Chapter 1: Introduction

" I told Heidi that we had a game match that day but she was still angry. Women! I can't understand them at all."

"What did you do, Les?"

"No. What should I do?"

Enzo leaned against the door jamb and looked around at the men here in the locker room located inside the university gym here at Saint Vincent University. The men were so focused on the conversation that they did not immediately notice him.

He had just returned from Saint Louis University and talked to the captain of the tennis club there. Since they still have a practice game, he immediately went straight to SVU.

"All right. As for me, I will never trade a tennis match just for the sake of the girl," he heard Cloud, one of the Golden Duo of their tennis club.

"Same here!"

"Not either. If you love him, he should be your number one priority."

"Just tight, Chuck?"

These eight men inside the locker room were his friends and all were members of the core group of the tennis club called Tennis Knights. He is the acting captain-cum-coach of the Tennis Knights as well as the entire tennis club.

The nine members of the Tennis Knights take the same course in Computer Engineering. It was pure coincidence that they all loved playing tennis. And it was also pure coincidence that they all became a part of Tennis Knights.

Enzo, Les, Cloud, Chuck, Reus, Guji, Kei and Chase were in the same class while Rein was two years younger than them.

"What's that, Les, Cloud, heart to heart talk?"

"Shut your bloody mouth, San Diego!" Guji smirked at the talkative Reus.

"I'm not talking to you, Nognog! Fire!"

"Than you like a parrot!"

How noisy they were before he arrived, how quickly they calmed down when they heard him sneeze. Maybe it was because of him. Or maybe it was because of ... him.

"There you are, Coach Enzo! I mishue, Captain, sir!"

He looked at Reus sharply so his smile twisted. "Twenty laps around the court, now!" One by one he turned to his friends, "All of you, twenty laps, now!"

Volunteers stand up and come out. Chase, his genius friend, came out last.

"What did Martin say?"

He immediately replied, "The first part of the tournament will be held here. He invites us to a practice game but I am hesitant."

It tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Good luck, 'Zo."

He heaved a sigh.

He just laid the overall bag on the floor and followed his colleagues to the Open Court. He had already put on a tennis uniform before he could even come here to the locker room.

As soon as he arrived at the Open Court, his head immediately warmed up when he saw the women squirming on the side. Those girls were just distractions on their part.

"What's wrong with you, 'Zo?"

Enzo turned to Chase. He did not realize that it was close to him.

"Hn."

"Have you ever felt this? That something's going to change any minute from now?"

He just looked at the friend.

It smiled, your smile as if it was hiding something. "I have a feeling many things will change for us, Enzo."

"Naks! It looks like Chase is already confessing his love to Enzo. I'm thrilled . Har-har . That's a labyu ."

If it just looked deadly, Reus might have jumped to the floor earlier because he thought so.

"Reus, another twenty laps around the court. Now!"

When he frowned, he knew he had retaliated somehow.

The wind blew him away as Chase's words circled his mind. Yes, he could feel that something was bound to change and he doesn't know if this change would be good to him or not.

Allie sighed as she felt it . He knew it was because he was awake last night. He finished his assignments today. He also spent the night in the hospital watching over his mommy.

But it's okay. Just for her mommy. Her mother sacrificed so much for her. What is he watching over it.

Allie looked up as someone dropped pineapple juice on the table. "Thanks, Avi," he said to the friend.

Allie could count on one hand her friends and Avi on the other. He has been relieved here since he first met the girl. That is why until now they are still friends.

Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management is the course that Avi and I took here at Saint Louis University. They are in their third year of that course. Allie really wants to take a course that you are connected to in the arts but she is very practical.

It sat opposite him. "You're welcome. Are you sick? You're paralyzed, oh."

He waved his palm. "Just woke up," he replied and then sipped the juice.

"Are you sure you can? You even applied as the manager of our tennis club."

"Of course. I can, 'no. Then I know mommy will be relieved when she finds out I joined the club. You know that, thinking she is a burden to me which was not true."

Allie recently submitted an application form to the tennis club of Saint Louis University. In the three years he has been studying here, this is the first time he has joined a club. He does not have time to join clubs and organizations. She spends more time studying and taking care of her mommy.

