Autor's Note: Hello, my dear readers. I'm really sorry I haven't posted a chapter for a long while. I haven't been able to manage my time with my work and writing. Plus, my mental health was shot and I needed some rest. But the wait is over, I will stand by my word that I will post a chapter every week as I've been able in the past. Forgive me for leaving you hanging with my story, I just needed time to adjust to my current life. God bless you, my beloved readers

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  Managaytay pants and falls to the floor face-first. Seeing this, his teammates rush to him in panic. Vilnueva arrives first and turns Managaytay facing upwards. When Managaytay turns, he sees his face full of tears.

  "Years… Years I have dedicated to this team, Eric," Managaytay says to Vilnueva. "And it's still not enough." And Managaytay continues to sob.

  Vilnueva chuckles and says, "What do you mean you have dedicated? We have dedicated for this team, big guy." Vilnueva's lips now quivering. "I want you to know that you did your best, big guy." And now the dam of Vilnueva's tears breaks open and the two of them share in their sorrows.

  Vilnueva eventually ughs and says, "Why are we even crying for? We still have a chance to clinch for the Magic 4."

  Managaytay ughs along with him, "Yeah, I don't even know why we're crying. I guess we're too exhausted in this game. Yes, maybe that's why." But with a grim face, he says, "Maybe also because… I realized that…" He pauses for a moment. "I realized that we can't win the tournament because… we're understaffed, Eric. We don't have enough reinforcements. We, old guys, have to hold them off."

  Vilnueva didn't ugh or scoff at him, "I know this from the very beginning of this tournament, Thomas. I know we'll not win this tournament, but we'll give it our best… for our school and for the people supporting us."

  Vilnueva stands up and gives out a hand towards Managaytay, "Fight with me."

  Managaytay smiles, daps his buddy up, and stands up, "I will, Eric."

  The opposing teams, the Maaravi Warriors and the Charlemagne Pitbulls shake hands with each other. When Mark meets the big guy, Managaytay, he daps him up, hugs him, and gives him a smile.

  "You've done well, Thomas. Even though you lost, you've fought a good fight with us and we appreciate your spirit."

  Managaytay smiles back at him and says, "Thank you, Spsh. It's an honor to py against you, it's a privilege. I can hardly wait to see you py in the big leagues."

  "Thank you back, Big Monster."

  The two of them ugh together.

  At this time, Sam is still in school listening to the teacher's discussions.

  'I wonder who won today's game,' thinks Sam. 'I hope the Warriors win today.'

  The bell rings and the teacher dismisses them. Sam exits the campus when she receives a Messenger message.

  'It's from Cesar.'

  "We won today's game thanks to the Lord Jesus. Wanna grab lunch with us?"

  A smile exudes from her face as she replies back, "Let's go, darling. Congratutions on the win. Sure. Where?"

  "Ayy, you called me darling, you really want me to faint here haha."

  "You faint there. As if I care haha. Like, we say that to each other many times, and you still get rizzed by it? Haha"

  "If those words come out from your mouth, baby I melt like butter because of you. Haha."

  Sam shakes her head, "Enough of this haha. Where are we eating lunch?"

  "You know where to go. Haha."

  She chuckles, "Let me guess, Jollibee."

  "JACKPOT HAHAHAHAHA."

  Sam smiles, "I'll be there in a moment."

  "Yours' the usual?"

  "Yeah, the usual. Spaghetti and chicken and RRICCCE."

  "Bet. See you soon."

  "Alright. See you in a bit."

  Sam walks through the streets of Toledo, Cebu, crossing the roads along the way. Eventually, in minutes, Sam arrives at Jollibee where the love of her life is.

  Entering Jollibee, she meets a familiar face.

  “Hello, Sam. I’m gd you’re here, the meals are waiting for us to be devoured upstairs.”

  “Oh. Hi, Mark.” Sam looks around trying to find something. “Have you seen Cesar?”

  ‘I thought Cesar is gonna be the one meeting me here,’ Sam thinks. ‘I wonder why he didn’t come to meet me.’

  “Oh,” says Mark. “He’s busy talking with Coach Perez upstairs. The coach insisted on talking to him, something like a schorship a college scout offered to him, so Cesar sent me to be here.”

  ‘I guess he’s getting some prospects in basketball. I’m proud of him.’

  “Wow, that’s nice. I’m gd he’s getting the attention he deserves,” says Sam. “What about you? Did you get an offer?"

  “Uhm,” Mark chuckles. “Coach told me earlier that I have an offer from a college scout in Cebu. But I don’t get why they offer us schorships when we’re still in high school. We’ll probably graduate high school three years from now so I don’t get it on why they bother.”

  “Congratutions, Mark. I’m proud of you. Maybe they want to pre-order haha.”

  Mark ughs along with her and says, “Thank you, Sam. I didn’t think I could fulfill my dream of becoming a basketball pyer. But because of Cesar, it’s all coming together nicely.”

  Sam wanders her gaze, “Cesar really is a great person, don’t you think?”

  “He really is. You’re lucky he’s with you, Sam. You two look great together.”

  “I’m blessed even. Gosh, I love that man. He makes my heart flutter, you know, and he makes my knees weak haha. Every time I think of him, my heart is just going crazy, you know.”

  Mark just smiles, listening attentively to what she is saying, “Gd to hear it, Sam. Nothing but the best for you both.”

  They finally had their lunch and Sam enjoyed every second of it with Cesar. She smiles every time he tells her the game as if smitten.

  When the final css is over, Cesar walks Sam to her home.

  "I'm gd you won the game today, we've been rivals with the Pitbulls for quite a while," says Sam.

  "All day you kept saying that haha," replies Cesar. "You kept on saying you're gd we won."

  "But I am though haha."

  Cesar ughs along with her.

  They take a few steps without saying anything. Instead, they just enjoy the silence that is between them.

  "I'm gd I sted a year-plus pursuing you, Sam. Haha," Cesar breaks the silence. "I didn't think I could make it this far. It's a record."

  "I'm gd you did," replies Sam. "Because if you don't, you're sorry."

  "Looks like she doesn't want me without her. Ooooh."

  Sam giggles, "Shut up! Don't make me hit you."

  "Ok fine, darling. Haha."

  Minutes of walking eventually halt as Sam arrives at her house.

  "It seems this is the end of our journey… darling," says Sam.

  Cesar puts one hand on his chest and the other on his head.

  "I think I'm gonna faint, Sam," says Cesar.

  Sam hits him lightly on his shoulder and he immediately behaves.

  Cesar chuckles and says, "See you, darling."

  "See you too."

  Sam draws near to Cesar and kisses his cheek. And then she immediately bolts towards the door and gets inside, closing it behind her.