CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2: THE CURIOSITY

The late afternoon sun spilled through the towering glass panels of a private training facility in Pampanga, bathing the polished hardwood in streaks of warm gold.

The gym was almost empty.

No reporters.

No teammates.

No cameras.

Just the steady rhythm of a basketball echoing through the quiet space.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Kenji Yuzo Morzal dribbled the ball between his legs with effortless precision before planting his left foot and rising into a smooth pull-up jumper.

Swish.

The net barely moved.

Without celebrating, he caught the ball as it bounced back toward him and walked calmly to the opposite wing.

Another shot.

Swish.

Another.

Swish.

His breathing remained steady despite nearly three hours of nonstop training.

A black vintage t-shirt clung lightly to his frame, damp with sweat, while a faded gray baseball cap rested low over his eyes. Aside from the occasional squeak of his sneakers against the floor, the gym remained silent.

Exactly how he liked it.

For most athletes, silence was uncomfortable.

For Kenji...

It was where he thought best.

Only a few hours earlier, the entire basketball community had erupted after the official announcement of his transfer to San Diego University.

Sports pages exploded.

Analysts debated his decision.

Fans flooded every comment section with theories.

Some called it the biggest collegiate transfer in years.Others insisted there had to be a hidden reason behind it.

Kenji ignored all of it. Public opinions had never won championships.

Hard work did.

He had spent years hearing strangers tell him where he should play, how he should train, and what choices would supposedly shape his future.

Eventually...

The noise had become nothing more than background static.

After another series of free throws, Kenji finally walked toward the bench and reached for his water bottle.

His phone rested beside his duffel bag.The lock screen was overflowing with notifications.

Sports articles.

Group chats.

Mentions.

Interview clips.

He glanced at them for barely a second before unlocking the screen.

One notification immediately stood out.

"Kenji x SDU's Poganda? Fans go crazy over matching outfits."

He frowned slightly. "...Poganda?"

Curiosity got the better of him.He tapped the notification.Within seconds, his screen filled with dozens of fan edits.

Slow-motion basketball highlights.

Crowd reactions.

Split-screen comparisons.

Comment sections moving faster than he could read.

He wasn't surprised to see himself, he was surprised to see the girl beside him.

Audrae Zamora.

Or rather...The athlete everyone online seemed to affectionately call-

"SDU's Poganda."

Kenji leaned back against the bench, silently watching one edit after another.Most of them made absolutely no sense.

Matching jersey colors.

The same choice of song in separate I*******m Stories.Old tournament clips stitched together to make it seem like they had been looking at each other.

One fan had even compared the color of their shoelaces.

His eyebrow lifted almost imperceptibly."People really notice everything."

Then another video appeared.

Unlike the others this one wasn't focused on him.It was entirely about Audrae.

The opening clip showed her walking onto the court before tip-off, an oversized SDU warm-up jersey hanging loosely over her shoulders. A black baseball cap sat backward on her head as she casually spun a basketball on one finger while greeting her teammates.

The arena erupted the moment her name echoed through the speakers.

The edit quickly shifted to game highlights.

A hesitation move.

A lightning-fast crossover.

A no-look pass that cut straight through two defenders.

Then a clean pull-up jumper.

Nothing flashy.

Just smooth.

Efficient.

Calculated.

Kenji watched without skipping.His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes sharpened ever so slightly.

She wasn't forcing plays.She wasn't hunting highlights.She simply made the right basketball decision...Over and over again.

He replayed one possession.

Then another.A defender shaded her left.She immediately attacked the open lane.

Help defense rotated.

Instead of forcing a contested layup, she kicked the ball to the corner without hesitation.

Three points.

Kenji gave the faintest nod."High IQ."

Not many players understood how difficult that was.

Anyone could score.

Very few could consistently make the smartest play under pressure.

The video slowed as the final buzzer sounded.Audrae bent forward, hands on her knees, catching her breath.

A little girl suddenly appeared from the front row, stretching out a marker with both hands.Without a second thought, Audrae walked over.

She accepted the marker.

Signed the basketball.

Then smiled.

It wasn't the confident grin she'd worn all game.

It was softer.

Warmer.

A single dimple appeared on her cheek.

