Chapter 1
"Come on, don't sulk anymore"
"No, I won't, I'm sad"
"Come on, let's go home"
"No, I won't"
"Please?"
"No"
"Your spike was the best of all, so stop sulking and let's go, I'm tired"
"Really, Akashi?"
I raised my eyebrows and stared onto this sulking friend of mine
"Yes, so can we go?" I asked him and he jumped at me and laughed
"Yes, yes! Akashi said I'm the best Kenji! I beat you!" He shouted
"What? Keiri's being biased" Kenji whined, and I laughed
"Aji, why don't you compliment this dude right here?" I asked him as he went near me being quiet again
"Go, Aji! Compliment me! I'm ready!" Kenji shouted with his chins up high and closing his eyes
"You're annoying, Kenji" Aji quietly said and we all laughed at his remark as we can see Kenji's spotlight being shattered to pieces
"We'll go ahead, Kenji" Kennoh said and smiled widely
"Change your clothes, Mr.Lim" I scolded him as he's wore his bag
He groaned, "Oh come on Akashi, I'm lazy already" he whined again, and I rolled my eyes and showed him my flicking finger sign
"Okay, alright" he sighed in defeat and rummage his bag for new clothes and ran to the shower room
"Wow, strict Keiri, I like that, why can't you be more like Keiri, huh, Aji?" Kenji annoyed Aji again and Aji just glared at Kenji and I chuckled at the remark
So, this is we. Playing volleyball together, we have a training camp for our upcoming competitions and our school is together again with Kenji and Aji's school.
Kenji Gonzales, is a 4th year high school and the captain of their volleyball team. His height is around 180 cm, while Zyan Hajille Osorio, Aji for short, is the setter of their team. He's pretty much not outstanding but he's very smart, he's already a 3rd year student and they've been together since elementary.
While me and Kennoh.. We've known each other since kids? Unlike me, he's very blunt about his feelings, very active and when I become salty with him he sulks in the corner. He pretty much to that 'sulking' thing when his spikes keep on getting blocked by the opposite team-- no scratch that, he has been doing that for me to give in to his requests and here I am, giving in with him
Kennoh Rae Lim really is unbelievable, he's big in size, but very child-alike unlike me, Keiri Akashi, who's calm and composed
I sat at the bench, patiently waiting for Kennoh to finish as I listen to my teammates talk about other things and Kennoh's sulking.
"I'm surprised at how you handle Kennoh very well, Keiri" my teammate, Brian said
"He's been at it since we were kids" I said and sighed as the others laughed
"He goes into sulking when Keiri's being salty" Vincent, another teammate said
I shook my head with a faint laugh as I saw Kennoh running towards me
"Say, Akashi, Should I jump higher than the usual?" he asked as he sat on the ground while I'm sitting on the bench
"What made you think to jump higher?" I curiously asked
"There's this first year player on the other team and he jumps pretty well" he said with full of amusement in his eyes
"Oh, I think I know who that is" I said and smiled
He's still amused as he shouted the first year's name and waved
"So, Keiri, should I jump higher too?" he asked me again
"You don't have to, your spike's already powerful as it is. You might have to sacrifice a lot of energy for jumping higher than the usual, plus, look at your body, you're fit, tall and probably heavy" I said in a monotone voice as I saw him being sulky again
"Here it is, Kennoh sulking mode" I heard the others said in unison
"I hate you Akashi" he said and sulked again
"Come on, let's go" I said and pulled him up
"No, I won't" he pulled his arms away and crossed his arms
"Kennoh's sulking again?" Kenji approached me and I nodded
"Come on, Kennoh, what's wrong, you look ugly" Kenji provoked him but Kennoh only sulked more
"He's asking me if he should jump like the first year on the opposite team" I said to him and he laughed like crazy
"What are you? Did you see his height and yours? So basically, you can't jump like that kid, too" he said and laughed again
Kennoh gasped and glared at Kenji, "I hate you Kenji" he said and sulked again
I sighed and sat beside him, "You don't have to jump like him, you're already the best at it is" I said and looked at him
He turned to me, slightly pouting, "Really?" he asked me
I nodded and he turned to the others and they showed him a thumbs up
He laughed and jumped up and down feeling giddy
I shook my head and nodded at them, feeling thankful for helping me
"Come on, let's head back" I told him and Kennoh nodded waving goodbye to our friends as we headed home
"So—
"Akashi, can I stay over?" Kennoh asked with puppy eyes
I looked at him with poker face and told him no
"Come on, please?" he pleaded, and I shook my head
"Your parents are home, why would you stay here?" I told him, and he pouted
"They're supposed to rest" he said and sighed
"What's with the sleep over anyway?" I asked and turned to him slightly
"I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get up early, and Rae is tired from school, I wouldn't want her to wake up early and prepare breakfast for his brother. Mother and father should be resting too" he said and pouted again
"Stop pouting, Kennoh" I scolded him, and he glared at me
"I'll call you for you to wake up" I assured him and sighed
He muttered something but I couldn't catch up to what he's saying so I shrugged it off
Kennoh lives not too far from the school. He just needs to ride the bus to here and Rae, even though she wants to enroll in a different school, she chose to stay with us.
"Isn't Rae uncomfortable staying over in the house?" I asked him as we're walking home
"No, I don't know why, she said she's fine being alone in the house and that makes me more worried, you know how she is" he said to me and sighed
"I'll talk to her, so you better go home first" I told him as we're nearing my house
"I'll drop you off" I said and put my arms around his shoulder and walked past our house
"Aren't you tired?" he asked
"No, if I left you alone you might sleep on the train" I said and laughed
He just groaned and we continued talking until we've reached the bus stop
"I'm fine riding alone" he said and nudged me
"No" I answered and stood straight
"You're really annoying Keiri" he said and laughed
I smiled
The bus came and we sat at the very end
"Don't sleep, it's just a short ride to your home" I muttered to him
"Just stay over Akashi, I know you'll walk home after you drop me off" he said while his eyes are closed
"Why? Walking is an exercise" I said and shrugged
I can feel him rolling his eyes
We came to our stop and as we're nearing his home, he keeps on pleading for me to stay over but I declined his request and waved goodbye
I decided to walk home since it's just near, I think?
I was quietly walking when my phone buzzed
I opened it and saw a text from Kennoh
From: Kennoh
Keep safe Akashi!
I smiled and decided to not reply and continue walking
This guy really, what would I do without you