That's what friends do

"Wow, John, you know what to do," Rose smiled.

Just then, Kevin suddenly walked in, interrupting their ice cream conversation. "Look, I'm sorry. And Sam, you were right. I am a moron. So yeah, Rose is yours and only yours. I'm off the hook."

But before he could leave, Rose tugged at the back of his shirt and said, "Ice cream?"

Kevin hesitated for a moment, then laughed. "Sure, thanks. Oh! I almost forgot—I have a match on Saturday. Please come. Sarah, you too." He smiled at her before adding, "Oh, and it's in Los Angeles—the International Tennis Tournament."

"So, are you guys going?" Sarah asked.

John and Sam both said no.

Rose, on the other hand, remained silent. She was shaking, and it was clear she didn't want to go. The memories of the past incident still haunted her. It felt less like she had woken up from a coma and more like she had emerged from a long sleep—one where every detail was still painfully fresh, as if it had just happened yesterday.

"Hey Sarah, look! It's your school tennis star, Kevin, on TV," Maddie teased.

Sarah, mid-bite of her cereal, nearly choked. "Ugh, what?!" she chuckled, swallowing quickly.

On the screen, Kevin spoke confidently. "Hello, my friends and family. I know it's hard for you to come all the way to see my tennis competition, but I would be very grateful if you were here. Thank you for always being there for me... Sarah."

Sarah froze. Her spoon nearly slipped from her fingers before she snapped out of it. In a sudden frenzy, she almost spilled her cereal all over Maddie, then bolted from the table, running as fast as she could to get dressed.

She searched her closet for the most fashionable outfit she could find, threw on some mascara and lipstick—for the first time ever, voluntarily, for a guy.

Just as she was jumping around, struggling to put on her socks, the doorbell rang. Heart racing, she grabbed the handle and swung the door open.

Kevin stood there, his expression shifting from surprise to shock as he took in Sarah's transformation.

"Um... Sarah, I..." Kevin blushed, then smiled. "You look nice."

Sarah felt her cheeks warm as Kevin placed a small gift near the entry table. Before she could say anything, she grabbed his hand and said, "Let's go out."

Kevin hesitated for a moment before responding, "Actually, I want to play a basketball game with Sam... so I can finally have some good memories."

Sarah was touched. It was obvious that Kevin already knew no one else would come to his match—except for his family and maybe a few close friends, if he had any. Yet, despite that, he still smiled.

She suddenly realized something—she barely knew anything about Kevin. What was he really like? What were his favorite things? She felt bad for never taking the time to learn about him. Every time she tried to understand him, he always hid his feelings behind a smile.

"I just don't understand why... but maybe now I'll find out. He wants to play basketball with Sam? Wait... does he even know how to play? What else is he hiding?" Sarah wondered, curiosity growing inside her.

As Kevin drove toward Sam's house, Sarah looked out the window, lost in thought.

"It's not just me who doesn't know him... it's all of us. What kind of friends have we been to him? Oh gosh... it's really hurtful. And yet... he still loves us."

Sam was already leaving his house to see Kevin, but he had no idea Kevin was coming to see him.

"Oh, hey! I just saw you on TV and—"

Before Sam could finish his sentence, Kevin pulled him into a hug. Sarah stood there, just as shocked as Sam.

"I'm really sorry, Sam," Kevin said, his voice sincere. "But I just have one last wish—I want to have a match with you. Just this once."

Meanwhile, at John's house, Rose looked a little worried. "John, where's Sam?"

"Oh, he said he wanted to meet Kevin. Don't worry, he'll be back soon." Just then, John's phone rang. "Wait a sec, I'm getting a call from Sam… Yeah? Uh-huh... What?!"

Rose's concern deepened. "What happened?"

John hesitated. "Uh… let's just go to Sam's house. You'll know everything once we get there."

When they arrived, Sarah greeted them excitedly. "Agh, there you are! I missed you guys!" She walked up to them with a relieved smile.

Rose looked at Kevin. "So, what's going on?"

Kevin smiled. "Let's begin."

It was supposed to be just a one-on-one match between Sam and Kevin, but Rose insisted that everyone should join in.

"Let's make it a real game," she said. "All of us, together."