The arena lights reflected in her cat-like eyes as she thanked the young fan before jogging toward the tunnel.

Kenji unconsciously paused the video.

For a brief moment...

The fierce point guard from the highlights had completely disappeared.In her place stood someone surprisingly gentle.

His thumb hovered over the screen.

The comments underneath continued pouring in.

"She looks pogi on the court and pretty off it."

"Literal na Poganda."

"No one does it like SDU's Cat Girl."

Kenji let out the quietest breath through his nose.

A reaction that was almost a laugh."Poganda."

The nickname fit better than he expected.

Not because of her appearance.Because she carried two completely different auras without ever seeming to force either one.

He locked his phone.Set it beside his water bottle.

Picked up the basketball once more.Then walked back to the three-point line.

This time...He wasn't thinking about the media.

He wasn't thinking about the transfer or the endless fan edits.He was thinking about the point guard from San Diego University...

Whose game had quietly earned his respect before they had ever exchanged a single word.

The heavy gym doors swung open with a dull metallic thud.Warm afternoon air drifted inside, carrying faint laughter from outside the facility.

Two familiar figures stepped onto the hardwood, each carrying a sports drink and a towel slung over one shoulder.

Jun spotted Kenji first."Bro, you're still here?"

Kenji caught the basketball off the bounce without looking away from the rim."Five more minutes."

Chris laughed as he tossed his gym bag onto the nearest bench."You've been saying 'five more minutes' since high school."

Kenji simply shrugged before sinking another effortless three-pointer.

Swish.

Jun shook his head."You're impossible."

The three eventually gathered near the bench, the silence settling comfortably between them.

Kenji twisted open his water bottle and took a slow drink.

Chris, meanwhile, was already scrolling through his phone.His eyebrows suddenly lifted.

"Bro..."He turned the screen toward Jun."The SDU fan pages are going crazy again."

Jun barely looked."About Kenji?"

"No."

Chris grinned."About Kenji and Audrae."

Kenji didn't react.

Not outwardly.

He simply lowered his bottle and waited for them to continue.

"Seriously," Jun laughed, shaking his head. "These fans are unbelievable."

Chris snorted."They literally made a five-minute compilation because they wore similar colors today."

Kenji raised an eyebrow."That's enough internet for today."

The two laughed.

"Exactly what we said."

Jun slid his phone back into his pocket before leaning against the scorer's table."But jokes aside..."

His expression became more thoughtful.

"...Audrae's actually different."

Kenji rested the basketball against his hip."How?"

Chris answered first."She's the face of SDU Women's Basketball."

"Not just because she's good," Jun added."She earned it."

Kenji remained quiet.

Listening.

Observing.

"Coach always uses her game footage whenever he talks about decision-making."

Chris folded his arms."He says she never forces the game."

"She lets the game come to her," Jun finished.

Kenji's thoughts briefly returned to the highlights he'd watched only minutes ago.

They weren't exaggerating.

That patience...

That court vision...

It was obvious even through a phone screen.

Chris suddenly snapped his fingers."Oh!"

"You know what's funny?"Jun immediately laughed.

"You're about to tell him, aren't you?"

"He deserves to know."

Kenji looked between them."Know what?"

Chris grinned."Coach Ben never told you?"

Kenji slowly shook his head.

Chris leaned back against the bench."Audrae is Coach Ben's niece."

Silence.

Even the bouncing basketball nearby seemed to fade into the background.

Kenji blinked once."...His niece?"

Jun nodded."Coach Cath from SDU?"

"She's Coach Ben's cousin."Chris continued.

The pieces quietly began falling into place.

Coach Ben had spoken highly of SDU countless times.

He'd praised Coach Cath's system.

Her discipline, her culture.

He had even encouraged Kenji to seriously consider the university.

At the time...Kenji assumed it was simply because of basketball.

Now...There was another reason.

Kenji looked down at the ball in his hands.

A faint smile tugged at one corner of his mouth.

So...

That explained it.Coach Ben wasn't simply recommending a strong program.He was recommending family.

"Coach talks about her all the time," Jun admitted with a laugh.

"'Watch how she reads the defense.'

'Watch her patience.'

'Watch how she leads without forcing herself to be loud.'"

