Chapter Text
20th May
Lu Guang looked at his watch before opening the door to the gymnasium : 5:24pm. He had arrived early. Lu Guang entered the place like it was any other day. Except it wasn’t. For him, this kind of day was always unique. And today, ought to be the perfect day. Lu Guang let the door slam behind him. Some eyes turned towards him, but he shrugged the nausea off.
He doesn’t like strangers. He doesn’t appreciate people watching him but after spending some time with some outgoing guys he learnt to cope with it. He recognized some faces. Especially his.
The players were practising on the court. The ball and their shoes were squishing on the floor. The smell of polish and sweat hit him in the face. What an atmosphere… After all those years, he still couldn’t understand how people enjoyed passing their free time here, working out... Psychos...
Lu Guang checked his watch out of reflex, adjusted his shoulder bag full of books, walked pass the coach encouraging his players and finally sat on the stands. Other people were here too, some guys on the bench in the front row, a water boy with freeckles, and some girls in the corner of the room, chatting together. He didn’t quite understand why people would spend their whole afternoon in here while there was a perfectly outdoor court just outside but that was the coach's coal. He put down his bag and retrieved a book out of it, trying not glance at the chatting girls a couple meters away.
It was hot in the gymnasium. It was only early May but summer was already on their doorsteps. Lu Guang unbuttoned his patterned cardigan before taking it off. His shirt was a bit damp from all the walking around campus between classes. God, he better notice him fast so he could escape this hell hall.
The coach blew his whistle. “Okay guys, it’s time to rest. Go shower now, I’ll see you again Friday.”.
Finally. Lu Guang put down his book and straightened himself. He almost checked his hair but that would be a bit much for today.
The ball stopped on the court. Then, the players assembled themselves into a circle in the middle of the court. The water boy shook his head, turning towards the locker room. The girls stopped their conversation.
“Wait ! They’re gonna do it !” The black-haired one said to her friend while chuckling.
Lu Guang arched its eyebrows. What is it now ? He focused his attention on the players.
The team started a low… murmur ? Or something that resembled it. But then as Lu Guang thought they were having a collective stroke, they started vocalising. Slowly… They all began to vocalise. Louder and louder… What this a haka ? Were they seriously doing a haka ? That’s new… Until…
“WHO ARE WE ?” Screamed a player.
Lu Guang was left mouth opened, hanging low. He simply couldn’t believe it.
“WE ARE WINNERS !” Said the group.
The hell is happening ?
“WHO ARE WE ?!” Screamed-asked another player.
“WE ARE WINNERS !” Responded the players like a cult.
Lu Guang eyed the girls in the corner who were laughing their asses off the bench.
Tears falling hard on the ground. He then looked at the team coach who was experiencing second-hand embarrassment just as hard as his (and everybody else's in the gymnasium).
But suddenly…
“WHO ARE WE ?!!!” Screamed loudly a tall dark-haired player. Number 7, the lucky number. Lu Guang thought to himself before eying him.
“YOU ARE LOSERS !” Responded one of the girls to the team before bursting up laughing.
The guys broke the circle to look at them, well not Lu Guang, but the girls who were just above him. Number 7 took a step forward. “Qiao Ling ! I didn’t ask you to come to mock our ritual !”
“Sorry brother, I’ll keep that in mind !” The girl responded. “Please continue !”
The tall player got back into the circle.
“I SAID, WHO ARE WE ?!”
“YOU ARE IDIOTS !” Said the second girl, next to Qiao Ling, who nearly fall off the stands, laughing.
The players started rummaging and mumbling ineligibly before leaving the court. Even the coach left, lighter in hand, leaving number 7 alone in his embarrassment. Lu Guang couldn't certainly believe that, but nothing could have prepared him to this... moment of collective sportsmanship ?
Number 7 started moving toward them. “Xu Shanshan ! Did you come all this way just to humiliate me ?” He asked, ball in hand.
“Yes, I did ! And you love me for it. ” She said winking before sipping her pink bubble tea.
Lu Guang left a soft chuckle escape his mouth. Number 7 just looked at him. Piercing eyes, cute nose and all that. He didn’t plan for him to hear him. Another uncertainty.
