I gulped. “I-I just think that she looks like an angel.”
Jackson nodded furiously. “He’s an angel that came down from heaven so that she could shower us with her beauty and innocence!” They all laughed at how fanatic Jackson became. But I’m just glad that there are people that like Lia so much.
“Aren’t you interested, Mitch?”
Mitch shook his head. “I prefer matured women.” That’s quite unexpected of him. So that’s what his type.
“Heh~ that’s unexpected. But since Mitch is also pretty, doesn’t it make it harder for girls to choose you? They might think you’re going to hog all the boys.” Taichi commented but Mitch didn’t bother and just laughed.
I sat on my chair and was about to mind my own business but my other classmates came back with sour expressions on their faces. “What happened to you guys?” Mitch asked them as if they’re already friends with each other.
“Kyros skipped class again.” One of them answered. I think his name is Taurus. They said that he’s the smartest in this class but he’s also a total klutz. He broke his glasses yesterday and is now forced to wear contact lenses.
“AAAAAAAAAAA! I don’t want to study anymore.” Dusty screamed as he placed his head on his desk. They’re all making their way to their seats while complaining about that guy named ‘Kyros’. Which makes me wonder what kind of a person he is. He’s already well-known even though it’s just the second day of the class. I heard he’s been a troublemaker ever since middle school years.
The lunch break was over and the class started. I don’t really like studying too like Dusty, but I can’t afford to have a low grade. My mother wouldn’t like it if I failed some of my lessons.
Our next class is English class which I find the easiest, what I hate the most is mathematics. I don’t know why but when the lesson involves numbers, my brain wouldn’t fully function. That’s another way to say that I’m stupid.
“Haaaa, finally! Classes are over.” Mitch said as he quickly packs his belongings. He’s showing us how excited he is for the game with the upperclassmen.
I don’t think it’s fair though, we wouldn’t be able to beat them even if we try. “Hurry, Lexi!” He pulled my arm as soon as I wore my backpack and he quickly raced out of the room while pulling me.
We arrived in the locker room and saw Royce already changed into his training clothes. “That’s fast. Are you excited too?” Mitch asked with a cheeky smile, but Royce ignored him and slammed the door which made me flinched.
Mitch clicked his tongue. “What’s wrong with him?” He then began removing his clothes while humming to this song that I don’t even know.
While we’re busy changing, I could hear the loud cheers at the field. The soccer club’s already having its initiation game. There are only a few female students in this school, and almost all of them are cheering there in the field.
“Must be nice to have fans like that,” Mitch commented after he finished changing clothes. “I would like to be famous too.” He smiled while I didn’t say anything and just get over with changing clothes.
We quickly made our way to the gym, but the emptiness in the hallway makes me somehow feel calm. The sun is setting while the other students are already making their way towards the gate. Silence surrounds the hallway and the only thing I could hear was the sounds of our footsteps as we walk towards the gymnasium.
“Doesn’t this school looks like those from an anime?” Mitch giggled while he walks in front of me. “I’m glad that I quickly made friends with a teammate.” He looked at me with a smile that could compare to a ray of sunshine. He’s so bright.
“Hey! Ezra! Stop doing stupid things!” That’s the first thing we heard as soon as we got inside the gymnasium. “Just because your injury already healed, doesn’t mean you can do reckless things again.” The Captain kept reminding Ezra as he keeps doing stunts near the balls.
He’s just too happy if you ask me. Other freshmen like us were just sitting on the corner while they watch the upperclassmen warm up.
I have decided to just sit first and watch, but then our coach arrived. “Is everyone already here?” We all gathered to where he is to show him our faces. I don’t understand why but his eyes once again landed on me. “I’ll leave it to you, Captain. We have a meeting today so I’ll go now.” He quickly left after saying that.
Captain Leroy stood in front of us. “Like what coach said, I already planned everything and divided you all into groups.” He said as he looked at the list the manager is holding. “Since I want to see how the freshmen would fit with the upperclassmen, I chose to mix everyone. And so, the first group would be…”
“Yay! We’re in the same group! Toss for me!” Ezra placed his arm on my shoulder as he excitedly laughs and started jumping around. Having him near me is already exhausting enough!
