ARCH — oreo rice scene

Gotta focus, Arch.

Always keep the eye on the goal. I couldn't afford to slip up – in my basketball career, nor in my acads. That was what I promised my dad and myself.

I was proud to have one heck of a self-discipline, everybody looked up to me because of it. I'd always been able to prioritize. Not lately, though.

Lately, I hadn't been thinking of anything but one person; about how I wanted to call her, hear her voice, or just have her tell me about her day. It was as if I couldn't get through the day without texting her.

Damn, I seriously needed to get my priorities in check.

"O," Ansel said suddenly, dropping a yellow scarf wrapped bento beside me on the bench. We were in the locker room, and I was in the middle of changing.

I looked at it, then at him. "What is it?"

He swung a leg on the bench and straddled it as he stared at me, crossing his arms before saying, "Open it."

Cautiously, I picked it up and unwrapped it. I felt like I was opening a gift and I needed to have the right reaction, with the way my teammate was looking at me. My eyes widened after seeing what it was.

She swore she would never make this! I even begged her. Wait, Ansel handed it to me. Which means—

I looked at my friend. He was still staring at me intently, like he was sizing me up. I waited for him to speak, but he only watched me. I kept my expression neutral.

Finally, he said, "My sister made it."

I didn't say anything.

"For you."

I met his steady gaze.

"How long?" he asked.

"A couple of months," I replied, keeping my voice even.

His jaw clenched. "Did you know she's my sister?"

"No, not until a few weeks ago."

He looked skeptical. "Uh-huh." He sighed and shook his head, as he stood up and made a move to leave.

"You're not gonna grill me?" I asked him.

"Whatever, it's none of my business."

"For real?" I asked again.

He shrugged. "I trust Lele."

"But you don't trust me?"

He faced me and met my eyes, as he walked backwards. He didn't look pissed, which was something. "Arch, I trust you with my life. But with my sister? Remains to be seen." With that, he turned around and headed to his locker.

My attention went back to the oreo rice, a smile forming on my face. I felt as if something warm filled inside me, thinking how she made this for me.

"Oi, what's that?" Tanile piped up.

"Nothing," I said, closing the lunch box and trying my best to look nonchalant otherwise my teammates would never leave me alone.

"That 'nothing' looks good," Jose added, as he walked over to us.

"This is mine," I stated, hugging the bento to myself.

"Don't be selfish, Arch," West said. "Share your blessings."

I got to my feet to better defend myself and held out my free arm to get them away. "Back the hell off, you mofos."

Jose pouted. "Damot mo."

I grinned at him. "You're still not getting any."

"What's so special about that lunch box?" Tanile asked.

West nudged him. "Bet you it was given by a girl."

"I saw Ansel hand it to him," Jose mentioned.

Tanile looked thoughtful. "Doesn't Ansel have a sister?"

They all turned to me. Shit.

"That's who you've been texting all the time!" West exclaimed.

I didn't feel the need to answer the obvious, so I kept my mouth shut.

"You're just jealous 'cause you don't have a girl," Ansel called out, while he took off his normal kicks for his playing sneakers.

Jose rounded on him. "You're okay with this?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"But..." West frowned in confusion as he turned back to me, as if he was trying to remember something. "Don't you have that rule against dating?"

My forehead creased. I forgot how that personal rule of mine became such a public knowledge. I could feel everyone's eyes on me – particularly Ansel.

But I didn't answer. I didn't even have an answer for myself.

Ansel let out a small humorless laugh, which in itself was a comment enough, before turning his back on us again. He took off his shirt and threw it in his locker.

"You have nothing to say about this?" Tanile asked him.

"None of my business," was Ansel's only reply.

Jose's eyes suddenly turned into saucers as he quickly stepped away from our teammate and hissed, "Yo, he looks pissed."

I had to admit that I felt guilty. But I didn't know what else to say.

It was true that things were different with Nora. I'd never felt this way about anyone in my entire life. It sounded cliche but I finally understood why that line was so damn overused. It was the truth. Plain and simple.

Then again, my teammates were also right. I did have that rule. And there was a good reason why it existed. But... Nora and I weren't exactly dating.

She was a friend.

I wasn't really breaking the only rule I set upon myself by keeping her in my life. There was nothing wrong with what we were doing.

Jose leaned closer and whispered, "Arch, just one bite."

"Nope."

With that, I snatched my phone from my locker and stepped away from those ravenous creatures with my oreo rice. I headed to the infirmary room, where I knew I'd get some peace and quiet. I closed the door for some privacy and propped myself on the nearby table, with the spoon and all.

I texted Nora and thanked her for the food. I was still kinda shocked.

Nora: I just wanted to cheer you up because you were so down yesterday. I don't know what the right words to say so I thought of something to do. Then, the oreo rice came to mind.

Even though she swore she would never make it, she still did just to cheer me up. Wow. This girl always left me in awe of her.

Without thinking too much on it, I sent her a heart emoji. I didn't know what else to say. It felt like the right move.

As I ate the oreo rice – which tasted hella fucking good, by the way – Nora and I exchanged several texts. But then, she dropped a bomb that almost choked me.

Nora: Arch...

Me: Yeah?

Nora: My college friends call me Nora all the time. At home. In front of my brothers.

Well, damn. Ansel knew all along.

He really played me. But he didn't give me the third degree either. He let it go and went with the flow. Typical Ansel.

Nora: Why didn't he say anything, though?

Me: Lol he probably thought it was none of his business

As with almost everything.

Nora: My brothers always make my business their business.

Me: Maybe not this time

Nora: What makes this time so special?

Me: I think he could tell how much I cared about you

Nora: Oh... So... you care about me, huh?

Me: Lol thought you already knew

Maybe I wasn't that obvious, after all.

Nora: This is the first time you somewhat directly told me.

Me: Ahh well it's the truth

It was.

Somewhere along the way of our endless streams of text messages, I suddenly found myself caring about her. Maybe more than I should. No, definitely way more than I should. But damn it, I couldn't help myself whenever it came to her.

So much for that self-discipline.

There was a knock on the door, making me look up. Ansel sneaked his head in and said, "Coach is looking for you."

I nodded as I followed him back to the main locker room.

He was quiet for a few moments, then he added, "You do know I'll crush your skull if you break her heart, don't you?"

My lips twitched as I tried not to smile. "I do."

"Just checking."

Before I could lose my balls, I told him, "I really care about her, Ansel."

He stopped in his tracks and stared at me, as if now just realizing how serious I was. And I wanted him to know that I really was. I wasn't fucking around.

"More than basketball?"

It was as if my heart fell to my stomach, because I was very well aware that it shouldn't have happened. It was a threat to everything I worked so hard for all these years. I knew I shouldn't be feeling this way. And yet...

"That's what I'm afraid of."