Chereads / The Ballad of the Star and Moon / Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: A Memorable Game

Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: A Memorable Game

[Chris POV]

There, I posted it. Aside from my IG story, I posted a picture of Lance in my IG profile. Let's see if girls will still bother me.

I put my phone down on my desk and took a shower. Nothing beats a warm shower after a draining day. I don't know what to do if something bad happens to Lance. I will never leave him alone again.

I went out of the shower and lied on my bed in my bathrobe.

Fuck! My post just blew up!

I checked Twitter and there, Lance was trending. Oh no! He'll surely be mad at me. His friends are commenting on his photo nonstop.

"Wait, are you guys really dating?" Someone asked.

"Whoa! Chrisance forever!" Another commented.

I'm quite embarrassed whenever they would try to ship us both but who cares? The whole campus seems to already think that we're dating, though as I've repetitively said, we're actually not.

I just remembered that he can't attend the game tomorrow. I really wanted him to be there.

A message then came up. It was from Pink.

"Chris! What the heck is your problem? Are you really with that boy?"

You know what. I wish that she just disappears into thin air. She's the least of my problems for now.

~~~

I arrived at the court. It didn't take long before the team bus arrived in my condo. I really wish Lance was here. It would be so nice to win the championship with him.

Tonight's the championship game. This tournament is the highlight of the school's varsity and sports team. We are up against the College of Engineering. We're still senior high school students but we're competing against a collegiate team. But of course, we're leading. We'll become the champions for this tournament.

The coach told me to get in in the final half. Finally, after waiting on the benches. I get to play."Hey, why does Chris get to play again! It's unfair" uttered one of my teammates, Mark. He's a previous classmate of Lance who's also one of his closest friends in school.

Everyone went to the center to do the team cheer. Poor Mark gets to go to the bleachers again!

Then as I look on the opposite side of the court, I saw him, he is here.

Oh my God! It's like an angel has descended from heaven. My heart fluttered!

It's my wife. Just kidding. It's Lance. He's carrying a large paper bag, with two cups of drinks. He seems to have a hard time carrying it. He sighed after he sat down.

He's looking for somebody.

He looked in my direction and saw me. He glanced at me and smiled. He cheerfully waved like a cute little boy. I smiled back and waved at him with two hands. Everybody seems to notice; my teammates were teasing me.

"Hey, Chris! Send him a kiss!"

"Yah! So that we'll win!"

I did! Which made my teammates and the crowd, who were all from our school, shout. I really hope we won't trend again, not!

[Lance POV]

I cannot stay put on my seat every time the ball goes into the air. I never knew sports was this enjoyable and thrilling. I watched a few small games before when my friends will play. Never, have I felt like this. This game is lit and grand.

Mark, a friend of mine, saw me and sat beside me. I offered him the fries I'm eating.

"Hey Lance! You've forgotten us, ever since you've been with Chris! You even buy him food!" He said and made a cute pout.

He's the cheerer of our group. He's one of the few friends I have on campus. He talks a lot and always acts cute, we'll he's actually cute. He looks like the playful member of every KPOP group. He never stops talking.

"Whoa," I laughed. "I'll try to make up to all of you before we graduate! Here take this." I handed him my burger.

He put his arm on my shoulders like he always does.

"That's why I love you!" he said while messing with my hair.

The quarter ended, Chris went near us, with his hands on his waist.

"You two look sweet," he said.

"Hey, Chris! Don't tell me you're jealous!" Mark said.

Chris just made something with his face.

"I'm not taking your boyfriend away from you. Wait! You're the one who took him away from us! I'm your number one supporter woo-hoo!"

Chris got some fries, I offered him the burger.

"I'm going to eat it after the game!"

I handed him his drink. He drank almost half of the bottle.

"Hey! Why does Chris get a drink and I do not!" Mark said.

I handed him mine. But Chris suddenly gave him his.

"Here take mine," Chris said.

He whispered something in my ear. "He's not going to stop until you give him one."

Mark finished his food. He kept shouting, eating, while watching the game. Chris too was cheering while eating the fries.

We lost the second set.

Mark kept on ranting. He's funny. He kept shouting insults to the other team that Chris has to make him sit down and cover his mouth.

"Hey, the coach is calling you!" Chris told Mark.

"Santiago! You get to play!"

Chris patted him on the head.

"Hey! You two! Good luck eating there! Leave me some fries! Wish me luck Lance!" he said with a wink.

"Don't go on a date without me!" he shouted.

Chris and I had a look. We both shyly avoided each other's gaze and laughed. After a while, Chris was also called. He kept looking back at me, walking awkwardly.

"Hey! Chris! Fighting!" I shouted.

He turned back. And had the biggest smile. Like before, everyone shouted and teased us. Mark is definitely jumping right now. I think the whole school already thinks that we're dating, it doesn't bother me anymore.

I gave my best cheer. My decision to be here made me so happy. I never thought it is this fulfilling supporting someone close to you.

The last ball was served by the other team. It was received by one of their teammates and suddenly Chris ran to make a spike, which had the ball enter the team's court. It was left untouched. There was a moment of silence before everyone got up on their seats and shouted for their triumph, our triumph!

