A Friend's Request

"You do realize that we're underage, right? We can't drink yet." said Shio, who was blankly staring at Kun. He thought to himself that it was plainly a stupid idea and there's no way they could sneak in some liquor tonight. Especially with Kagura's strict parents that won't even let her hang out with her friends, despite knowing each other's parents too.

"Shio's right, plus we're all just seventeen!" Kagura exclaimed.

"Ahem... Eighteen here." Xian abruptly blurted out. All eyes were on him, then Kun's eyes suddenly sparkled, indicating that he had thought of another 'brilliant' idea—another way of his mischief getting around.

"Aha!" He shouted. His left hand was balled into a fist and placed on top of his other hand, hitting them together and made his skin clap together. "Let's just use Xian as our guardian! We'll make him go buy all the liquor that we need."

"Excuse me? When did I agree to that?" Xian asked. He crumpled the crepe wrapper into a ball and put it on one of his tracksuit's pockets. He, then, folded his arms to his chest and glared at the snickering mischievous male who was sitting beside him.

"Oh, come on, Xian. Don't be such a killjoy! It's not fair if you're the only one who can get drunk and have fun." Kun whined, his lips formed into another yet again, pout. He looked at Xian who was glaring at him and pouted once more, this time more puckered than before.

Xian, annoyed at the male sitting beside him, grabbed his puckered lips, and pulled on it lightly. "You're so ugly, you know that?"

"Ugly?!" Kun gasped, exaggeratingly. He stood from his seat and looked at the hazel eyes Xian has, intensely. He pointed his index finger at his face and said, "Me? Ugly? As if! Many women fall for my overwhelming good looks and of course," He boasted. His hands formed yet another pose, but this time a phone-like symbol that which he puts underneath his chin, signifying his so-called handsome charisma. "My charms."

Shio scoffed as he slowly slid over his wet, jet black hair and slightly give a ruffle to it. "Charms, my ass. You're just an annoying prick—well at least not all the time."

"Annoying prick?! How dare you guys do this to me? Has our four-year-long friendship gone to the drain? Do you guys not love me anymore?" Kun continued to babble until Xian rose to his feet and so did the other two. The three of them stood up and headed towards the school's innards, where it is much cooler than outside at one of the bleachers by the track. "Hey! Wait! Where are you guys going?

"Just come follow," Xian replied. Shio nodded in agreement as they all went to explore the school they had their competition on. It was only a minor semifinal, anyway. It isn't supposed to be held at something already grand, but with Shio's winning, he has the shot to try out at the famous large stadium here in their city.

They all walked side by side as they observe the plain and empty hallways that were supposed to be filled, but it was a weekend so not many students are seen here. Though, there were students from this school to be found cheering at their representative earlier.

It was all quiet and peaceful as they walk and try to find their way to the canteen area which was surprisingly hard to find, unlike their shower and locker room that was placed near the track itself. Everyone enjoyed the stillness of their silence, except for Kun who was still left defeated after their conversation earlier. "How could they just ignore him like that!" He thought as he puffed his cheeks more.

"I hate you guys, sometimes." Kun muttered under his breath, which Kagura had heard. She instantly went by his side and patted his back, not too light but also not too hard—it was like any regular slap in the back a guy could receive from a girl. Except for the fact that she also plays volleyball with her other girlfriends.

"Ouch... Hey! That hurts!" Kun cried out, startling the other two males who only did nothing but looks at him as if he's a crybaby. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?"

"What's wrong?" Xian asked.

"Yeah, what is it this time?"

"Eh? I didn't hit you that hard, Kun!" Kagura explained. "I only smacked your back because I wanted to pat it!"

"Pat it? I think you're trying to break it, instead!" Kun cried once more. He then went to gently pat his back to ease the pain that Kagura had caused. Kun turned to look at her who was blushing a little with embarrassment. "I really didn't mean to do that, Kun. I'm sorry..."

Kun sighed, and so did Shio. He reached for Kagura's hair and gently rubbed his hands to it, messing it up again like how Shio did before. "It's okay," Kun replied and turned to look at Shio, who he caught glaring at him for a split second.

"This guy must really like Kagura, lmao." He thought again, with plenty more of mischievous ideas coming to his head as he continues to caress his hand at her auburn hair.

"Hey—" Shio was about to say when he was suddenly interrupted by a loud sound coming from one of the school's speakers.

"Contestants, please come to the track as we will soon begin the awarding ceremony and the announcement of those who will proceed to the regional finals—the students who will represent our region against other several regions from our country. Thank you and I hope everyone had a great day." The announcer said, startling the group who was about to replenish their hunger which was canceled and will probably happen later than ever.

