Sakura's Pride
Winning
To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail, our pride supports; when we succeed; it betrays us.
C.C. Colton
o0o
There had been long nights when I thought about challenging him to a game that takes stamina and ingenuity. What could challenge him physically enough to make him break a sweat? What could challenge him enough to distract him from a match? I figured it out. It would mean a match with high stakes to play. It took me nights to think up a game, but seconds to think up a one-on-one basketball match.
o0o
"Sakura, how come I never score?" A girl asked in frustration.
"It takes hand and eye coordination to get it into the hoop."
Sakura held the ball between her hands and bent her knees slightly. She pushed and the ball went in effortlessly.
The girl clapped. "Everyone, come over here! Sakura's giving lessons on how to shoot."
A few more girls came over and positioned themselves in a line in front of Sakura.
Sakura grinned in satisfaction as she spoke. "Now hold the ball, so that one hand holds the bottom while the other steadies it. Bend your knees a little and push the ball up. Have your eyes and hand lead the ball into the hoop."
"That's what I do, but the ball refuses to fall in."
"That's because you need to focus on your target, which is that square over the hoop, before you shoot," Sakura explained.
Sakura was interrupted by loud squeals coming from a group of girls, bunched up by the window.
"Li-kun is so hot!"
"Gosh, I wish my boyfriend could look half as good as that!"
"He's PERFECT!"
A tremendous sigh came from all of them at the same time. Even Sakura's pupils got drawn in as well. They abandoned Sakura to join the rest of the drooling girls. Soon Sakura came up behind them to see what was so amazing and PERFECT about this guy, even though he had done perfect and amazing things in front of her countless times.
There Syaoran was, running to catch up with his opponent on the soccer field. As agile as a cheetah, he ran ahead of his opponent and zigzagged back. He slid past his opponent and stole the ball with no trouble at all. The goal was in sight, but he made a fake and kicked it to his teammate, who made the goal with ease.
"What a play!"
Sakura looked at the girl who spoke, and argued, "He didn't score."
"Big deal, it was a great play!"
Sakura frowned at her and with majesty stomped out of the gym, anger brewing gently inside her.
"You guys, I think we hurt her feelings," Tomoyo said softly.
"Big deal! She's only jealous!" How true that statement was, Tomoyo thought.
o0o
I was born with confidence and audacity unlike most girls in this stereotyped society. The main reason why I failed to ever fail was because of my devotion to success. Nothing could bring me down unless some ghost haunted me in the middle of the night. Now, that scares me, but I was not afraid of a challenge not involving ghosts. I was not afraid to challenge a boy, who was probably faster and stronger than me because chances were I could have been just as strong and just as fast if I believed.
o0o
Syaoran was the last to step out of the boys' locker room, afraid he would get swallowed up into his fan club if he left earlier. When he was closing the door behind him in a restless manner he was startled to see still one girl standing there, who looked like she had been waiting for him the whole time.
"Li-sempai," she said, trying to look tough for her petite size.
"Kinomoto-san," his eyes were wide as he glanced around fretfully for anyone else who might have waited for him. Sakura was not the type of person, who paid much attention to him, so the odds that someone, who admired him was hiding in a corner ready to pounce him, was big. "Is something wrong?" Syaoran asked.
A tranquil silence fell over them for a brief moment. Then she threw her pointer at him and shouted, "I challenge you!"
Syaoran flinched. "Challenge me? Why? What?"
"After school tomorrow in the gymnasium. I challenge you to a game of basketball to determine the best of the best."
Syaoran's eyebrows rose, in question. "What is this about?"
Sakura shook her head at him. "It's about you and me. Nobody will see us after school."
Syaoran stepped closer to her. "You and me? But, why basketball?"
"If you have another suggestion, that's alright with me." Sakura's eyes were ablaze now. "I'm ready for anything. So are you up for the challenge or are you going to just back down."
"I get it." He briefly closed his eyes.
"So are you up for it?" Sakura asked insistently again.
He opened one eye and peered at her. "Of course I am. I've been challenged before by guys, but never has a girl asked to challenge me."
"Let this be the first time, then."
Syaoran shrugged and replied hotly, "I have no reason to back out on a small game of basketball. It'll be fun."
"It's not about fun."