Just a Bunch of Passionate Guys

Previously:

Zhou laughed and pulled out a drink from the side of his gym bag.

"Here," he pressed it to Teng's face, "Drink up, Mr. Marathon Runner."

Teng pouted as he took the drink.

"Thanks, and stop teasing me," he frowned as his face flushed red, earning a chuckle from Zhou.

"Okay, okay," Zhou smiled as they began to walk back to the dorm, "Bunny Teng, I'll make us something delicious for dinner tonight."

"All right!" Teng smiled happily, "I know it's gonna be delicious."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"All the best for today," Teng told Zhou, who was stuffing his bag with architecture textbooks, "I promise to come to cheer you on!"

Zhou looked up from his bag and beamed.

"Seeing you gives me unimaginable power to give off my best!" he fisted his hand in determination.

Teng tilted his head in disbelief.

"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?" Teng clutched his bag, ready to head out.

"Not even close," Zhou smiled at him.

Teng laughed. He placed his hand on the doorknob, and just as he was about to open it, Zhou cleared his throat.

"Um, Bunny Teng?" he whispered to Teng, who paused and turned around.

"Hmm?" the Engineering student tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, wondering what his roommate wanted.

Zhou was hesitant, unsure if what he was about to ask would be alright. What if his roommate was put off by his request?

What if he ended up making things awkward between them? His request wasn't a big deal, but to Teng, it may be.

"What is it?" Teng asked, looking at his hesitant roommate, "I don't want to be late for my morning lecture. The lecturer is very strict about latecomers."

Zhou then walked up to him, standing close to him. Teng backed away, his back hit the door, surprised at the sudden closeness.

His brown eyes locked on Zhou's green ones.

"Can I get a hug before you leave?" Zhou softly asked him, shyly rubbing his neck.

"You want me to hug you?" Teng blinked in surprise.

Zhou nodded and was met with silence.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Zhou began to ramble on and on, "I just wanted a hug as a 'good luck' charm. Your hug could give me strength. Again you don't have to if you-"

Teng wrapped his arms around Zhou's back, his head resting on the roommate's chest.

"Geez," Teng sighed, "You don't have to explain so much."

Teng then looked up at him.

"Besides," he smiled, "I like hugging you. It feels rather comforting."

Zhou blinked in surprise at the statement and immediately hugged back, causing Teng to flinch.

"Whoa, that surprised me!" Teng exclaimed, feeling Zhou's strong arms wrapping around his small waist. He rested his head on Teng's shoulder, letting out a relieved sigh.

Zhou felt Teng raise his arm and place it on his head, patting his sleek red hair. He couldn't help but feel fuzzy and warm in the embrace of Teng.

Teng's body fit like a puzzle piece - his missing puzzle piece.

'I just find myself falling deeper and deeper into your embrace. I wonder if he can hear how loud my heart is thumping,' Zhou thought, feeling the urge to kiss Teng's cheek.

He restrained himself, though, not wanting to do something his roommate wouldn't want. That wouldn't be good for their friendship.

Nope. Not good at all.

"...Zhou," Teng mumbled, snapping him out of his daze, "I really, really have to go now. So, um, can you let go of me now?"

Zhou immediately let go of him with a gasp.

"Oh, right. Sorry. I got too comfortable. Ha-ha."

Teng smiled at him.

'You idiot,' Zhou facepalmed, 'I need to be more careful of my actions.'

"Well, let me get going," Teng poked Zhou's left cheek, "So then, I'll see you at the game, captain Zhou."

Then Teng left the dorm room. Zhou stood in front of the door. He looked like a sculpture cause he was frozen in place.

He didn't move for a good five minutes. His whole body was in a state of euphoria inside, though his outside appearance was nonchalant.

"Huh," he sighed, splaying his fingers on his face and covering his eyes, "I'm all fired up now."

Teng and Zhou attended their lectures. They couldn't meet for lunch since their schedules clashed due to preparations for the afternoon basketball game.

Zhou was in and out of the basketball court with every chance he got for some last-minute practice.

"Okay, everyone," Mr. Rong clapped his hands, " Let's give everyone here a good game!"

The basketball team nodded in agreement. After a long day of back-to-back lectures, group assignment meetings.

And the sort, it was finally time for the much-anticipated basketball championship qualifier game.

"Zhou," Mr. Rong added, patting the guy's shoulder, "Don't feel too pressured. I believe in you, and the whole team believes in you. So just do your best."

The other teammates were warming up. Students from different departments walked into the basketball court. Some carried banners full of encouragement and support for the Waterfalls University basketball team.

The girls were squealing in excitement at the site of the guys wearing the team uniform, a black and red basketball uniform.

Seeing the muscles glazed with sweat during the match, not to mention the disheveled appearance of the guys as a result of running around the court, were the highlights of the basketball game.

Well, to the female students, that is.

Students took their seats, chatting happily amongst themselves.

"Omg," one female student screeched, "Senior Luoyang is so dreamy."

"Look at senior Zhou. What a true captain."

He looks like he belongs in a sports anime."

Luoyang, who loved to tease female students, waved at a few students who were sitting together and watching him.

The students squealed.

You could have sworn they had hearty eyes.

"Wow," Zhou laughed, "What great fanservice."

Luoyang winked at him and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"If it makes them happy," his friend told him, "I'm happy. Besides, look at those cute girls waving shyly. They are my type."

"Uh-huh," Zhou sighed.

His green eyes were darting all over the place. Luoyang, noticing, smirked.

"Looking for your precious roommate?" he teased Zhou, giving him a knowing look.

"Man, I feel excited all of a sudden," Zhou turned the other way, avoiding the question.

"Don't try and change the subject-"

"Oh look," Zhou pointed to the door, cutting his friend off, "Looks like our competition is here. Let's go huddle up."

"Hey!" Luoyang exclaimed, getting dragged by Zhou to where the other teammates were standing and others sitting.

"Okay, guys," Zhou began his motivational talk, "Our opponent, Silverleaf University, is here. We start the match in five minutes. Let's get our head in the game-"

Although he said to get their heads in the game, his was not.

"-and do our best, just like we practiced. Our aim is to win the Elite Wings Basketball Championship this year. We should aim high and work hard, so we have no regrets."

"Yes, captain!" the teammates placed their hands on their chests, eyes burning with passion.