There was a try-out for basketball, volleyball, soccer, and badminton. Lenn thought about joining the basketball tryout along with Enzo, and Donnie.
"Splendid! I can't wait to play when I'm going to be part of the team!", Enzo said.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but you haven't won yet.", Donnie replied slowly.
"It doesn't matter as long as we had fun!", Lenn said.
"Yeah, imagine if you were in the league bro. I mean, with your condition right there. Man! Are you sure you could handle it?", Enzo asked confidently while his right arm are wrapped on Lenn's shoulders.
"Enz, I haven't got a stiff nor painful muscles for years.", he replied in a deeper tone as he crosses his arms.
"Well, that's good for you bro!", Enzo replied in relief and excitement.
Donnie spoke, "I don't think I'll be part of the team, but it would be fun to try anyway."
"Yeah, you kept grabbing the ball and fell while the other boys tends to take it from you.", Enzo laughed.
"Well, never give up as they always say!", Lenn replied.
"Thanks Lenn!", Donnie laughed .
"Well that's not nice to make fun of him for that though Enz.", said by Lenn in a softer tone.
"It's quite true though, no need to worry." Donnie spoke calmly as he clutches his own left arm. Lenn smiled as they both chuckle.
As they packed down their snacks, Lenn stared at his friend John with Genevieve in one table as he begun to notice. 'These two went along better than I thought.', he said in his mind.
Two days later, the basketball tryout started in the afternoon at 1:00pm. They all got a gallon of water to drink, and a coach to guide them. All the boys from the tryouts showed their kinds of skills when playing. In one team, Enzo got picked as one of the twelve. As the the first batch left the court, there was a second announcement for the second team, and Lenn got picked as one of the twelve. It kinda worries him that he had to compete against his boy best friend. He knew that he was very competitive.
. . .
During April they had practice, even after their classes before doing their assignments. One day during the first match in the court, the students who were interested in it watched them play. All Lenn's friends arrived, except his new friend Lila.
Some of the girls rooted for Enzo, and the guys rooted for Lenn. Of course, the other students rooted for their friends.
They were playing a game. Enzo passed on to the other player on the left, then he passed on the right, right before one player tackled the ball. The player dribbled and then run towards to their goal, then the players passed their ball and finally one passed it to Lenn and he tried to do a three-point shot, and they scored!
. . .
As the second quarter arrived later on, Enzo's team got a head start until one of the players knocked down another player, failed to tackle the ball.
"Foul!", said the coach, who was also a PE teacher.
The boy who got knocked out tried to shoot, and he scored for 1 point. He tried another shoot, and the players tried to tackle the ball, offer to shoots, Enzo's group was on the lead.
Therefore, the second team are still catching up. Lenn got the ball, passed it to the player on his left, and the other player passed it to another player behind his right back. Then the player shoots and he scored!
. . .
When the game ends, Enzo's team had won with the score of 103 points while Lenn's team got 96 points.
"Congrats bro!", said Lenn as the other players greeted aswell.
"Good game too Lennie!", Enzo said as he shook and clapped on Lenn's hand.
"Congrats you guys! That was awesome.", yelled Penelope as she hugged Lenn.
"Hey, I'm the one who win. Why did you hug him instead of me?", Enzo asked sadly.
"Because I'm closer to him than you sweetie.", Penelope said in mockery.
"Haha, third wheel!", Lizzy said, which is also a good friend of Penelope.
"Lizzy, how many times do I have to tell you. Lenn and I are just friends.", Penelope sounded concerned as she spoke. "Are you okay?"
"Yes! I'm certainly okay Penny.", Lizzy replied happily.
"Oh really? Because you shipped everyone around you.", Penelope crossed her arms while smirking.
"I know right.", Genevieve said.
"Yes I'm okay, why wouldn't I? I was just having fun.", Lizzy said as she shrugged.
"Yeah, what wrong with you Liz?", Enzo reacted, then his hand pointed to Penelope. "She's too pretty for him."
"Oh really?", John finally spoke as he covered his mouth and sniggered, after he gently stroked Genevieve's hair.
"What did you just say Enz?", Penelope smiled as she moved her face closer to Enzo.
"I-I mean, it's true anyway you are pretty. Tell her guys.", Enzo blushed as he spoke.
"Well, he's right though. You are quite pretty mate.", Lenn replied naturally.
"Aww, thanks bro!", Penelope spoke as she punched Lenn's arm.
The squad laughed, and Lenn noticed the girl from the seat far away from the court. It was Lila, sitting far away with her book. He approached to her quickly then he said, "Hello Lila! You're here!", he smiled excitedly.
"Hello Lenn, that was a good game you played back there. You're quite good.", she replied calmly as she smiled back.
"Thanks!", he laughed nervously as he spoke, "Would you like to go to the cafe for a drink?"
"Sure, I would go for some mints.", said Lila.
"Wait here for a minute.", Lenn spoke then he rushed to his friends.
"Hey guys, would you like to come with me to the cafeteria for some drinks?", he asked while catching his breath.
"Maybe later Lennard, you join in with your girl friend.", said by Enzo.
"Yeah, have your moment boy!", said by Penelope.