When he was in elementary and high school, he also did not participate in school activities because he was lame, tired quickly and got sick quickly. His resistance is weak. She just let go of her condition for a long time but her mommy got sick.

But now, she will apply to calm her mommy. It forces him to join an organization and not confine himself to taking care of it. To avoid this, he applied as a manager at the tennis club.

It wasn't a sacrifice and he also all-wanted to be a member of the tennis club even as a manager.

"Just don't force yourself, ah. Rest when you're tired," Avi's voice stirred Allie's mind.

He smiled at his friend. "I know."

Even though he has few friends, he knows they are real and true. He does not need thousands of friends if he is not a real person.

"What time was your interview with the tennis club?"

"Three o'clock."

"Uh-huh. I hope you get accepted. When you get accepted, walk me to Red baby ."

"It's crazy. Russel will be angry with you," he laughed.

Russel is his best friend. Russel is captain of a tennis club at another university. Even if Avi refuses, Allie feels that she likes Russel.

Avi folded his arms. "Whatever. I don't care about that pest. Let them bring her matrons." It waved its palm. "Of course. Ashleigh is coming out next week," he said.

Ashleigh it refers to is another of their friends. He is studying at another university. He became his friend once when he came here to Saint Louis to cover an event.

"All right, I'll say goodbye to mommy first."

"Then we can visit your mom afterwards."

"Okay!"

Eventually Avi's attention was focused on his laptop. Allie, on the other hand, looked around.

They are here in the open area of ​​Saint Louis. There are tables and chairs here. There are tables with basement so it is not sunny. There they stood.

Allie turned her attention to her drawing book. Ever since she learned Avi loved writing romance stories, they started teaming up. Avi writes the story, she draws. He makes Avi writing manga style. This is his hobby.

A few minutes also passed before he looked at his cellphone and looked at the time. It will be three o'clock. He arranged the equipment and then stood up.

"Let me go to the club office first, Avi."

"All right. I might catch up with you later. I still have work to do. Good luck! Kiss me Red baby . On the second thought, don't."

The tennis club office is close to the university gym. When he arrived at the office, he was blown away by the wind.

Allie froze when the office door suddenly opened. He met a man.

"Oh. Do you need anything, Miss?" its smiling question.

"Ah, I'm the one applying for club manager," he said.

"Allie Ferrer? Come in, come in. Martin, the captain of the tennis club, is inside. He will interview you."

"Thank you."

"I'm Chance," he introduced himself and then held out his palm.

Kiming he holds that. "Nice meeting you."

When he let go of his palm he messed up his hair as if they had known each other for a long time. "You seem nice. I hope he'll pick you. Good luck!"

He entered the office. That's just small. As far as he knows, apart from the office, the tennis club has its own locker room which is inside the university gym.

"Hello. I'm Allie Ferrer," he said when the man sitting behind the only table in the room looked at him.

His gaze rose to hers. She knew him. He was Martin San Victores, the captain of the tennis club.

"Allie Ferrer? Come, sit there," he said and then pointed to the empty seat across from the table.

He immediately obeyed its command.

"I'm Martin San Victores."

"Nice meeting you!" he exclaimed.

She was a fan of him. He knew he was really good at playing tennis.

He chuckled. "No need to be nervous. Actually, this interview is just formalities. When I read your form, I know instantly that you fit in the position. Welcome to our club, Allie," he said with a smile.

Allie's eyes widened. She was chosen just like that ?!

Martin seems to have read his mind because he added, "I've been watching you since you passed your application form four days ago. And I liked what I had seen. Among the applicants, I choose you, Allie."

What is he, pokemon? Does he look like Pikachu ?! Allie just smiled broadly. "Thank you! Thank you!"

"No need to thank me. Just work hard for our club."

"I will!"

Martin gave him lists of things he should do as a tennis club manager. It also gave him profiles of each member of the club as well as the core group of the tennis club.

"You will not regret that I chose you, captain!"

"I know."

Allie had already left Saint Louis but he felt he was still in the clouds. It felt nice to do something for yourself.

It felt fulfilling.

"Are you done, Allie? How are you? Have you been chosen?"

Allie stopped walking and then turned to her friend. "Yes! Martin chose me!"