Chris nodded in agreement."He even made us watch one of her tournament games before regionals."

Kenji looked up."Really?"

"Twice."

The three laughed.

Jun folded his arms."He always says talent gets you noticed but discipline keeps you there."

Chris added quietly."Whenever Coach says that, he usually points at Audrae's film."

Kenji's expression softened ever so slightly.

Respect.

Not because she was famous, not because of the internet.Because another coach he deeply respected had seen something worth teaching.

That carried weight.

Jun suddenly nudged Kenji's shoulder.A teasing grin spread across his face."Imagine the first practice."

Chris chuckled."The media's probably going to camp outside the gym."

"They're expecting fireworks."

Kenji calmly picked up his towel."They're going to be disappointed."

Jun tilted his head."Why?"

Kenji slung the towel around his neck.His voice remained as calm as ever."Because I didn't transfer to create headlines."He picked up his basketball."I transferred to play basketball."

Neither Jun nor Chris answered immediately.

Instead...The two simply exchanged a knowing smile.

That answer...Sounded exactly like Kenji Morzal.

As he walked back toward the free-throw line, Jun called out one last time."Still..."

Kenji glanced over his shoulder.

"Don't be surprised if the internet writes your story before you even meet her."

A small smile appeared on Kenji's face.

Barely noticeable."...Then they'll probably get it wrong."

He bounced the ball once, rose into another jumper.

Swish.

Nothing but net.

The gym had grown quieter by the minute.

Jun and Chris had already started putting away the training equipment, their conversation fading into the background.

Kenji remained seated alone on the wooden bench.The basketball rested at his feet.His towel hung loosely around his neck.

For a few moments...

He simply stared at his phone.Then, almost absentmindedly, he unlocked it again.

His fingers hovered over the search bar.After a brief pause, he typed two words.

Audrae SDU.

Within seconds, countless videos flooded the screen.

Game highlights.

Interview clips.

Press conferences.

Fan edits.

Practice footage.

He ignored the edits.

Ignored the trending hashtags, ignored every thumbnail with dramatic captions.

Instead...

He tapped on a full-game highlight uploaded by a collegiate sports page.The opening possession immediately caught his attention.

Tie game.

Less than two minutes remaining.

Audrae stood at the top of the key, calmly dribbling as the shot clock ticked lower.

Eight seconds.

Seven.

Six.

The defender pressed higher.

Trying to force her left.

Kenji instinctively leaned forward.

She didn't panic...She didn't rush...Instead...She took one controlled dribble backward.

Just enough to reset the angle the help defender shifted exactly what she wanted.

A quick hesitation.

One explosive crossover.

The first defender stumbled and the weak-side wing rotated to stop the drive.Instead of forcing a contested layup...Audrae whipped a one-handed pass to the opposite corner.

Her teammate released the shot before the defense could recover.

Swish.

Three points.

Kenji paused the video.

Rewind it.

Watched the possession again.

Then a third time.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips."She manipulated the help defense."

Not many players did that.Most attacked what they saw.Audrae attacked what she expected the defense to do.

That difference...

Separated good players from elite ones.

The next clip showed a fast break.A teammate sprinted ahead with only one defender between them and the basket.

Most guards would've forced a flashy assist.

Audrae didn't.She slowed down.Just enough to freeze the defender.Only then did she thread a bounce pass between two outstretched arms.

Easy layup.

Another assist.

Kenji nodded almost unconsciously.

"She's patient."

Not slow.

Patient.

There was a difference.She never played faster than the game required.

He continued watching.One possession after another.No wasted dribbles,no unnecessary hero plays.

No forced shots.She celebrated her teammates' baskets just as much as her own.

When someone missed a defensive rotation...

She pointed.

Communicated.

Then sprinted back.

No visible frustration,no dramatic reactions.

Just leadership.

Quiet.

Consistent.

The highlight reel eventually shifted to a defensive sequence.The opposing point guard attempted the same crossover three possessions in a row.

The first two times...Audrae gave her space.

The third time, she anticipated it.The moment the ball crossed over-She reached in.Clean steal.

No foul.

She pushed the pace down the court before finishing with a simple left-handed layup.

Nothing flashy.

Just efficient.

