---
Lavina froze for a moment in shock within Fred's arms.
The scene was both funny and embarrassing:
Fred staring with a stunned expression, Lavina stuck between his arms, while dozens of eyes around them were fixed on the two as if they were the leads in a dramatic romantic scene.
But the moment shattered quickly.
Lavina pushed his chest with all her strength, stepping back, her face blazing with both anger and embarrassment, then she shouted in a trembling voice:
– "Damn it! This… this is disgusting!"
As for Fred, he looked at his elegant shirt and began brushing it irritably before he frowned in disgust and said:
– "Whaaat?! My shirt… got dirty!"
Lavina's face grew even hotter, and she yelled:
– "Dirty… what do you mean?!"
Fred replied with a haughty expression, lifting his chin as if he were above everyone:
– "Yes… my shirt got dirty with your face, you annoying girl."
A short silence fell, then an explosion of laughter echoed among the students.
Lavina melted with fury and screamed:
– "What did you say, you arrogant old man?!"
Fred smiled sideways as he put his hands in his pockets, then replied with heavy sarcasm:
– "I said you're… nothing but a stain on my fine fabric. Believe me, if it weren't you… I might've looked more charming in this situation."
Lavina gasped, clenched her fists, and walked toward him step by step:
– "You… you're truly unbearable!"
Fred answered as if thoroughly enjoying provoking her in front of everyone:
– "And you… always prove you have only one talent: ruining other people's elegance."
The words were flying between them like arrows, and the students around them watched and laughed.
Some were cheering for Fred, others for Lavina.
It looked like a scripted comedic play.
Finally, Lavina turned around, waving her hand:
– "I don't want to waste another minute with an old man like you."
She left him behind, while Fred remained standing proudly as if he were the victor, even though his confused expression said otherwise.
---
Gym class came to pull Lavina out of her bad mood; it was her favorite class, the one she always awaited eagerly.
She entered the locker room and put on her blue sports uniform with its white stripes, humming to herself with excitement:
– "Ah, finally… something great to fix my mood after my battle with that foolish old man!"
She stepped out into the bright gym, where the sun poured its gold over the shiny wooden floor.
The teacher shouted loudly:
– "Today we're playing Catch the Ball! Every boy chooses his partner!"
In a single moment, most of the boys gathered around Lavina, each of them racing to be her partner.
She was the most famous girl in sports, the one who always won, the one no teammate ever lost with.
The scene looked like an open auction, and the students were calling out:
– "Me! I'll be with her!"
– "Move aside! I know her strategies!"
Lavina stood there in confusion, her eyes shifting between them as she thought:
"As usual… a silly fight over me."
On the other side, Michael stood in silence.
He didn't have a partner this time, since Mira used to follow him the moment the game was announced.
But Mira wasn't there anymore.
While he stared into nothingness, a shy girl from his class approached him, her face red like an apple:
– "Uh… Michael… would you let me be your partner?"
He looked at her for a moment, then smiled warmly and said:
– "Of course."
Her cheeks turned even redder, and she lowered her head to hide her embarrassment.
---
The match began.
The students lined up on the court, each girl standing behind a boy trying to shield her from the flying balls.
Except Lavina, who stood at the front, with her partner behind her.
Balls began flying like a storm.
The sounds of impact echoed, and the students' laughter and shouts filled the air.
The first victim fell quickly:
It was Rocky, who was caught off guard by a surprise ball that knocked him out of the round amid his classmates' laughter.
Others followed one after another, until only two teams remained: Michael and his shy partner, and Lavina with her teammate.
Lavina stood excited, a competitive smile decorating her face, and she shouted to Michael:
– "Hah! You think I'll let you win this time?"
Michael replied with fake coldness, hiding a small smile:
– "Huh? Confident as always."
The game grew intense.
Balls shot like arrows, and everyone clapped and cheered.
In the end, Michael's shy partner made a small mistake, and the team fell out of the game.
Lavina screamed in triumph and started dancing with silly steps across the court:
– "Hahaha! Win number one hundred! I'm still the queen of this game!"
Some students applauded enthusiastically, while Michael sat on the floor smiling despite his loss.
---
A little later,
the girls sat on the bleachers watching the boys play basketball.
Sweat glistened on their foreheads, and the ball bounced on the wooden floor with a lively rhythm.
Lavina sat among the girls, but she saw only Michael.
He moved lightly, his brown hair swaying, his smile bright as he ran between the players.
Her memory slipped into the past…
She was in middle school, walking down a hallway beside Michael, who was clearly shorter than her. She never missed a chance to tease him about his height:
– "Michael! Where are you? Where did you disappear?"
He growled in annoyance:
– "I'm right here next to you, you idiot!"
She burst out laughing:
– "Haha! I thought you vanished!"
He replied while rolling his eyes:
– "Very funny… you silly girl."
Days later, Michael joined the basketball club.
He became busy with his training, and they saw each other less.
One time, she saw him in the gym practicing hard. But some older students started mocking him:
– "Oh, look at this shorty! He wants to be a basketball player!"
– "Your jump isn't high enough to clear a math book!"
– "Go back to your seat, dwarf. This court is for grown players only!"
Lavina was about to step in, fists clenched, but when she looked into his eyes, she saw something strange:
A sharp determination, an unshakable resolve.
She decided to pull back, choosing to let him prove himself on his own.
…
She snapped back to reality at the sound of screams around her:
– "Watch ouuut!"
She looked up and saw a basketball flying toward her at rocket speed.
She screamed and ducked, but before the ball reached her, a strong hand reached out and caught it at the last second.
She turned to see Rocky standing in front of her, the ball in his hand, his confident smile shining under the sunlight.
She exhaled in awe, her eyes sparkling:
– "Wow… you're my hero!"
Rocky chuckled lightly and replied:
– "Good thing it didn't hit you. I'd hate to see you faint on the bleachers."
On the other side, Michael stood there, still panting from trying to chase down the ball himself.
He froze in place, watching the scene silently, something heavy sinking into his chest.
He said nothing, but felt a thread of sadness slip quietly into his heart.
---
The school day ended.
Students walked out of the gate exchanging laughter, the sun slowly setting behind the trees.
At the gate stood Fred, leaning against the wall coolly, as if waiting for something or… someone.
His gaze was steady, and a small smile played on his lips, as if a new battle was about to begin.
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