"Congrats! Your mommy will definitely be happy. Are you going to see her now?"

"Thanks and yes. I'll be there first to watch."

"Do you want to go with me?"

He shook his head and then smiled at the woman. "No need."

"Let's just get on the bus together," he said.

Allie nodded. "Let's go?"

As they walk they talk. You can imagine how long they did not talk because they did not run out of stories even though they were just classmates.

"How is Aunt Nella?" Avi asked referring to her mommy.

The wind blew him away. "She's fighting," he simply promised.

Avi grabbed her palm and gently squeezed it. "Tell her I said hi, okay? I'll always include her in my prayers, Allie."

He smiled at his friend. "Thanks, Avi."

When they got to the bus, the two of them separated. Avi's car is a different route.

It also took him about an hour to get to the hospital. He went straight up to his mommy's room.

Allie smiled when she found her mommy awake.

"Hello, mom!" he greeted her with a smile.

From the book it turned him on. She smiled despite the tiredness she could see on its face. "Allie, you're here. How was your day?"

Allie laid the bag down on the table and then sat in the vacant chair next to the bed. He picked an apple and started peeling it.

"It's okay, mom. Our professors have a lot to do but they can still do it," he replied.

"I guess you're not with Avi?" its a question.

"Maybe next time, mom. There's so much to do, eh. Avi might be late."

She handed her mommy the plate of peeled apples.

Her mommy is sick. Cancer. To this day she is still resisting and getting medical treatment but Allie sees the gradual decline of her mommy's body and health. But he did not despair. As long as her mommy resists, she will be strong.

"Why, you should go straight home, son. You should take care of what you have to do at school rather than go through it."

Allie grabbed her mommy's palm and gently squeezed it. Despite her illness, she still does not lose her concern for her.

"It's okay, mom. I have reference books so I can do assignments and take home quiz here."

"You might get too tired."

Allie just changed the topic. "By the way, mom, I was chosen as the manager of the tennis club at SLU!" he announced.

Allie saw her mommy's face light up. He continued to feel, he also felt lighter. She liked making her mother happy.

"Really? Congratulations, Allie. Do well on being a manager. Don't slack off."

"Yes ma'am!"

They talked for a few more minutes and when he noticed that his mommy was fainting, he told her to go to bed first. Allie knew that her mommy was having a hard time especially since she slept without hesitation.

Allie was blown away by the wind and then closed.

Her mommy's brain tumor is a brain tumor. Cancer of the brain. They found out it was sick three years ago. It undergoes various treatments. They thought it was okay but in recent months its health has deteriorated. It was as if the treatments and medicines were not enough anymore. The doctor said that surgery could help her mommy recover.

At first Allie did not know what to do when she found out about her mommy's illness. How is the hospital payment? In drugs and surgery? They did not save enough, that even if they sold her mommy's business it was still lacking.

Fortunately, her mommy's friend helps them.

Allie doesn't know what to do. He smiles every day, showing that he is strong but he is very scared. He knew this disease was not a joke especially in the brain. He read articles about brain tumors and was discouraged by what he read.

When she found out about her mommy's illness, she felt her world stop spinning. The only thing he has is his mommy. He was probably sick, there was probably no certainty if he could handle the operation bringing more fear and pain to his heart.

But Allie thought, if she was scared and hurt now, how could her mommy, right? So he tries to be strong for it.

She pressed her palms to her eyes to stop her tears from falling. It is not right for him to be weak in front of his mommy. He knew it only took him strength to fight back. He cannot be weak.

Not now.

If only her father was here with them ...

He was shaken.

He did not miss his daddy. He does not know why it is not with them now and he has no plans to find out now. Because every time she was trying to ask about him, her mother would always have this sad and painful look in her eyes. She doesn't want to see her mother like that ever again so she stopped asking.

Sometimes, he wonders what it would be like if his daddy was here. Will it help her mommy? Empowered? To be told not to give up and fight back?

He can't answer because his daddy is not here. She grew up not knowing how it feels to have a father.

Even if she was alone, she would give all the strength her mother needed right now. So she could survive this.

Allie turned to the door when she heard it open. A smile immediately flashed on his lips when he saw the figure enter.

"Renz ..."