After freshening up, Serena went back to the big tent to watch the final match. It was already 2:25 when she arrived. Unlike earlier, it was more difficult to situate oneself at the very front as all the spaces behind the picket fence has been filled. Luckily, she was able to spot her friends. Stepping behind them, she tapped Via's shoulder.
"You're finally back." Via said as she moved over to make space for her.
Gizel and Milly turned to face her.
"You have no idea how many times Geoffrey looked here during his game in hopes to see you. During noon break, he even came here to ask about you. I almost pity the guy." Gizel informed her.
Serena shook her head, "he tried to look for me? what did you say?"
Milly nodded her head, "Yes, well, we told him that you're in your room."
"Did he say anything after that?"
"No, he just left. I think he should understand that you're still feeling embarrassed about what he did earlier." Via replied.
Serena nodded her head. Then, she heard Diether's voice through the speakers.
"Good afternoon everyone. And boy can I feel the excitement in the air. Now, we are down to the championship match of this year's polo competition. By the way, both teams came from year 2, so regardless of the winner, I want to congratulate the sophomores for bagging the silver and gold this year. Later, I'll just call them team red and team blue so that we can distinguish them easier."
"Okay, Diether, that's enough. It's obvious now that we, the seniors, are not bitter." Artemis commented his voice filled with laughter.
"Yes, of course, we're not. We the seniors, are the embodiment of sportsmanship. We must always exemplify it to serve as role models for the underclassmen."
"Diether, I think the audience are getting annoyed with us now. So maybe we should get back to the program."
"Ugh… fine." He replied.
The audience all laughed with the short banter. One even shouted, 'it's okay Diether, you still make for the best announcer!'
Then another, 'yeah! Do the play by play later, I think your talent lies there!'
Diether harrumphed through the speaker exaggeratedly, causing everyone to laugh.
"Okay, I'll take that as a compliment. Anyway, without further ado, I request you all to direct your attention to center field, and help me welcome our players for this match. Beginning with player number 1 on the blue team, we have Alex Johnson!"
The crowd clapped their hands as Alex cantered his horse forward. After doing a courtesy round on the field accorded to players playing the championship match, he took his position at the centerfield.
"At number 2, we have Rainier Hugo!"
Like what Alex did, Rainier circled the field and the crowd clapped their hands until he lined up beside Alex.
"At number 3…"
Before Diether could even mention his name, the crowd went wild and the girls started screaming his name like crazy, "Geoffrey! Geoffrey! Geoffrey!"
Serena looked at her friends, "was it like this earlier?" she asked.
Her friends could not even decipher her words with how loud the other girls were, but they understood what she meant, so they nodded their head.
Anyway, when the shouts mellowed a little, Diether continued, "Again, at number 3, we have Geoffrey William!!!"
Geoffrey cantered his horse forward. Upon entering, his eyes zeroed in on the spot where Serena's friends were. And seeing her there, his eyes suddenly brightened. Dashingly, like a prince out of a novel, which he actually was, he circled the field while tipping his mallet to the crowd the same way a knight in the shining armor would. When he neared the spot where Serena was, he made his horse slow down. When he reached her front, he made a complete stop, took off his helmet, placed it in front of his chest and he nodded in her direction while smiling.
Serena turned red and did not know what to do. What the hell was wrong with him? Later, she will tell him that she doesn't like this kind of attention (from him that is). Thankfully, Geoffrey did not wait for her to do anything more as he put his helmet back and strode forward.
The crowd went more crazy seeing him doing that and they did not stop cat calling even when he already lined up
Diether had to pause again for about 5 seconds as he didn't want to compete with the girls screaming. Also, it would also at least give some highlight to player number 4. It would be quite pitiful if he were to announce him right after.
"At number 4, we have, Wilfred Finnegan!"
Wilfred entered the field and could not help but shake his head. The applause he received was not that bad, but well, let's just say that it was always a downer to come after Geoffrey. When he lined up with his teammates, Alex and Rainier could only sympathize with him.
"Please give another round of applause to all the players from the blue team. Now, let us welcome the players from team red. Starting from player number 1, Kylo Louis!"
The crowd applauded and cheered, some girls chanted Kylo's name, but nothing as exaggerated as Geoffrey's.
Kylo immediately cantered forward on his horse, tipping his mallet to the crowd the same way Geoffrey did. When he reached the side of the audience, he lifted the mallet above his head holding it up with his two hands.
"Gods, I just want to push him off his horse." Gizel commented as she rolled her eyes.
"I completely agree with you Gizel. But then again, he does have some ability to back it up, unlike that Douglas." Milly responded.
Via, can only shake her head, feeling some second-hand embarrassment for Kylo. Then again, she honestly found it funny, the way he is basking under all that attention.
Serena had no time to think about what Kylo was doing as she was looking forward to seeing Charlton on the field again. Despite her not being a big fan of polo, she can't dismiss the fact that her man on horseback while wearing white breeches was hot as hell.
--
TBC