“See, even this guy thinks this is lame !” Said Qiao Ling. “You really shouldn’t do it when you got a game…”
“Or ever.” Finished their friend.
The player took a step forward, black bangs falling over his damp forehead. He was now at eye limits, one row down. He adjusted his stance.
“Do you think it’s lame ?” He asked him with puppy eyes, his fingers fidgeting around the ball.
Seriously ? Their first social interaction had to be about this ? How would someone break the harsh truth to someone who looked at them like… That. Eyes glowing, lips slightly parted, breath a little shallow… Damn that’s hard. Oh well. Someone's got to say it to him, besides the two other girls.
“I…”
“Please don’t break my heart.” He interjected, puppy eyes all the way harder.
Lu Guang just… Oh he had to do it now.
“Lame isn’t the word I’d chose… I’d say I would probably prefer going blind than ever have to see that ritual of yours again.”
The puppy eyes disappeared as fast as they appeared. The mouth dropped slightly. And the girls just… Kept silent.
Until they weren’t.
Had he crossed a line ? Lu Guang could have counted the seconds of embarrassment.
“That’s my brother you’re talking about.” Qiao Ling said getting up. “Who are you to speak of him that way ?”
Lu Guang began to stutter. Maybe he did cross a line ? Had he ruined it all ? “I mean… I’m… I’m...”
“Except my new best friend ?” She finished with a bright smile. She then proceeded to extend her hand. “I’m Qiao Ling, she's Xu Shanshan and he’s… not important.” She said glancing at the basketball player standing around like an idiot. “And who might you be ?”
He smiled softly, shaking her hand. “I’m Lu Guang. It’s a pleasure meeting you.”
“I like your hair by the way !” Xu Shanshan said with a cute smile.
“Thank you, its natural.”
“Really ? It looks good.” Interjected the boy.
Lu Guang turned to face him, already mildly annoyed by him. “Thanks.” He then turned to the girls “So what are you doing around here ? You know, despite mocking the players.”
Qiao Ling laughed. “Well… Xu Shanshan is a med student. And I’m a business major, final year. What about you ?”
“Oh… med and business ? Hard ones. You’ll think I’m taking the easy way by studying literature.”
“Of course not ! That was my second choice !” Reassured Qiao Ling. "Their literature program is the hardest in the country. You must be smart !"
Lu Guang blushed. "Well... I don't know if I'm smart but I like a challenge. And it seems I found one."
"He's handsome, smart and modest too ! Qiao Ling, can we keep him ?" Xu Shanshan asked her, almost pleading.
"You already got one at your apartment, Shanshan. But I don't." She said winking.
Oh god. What was happening ? How should he react ?
“Do anyone cares what I study ?” Asked Cheng Xiaoshi to the group. They all turned to him.
“Not really.” His sister responded. “We’re meeting someone here. I thought I raised you better than that.” She finished shaking her head.
“You’re related ?” Lu Guang asked trying to get out of this uncomfortable situation with Qiao Ling.
“Not by blood fortunately.”
Cheng Xiaoshi rolled his brown eyes. “Eh ! You’be honoured to share my DNA. You could actually see when you’re in the driver seat.” Xiaoshi exclaimed, faintly hurt.
But Ling didn’t seem to care. “Don’t listen to him. He doesn’t really understand what is happening here.” She then whispered “He usually repeats what his friends are saying… How embarrassing for someone his age…”
“I don’t ! Don’t listen to her, she’s a nightmare to live with. I just hope you’ll move far away from town next year.”
“Oh yes ? What are you gonna do without me ? Boil an egg in the microwave so you could heat it up a bit ? You’re lost without me, brother.”
“Okay guys, I think that’s enough for now. You’ve both embarrassed yourselves – and my own persona - in front of… Lu Guang, wasn’t it ?” He nodded. “So let’s get rolling, we all have things to do. It was a pleasure meeting you.” She said smiling.
“Same here.” Said Qiao Ling, straightening her white skirt. “We’ll see you around.” She said, winking one more.
“Sure.” Lu Guang said turning back to the door while the girls were heading towards their things. He took his own shoulder bag and began descending the stairs. He went through the court, checked his watch and exited the door, leaving a baffled basketball player on the stands.
Who the hell was that ? Cheng Xiaoshi asked himself.