Kenji replayed it.

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly."She remembers tendencies."That wasn't instinct.That was preparation.

She had been studying the player throughout the game.

Waiting.

Learning.

Then striking at exactly the right moment.

The video came to an end.But another clip automatically played.This one wasn't from a television broadcast.It was filmed from the stands.

Shaky.

Unedited.

Raw.

Audrae was warming up before tip-off.An oversized white SDU shooting shirt hung loosely over her athletic frame.A black cap was turned backward on her head.

She caught a pass without looking.Released a three-pointer.Turned away before the ball even reached the rim.

Swish.

Another pass.

Another shot.

Swish.

A teammate said something that made her laugh.She lightly shoved his shoulder before jogging toward the next shooting spot.

Comfortable.

Confidence.

Completely at home on the hardwood.

The clip suddenly changed again.

Post-game.

Fans crowded near the tunnel entrance.Security struggled to create space.A little girl squeezed through the railing, holding a basketball and a silver marker with both hands.

"Ate Audrae!"

The little voice barely rose above the crowd.

But Audrae heard it.She immediately stopped walking.Accepted the marker with both hands.

Signed the basketball.Then crouched slightly so she could speak to the child at eye level.

The little girl beamed.

Audrae smiled back.

A real smile.

Not one meant for cameras, not one practiced for interviews.

Just genuine and warm.

A single dimple appeared on her left cheek.The child happily ran back toward her parents, hugging the signed basketball to her chest.

Kenji unconsciously paused the frame.

The fierce point guard who had just spent forty minutes dismantling defenses looked completely different off the court.

He stared at the frozen image for another second.Then quietly read the comments below.

"This is why we love her."

"Pogi sa court, pretty off court."

"Literal na Poganda."

"Our Cat Girl."

A faint chuckle escaped him, barely audible."Now I get it."

The nickname wasn't about appearance alone It was about contrast...On the court...

She played with sharp precision.

Off the court she carried herself with an effortless warmth that people naturally gravitated toward.

Two completely different sides, both are equally genuine.

Kenji locked his phone.He slipped it back into his duffel bag before standing.The gym lights reflected softly across the polished hardwood as he picked up the basketball one last time.

The media could keep making edits.Fans could keep inventing stories.None of that mattered.

What stayed with him wasn't a viral video.It wasn't the matching outfits.Or the endless comments.It was a point guard with exceptional court vision who happened to wear the same university colors he soon would.

He bounced the ball once.The echo filled the empty gym.The preseason hadn't even started yet.

They hadn't met.

Hadn't spoken.

Didn't even know each other.

Yet somehow for the first time since committing to San Diego University, Kenji found himself genuinely looking forward to stepping onto its hardwood.

Not because of the attention.

But because somewhere inside that gym...There was another player who loved the game as much as he did.

The shrill whistle hanging around Coach Ben's neck echoed across the gym.

"Alright! That's enough for today!"

Almost instantly, the remaining players began gathering loose basketballs scattered across the floor.

The once-lively rhythm of bouncing balls slowly faded, replaced by tired laughter and the scraping of sneakers against polished hardwood.

Kenji caught the final rebound before calmly tossing the ball toward the equipment rack.

His muscles ached.

A satisfying kind of exhaustion.

The kind that came after a productive day.

Jun threw a towel over his shoulder."So..."He glanced toward Kenji."One more week before Manila."

Kenji nodded while zipping up his duffel bag."More or less."

Chris let out a low whistle."Must feel weird."

"Leaving Pampanga?"

Kenji adjusted the strap on his bag.

For a brief moment, his eyes wandered around the familiar gym.

The faded championship banners.The slightly worn wooden floor.The countless afternoons spent training until the lights were switched off.

This place had shaped him, it was difficult to leave.But, growth rarely came from staying comfortable.

"A little."His answer was honest.

The three of them slowly walked toward the locker room together.

Jun suddenly laughed."You know what's funny?"

Chris immediately smirked."Here we go."

"The SDU men's team is already scary enough."Jun counted on his fingers.

"Matt Jao."

"Elijah Wayne."

"Aaron De Juan."

"Then they suddenly add Kenji Morzal?"He dramatically shook his head.

"The rest of the league is cooked."Chris burst into laughter.

