"You knew that Shaoting will be competing in the 400-meter freestyle?!" Midori glared at Dan who was back from getting their drinks.
"Yeah...of course." Dan had a smug face as he replied like it was obvious.
"Hmmp. And you didn't tell me..." Midori was pouting.
"Here are your drinks." He handed Mei hers, then opened the screw cap for Midori before handing it out to her. Then he patted her head gently. "Sorry. I thought you knew." He faintly smiled.
Amidst Mei's loud cheering, Midori calmly surveys the area with her eyes while enjoying her drink. As she was about to look back on the participants in the pool, she noticed someone staring on the spot next to her. She couldn't identify the person since the shadow of a cap blurred the face a little. She followed the stare and it landed on Dan.
"Hey..." she tugged on the side of his shirt.
He turned his head to look at her. "Yeah? What's up?"
"There's a..." When she was about to move her hand to point at the person staring at Dan, she stopped.
The person was gone.
Dan followed her view. Seeing nothing remarkable, he asked, "Was something there?"
"Just now..." Midori mumbled. She decided against telling Dan some trivial things. "It's nothing."
They turned back their attention on the competition.
Mei was shouting her lungs out at the end of the event.
Shaoting went to their area after drying himself with a towel and wearing the varsity jacket. Before he did, girls from different schools, including theirs, were drooling on the sight of him. He has broad shoulders, toned pectoralis muscles and six-pack abs. However, he walked straight towards Mei's group.
Mei stood from her seat and wrapped her arms on his neck. "Congratulations!"
Shaoting patted her head while smiling. "Thanks. I'll make sure to say it back later."
It was 30 minutes before the start of the cheerdance competition. Squads from different schools gathered on their respective areas.
Captains were asked to draw lots for the order of presentation.
Midori got the last spot. She was not sure if getting to watch others before them will calm her group or will shatter their morale.
Just when she was returning to her group, a curvy girl approached her.
"Miss Xiu, we meet again." She snickered while playing with her braided hair.
"Madeline Song." Midori eyed the girl sternly.
Madeline Song is a half-Asian, half-European girl with light brown hair, angled brows, gray eyes, tall nose and full lips. Her mother was once mistress who eventually married her father after his divorce. Her father spoilt her since she is the only daughter he has after fathering 3 sons with the ex-wife. She and her mother have been living on his wealth for quite some time. Her team is the defending champion from last year's competition and she is determined to keep it that way.
"I see you still remember the team who beat you last year." She tried to rub it on Midori's face.
"Of course...and you know what? A tiger hurt is fiercer on its next attack. It will make sure its prey falls under its paws." Midori sneered at her and walked away.
Meanwhile, in the corridors...
Dan was walking around, coming from the restrooms. As he arrived at a corner, suddenly, a girl carrying a big box tripped and almost fell onto him. He managed to support her arms as she held the box, so she could steady herself.
The girl looked up to him apologetically. "Sorry! So sor-..." she looked at him in bewildered eyes. "Oh, it's you." She shyly smiled. "Thank you."
Dan looked at the girl closely. She is wearing a cheerdance uniform similar to Midori's. Her innocent-looking eyes were staring back at him.
He furrowed his brows a little. Once she was back on her feet, she began to walk away. This time, Dan noticed that one of her shoelaces were untied. "Wait." he says, stopping her tracks.
His mind was debating if he should do what he was thinking. He looked around to check if anyone could be watching. Seeing no one, he proceeded with the plan on his mind and went down to tie her laces. He was worried that this girl might trip again and hurt herself. After he was done, he got up and walked away.
Without turning back, he waved his hand. "Be careful on your way." he casually said.
The girl shyly smiled at first. Then as she looked at his retreating figure, her smile became wider then turned to a malicious grin.