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A whistle sounds. The winning team cheers as they achieve victory, while the losers are left to contemplate on what they’ve done wrong. The spring quarterfinals were their last tournament before summer break hit, and they blew it.
Their greatest players were to graduate.
Gold could do nothing as they were congratulated for a good game, and he couldn’t change that they were the losers. A flicker of weakness reflects in his eyes as he shakes the opposing player’s hand. He was dragged into the team huddle and the captain gave them his word.
“You tried your best.”
Undoubtedly the signal of defeat.
Gold glanced around him. His teammates smacked him in the back, all of them keeping their heads up in spite of their loss. If only he could do the same.
The numbers on the field began to dwindle, slowly but surely. The other team is escorted out first, followed by their team. He lined up behind a third year alongside the second years. He leaned forward to peer at them. Suddenly, all around him, tears streamed down the faces of the graduates. He turned behind him and saw the frustration, the disappointment in their expressions. Gold hangs his head low and lets his tears fall. Slowly, but surely. Droplets stained the field as they were finally escorted out.
He only thinks about what could’ve been.
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“Be careful on the way home.”
Gold halfheartedly responds with “I will”, but he storms out of the school, anyway. The city was dark, despite the time, and the usual clear skies were blocked by clouds. He didn’t pay the weather any mind, though. He went towards the nearest tree and kicked it out of frustration. “Dammit!” He yelled and wipes his eyes. His hand took the handle of his bicycle, and he began driving away to some unknown abyss. He didn’t have a destination in mind. He just needed to release his energy on something.
However, this effort proved to be unworthy of his time. The bicycle nearly crashes into a mother, and he’s forced to steer away. His balance is lost and he falls down on the street, scraping his knee in the process. He yelped and held the affected area. Then, just as it couldn’t get any worse, the clouds turned dark and let the rain fall. Not only was he hurt, physically and emotionally, but the downpour left him drenched as well.
What a shitty day he was having..
The convenience store bell chimes as a customer departs from the location. Footsteps approached from behind him, walking, walking, until it comes to a halt.
“What do we have here?”
Silver steps out into the rain beside him. Gold’s hair flattens from the water, and little droplets dripped from the tips. He looked as pathetic as a sopping wet cat. His appearance began resembling one, at least. The redhead nonchalantly crouched down and slung Gold’s arm around his shoulders to support him.
“Hey, what the hell are you doing here?” He mumbled, the bitterness from earlier that day flowing into his statements. Silver carried him to a bus stop, under the shade, and silently worked on his wound. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a pack of wet wipes. With a practiced hand, he started to clean his knee. Gold winced once it came into contact with his fresh wound and almost yanked his leg away entirely, but it was kept firmly in place.
“You should be careful more often. Actually, you’re rather fortunate to have run into me here.”
He states and placed a yellow bear bandaid on top to seal the deal. Silver glanced up to read his expression, but Gold was wearing a blatant pout, so it wasn’t hard to decipher.
“Yeah, yeah. I had a bad day, okay?”
His arms crossed and shook his leg to let his pants roll down. His friend stood up and sat next to him on the bench.
“Word spreads like wildfire. You lost the game, correct?”
“No shit!” He snaps and turned away, unable to bear facing the other. “You’ve proved your point, just leave me alone.”
Silver looked at him with a conflicted expression. At this state, he was completely unapproachable. He could easily blow up on the first person that speaks. After all, his temper was hanging on a thread after his competitive spirit diminished during the game. He ought to approach this situation with a calm, collected, and intelligent point of view.
“Fine. Mope all you want.” He stood up and dusted himself off. A particularly large puddle was forming in front of the bus stop, and he uses this to his advantage. Silver stomps onto the water, never mind him getting soaked, and splashes Gold on his pants. The latter gave him an offended look, which clearly read; how DARE you?! His brows were furrowed and his jaw went wide.
“SILVER!” He called out with a newfound fury and ran to splash him with the same puddle. Silver stepped back and tried to shield himself from the attack, but it ultimately proved futile. His shirt was stained with rainwater. Seeking vengeance, he dragged Gold by the shoulder and pulled him out further in the rain. The shorter boy shakes his head (like a dog), therefore managing to splash Silver with all the clinging droplets. Gold laughs, before he’s splashed yet again by a passing car. The passersby observed the two from a distance, perhaps, afraid to interrupt the monent they shared.
“You’re horrible!”
“What? You started it!”
Silver couldn’t help but grin at the chaos that erupted from their interaction. They ran all across the streets, busy drenching each other as much as they can. At some point, their fingers were bordering on interlocking. They were too preoccupied to feel embarrassed.
The distance would close soon.
Their fits of laughter were intercepted by the loud crackling of thunder. “AAAH-!” Gold yelped and clung to the taller one’s side. The thunder promptly halted, but he didn’t let go. He seemed to be waiting for another aftereffect of the brewing storm. It’s then that Silver turned to the ravenette and realized their proximity. His face flushed. Try as he might to hide it, he was (unfortunately) face to face with his best friend. Golden irises stared into a pair of dull silver ones. They’d stare at each other, although it’s unclear for what reason. There’s a small shine in his eyes as he speaks. “You’re not a girl, but.. you look good. For someone who’s soaked. I mean, all my hair gel wore off, so..”
Silver sharply inhales. “Yeah. Thank you.” He replied. Any longer and he would’ve shoved him off entirely. But he couldn’t resist the magnetizing effect that the other boy had on him. Gold clearly holds himself in high regard, but in the one time he lets down his pride, he happens to be wrong.
Because, really, he sees someone with soggy hair and a nice smile. Who’s he to call himself ugly?
“It’s not weird if I say I want to kiss you, right?” He tilts his head innocently. “We’re close friends.”
He is pretty sure that is weird, or at least, not something a normal best friend would say to another. However, he lets himself be selfish for once. “No. Of course not.”
“Then, can I do it?”
His breath tickled his skin.
“Mhm.”
A warmth presses against his lips. A thought runs into his mind. This was the sloppiest kiss of his life. But in spite of the cold that he was likely going to receive, and both of their in-the-rain states, all he feels is incredibly warm. His chest almost felt like imploding on itself as they tugged on each other to remain close. Like a lifeline.
Silver pulls away first and slapped his cheeks. God, he was blushing too much, he thinks a blood vessel would pop. He looked toward the guy he had just met, lips to lips contact, and wondered if it was worth it. (His mind knows that his heart considered it the best moment of his life, but he had to remain rational). Wordlessly, they kept their gazes on themselves. Speechless, but nothing needs to be said.
“We should go home.”
“Alright.”
“Hey, I forgot all about the game just now. What are you, magic?”
“I’m simply a master at dealing with you.”
“Oh, come on! I was trying to compliment you, smartass.”
The two of them gathered their wits. They parted, and thunder roars, forcing them together without warning. It wasn’t an awkward silence on the way back. It was something they both agreed to keep a secret and that was all it is to them. At least, for now. Once he arrived at his doorstep, Gold turned to face Silver.
“Did you just forget your umbrella or something?” He grinned as the door was opened.
Silver sneezes and rubs his nose. “I might’ve.”
Calm and rational, as he said.
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