"People online are already calling it a super team."

Kenji simply chuckled."Games aren't won on paper."

Jun pointed at him."That's exactly something Coach Ben would say."

As they entered the locker room, Chris tossed his jersey into the laundry bin before speaking again.

"Honestly, what excites me more is SDU's culture."

Kenji looked over.

Chris continued."Every time we play against them they actually look like one family."Jun nodded in agreement.

"The men's team."

"The women's team."

"The coaching staff."

"Even the alumni still show up to support them."

There wasn't a hint of jealousy in his voice, only admiration.

Chris sat down on the wooden bench to untie his shoes."Remember last year's collegiate finals?"

Jun laughed."How could I forget?"

"The women's championship game ended first then the entire women's team stayed to cheer for the men's finals."

Chris smiled."After the men's team won they celebrated together, no separate victory photos, no individual spotlight."

"Just one team."

Kenji listened quietly, that It was rare.

Most universities treated the men's and women's programs like completely different organizations.

SDU didn't.

Jun leaned back against the lockers.

"Coach Ben always says culture wins championships."

Chris nodded."Talent gets you into the gym...Culture keeps everyone there."

Kenji silently repeated those words in his mind.

Culture.

That was exactly what had drawn him toward San Diego University.

Not just the facilities,not just the championships.But the environment a place where players pushed one another to become better.

Chris looked toward Kenji with genuine curiosity."Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead." Kenji said

"Out of all the offers you received"He folded his arms."Why SDU?"

The room became noticeably quieter.

Even Jun stopped rummaging through his locker.

Everyone already knew the public answer.

But they wanted the real one.

Kenji took a moment before speaking.His voice remained calm.Steady."Every school promised opportunities, scholarships,exposure, endorsements."He looked down while tightening the strap of his duffel bag."But SDU was different."

Jun listened attentively.

Kenji continued."When Coach Cath talked about basketball..."A small smile appeared she barely mentioned winning."

Chris frowned slightly."She didn't?"

Kenji shook his head."She talked about discipline, accountability, Trust."

"She said..."He paused, remembering the conversation clearly."'Championships are earned by the habits nobody sees.'"

Silence settled over the locker room.

Jun slowly smiled."That sounds exactly like Coach Cath."

Kenji picked up his bag."I realized something after that meeting."

Chris looked at him.

"Winning is temporary, becoming a better player lasts much longer."

No one spoke for several seconds.

There was nothing left to add.

His answer explained everything.

He hadn't transferred because SDU was popular or because it guaranteed trophies he transferred because he believed it would challenge him.

As they stepped out of the locker room, the evening sun painted the sky in shades of orange and deep blue.

Jun unlocked his car before glancing toward Kenji one last time.

A teasing grin slowly appeared.

"Just don't let the internet convince you you're already dating SDU's Poganda."

Chris laughed loudly.

Kenji shook his head, letting out a quiet chuckle."I'm more interested in surviving Coach Cath's conditioning."

The three laughed together.

One week.

That was all.

One more week...

Before Kenji Morzal officially became a Blue Eagle.

And before the internet's favorite imaginary love story finally placed its two main characters under the same roof.

Twilight settled quietly over Pampanga.

The orange glow of the setting sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon as Kenji's SUV rolled through the familiar subdivision where he had spent most of his childhood.

The long day had finally caught up with him.

His shoulders felt heavy, his legs ached from hours of drills.Exactly the kind of exhaustion he welcomed.

He parked inside the garage before grabbing his duffel bag from the passenger seat.

The house was unusually quiet.His parents were still out for dinner with relatives, leaving the entire place to himself.

After greeting the housekeeper with a polite nod, Kenji headed upstairs.The moment he entered his bedroom, he let his bag fall onto the floor with a soft thud.

His basketball shoes followed.

Then his cap.

He stretched his arms above his head before disappearing into the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later...Fresh from a shower, Kenji walked back into his room wearing a loose black shirt and gray sweatpants.

His damp hair was still dripping slightly as he grabbed a towel and rubbed it absentmindedly across the back of his neck.

The room was peaceful.

Only the gentle hum of the air conditioner filled the silence.He lay back against the headboard.

