The Game

The next morning, Kinrue and her friends were at the outdoor picnic table around the school garden. It's quite a wide space and can't get easily distracted by something unnecessary. There's some student doing their homework, review for exam and some are just here to eat or chat with their friends. On the other side, Kinrue came here not to do any of it but to reflect on what stupid action she did yesterday. No pictures get posted on the school website, but on the private student forum which administered by the Student Council herself, the photo from yesterday has leaked.

The text, calls, emails and chats on her social media account rush like a heavy rain to the point she's forced to turn her phone off.

"I'm stupid! I'm stupid! Please, bury me alive." She keeps hitting her head on the table.

"You're only hurting yourself, Kinrue. The issue is not even a big deal. Besides, both of you are in a relationship. It's common to kiss each other once or twice. Am I right Camie?" Ashley tries to comfort her.

"Ashley has a point. Whatever the two of you do is none of other people's business."

"Argh! It's not like that. Do you know how many fan girls the shithead has? If they'll gang me up..." She hit her head hard.

"We'll back you up Rue, those shrimps are a piece of cake in my powerful fist." Camie said, show her clench fist.

Amidst of their conversation, they heard a group of woman who's rushing towards the gym with giggle. The rest of them head straight to the gym too while looking at their phone. Ashley got curious and look at her phone as if there's any update on what's going on, but she screamed in excitement—point to her phone.

"What is it Ashley? Is there something great in it?" Camie asked, turn her gaze towards the phone. It took only a few seconds before her eyes get wide in surprise. "OMG! What's happening on earth now? Look here, Rue. This is what you are waiting for to happen."

Camie gets the phone from Ashley and turns it in her direction. It's a photo taken a few minutes ago, a caption said, 'Lunaris Princes in one screen' she saw a picture of Lorcan in there that made her eyes pop out with almost a heart shape on it but vanish in an instant when a woman is beside him. She looks away and buries her face on the table.

"The tables turn. He really has a girlfriend." She mumbles.

"Let's watch the game. It looks like a good match between the 11th and 12th grade students." Ashley insisted, stands first fixing her things.

"I'm not going so, enjo—"

"Don't be an emo there alone, Rue, grab this chance to distract yourself." Both Camie and Ashley drag her to the gym, although she's against it.

Inside the indoor gym, they heard a loud cheer from other students. Most of them came from the Lunaris Princes fan girls. This is the first time they saw the gym get full even though it's not an official match—just a make-up one. Despite of it, Camie and Ashley did their best to get in front of those packs. Sneaks left and right whenever there's opportunity until they can see the front.

Both teams are on break. They'll be in the 2nd quarter of the basketball match after this break. Camie wraps her arms around Kinrue while eyes roam around the court.

"Lorcan, Reign, Jordan, and Francis are there. It's a reunion of those men who rejected you. It's a rare scene, Rue." Camie chuckles but hit her with an elbow in annoyance. "Oh, even the present is here."

"Cam—"

"Raven, your girlfriend is here to cheer on you!" A voice of a woman from behind echo on the entire gym as the silence lingers after she shouted those words.

It looks like a ton of ice has poured down to Kinrue's body nonstop. It compile—made her body freeze. She felt the gaze of all student on their direction. Both Camie and Ashley look behind and saw the Student Council President with a wide grin on lips.

"L-Larisa..."

"You seem like searching for your boyfriend so, I help you." Larisa said without a bit of regret in her tone.

She's about to turn around and leave the place in embarrassment, but Larisa grab her shoulder. Her wide grin turns to a sinister smile that gives shivers down her spine.

"You should watch the game. Let's go over there," she flinch, gives a force laugh. She looks towards Camie and Ashley to seek help, but they look away instead.

Before she knew it, Larisa had already dragged her towards where Raven's group was sitting together. The whispers around keeps getting louder. She gulps and looks away when their eyes met. He's the last person she wants to meet, but here they are in the most awkward situation.

"Hi guys, I thought I miss the game but seems not." Larisa said.

"What are you doing, Larisa? Can you stop making a scene?" Raven stands up, walks towards them.