The other freshmen look like they’re nervous around the upperclassmen, well I’m the same. It’s just, Ezra is so clingy towards me that I couldn’t absorb everything that’s happening.
“Hey, I’m in the same group,” Dwight said while he flashes an awkward smile. I already know him because he's called the second ace, and he has this two-block with bangs hairstyle that really catches one's eyes.
I just bowed my head to show him respect, since I’m also socially awkward and I don't even have anything to say.
Captain Leroy clapped his hand to gather our attention. “We’ll do one set every match.” He said as the others placed the net and gather all the balls. I’ve decided to help since it would make it faster.
“Ugh! We’re not teammates.” Mitch complained while he helps me with gathering the balls that were scattered by Ezra. “I want you to toss for me first.” He pouted while holding a ball in both of his arms.
It can’t be helped, I just smiled at him while I continued doing whatever I was doing. This gym would be covered with the smell of sweat later, and I don't know why that makes me excited.
The first match started and it was Mitch’s team, against the Vice-Captain’s team. Mitch and Royce are on the same team but they don’t seem to get along well.
Royce’s been ignoring Mitch even though he was trying to talk to him. I wonder why he does that though. He also ignored Mitch before at the locker room. Maybe he hates cheerful people like Mitch.
“What should we call our partnership?”
My thoughts were interrupted after Ezra asked me that. I would have frowned, but I quickly controlled my expression. Why do we need to call our partnership anything? It doesn’t even matter.
“What about ALEZRA?” He smiled widely while waiting for my response. “Doesn’t it sound good? Hmm… then what about… EZREXIS?” I couldn’t control my expression as I grimaced while cringing so hard.
“Then what about—“ he couldn’t finish what he was saying because Dwight smacked him on the head. Thank you.
Dwight smiled as he pulled Ezra towards him. “Please forgive him. He’s a volleyball idiot, and a real-life idiot as well that’s why he spouts nonsense most of the time.” He was practically dissing him but Ezra doesn’t seem to mind.
“Hey! That was my ball!”
My attention went to the direction of that voice because I know that it belongs to Mitch. I just noticed the growing tension on their team when Mitch shouted that to Royce who doesn’t seem to care.
He took a deep breath to calm himself and they continued with the game as if nothing happened. However, I noticed how Mitch and Royce keep battling for the ball. They don’t seem like teammates anymore.
Their game ended and Mitch’s team won even though there’s this tension between him and Royce. It’s my first time seeing Mitch annoyed like that, I thought he would get along with everyone. Now Royce seems to be an exception.
“Next team, Ezra’s.”
I stood up and followed them from behind. It would be my very first game after so many years. I’ve played volleyball in elementary school and I know everything is different when it comes to the real thing. I hope that I wouldn’t make any mistakes.
“Our team will serve,” Dwight said while holding the ball and passed it to Ezra. “You go first.” A naughty smile forms on his face which also caused Ezra to smile. What are they planning?
“Ah! Isn’t it unfair to put Ezra first?!” One of the upperclassmen from the other team shouted, but the Captain didn’t listen to what he was saying.
I took a deep breath. This would be the start. And as soon as we heard the whistle sound, Ezra did a service ace which left me in a daze. I thought it was lucky, but it’s not about luck at all. He’s a monster!
