Chapter 33: Kai and Leo sports

As the day went on, Charmel's friends slowly recovered from the ordeal of the fun run. They all went back to their normal activities, and Charmel was ready to move on to the next event of the sports festival: the basketball match.

Currently, Charmel was walking to the basketball court, her eyes fixed on Kai as he practiced his shots with the ball. Meanwhile, Chika was rehearsing with her cheerleading team, their energetic cheers and dance routines filling the air. Charmel couldn't help but smile as she saw Chika jumping and twirling with her teammates.

Charmel approached the basketball court, where Kai was busy practicing his shots. She leaned against the fence and watched him dribble and shoot for a while before finally speaking up.

"Hey, Kai," she called out, a smirk on her face. "Still practicing your threes? You better win today and the name of our section." Kai stopped mid-shot and turned to Charmel, a cocky grin on his face. "You don't need to tell me that. I'm going to win this, guaranteed."

He continued practicing, his focus unwavering. "Besides, I have no plans on losing, especially with you watching."

Suddenly Leo interrupted "Charmel don't bother them the game will start soon" Charmel turned to look at Leo, who had suddenly appeared behind her. "I wasn't bothering anyone," she protested, rolling her eyes.

Leo chuckled, shaking his head. "No, but you were distracting. Kai needs to concentrate. The game is about to start." Charmel huffed, slightly annoyed at being called out. "Fine, I won't bother him. I'll go sit over there and cheer him on instead."

She gestured towards the bleachers, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

From Kai's perspective, he was in the zone. His mind was solely focused on the basketball court and the game ahead. Yet, he couldn't help but notice Charmel's presence out of the corner of his eye.

He couldn't deny that having her around was both a distraction and a motivation. He wanted to show off for her, to impress her with his skills on the court.

Finally, the starting whistle blew, and the match began. Kai leaped into action, dribbling the ball with grace and precision. His mind was clear, and he was fully immersed in the game.

He stole the ball from the opposing team's player, swiftly maneuvering around them, and made a perfect pass to a teammate, who scored an easy basket.

The game progressed, with both teams giving it their all. Kai was determined, driving forward with every move he made.

Every now and then, he would glance towards the bleachers, where Charmel was sitting next to Leo and Chika. She cheered and shouted enthusiastically, her eyes fixed on him.

Chika, standing next to Charmel, rolled her eyes and elbowed her playfully. "Why don't you stop shouting and close your mouth? Let Kai concentrate."

Charmel, undeterred by Chika's annoyed comment, continued to cheer loudly, her voice ringing out throughout the court. "Come on, Kai! Show them what you're made of!"

Leo, sitting between Charmel and Chika, chuckled at the bickering between the two. "You know you can't stop her from cheering. She's a natural noise machine."

On the court, Kai could hear Charmel's voice echoing through the gym. A slight smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he felt a surge of determination rush through him.

He pushed himself harder, dribbling and weaving around his opponents, fueled by Charmel's enthusiastic support.

The game came to an end, with Kai's team emerging as the victors. The final score was a decisive 28-15.

Kai, drenched in sweat, walked off the court, a satisfied smile on his face. His eyes scanned the bleachers, searching for Charmel.

Chika and Leo approached Kai, their faces illuminated with excitement.

"Great game, man," Leo praised him, clapping him on the back.

Chika nodded in agreement, her earlier annoyance replaced with admiration. "You were on fire out there."

Charmel, full of energy from the game's excitement, couldn't help herself. She spotted a boy from another section who had bet on Kai's team to lose.

With a sly grin on her face, Charmel marched up to the boy, her eyes narrowing. "You didn't really think we'd lose, did you? Pay up, buddy."

The boy, taken aback by Charmel's sudden approach, hastily pulled out a few crumpled bills from his pocket. He handed them over to Charmel, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Charmel counted the money, a smirk on her face. "That's what I thought. Next time, don't underestimate the power of our section."

"What an idiot," Chika muttered as she glanced at Kai. "That's why she's so determined that you win."

Kai chuckled, watching Charmel interact with the boy from the other section. "Yeah, Charmel's competitive streak knows no bounds. She's relentless.

He shrugged, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Honestly, I don't mind it. She motivates me to give my all on the court."

"Okay, next up is Leo. Don't lose your running race!" Charmel pointed at Leo, her tone serious.

Leo's face paled, the realization of the next event hitting him. "Right...the running race."

