The ball was in his hands and then through the hoop.

The player's aching feet landed on the floor with a thud, shoes shrieking against glossy wood. Securing the win at the last second, the buzzer blared through the hall snapping him out of his dream-like daze. The reaction was instant, loud screams and cheers split the air. 

People at the benches jumped to their feet and ran after him, swarmed by his teammates, all jumping and hollering for their win.

"Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!" A teammate cried out, and the crowd went crazy.

"That was insane!"

"Oh, my fucking god!" Someone roared, practically barrelling into the group, teammates whooping.

A whistle rang out the hall, but it did not deter the crazed crowd.

"Yo, yo, a moment with the Star Player here! Man, that shit was wild!" A camera was shoved into the player's face.

Chest heaving worn-out breaths. Bubbles of laughter, sweat trickling down his chestnut skin, glistening in the lights. Teammates surrounded him, all out of breath as they gave each other firm pats on the shoulder and playful shoves, they had their arms around him, cheering. The player, nineteen, looked at the camera with a huge bright grin.

"Man, I don't even know what to say, everything was coming down at the last minute, so I just took the shot," A wild chorus of cheers rang around the player, affectionate shoves and ruffles of his dark curls, a laugh pulling out of him as he shoved right back.

"Yes, you did!" Another player closest to nineteen whooped, side hugging him, others joining him, it spikes another wave to the crowd as screams follow them, the frame getting further away.

Another teammate comes into view, with short, spiked hair, they notice the camera, pulling it up to his height.

"Oooooh! You’re filming all of this?" They yelled but their voice drowns against the crowd's cheers.

Rolled out their tongue and shook their head into the camera, the person holding it yelped with a startled laugh, shaking back the frame.

"Dude! C'mon, gross!" Everything became blurry, before focusing again on people's faces, number nineteen picked up the phone.

"Woah, this camera makes me look good, good—" Framed it above them, grinning wide, dimples popping out.

A shove has the camera wobble, "You're so full of yourself, move aside, the real star of the show has arrived!" A toothy grin comes into view, green eyes flashing, arm wrapped around the basketball player.

"Jesus, leave my phone alone." Someone cracks up.

Instruments blasted off, catching player nineteen's attention, whipping his head around and the other player yells out an enthusiastic cheer.

"Woo-hoo! Let's go!" Nineteen roars and the crowd joins him, circling around him as it all becomes a blur, followed by a curse being drowned out by the laughter and cheers, and the video cuts.

The video ends and starts to replay again. Isaias stops it before it could, thumb hovering over the bright-lit screen. 

Full dark curls fell against his forehead, brushing over his full brows as a heavy breath leaves his chest. Isaias finally picks up on the busy cluster of noises surrounding him. Shoulders deflating, leaning back against his chair. 

Earphones wedged tightly inside of his ear, stuttering his calm music, no longer able to keep out the terribly busy bustle of the airport lounge. Pristine polished leather shoes hurriedly slapped against the wide glossy tiles, the clicking of heels sharply strode by, and worn suitcases dragged about, broken wheels spinning. 

Waiting lines stretched so long and far it was impossible to find the start much less the end. Bundles of families with a handful of gremlin children hanging off their parents, one or two yanking their small hand away to make a daring run for it. It was nothing but a busy, hot day. 

The sun up and high and a clear blue sky, thin clouds sheer and layered.

Aching all over, muscles moved stiffly against the rather hard and dense chair. Knee bouncing against his suitcase, heat prickled his body, sizzling his skin unbearably. Didn’t help that Isaias was wearing a hoodie of all things, blasted weather decided to go up a few degrees high simply to make Isaias' day more miserable than it already was. 

Ventilating himself with the collar of his hoodie, Isaias fought an annoyed groan rumbling out his throat. The whole reason he stopped by the airport lounge was to get away from the sun’s merciless heat. Originally, Isaias was meant to wait for his aunt at the train station, but one step on the platform had him seeking cool shelter immediately as the sun eagerly scorched his brown skin. Boiling under his loose dense clothes, Isaias dragged himself to the nearest place with a powerful acc. Which surprisingly ended up being an airport not so far from the station. Not that it helped but at least it wasn't outside in the sun’s glare. 

The whistling of planes took in the air, the sound shuddering in the background as the speaker blasted the upcoming departure, echoing around the busy floors of the airport.

To keep himself entertained, or well, attempt to, Isaias had the bright idea to revisit an old crumbled memory  of his gallery while scrolling through his phone. Clearly a bitter mistake on his part.

It only made his stomach drop, and his heart tightened to an unyielding aching knot. Throat taunt painfully, it bobbed down, desperately thinking of anything else. The video wasn’t all that long ago yet it felt like he’d watched with blurry lenses of the far past. Fingers began to fiddle with the wire of his headphones, a stinging sharp throb had a palm at the side of his stomach.

A loud clatter thud jolts him, ripping him out of his haze. A tall round lady curses at her considerable bulky suitcases that had unfortunately toppled over each other in a mess. Isaias’ heart hammered. The lady restless and on the verge of fighting with her own luggage began to fuss, her dark blond hair frazzling out her loose bun at every hard frustrated jerk she clutched from the handle. Thankfully a nearby security guard rushed to her side to give her a helping hand.

A slow breath leaves him, fingers tightly clasped together, knuckles pale and nails digging into his skin. Shaking his head, he took another breath, untangling his tense fingers, and eased back to the seat. But not soon after his phone began to ring.

His Aunt. Isaias gave himself a most deserving calming second before answering, yanking his headphones out. Alleviating his throat before speaking. 

"Hola, Tía," Isaías politely greeted.

Noting how grating his voice sounded, he fought a wince, swallowing in an attempt to clear his throat. On the other end he listened to the rumbles of a vehicle.

"¡Mi sobrinito!” She lively greeted back, “I’m just right outside! Come quick! You know how the traffic gets around here." Lowly muttering curses travelled through the phone.

Isaias shot up, blinking. Slinging his black duffle bag over his body, "I’ll be right out, where are you?" Hurriedly grabbed his suitcase and made his way to the exit.

Traffic was enough coming into the airport but coming out was another type of disaster. And Isaias rather not give more trouble to his aunt than he already was. 

Isaias’ Aunt made a frustrated grunt, "I'm trying to find a parking space, but— que dios me salva, the amount of cars—!"

Confusion seizing him, "What? No, no—" Isaias strolled through the glass entrance at hurried paces, all the bluster of noise was driven back as he stepped outside.