"Ugh... And I was so hungry right now." Xian commented. He looked super upset as he dramatically held a hand over his stomach like he is going to die if he doesn't eat again—even though, he literally just ate like thirty minutes ago.

"You're hungry again?" Shio asked in disbelief, though they have known what Xian is like when it comes to food. He eats a lot but doesn't even gain a single pound with even a thousand calories!

"Yeah. I need to feed again." He said, patting his growling stomach.

"Damn. I wish I can eat tons of food without being worried about getting fat!" Kun said as he starts to walk outside again. It was scorching hot earlier when the sun was high up noon, it's a good thing that it's now three o'clock in the afternoon—it has a more chilly and relaxing air to it.

As soon as they reached the outdoor bleachers, they had seen the lessened amount of people compared with earlier. Some of the audience must have been bored and left the competition, though there are still lots of people here and there.

"Is it gonna start now?" Kagura asked. She looked around the field and noticed that Shio wasn't there with the rest of the group. Her eyes began to scan each and every corner of her eye, and she saw him at last!

Kagura started to run towards his direction, only to notice that his left hand was placed on his head as it ached more and more. She became mortified and tried to go near him as soon as possible, she was beyond worried about what was happening to him right now.

Shio, on the other note, was hearing the same voice he had heard earlier in the resting area. However, this time it is far more intense and more screeching than before, he felt as if his head and ears were gonna fall off!

"Argh..." He grunted in pain, his ears were all ringing and his head was hurting like hell. As he tries to press on his throbbing head, he didn't notice Kagura approaching him near. He only did when he felt her slender fingers slid down his shoulder gently—for some reason, the ringing and the pain suddenly stopped as soon as he felt someone else's presence nearby.

Shio adjusted himself, fixing his black messed-up hair and slicking it back nice and clean. Kagura only looked at him in confusion, he suddenly became fine after all that unusual behavior earlier. This had worried her more, "Had he hit his head or something?" was what she thought.

"Are you okay, Shio?" She asked, her voice full of concern for the young man who was acting all funny earlier. He only nodded in reply as he grabbed her hand in his and dragged her to the bleachers where the other two were headed. It seemed as if he had forgotten what had happened just a second ago!

Kagura knew something was wrong with Shio, as he doesn't usually act like this especially when he's having a headache. "Does your head hurt? Why were you putting on pressure to your head earlier?" She asked as she continues to walk, or rather, continue to be dragged by her friend.

Shio stopped at his tracks and turned to look at Kagura, whose ocean eyes were sparkling with the deepest concern. He looked at her oddly, as if he was the one who was confused with what Kagura was saying. He smiled at him and said, "What do you mean? Did I press on my head earlier?"

"Huh?" Her mouth was opened agape, trying to find the words to say but nothing came out. Everything was suddenly all weird and confusing that it stressed Kagura out. "Maybe it's just my imagination earlier." She thought.

"I must have seen things wrong, Shio. Haha." She laughed it off as Shio only smiled at her gently. This was one of the things that had made Kagura like Shio ever since they had gone to the same middle school before—it was his genuine smile, a smile that can melt you with his cute dimples on the side of his cheeks. Thinking about Shio again, Kagura's cheeks were hinted deep shades of red once again as they suddenly heard the loud music, indicating that the ceremony had begun.

"Thank you all for being here at this momentous event and I'd like to introduce our special guest for today who will present the medals and trophies for our talented athletes. Let us welcome, Mr. Fujioka!" The emcee announced and a round of applause came greeting the stage onsight. Mr. Fujioka rose to go to the wooden podium in which the emcee was on earlier.

Soon, they announced each and every winner for today's competition. The crowd went on a full cheer as they hear their representative's names. Though some were disappointed, some had been satisfied and motivated to do better next time.

"Yahoo! We made it again with another winning!" Kun cheered. The rest of the group were all joyous, as well as they had their own medals and trophies for themselves.

"I guess we'll have to celebrate it tonight." Xian chuckled. Their plan—Kun's plan—coming up to his mind as he was in a good mood to please his other friends' request.

"You don't mean?" Kun gasped, his excitement overflowing from him as he yells the main word for the event they are looking forward to much later, "Alcohol!"

***

FINAL RESULTS

LIST OF WINNERS (S.Y. 202X-202X)

100-METER RUN (Males)

1st: Shio the Kurotani

2nd: Hisato Genji

3rd: Kun Jiang

4th: Isaac Jordan

5th: Xian Lee

100-METER RUN (Females)

1st: Xiao Zuhen

2nd: Kagura Aiuchi

3rd: Siena Goldberg

4th: Emma Reeds

5th: Hyun-ji Park