Kai snickered, enjoying seeing his friend's nervous expression. "Looks like you've got your work cut out for you, Leo. Better get warmed up."

"You better be win, Our section depends on you" Leo's eyes widened at Charmel's words, a sense of pressure settling on his shoulders. "You mean, your money depends on me," he replied sarcastically.

Charmel feigned innocence, placing a hand on her chest. "Oh, of course not. We believe in your skills and athletic prowess."

Leo raised an eyebrow, not buying her act for a second. "Right, and you just so happen to have bet on me winning."

Charmel's smirk widened, her guilt obvious. "Let's just say, I have faith in your abilities...and a bit of cash on the line."

Leo rolled his eyes, both amused and annoyed by her response. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. I hope you bet a lot of money on me. I wouldn't want to disappoint you."

Time passed, and the moment arrived for the next event: the running race. Leo stood at the starting line, his heart pounding with nervous energy. Charmel, Kai and Chika stood nearby, watching him with anticipation.

Charmel leaned closer to Kai, her voice filled with conviction. "He better win. I put a lot of money on him."

Kai chuckled, his gaze fixed on Leo, who was stretching nervously on the starting line. "I have no doubt he'll do his best. But don't get your hopes up too high. There are fast runners out there."

"Shut up," Charmel huffed, crossing her arms in defiance. "Leo's got this. I can feel it."

The starting gun sounded, jolting everyone to attention. The runners sprinted off, including Leo.

As the race commenced, Charmel, Kai, and Chika watched eagerly from the sidelines, their eyes glued to Leo's figure.

Leo ran with determination, his legs pumping vigorously. He was among the middle-tier runners, not ahead, but not far behind either.

Charmel nervously clutched her hands together, her knuckles turning white. "Come on, Leo. You can do it," she muttered under her breath.

Chika glanced at Charmel, a bemused expression on her face. "Relax. You're acting like it's your own race."

"I can't help it," Charmel replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "I put money on him. I need him to win."

Kai chuckled, watching Charmel's anxious state with amusement. "You're going to give yourself a heart attack worrying like that."

The race concluded, and to Charmel's disappointment, Leo did not emerge as the winner. He crossed the finish line a few seconds behind the top runners, panting heavily and looking slightly dejected.

Charmel's shoulders slumped, and she let out a frustrated sigh. "Damn it," she muttered.

Chika gave her a sympathetic pat on the back, while Kai chuckled. "Guess you won't be making any money on that bet."

Charmel scowled, shoving Kai playfully. "Shut up. I had faith in him, okay?"

Leo approached them, still out of breath. "Sorry, guys. I tried my best, but the others were just too fast."

As Charmel sulked over her loss, several students from other sections approached her, their faces smug and challenging.

"Looks like your 'champion' didn't pull through," one boy taunted, a smirk on his face.

Another girl chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain, "I thought you were so certain he'd win. Guess you were wrong...again."

Charmel felt her blood boil, the smug expressions of the other students grating on her nerves. She clenched her fists, her competitive nature taking over.

"You want your money? Fine," she growled.

She pulled out a small wad of cash from her pocket and reluctantly handed it over, her eyes narrowing with irritation.

The other students collected their winnings, their grins widening. "Better luck next time," one of them taunted.

Charmel clenched her jaw, her competitive streak burning even brighter now. She hated losing and losing money made it even worse.

The students from the other sections left, satisfied with their winnings and having had their fun at Charmel's expense. Charmel huffed, watching them walk away with disdain.

Chika gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "Don't let them get to you. It's just a stupid bet."

"You deserve it," Kai said with a teasing tone. Charmel shot Kai a glare, her irritation evident. "Oh, shut up. You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Kai chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Of course I am. Watching you lose money and get all worked up is quite amusing."

Charmel huffed again, crossing her arms in defiance. "You're an absolute jerk, you know that?"

Chika couldn't help but chuckle at their bickering. "You two are like children sometimes."

The day of the sports festival came to an end eventually, and Charmel, Kai and Chika bid their farewells to each other and went their separate ways.

As Charmel Leo walked home together, "By the way Leo, you did great" Leo's expression brightened, his mood lifting at Charmel's encouraging words. "Thanks," he replied, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I gave it my all out there, but those other runners were just too fast."

"Here, have these," Charmel said, passing him a couple of energy drinks. "You need to recover from all that running."

Leo gratefully accepted the drinks, his eyes lighting up. "Thanks, Charmel. You're a lifesaver."