“Center!”I tossed the ball to Ezra’s direction and he easily spiked it which leads to another score for our team. “Nice toss!” He raised both of his hands at me as if waiting for me to do something, he’s anticipating. However, I tilted my head as I feel confused by those actions.What does he want from me?He chuckled. “It means high-five.” Ezra made me raise both of my arms and he did the high-five with me. I blinked thousands of times as I don’t get what does that meanwhile I stare at both of my hands which are now redder than usual. “Don’t you need to tie your bangs? I think it’s getting in the way.”Ezra tried to s
Mitch saluted to the captain. “Yes sir!” He placed his hands on Ezra’s shoulders with his brightest smile. “Let me help you.” Ezra shuddered, he avoided making eye contact with Mitch. “N-No thank you.” He backed away but Mitch moved closer to him. “P-Please stop moving closer towards me.” I don’t understand why he became uncomfortable with Mitch when they were being buddies before. Though it was more like they’re children. Mitch pouted. “Why have you become so cold towards me?” Dwight chuckled, he got in between them. “It’s because you look like a girl— Come here, I’ll help you instead.” He pulled Ezra towards him and made him stretch his body.
Maybe the gods hate me. This is why I’m stuck with Ezra right now. I would have been thankful if it was Mitch, he was at least tolerable. But not this upperclassman! I don’t understand but I just can’t feel comfortable with him. Whenever he’s near, I could feel anxiety swallowing me because he would often talk to me a lot and I suck at interacting with other people. I spouted nonsense already when he was talking to me before.I’m scared that I might say something that I don’t want anyone to know.Although I'm aware that it’s rude not to answer at all, I still don’t want to. “Mitch was searching for you. You just left without a word.” 
My head was full of thoughts that they might be our neighbors, and I acted shamefully like that. “Was that his sister? No matter how I look at her, she’s too young to be his mom.” I grunted as I accidentally turned the water cold, which made me jumped due to surprise. Should I just take a cold shower to cool my head? Since the weather is not that cold, maybe I should do that. In the end, I couldn’t think of any way I could avoid meeting Ezra because he’s still my teammate. And worse? He’s the star player on our team. I ended up at the dining table with a sour expression which I think would also sour the atmosphere of our dinner if they could just see my eyes. Although I think they could feel what I feel because Alina’s quite fast to catch
“That was it?!” Ezra’s eyes widened, and I blinked thousands of times. We’re both surprised because of how I suddenly raised my voice like that. “It’s my first time hearing you talk so much and even raising your voice like that.” He said while blushing even harder. I don’t understand why he’s shy now when he’s oblivious to many things.And I didn’t even expect him to think about things like ‘embarrassing.’ He started scratching the back of his head. “I might look like I don’t care about other people’s circumstances, but I don’t want you to hate me… as you said.” He whispered the last words he said, which made me unable to hear them.
Due to surprise, I accidentally bumped my head on the door, which caused me to curl up while holding onto my head.What's his problem? If he didn't move that close, then I wouldn't become flustered like this. "Are you okay?" I was surprised when Ezra kneeled on the floor and looked at me with worry in his eyes. "Did I scare you? I'm sorry! I think you hit your head too hard. Should I look at it?" He asked me with such a sweet tone that I couldn't reply. He leaned to me and caressed my head, but his face was closer to mine than before, making me flustered. "That must have hurt," Ezra said while still having his face near me. I could feel mine heating up as I averted my gaze.
They left after that. "What was the purpose of doing that?" I mumbled as I got up. "And you don't call people queer just because we're not made out of pure muscles just like you blockheads are." When I turned around, I didn't expect to see Ezra.Wait! Did he heard what I've said?! Ezra smiled at me and didn't talk to me any further. The training started, and not like his usual self, he didn't approach me nor looked at me. I might end up thinking that I did something wrong to him because of how Ezra averts his gaze and avoid me. He didn't do that this morning though. What's wrong with him now? "Gather everyone." We all we
I got flustered when he turned to face me while still not letting go of my arm. "No one should get used to being bullied like that. You're a precious person. You must treasure yourself like how your parents' treasures you." Those words didn't sit right with me, and I pulled my arm away. "How would I do that? I don't know the feeling of being treasured." Ezra was definitely surprised by what I've said. I don't even know the reason why I've said that. I'm usually not like this. And because of that, I now again feel awkward being with him. Can I please stop spouting nonsense when I'm with him? I'm already uncomfortable enough! Why do I have to make things worse? Stop making my life even more awkward, self.