For a single moment, I've felt like I won the lottery. I finally realized why everyone enjoys sitting in the bleachers supporting their own team.

Chris went to me and hugged me. He's sweaty and all. He smells good though. I'm just so happy.

We went back to their team. Their coach seems to be talking about having dinner together.

"Chris... you should go. We won. You need to celebrate!" I told him.

He went to his coach.

"Coach! Uhm... I'm going to go.... I'll go eat with Lance." He told him.

"Whoa! Can I say no to our MVP?" The coach replied.

Then everyone cheered and teased him.

After calming down for a bit. We sat on the bleachers. Everyone left, they're all looking at us while they leave, throwing playful glances.

Chris ate the burger I bought for him. He shared my drink since Mark stole his.

"Hey, Lance! I'm still hungry. Let's eat dinner. I'm going to treat you."

"Uhm no..."

"Hey! I won! I even did not go with them. Spare me an hour of your precious time! Please..."

"I said no… because I'm the one who's going to treat you!"

We went outside.

"Wait! I didn't bring my car! I went here with the campus bus." Chris said.

"I brought mine. I'm going to drive you."

[Chris POV]

Lance was driving. He's too slow and careful but… Whoa! Lance was driving me!

I kept on glancing at him.

"Chris... why do you keep looking at me," he said which broke the silence.

"Nothing."

We arrived at a good restaurant, kilometers away from the stadium. We ordered our own meals. Lance ordered a few for him.

"Hey, Lance! You need to eat more!"

"That's more already!" he said, a bit annoyed.

Everyone was looking at us. They're all looking at both of us. I always had this type of glance. I got used to it but not with people looking at Lance like he's a piece of food they can share with me. No!

"I thought you love to eat. Why are you suddenly dieting?" I asked.

"I just need to," he replied.

The waiters were smiling and giggling while serving. Lance was even laughing a bit.

"This always happens right?" Lance said.

I nodded to him.

"It also happened to us... with JC and JR one time."

I know them, he's been telling me about them a lot. I'll meet them someday.

I nodded again while sipping my Iced Tea.

"Lance! I don't want anyone looking at you like that," I said.

"Hey! They're not looking at me. They're looking at you! I'm not that good looking" he protested.

"Girls will find you cute and act crazy. Boys will eventually line up just to get to you. Your charm knows no gender."

Lance seemed a little flattered, he blushed a little, afterward, just shrugged his shoulders.

Our meal was served. I sure ordered a lot, not because it was Lance's treat but because I'm literally hungry after the game.

"Lance! I ordered a lot. I'm paying just this time. Just treat me again."

"Hey, I said it's my treat. It's really fine."

One of the male waiters went near us, near Lance.

"Sir, can you answer our survey?"

"Sure," Lance replied.

I think there's something this stranger is up to. I stole the survey from Lance.

"Hey, I'm answering this..." I said.

"Ok," he replied.

I rated everything with five stars, I looked if anyone's looking. The waiter is busy giggling and I think, making bets with the other staff at the counter.

There, I saw it. There's a contact number for the personal information! He's getting his number!

I finished the survey.

The waiter went back and got the clipboard with the survey. He smiled brightly at Lance and gave him a complimentary dessert. Why does he get one and I do not? He's really up to something.

The thing is these complimentary gifts from restaurants. They're actually reserved for people the staff like. I'm used to it. I always get complimentary freebies wherever I go except with this writer who's clearly hitting on Lance. The waiter went back with complete smiles. Like he just won a championship.

After we finished, Lance paid for the meal using his credit card. Whoa! It's black. Really? My Dad tried to offer me one, but I refused. I just used the one given to me by my mom. We have quite a complicated family.

Lance dropped me off in front of my condo unit.

I playfully hugged him.

"Hey! Don't leave me please..." I said acting cute and childlike. Wait, am I cute or crazy?

He touched me playfully on the head and headed back to the car. I waved goodbye to him.

He started his car... I called him.

"Hey, Lance!"

He glanced at me.

"Thanks! I'm really happy today!"

He gave his brightest smile before he left.

I felt something in my heart again. Whoa, I never knew love can really feel like this. I dated a few people, but I never felt my heart flutter like this. I really wish I can tell him already. How much I already love him.

After a while, someone texted me.

I happily and excitedly got my phone.

Shit!

I thought it was Lance, but It was the guy back there at the restaurant.

"Hi, Sir Lance! I just want to say that you're cute and I like you! Can we go out on a date sometime?"

WTF? He's so straightforward. He's even faster than me. How can he tell someone that he like him that fast!

I replied.

"Hey! This is his boyfriend! He's taken!"

I sent it.

Whoa! I wonder what happens if he really got his number. He should be careful from now on. I'm going to answer every survey for him.

He ruined this night.

I walked towards my room.

Suddenly, I got another text. I grabbed my phone, still annoyed at that waiter.

Whoa! It was from Lance!

"Hey, Chris! I also enjoyed tonight! Congrats! Sleep and rest well."

My heart sunk in again. I felt like there are a thousand butterflies in my stomach.

I just replied a few words, no I can't think of any word. I just sent him something seemingly meaningless.

"*heart emoji*"

I realized it. It's harder to admit your feelings to a person the more your heart learns to love.