Under | stephen curry

roadblock

Protagonist's

"Oi Kenneth, push the lane already bro." Jewel says as his character gets combo'd by the opponent's mage.

"I AM, pushing the lane, dumbassstupidass core." Kenneth rapped in response.

"Ken, end the game." I demand, the adrenaline building up as I was stalling all our opponents from across the map, hanging on for dear life.

Victory it finally displayed on the screen, meaning Kenneth successfully pushed their base. 

"MOMMY, THAT WAS CLUTCH"

"NICE ONE LOVI, NICE ONE"

"KENNETH, NICE ONE"

Five teenagers scream into the mic all at once as the results load in with the opponents' chat arguing; "stupid marksman didn't defend our base, report".

"MVP, BITCH" Kenneth brags as Jewel on the other line could only giggle and sigh.

"Jesus Christ, that fucking breath into the mic." I say in the voice call as I move my right headphone away from my ear, receiving a chaotic laugh from Mira.

"Ack ack ack ack ack," Kenneth mocks her laugh until his fake laugh turns into a real one, making all of us bust our lungs off in unison except our airhead of a friend; Arjin.

"One more game guys," Arjin says in his deep voice as I exit the game.

"Sorry, school starts in 10 mins—I gotta blast." Proud of my self-control, I immediately exit the voice call once I hear their whines and denials, demonizing me to play one more game.

Exiting my apartment and switching to my spotify, I start shuffling my liked songs. Cellphone in my bright yellow hoodie's pocket and rollers activated on my rubber shoes, I skate the sidewalks of the bay.

♫ super idol 的笑容都没你的甜 - playing

I skate right through the university gates, rushing through the ID scanning machine with an emotionless face.

It's literally my last year in senior high, and it didn't make sense that I was suddenly thrown by my family to my other relatives abroad into a new university—they could've at least waited for graduation. Despite all that, it has been nearly a month here in America and I've settled in quite nicely. . . I think.

I miss my friends from the Philippines, aka the dumbasses I was just in a call with. Even though I've left home, it doesn't feel like it since they've always been calling and accompanying me even if just virtually. I didn't even study before school officially started; all I did here was wake up, play, eat, and sleep, and—it feels incredible. Being able to at least bring a familiar feeling with me in a completely strange and new place.

It wasn't long until my—introduction for this story—thoughts were interrupted by loud cheers of different students from across the pathway headed to the High School Department building. I stop on my tracks, disabling my rollers.

"Excuse me, what's with the roadblock?"

Stephen's

"Excuse me, what's with the roadblock?" a monotone voice asks from the end of the crowd, stopping the roaring line of students greeting us and giving gifts. Everyone went dead silent and sent either glares or confused faces towards the girl at the end of the line. 

I look back in shock only to see the same jaw-dropped reaction from my mates, Dray's spinning basketball even stopping dramatically.

I return my gaze upfront with furrowed brows, "You talkin' to us? Are we the roadblock?" I ask the obvious in pure disbelief, pointing fingers at ourselves.

"ye—" her response was cut off by my slow claps of disbelief, soon accompanied by everyone else in the crowd including my team.

"make way," I instructed the people, causing them to divide and make a path towards the main attraction, soon after, she takes her steps. "So much for a welcome, newbie—" My talk ended as soon as it started.

Swish

I just. . . I'm at a loss for words. . .

The scent of floral perfume and minty shampoo flew by me as my eyes widen.

That girl. . . Just walked past the roadblock. . .