The players had changed into their practice uniforms. The court buzzed with shouts, squeaking sneakers, and bouncing balls.
Rayan spun a basketball on his fingertip, trying to look relaxed. Evan warmed up with calm precision, every movement neat and efficient.
The coach blew the whistle.
"Split teams! Rayan on the left, Evan on the right! Scrimmage time!"
The game began.
FIRST ROUND — Evan Dominates
Evan moved like he'd been born holding a basketball.
Every time he caught the ball—one bounce, two—
SWISH!
Straight in.
His team cheered quietly.
Rayan scowled.
"Bro… it went in that clean?"
Nate laughed from the sideline.
"Don't lose, Ray! Show him your chaotic style!"
Rayan ran in with energy, but…
His teammates were a mess.
One ran too fast, one hugged the ball like a teddy bear, another nearly tripped on his own shoelaces.
Rayan groaned loudly.
"Dude—this looks like a bunch of cats chasing a laser pointer!"
Evan passed by him, calm and cool.
"Focus, Rayan. Just enjoy the game."
Rayan tried—he really did.
But the first round?
Evan's team crushed them.
SECOND ROUND — Rayan Pushes Too Far
The whistle blew again.
"Continue!"
Rayan grabbed the ball and sprinted.
He faked left, jumped—and—
THUD!
It went in.
Cheers erupted.
"Told you! He can play when he's not being dramatic!"
"Rayan's on fire!"
Rayan tried again. Faster. Harder.
Too fast.
His hands trembled.
His heartbeat thumped unevenly.
But he pushed on.
He remembered the doctor's voice from a year ago:
"Rayan, your heart is weak. Avoid heavy sports. Especially basketball."
He ignored it.
From across the court, Evan noticed something wrong—Rayan's steps were off, breathing too sharp, movements shaky.
Rayan suddenly stopped.
The court spun.
His ears rang.
Then—
A drop of blood fell to the floor.
He touched his nose.
"…seriously? A nosebleed now?"
He hit his forehead lightly, frustrated.
"I'm such an idiot…"
He raised a hand.
"Coach, I need a quick break. Kantin."
The coach nodded.
Rayan walked out fast, holding his nose, fighting dizziness.
But he didn't go to the cafeteria.
He headed for his classroom.
Liana was chatting with her friends when Rayan rushed past—head down, nose pinched, one hand pressed to his chest.
She instinctively stood up a little.
"…Ray? Are you—"
But Mira tugged her arm.
"Lia! Focus! We're still discussing our group!"
Her other friends called her too.
Liana reluctantly sat back down, but her eyes followed Rayan until he disappeared around the corner.
"…why is he in such a hurry?"
Something cold tugged at her chest.
She didn't know why.
He reached the classroom, grabbed his bag in a rush, and walked out of the building.
His steps were unsteady.
His shoulders felt heavy.
"I'm going home…"
No one heard him.
A few minutes later, the dismissal bell rang.
Students returned after changing clothes.
Evan walked up to Liana's desk.
"Liana," he said politely.
She looked up. "Yes?"
"For our group project… would it be okay if we worked at your house? It'd help us focus."
Her friends gasped and whispered excitedly.
Evan continued,
"And—may I have your phone number? So we can schedule it."
Liana blushed slightly but nodded.
"S–sure. Here."
She gave him her number.
Evan smiled a little and went back to his seat.
Her friends erupted immediately:
"Lianaaaa he asked for your number!"
"Is he into you?!"
"New student and already bold!"
Liana smiled awkwardly.
Nate was the first to notice.
"Wait… where's Rayan?"
Soren placed his bag down.
"He left the court after asking to go to the 'kantin'… but he never came back."
Nate narrowed his eyes.
"Don't tell me… he went home alone?"
Liana, who had just closed her book, froze slightly.
A heavy feeling settled in her chest.
"…why did he leave so suddenly?"
Nate glanced at her.
"Super weird. Rayan is usually so loud after practice. But today? He was quiet."
Soren added,
"Feels like he's hiding something."
Liana stared at the classroom door.
For the first time that day…
she truly felt something was wrong.
The room was dim, the curtains half-closed. The TV was still on with the PS menu glowing quietly. Rayan lay curled on his side on the bed, breathing softly, hair messy, looking exhausted.
A soft knock sounded.
"Excuse me…" Liana's gentle voice slipped in.
Rayan's mom appeared behind her with a warm smile. "Go ahead, dear. He's just tired."
Liana stepped inside, carrying two cold drinks and a box of snacks. Her eyes went to the TV.
"Huh… pretending to sleep?" she muttered as she placed the drinks on the side table.
Rayan didn't move.
Liana walked closer. "Hey, wake up. I know you hear me."
Still no reaction.
She sighed. "Alright then, I'll just go home."
Instantly, Rayan shot up, sitting straight with messy hair and wide eyes.
"N-no! Don't go yet—I'm awake!"
Liana raised an eyebrow. "I knew it."
Rayan chuckled softly, then noticed the snack box.
"Oh, you brought snacks?"
Without hesitation, he grabbed it and sat on the floor.
"Hey! That's mine too!" Liana protested, pulling another snack pack out of her tote.
Rayan just grinned.
He grabbed two PS controllers and handed one to her.
"Come on. Let me entertain my VIP guest."
They sat on the floor, backs leaning against the bed, legs stretched out. The room felt warm, familiar.
A few minutes into the game, Rayan suddenly pulled something out from under the table.
"Oh—this," he said, holding up a novel. "Your book. I finished it. It was actually really good."
Liana took it with a pout.
"You disappeared for a week. I thought my book drowned in your backpack."
"Sorry… I forgot."
She flicked his ear sharply.
"You always forget."
Rayan laughed. They went back to the game.
"Hey, do you remember…" Rayan asked, eyes still on the screen.
"Back in middle school, we played this at my house in secret? You panicked when my mom came in and hid behind the sofa."
Liana turned red instantly. "DON'T remind me! That was embarrassing!"
Rayan burst out laughing. "The sofa was tiny but you tried to squeeze behind it anyway—"
"Shut up!" She slapped his shoulder lightly.
They continued playing.
Liana was close to winning—until Rayan overtook her in the last second.
"YES! I win!" Rayan punched the air triumphantly.
"WHAT?! Cheater!" Liana snapped, then grabbed his cheek and pinched it hard.
"Ow—ow—ow! Lianaaa! That hurts!"
Liana only laughed harder, her eyes turning into crescents.