"I'm not making a scene. Besides, your girlfriend's face tells it all. She's searching for you."

"H-huh? N-no. Why would I sea—" she startles when Raven grabs her hand. "H-hey," she whisper, gives him a warning look.

"Sit over there, next to Arisa."

"W-wait,"

"Sit." He emphasizes the single word while gripping tight on her hand. She winced and step on his foot in annoyance.

"O-okay," she look at Larisa and to those people around the front bench.

She stride a walk with heavy step—sit on the bench with a deep sigh. This is not what she expects to see. On the other side of the bench, she can feel the intense gaze from those men who rejected her, but try to ignore it instead. This is a total humiliation, to be stared at by those famous people and to sit beside the famous woman who's a total opposite of her. She wants to dig her own grave and bury herself alive in embarrassment.

Few minutes past, the game starts again. Deep inside, she cheers for the other group, which she supports even before. Besides, those men still have a special place in her heart. A loud cheer dominates the entire gym again, but Kinrue's eye stuck on where Lorcan. He's cool whenever he plays basketball. Those black sweatbands add to his coolness.

"Isn't it Raven, so cool?" Her senses came back when Arisa speaks.

"H-huh? Y-yeah." A force laugh escape her mouth.

"He almost knows how to play every sport, has a handsome face and incredible charisma. You're lucky to have him."

"Do you like him?" Arisa flinch on what she asked.

"H-huh?"

"It sounds like you like him a lot."

She chuckles. "I've known Raven since we're child. He's my brother and best friend at the same time."

Kinrue stares at her, but she's staring at the court where the players continue to play. She's more beautiful when near, like a Greek goddess. She shrugs her head at the thought and looks back on the court.

***

After the game, a loud cheer echoes on the gym again as the buzzer rings, a sign that the last quarter ended at last. It's a close game with a 102-100 score favor on Lorcan's group. Kinrue's eyes shines in excitement as she saw Lorcan celebrate with his teammates. Those innocent genuine smiles that made her fall for him deep. Back then, she's always cheer on him and the first one to greet but now, her girlfriend is the first one who did it.

"It's a good game, Raven." Arisa stand-up to give a towel to those who play.

"T-Thanks,"

Kinrue is in the middle of staring at the other group. She saw Lorcan look at her direction and give a thumbs up. It made her heart skip a beat, face turn beet red as he smiles. 'He didn't change,' it's what she thought as those smiles didn't vanish. Lorcan didn't push her away in the most embarrassing way, like what others did. It's the reason she'll never feels tired of falling in love even though he has someone on his side.

"You're a desperate one," she almost jump in shock when she felt a cold bottle of water on her left cheek.

"What are you doing?"

"Do you know what kind of face you make just now? It's pitiful," he sit beside and wipe the sweat on his face.

"Who cares? I'm glad you lose on the game or else I'll see the sad face on Lorcan." A little smile escapes her mouth as she turns to where Lorcan sits.

"Desperate," he mumbles.

"Tsk. I won't deny I'm desperate for his attention and not yours so, get out of my sight."

She heaves a sigh and stands up—face him. "Losing doesn't mean you're a loser, it only means better luck next time." Her hands move, pat his head.

"I don't need your words," he look up at her with a towel around his neck.

"I know, but you look like a type of person who doesn't accept lose. A-ah... Something like when its game over, it means a reset to you rather than see your lose as a motivation to be better next time." She stops for a moment. "It looks like you're ready to abandon what you lose, then restart a new one rather than pursue it and try again. Argh, for real those type of person I don't know why they are doing it."

She's about to walk outside, but Raven holds her hand.

"What's wrong with those types of person?" He asked.

"Wrong? Everything is wrong about it. They are a type of person who doesn't have a purpose in life and sees it as a game. Life is not a game, it's all about ups and down."

"H-huh?"

"If I visualize, it looks like a line full of ups and down, but moves forward whatever it takes. On the other side, those people who insist life is game, the line looks like a short line only. It doesn't move forward and what awaits is a dead end." Raven looks down and chuckled as his grip tightened. "H-hey,"

"Y-you're really something,"