FOUL! OPEN YOUR EYES!"
The crowd laughed. Jay didn't care.
Second Quarter
Lance's team pulled ahead. 20-14.
Section E looked tired.
Keifer called time out.
Everyone gathered.
Keifer looked at them. "We don't give up. We fight. Together."
John Felix nodded. "We got this."
Ci-N wiped sweat. "I'll fall less."
Drew patted his back. "I believe in you."
David spoke. "My prediction says we win. But we have to want it."
Eman passed water. "Drink. Fight. Win."
They broke the huddle. Ready.
Third Quarter
Section E came back.
Keifer stole the ball. Scored. Fast.
John Felix hit three pointers. Perfect.
Ci-N stole the ball once. Actually stole it. Passed to Keifer. Keifer scored.
Drew screamed, "CI-N DID SOMETHING! I LOSE ALL MY BETS!"
Ci-N grinned. "WORTH IT!"
Calix blocked someone. Actually blocked. Mica screamed his name.
David predicted where the ball would go. Stole it twice.
Edrix and Rory passed perfect.
Eman used his body. Strong.
Josh defended like a wall.
Blaster drummed on the bench. Rhythm for the team.
Score tied. 40-40.
Fourth Quarter – Last Minutes
Lance got angry. Played dirty. Pushed. Elbowed.
Keifer got hit. Hard.
Jay stood. "REF! THAT'S A FOUL!"
Ref finally called it.
Keifer got free throws. Made both.
Section E up by 2.
Lance got the ball. Tried to score. John Felix blocked him. Perfect block.
Ball went to Keifer. Seconds left.
Lance ran at him. "YOU WON'T SCORE!"
Keifer didn't listen. Jumped. Shot.
Buzzer sounded.
Ball went in.
SWISH.
The gym exploded.
Section E players ran to Keifer. Jumped on him. Screaming.
Ci-N cried. "WE WON! WE ACTUALLY WON!"
Drew fell to his knees. "I BET ON US AND WON! FIRST TIME!"
Mayo and Kit hugged. "KEIFER IS A LEGEND!"
Rakki screamed. Jay hugged her. Both crying.
Grace held Grazel up. The baby cooed. Happy.
Mica kissed Calix. He lifted her.
David smiled. "My prediction was right."
Eman passed food. "EAT! CELEBRATE!"
Josh smiled small. "Good game."
Blaster drummed. Victory song.
Lance stood alone. His team gone. Face red. Humiliated.
Keifer walked to him. Calm.
"Good game," Keifer said. Cold.
Lance looked at him. No words.
Keifer continued. "Stay away from Section E. Stay away from Jay. Or next time, you lose worse."
He walked away.
Lance just stood there. Defeated.
Ja jumped into Keifer's arms. He caught her.
"YOU WON! YOU WERE AMAZING!"
Keifer laughed. Held her tight. "We won."
Jay kissed his cheek. "I'm so proud of you."
Keifer's ears turned red. "Thanks to you. Your cheering helped."
Jay grinned. "I was pretty loud."
Keifer kissed her forehead. "Best cheerleader."
Ci-N ran over. "GROUP HUG!"
Everyone piled on. Section E. Girls. Even Grazel's tiny hand reached out.
Laughter. Joy. Victory.
Jane's face on the tablet. Crying. "THAT WAS THE BEST GAME EVER!"
Percy wiped tears. "My best friend is a legend!"
Jasfher nodded proudly. "Good game, Keifer."
Jeana smiled. "We're so proud."
Serina cried happy tears. "My baby!"
Keizer grinned. "That's my son!"
Keigan and Keiren screamed. "KEIFER! KEIFER! KEIFER!"
Jay held the tablet. "Did you see his last shot?!"
Jane nodded. "PERFECT! ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!"
Later, they all went to Eman's. Food everywhere. Music playing.
Everyone talked about the game. The shots. The blocks. The win.
Ci-N reenacted his steal. Fell again. Everyone laughed.
Drew counted his winnings. "I'm rich!"
Mayo and Kit danced.
Grace fed Grazel. The baby slept through everything.
Jay sat with Keifer. His arm around her.
"Happy?" he asked.
Jay looked at him. "So happy."
Keifer kissed her. Soft. Sweet.
Rakki took a picture. Sent to the group.
Rakki: Jayfer being cute.
Jane replied. Jane: FRAME THIS.
Percy replied. Percy: I hate how cute they are.
Jasfher replied. Jasfher: Keifer's okay I guess.
Keizer replied. Keizer: He's more than okay.
Everyone laughed.
End of the Night
Jay and Keifer walked outside. Stars above.
Jay held his hand. "Today was perfect."
Keifer nodded. "Game. Win. You. Perfect."
Jay smiled. "You're so sweet."
Keifer kissed her head. "Only for you."
They stood there. Quiet. Happy.
Lance was humbled. Section E was champions.
And they had each other.
Nothing else mattered.