CHAPTER 21

Several minutes passed before Sean returned to the cafeteria, now wearing the spare shirt that Yvo had casually thrown at him earlier. As he walked back, he tugged awkwardly at the hem, trying to adjust the loose fabric that hung from his shoulders. When he first saw the shirt, he thought for sure it would be too tight. After all, he was taller than Yvo, and their builds were different. However, once he slipped it on, the shirt surprisingly felt roomy, almost draping over him like an oversized curtain.Sean recalled how he had stood in front of the bathroom mirror, tilting his head in confusion as he studied his reflection. The shirt fit Yvo perfectly whenever he wore it, snug and flattering to his lean form. But on Sean, it looked loose, hanging from his frame in an awkward, almost laughable manner. The sleeves drooped past his shoulders, and the fabric gathered awkwardly at his sides."Maybe it is because of our body types," Sean mused internally, giving himself one last glance in t

Last Updated : 2025-10-18

CHAPTER 22

The bell had already rung, and Room 3A had slipped into the slow rhythm of the afternoon. The air was thick with the lazy hum of post-lunch drowsiness, heavy enough to make every sound feel muffled. A few students lay draped over their desks, their heads pillowed on folded arms, already drifting between sleep and wakefulness. Others clustered in pairs and trios, their voices weaving in and out of halfhearted conversations that wandered, looping around gossip and small jokes without any real destination.Golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting wide bands of amber light across the wooden floor. Dust motes floated through the beams, moving as if suspended in syrup, catching the light in delicate flashes whenever the air shifted. For a moment, the room seemed wrapped in a hazy dream, time stretched thin like an afternoon that refused to move forward.Perched on the edge of his desk rather than sitting properly in his chair, Sean tapped the corner of a folded sheet of pap

Last Updated : 2025-10-19

CHAPTER 23

The morning air buzzed with a kind of nervous excitement that only the start of a school festival could bring. Long before the first bell rang, the campus was already alive. Banners in bright colors flapped above the courtyard, strung across windows and doorframes. The smell of fresh paint, sweat, and faint traces of food from the canteen mixed in the breeze.Students spilled across the grounds, hauling boxes of props, sports gear, and half-finished decorations. Some dashed toward the gymnasium, others toward the field. Laughter, shouts, and the occasional blast of a whistle cut through the air, sharp and chaotic.Inside the classrooms, the energy was no less restless. Room 3A was a storm of movement. Chairs screeched against the floor as students pulled out sports bags, tying shoelaces with hurried fingers, pinning ribbons to their shirts, or tossing headbands at one another. Water bottles and towels were piled on desks."Move, move, do not block the door!" someone barked, shoving Jo

Last Updated : 2025-10-23

CHAPTER 24

Sean forced his eyes forward as Yvo grinned at him. The emcee’s voice crackled over the loudspeaker, calling for silence. One by one, each section rose as their names were announced, applause swelling in waves around the oval. Flags rippled, banners gleamed, and the crowd roared with school spirit.Sean clapped when it was expected of him, but his mind was not fully on the stage. His gaze kept darting sideways to the cheerleader who had chosen to stand with him, ribbons fluttering like they belonged only to her, and to the basketball player whose confidence seemed carved into every line of his posture.The ceremony stretched on with speeches from teachers, a fiery pledge of sportsmanship, and the crackle of the torch. The crowd roared again, chanting as the flame blazed high against the blue morning sky.Sean forced his eyes forward as Yvo grinned at him. The emcee’s voice crackled over the loudspeaker, calling for silence. One by one, each section rose as their names were announced,

Last Updated : 2025-10-27

CHAPTER 25

Sean barely had time to catch his breath before his classmates swarmed him, clapping his back and tousling his hair until it stuck up in every direction.“Champion!” someone shouted.“You ran like you were on fire!” another laughed.“Free lunch on you, man!”The circle tightened, voices blending into cheers. Sean tried to grin through the chaos, his chest still heaving.Lareina slipped through the crowd, her uniform ribbons swaying, her smile bright enough to make the sunlight feel dull. “You were amazing, Sean,” she said, her voice soft but clear. “I knew you would prove them wrong.”The words caught him off guard. For a second, the aches in his legs did not matter. “Thanks,” he said quietly, almost unsure if she heard him over the noise.Then, like a shadow at the edge of the celebration, Yvo appeared. He had not cheered or clapped. He just stood a step apart, hands tucked loosely in his pockets, gaze locked on Sean.“Not bad,” Yvo said, his voice calm but carrying weight. The corne

Last Updated : 2025-11-04

CHAPTER 26

“Good afternoon,” Leo introduced himself smoothly, turning to Lareina and Yvo. “I don’t believe we’ve met properly. I’m Leo, from Section 1B.” His gaze lingered on Lareina a little longer before darting to Yvo. “And I’ll be playing in the basketball match later. It appears your section will be our rivals.”Lareina, ever friendly, smiled and gave a little wave with her pompoms. “I’m Lareina, Sean's childhood friend. Nice to meet you, Leo. Good luck in the game.”Leo’s lips curved in a polite smile as he turned to her. “Thank you, Lareina,” he said, his tone smooth, almost too measured. The warmth in his voice sounded genuine, but the flicker in his eyes betrayed something less easily disguised. It was the kind of glance that slipped past most people unnoticed, except Yvo.“I see,” Yvo said at last, voice even but carrying a faint edge of amusement. “Section 1B, huh? Looking forward to it.”Leo inclined his head, the polite smile still in place. “Likewise,” he replied, steady and cordial

Last Updated : 2025-11-11