Picked up his phone and began scrolling through I*******m.Most of his feed looked exactly as expected.

Basketball pages.

Training clips.

Friends posting offseason workouts.

A few congratulatory messages about his transfer.Nothing unusual then one familiar profile picture appeared at the top of his screen.

Elijah Wayne.

Kenji tapped the I*******m Story almost absentmindedly.

The video immediately began playing.

"Hoy, chef!"Elijah's cheerful voice echoed through the speakers.

"You're making me hungry!"

The camera shook slightly before focusing on a kitchen island dusted with flour.

Standing behind it...Was Audrae.

She wore an oversized cream-colored shirt that nearly reached her knees.Her long dark hair was loosely clipped into a messy claw clip.

A small streak of flour rested against one cheek.

She frowned the moment she noticed Elijah recording.

"Wayne."Her tone carried the familiar warning of someone who had dealt with his antics countless times."Stop recording."

Instead of listening...Elijah laughed even harder."Guys, look!"He zoomed in dramatically."She's been baking for almost an hour!"

Audrae reached for a silicone spatula.

Without missing a beat...

She lightly smacked Elijah's shoulder.

"You're so annoying."

"Content first!"

"Out."

"The viewers love you!"

"Wayne."

This time she pointed toward the kitchen door.

Still holding the spatula.

Elijah laughed all the way out of the room.

The Story ended.

Kenji watched the short clip one more time.Not because anything extraordinary had happened.Because something about it felt...

Normal.

Comfortable.

The way they argued.

The way Audrae immediately reached for the spatula without hesitation.The way Elijah simply laughed instead of apologizing.

There wasn't the slightest trace of awkwardness between them.

It looked...

Natural.

He rested his phone on his lap for a moment.

Then quietly murmured,"They live together?"

Earlier that day...

He had watched Audrae dismantle defensive schemes with surgical precision.

Now...

She was arguing over baking with a flour-covered spatula.Two completely different sides.

Both are equally genuine.

Curiosity won again.He opened Elijah's profile.

Several older Stories were still archived in the highlights.Most featured the same people.

Matt.

Aaron.

Coach Cath.

Audrae.

Basketball.

Movie nights.

Backyard workouts.

Birthday dinners.

Study sessions.

There was one thing every clip had in common.

Audrae looked...Comfortable.Not because she was performing for a camera.Because she was surrounded by people she trusted.

Kenji leaned back against the headboard.

His eyes drifted toward the ceiling."Interesting."

Not once had Elijah introduced Audrae as a celebrity.Or a star athlete.

She was simply...

"Drae."

Someone everyone naturally included, someone everyone instinctively looked after.His thoughts wandered back to the conversation inside the gym.

Coach Ben.

Coach Cath.

Family.

Then Elijah's Story.

Matt carrying her shopping bags.

The old tournament clips, the way the SDU players treated one another.

For the first time...Kenji realized something...San Diego University wasn't simply known for producing talented athletes.

It was known for producing relationships that lasted long after the final buzzer.

His phone buzzed softly.

A message from Jun appeared.

Jun: Packing yet?

Kenji smiled faintly before replying.

Kenji: Not yet.

Another message appeared almost immediately.

Jun: Blue Eagle.

Kenji looked toward the basketball resting quietly beside his bed.

Met unfamiliar teammates.

Adjusted to a completely different environment.

A new beginning.

Before putting his phone away, he absentmindedly opened TikTok one last time.The algorithm immediately greeted him with another basketball edit.

This time...

It wasn't about him, it was a compilation of SDU's best plays from the previous season.

The final clip showed Audrae diving across the floor to save a loose ball before immediately helping an opposing player back onto her feet.

The caption simply read: "Great players make highlights. Great leaders make teammates better."

Kenji watched the clip until it ended.

Then quietly locked his phone, a nearly invisible smile crossed his face.

"No wonder Coach speaks so highly of her."

He switched off the bedside lamp.Darkness settled across the room.

Outside...The distant chirping of crickets filled the warm Pampanga night.

Meanwhile...

Hundreds of kilometers away...

The girl everyone kept pairing him with online had no idea he had spent part of his evening studying her game or quietly realizing that the strongest thing about SDU wasn't its championship banners.

It was its people.