"Why are we still running…?" one of the guys groaned.
"My legs are done."
"Same."
I kept running, trying not to slow down.
"This teacher is insane," I muttered.
The whistle suddenly blew.
"Last lap!" the teacher shouted.
"Awwww!"
The entire group groaned.
"Are you serious?!"
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"I don't think I'm gonna make it…"
I let out a tired sigh.
Of course there was one more lap.
Everyone kept moving—slower now, messier than before—but no one stopped.
A few minutes later, the whistle finally blew again.
"Alright, that's enough. Take a rest."
"Finally…"
Several guys collapsed onto the grass while others bent over with their hands on their knees, struggling to catch their breath.
"I think I'm going to die."
"Same."
"I can't feel my legs."
I stood there breathing heavily.
…I'm never running again.
After a moment, one of the guys looked toward the other side of the field.
"Yo… look at them."
I followed his gaze.
The girls were still doing passing drills, talking, laughing, and moving around.
None of them looked tired.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
"They're not even sweating!"
"How is that fair?"
I couldn't help staring.
"…The girls definitely got the easier class than us."
"We're out here dying," one guy complained, "and they're just chilling."
"This class is a scam."
"I agree."
A few of us laughed.
Without thinking, my eyes drifted across the field again.
Mia moved calmly with her group, completely focused.
Nearby, Kira was laughing with her friends.
Smiling.
Like always.
But for some reason…
Something about it felt different.
I looked away.
Yeah…
This class was definitely a scam.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"…I'm going to get some water."
Nobody paid much attention. The other guys were still busy complaining.
On the other side of the field, one of the girls sighed.
"Looks like the boys finally survived."
Mia glanced over just in time to see me walking away.
She hesitated for a moment.
…Where is he going?
After a brief pause, she quietly stepped away from her group.
A short distance from the field, I leaned over the outdoor tap and turned it on.
Cold water rushed out.
I cupped my hands and took a long drink.
"…Finally."
I splashed water onto my face.
"Boo."
I jumped and nearly stumbled backward.
Mia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"You're easy to scare."
"…Don't do that."
"You looked like you were dying out there."
"…We were."
I shook my head.
"That class is insane."
She smiled.
"You still kept running."
"…Didn't have much of a choice."
She watched me quietly.
"…You worked hard."
I blinked.
"…So did you."
Neither of us spoke for a moment.
Then Mia stepped a little closer.
"…Wait."
"Hm?"
She reached toward my hair.
"There's something on your head."
Before I could react, she gently brushed it away.
"…Got it."
For a second, neither of us moved.
We were standing much closer than before.
Our eyes met.
Almost immediately, we both looked away.
"…Thanks," I said quietly.
"…You're welcome."
Voices echoed from the field.
"Yo! Where'd you go?!"
"Hurry up!"
Mia took a small step back.
"…We should go."
"…Yeah."
We walked back together.
A small smile rested on Mia's face, while I scratched the back of my head, still feeling awkward.
Back on the field, Kira looked around.
"…Where's Cody?"
She glanced toward the water tap.
Then she noticed Mia wasn't with the others.
Her eyes searched the area.
A moment later, she found us.
Walking back together.
Talking.
Smiling.
Kira stood completely still.
"…Oh."
End of Chapter 14