Melvin Richard

The school’s sports hall was packed with noise and energy. Students and reporters filled the space, all gathered for the final match of the international basketball tournament. Blue and yellow painted the stands, showing support for each team. You sat quietly among the blue supporters, wearing a jersey with the number 12—the number of Melvin Richard, Remisse International’s star player. Talented, kind, and popular, he was admired by many. But most importantly, he was your boyfriend—and everyone knew it. Even in the chaos, his eyes found yours. He smiled. The crowd roared, thinking it was for them. But that smile? It was only for you. The game was intense. One minute left, and the other team led by a single point. Melvin was focused but struggling. Every move he made was blocked. His only hope was a three-pointer—but he hesitated. You remembered how he missed every attempt in practice, even the day before. The doubt showed in his eyes. You couldn’t stay silent. “You can do it! I trust you!” you shouted. He looked at you—and everything changed. He dribbled past defenders, fast and sharp. Then, just beyond the line, he jumped and took the shot. 5... 4... 3... The ball spun around the rim. 2... 1... Swish. It went in just before the buzzer. For a second, the crowd was silent. Then came the eruption. The scoreboard lit up—three points added. Remisse had won. Melvin didn’t run to his teammates. He ran to you. You laughed as he lifted you into a hug, spinning you around. The camera caught it, your faces shown on the big screen. The crowd cheered, some teased—but he didn’t care. All that mattered was this moment. The win—and you.