Chapter 14

PAT‘s POV:

Another month passed.

And this time…

Everything became heavier.

—

Raven University basketball wasn’t the same anymore.

The training became harder.

Longer.

More intense.

We weren’t just preparing for another game.

We were preparing for something bigger.

A higher level of competition.

A tournament where every mistake mattered.

Every second mattered.

Every point mattered.

—

My days became simple.

Wake up.

Classes.

Training.

Study.

Repeat.

There were days when I barely had enough energy to remove my shoes before falling asleep.

My body was exhausted.

My mind was exhausted.

But I kept going.

Because that’s what I knew.

Because giving up was never an option.

—

“Again.”

Coach’s voice echoed through the gym.

My legs were already burning.

My breathing was uneven.

But I stood back up.

Again.

Another drill.

Another sprint.

Another chance to improve.

—

Everyone thought athletes were lucky.

That we only played.

That it was easy.

But they didn’t see the nights.

The injuries.

The sacrifices.

The moments where you questioned if everything you were giving was worth it.

—

And during those moments…

I always looked for one thing.

My phone.

A message.

A notification.

A name.

Katherine Reyes.

—

But things were different now.

Before…

We talked every night.

Even if it was only for a few minutes.

Even if one of us was tired.

We always found time.

Now?

Twice a week.

Sometimes three.

If we were lucky.

—

Not because she didn’t care.

I knew that.

I knew Kat.

Her second semester was getting worse.

Third year nursing wasn’t something she could simply survive.

She had finals.

Requirements.

Duties.

A future she was fighting for.

—

So I waited.

Even when I wanted to message her.

Even when I wanted to say:

“Kat, I miss you.”

I stopped myself.

Because I didn’t want to become another responsibility.

Another thing she had to think about.

—

I opened our chat.

Typed.

Deleted.

Typed again.

Deleted again.

Finally, I locked my phone.

Pathetic.

I could face an entire basketball team.

I could handle pressure from coaches.

But one message to the person I loved?

Suddenly it felt impossible.

—

Sometimes I wondered if she missed me too.

Then I hated myself for thinking that.

Because of course she did.

Kat wasn’t someone who forgot people.

She was just busy.

Growing.

Moving forward.

And I was happy for her.

Even if a small part of me wished she still had more time for me.

—

Mat noticed.

Of course he did.

He always noticed.

—

“You okay?”

I looked up from my food.

We were sitting after training.

“I’m fine.”

He laughed quietly.

“You and that answer.”

I rolled my eyes.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

I stared at him.

He smiled.

“See? You learned.”

I looked away.

Annoying.

—

But Mat changed too.

He stopped asking.

About Kat.

No more:

“How is she?”

“Did she reply?”

“When will she visit?”

Nothing.

And honestly…

I noticed.

—

At first, I thought maybe he lost interest.

But that wasn’t it.

Because I knew Mat.

He still cared.

He just understood.

—

“You stopped asking.”

I said one day.

He looked at me.

“About what?”

I raised an eyebrow.

He already knew.

“Kat.”

A small silence.

Then he shrugged.

“Because you don’t talk about her anymore.”

I looked away.

“That’s not true.”

He smiled slightly.

“It is.”

—

I didn’t answer.

Because he was right.

Not because I didn’t want to.

But because every time I talked about her…

I missed her more.

And lately…

Missing her felt heavier.

—

“You know…”

Mat said quietly.

“You’re allowed to miss someone.”

I looked at him.

He continued eating.

“You don’t have to pretend you’re okay all the time.”

I laughed softly.

“That’s ironic coming from you.”

He smiled.

“Maybe.”

—

The funny thing was…

Mat became someone I didn’t expect.

A friend.

A real one.

Not because of basketball.

Not because of Kat.

But because he understood things without forcing me to explain.

—

That night, I came home late.

The apartment was quiet.

Too quiet.

I placed my bag down.

Sat on my bed.

And checked my phone.

Nothing.

No messages.

No missed calls.

I tried not to feel disappointed.

But I did.

—

Then finally…

My phone vibrated.

I immediately grabbed it.

A message.

From Kat.

**Kat: Sorry, Pat. I just finished studying.**

I smiled.

Because even when she was busy…

She still came back.

**Kat: How are you?**

I stared at the screen.

Then typed.

**Pat: Tired.**

A few seconds.

**Kat: I know. Take care of yourself, okay?**

I smiled.

Because she always said that.

Always.

—

I wanted to tell her.

I wanted to say:

I miss you.

I miss our calls.

I miss hearing about your day.

I miss being the first person you talk to.

But instead…

I typed:

**Pat: You too. Don’t forget to rest.**

—

And that was us.

Two people who cared so much.

Two people who were always worried about the other.

Two people who loved each other.

But were both too busy…

And too afraid…

To say what we actually meant.

—

Maybe this was growing up.

Not losing people.

Not forgetting them.

Just learning how to wait.

And I was willing to wait.

For Kat.

Like I always had.