Sam was already on his way to see Kevin, unaware that Kevin was coming to see him.

"Oh, hey! I just saw you on TV and—"

Before Sam could finish, Kevin pulled him into a hug. Both Sam and Sarah were taken aback by the unexpected gesture.

"I'm really sorry, Sam," Kevin said sincerely. "But I have one last wish—I want to have a match with you. Just this once."

Meanwhile, at John's house, Rose paced anxiously. "John, where's Sam?"

"He said he was going to meet Kevin. Don't worry, he'll be back soon."

Just then, John's phone rang. He answered casually but suddenly froze. "Wait… What?!"

Rose's concern deepened. "What happened?"

John hesitated. "Let's go to Sam's house. You'll find out everything there."

When they arrived, Sarah greeted them with excitement. "Finally! I missed you guys!"

Rose glanced between Kevin and Sam. "So, what's going on?"

Kevin smiled. "Let's begin."

It was supposed to be a one-on-one match between Kevin and Sam, but Rose insisted on making it a full game.

"Let's all play together," she said, determined. "Let's make it count."

"Quick! Hurry to the hospital!"

Kevin was still unconscious, and his friends' hearts pounded with fear. They couldn't bear the thought of losing him. Just moments ago, they had seen him smile, play, and enjoy himself like never before. None of them had expected things to take such a drastic turn.

Rushed into the ICU, Kevin's mother, along with John, Sarah, Sam, and Rose, anxiously waited for the doctor.

Rose couldn't hold back her tears. "Why?!" she cried, her voice breaking. The memory of Kevin's genuine smile—one she had never seen before—flashed in her mind.

"Kevin!" she sobbed. "That was the first time I saw you smile from the bottom of your heart!" She repeated his name three times, her cries echoing through the hallway.

At that very moment, inside the ICU, the doctor was administering shockwaves to Kevin. Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open. His first word was—"Rose."

Everyone in the waiting area heard it. Their heads shot up, and they ran to the ICU door, pressing against it in anticipation. Just as the doctor came to open the door, John, Sarah, Sam, and Rose all tumbled into the room, crashing into each other.

The doctor nearly laughed at the sight. "Well, it's clear how much you all love him."

Ignoring everything else, Rose ran straight to Kevin's bedside.

Rose rushed to Kevin's bedside and asked, "Kevin, are you alright?"

Kevin let out a hearty laugh. "What are you guys doing?"

Rose smiled at him. "We're just waiting for a friend to come and play basketball with us."

Kevin smirked. "Oh yeah? Who's that?"

John grinned. "Yeah, man, you should join us."

Before Kevin could respond, the doctor stepped in. "I appreciate how much you all care for your friend, but there's something you need to know. Kevin, you won't be able to use your right hand for a month. You've lost control of it temporarily, and you'll need to stay in the hospital for at least that long. I'm really sorry, but this is the reality."

Kevin's heart sank. His excitement faded as he processed the news. "But… what about the tournament?" His voice wavered, his expression clouded with disappointment.

John stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Kevin's shoulder. "Don't worry, man. I'm good at tennis. I'll cover for you and make sure to bring home a trophy in your name."

Kevin's eyes widened. "Really? You'd do that for me?"

John grinned. "Of course! Why wouldn't I? That's what friends do."

Kevin took a deep breath before speaking. "I have another request… There's a basketball tournament I signed up for. I want Sam to play in my place. I know I'm asking a lot, but—"

"No buts!" Sam interrupted. "I'll play."

Kevin nodded but looked serious. "Be careful. They're brutal."

Sam chuckled. "Like I've never seen tough players before? Don't worry, I'll be extra careful."

"Well, that settles it then," John said. "Sarah and Rose, you take care of Kevin while we go handle things on the court."

Sam smirked. "Yeah, we'll take care of business while you two babysit."

Kevin grinned. "I knew you'd say that."

John clapped a hand on Sam's back. "Alright, snappy pants, let's go practice."

"Hey—wait!" Sam protested as John dragged him away.

Sarah burst into laughter. "Snappy pants? That's a keeper."

Kevin and Rose couldn't help but laugh along, the room filling with a much-needed sense of lightness.