"You guys, I will ship you two.", Lenn said in a deeper tone, and gave them a sour-like face. "I will tell Penny your secret Enzo."
Lizzy said, "What secret?"
Enzo said, "W-well yes I have a secret, but doesn't everybody?"
"Yes, however no secrets shall be kept when it comes to us friends right?", John spoke as he stroked Genevieve's hair.
"I suppose that's true.", Penelope sighed.
"Okay, I'm going to hang out with Lila for awhile you guys.", Lenn smiled again as he started to run. "Bye!"
He ran to Lila, and they both went to the cafe. They both had a cup of drink and they reviewed in pre-calculus.
"Do you know what's the radian of 60 degrees?", asked Lila.
"I don't know, let me check my circle chart.", Lenn said.
"No bro, no peeking.", she giggled.
"But I thought we are allowed to have a guide for the test.", Lenn spoke sadly.
"Well yes, but as for me I really considered to memorize them all.", Lila spoke clearly.
"You have a pretty sharp memory.", said Lenn eagerly. "Do you always study like that?"
Lila stopped sipping her coffee as she began to look anxious. She sighed, facing directly at the table as Lenn stared at her.
"Are you okay?", he said, he looked concerned.
"It's nothing serious mate.", she replied in her lower voice.
"Lila, as a friend I wanted to ask you what is wrong.", he spoke sternly. "I never seen anyone looked so depressing in my life."
Lila looked at him in the eye but still remained silent. Lenn quickly changed the topic.
"W-well, except that young girl I met on the street or something, but that was a long time ago.", he had spoken bubbly again as he shook both of his own hands.
"A young girl?", she reacted as she glanced at him.
"Yes, she looked pretty adorable, but so depressing. I wonder what her parents or her friends did to her.", he spoke pitifully.
Lila smiled. She had tears in her eyes as Lenn realized that. "OMG, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you or anything."
"It's nothing Lenn, I'm just emotional right now.", Lila replied as she wiped her tear with her right index finger.
Lenn seemed worried. He took a handkerchief from his jacket and handed it to Lila. "Here."
"Oh, thank you.", she said calmly, gently held Lenn's handkerchief as she smiled more.
"No problem.", he spoke calmly as Lila gently wiped her tears.
Lenn sipped his tea as he smiled.
"That girl is lucky that she met you Lenn.", she spoke calmly. "I'm glad that you're here though. I think we could be great friends."
Lenn felt touched from what she just said. For almost a year, Lila finally admitted that she's delighted that Lenn was her friend. "D-do you really mean it Lils?"
She slightly nods as she returned Lenn's handkerchief. "Thank you.", she whispered.
"Anytime.", he gently gets it as he slightly loses his smiles with sincerity.
. . .
Around the month of May 1994, Lenn was strolling around the corridors with his friends.
When he was about to leave towards his dormitory alone while the others carried on to the park, he heard something. He followed the voice around the empty hall. He could hear it clearly, as he approached to the door and knocked. He didn't got an answer, however the singing stopped. He waited, then he knocked again, "Hello, Lila?"
He waited for awhile then the door finally opened. "Lenn, you should've told me when you're going to come here.", Lila spoke as she wore her blue bathrobe.
"Unfortunately I can't, I haven't seen you all day.", Lenn replied.
"Sorry, I was just having a shower."
"Oh just that?", he said.
She nodded in reply while she smiled awkwardly.
"By the way, I never seen your roommate here. Does she always go outdoors? Sorry that I asked now, I just realized it.", Lenn got curious.
"Not everyone has a dormmate sweetheart.", she replied.
"Oh, so you're alone?"
She seemed annoyed as she said, "Obviously..."
"Oh sorry, I'm just curious.", Lenn nervously giggled.
"I swear, I'm going mess up more of your pretty light hair.", she spoke in a deeper voice.
"No no, don't do that!", he laughed as he stepped backwards.
Then Lila began to mess up his hair and Lenn began to ran.
"Come back here Lennard White!", Lila yelled.
They both ran and laughed throughout the dorm halls.
Later that evening, they were studying together once again while they spoke to each other.
"By the way Lila."
"Yes?", Lila replied.
"I heard you sang.", he smirked.
"Lenn.", she whined. "Don't make me mess up your hair again."
He laughed, "Why do you have to do that?", then he made a sad face.
"Because you're annoying.", Lila spoke naturally, then she smiled.
"Aww really?", Lenn spoke softly.
"Yep. You're the most annoying person I've ever met.", she spoke mockingly.
"I guess I am.", Lenn laughed eagerly.
"You know, I'm surprised that you haven't tried anything to me yet.", she said calmly.
"What do you mean? I was just being nice.", Lenn replied confused.
Lila giggled, "Yes, you really are. One of the nicest boys I've ever met. You are quite fuzzy, but you would never hurt anyone."
"I would never hurt them unless it's needed.", he smiled. Then Lenn slowly started to look serious, "So that bully guy, Ricky right?"
"Mhm...", Lila lost her smile.
"Hm, do you want to talk about it?", he sounded concerned.
Lila sighed as she slightly looked away from Lenn, "What if I say no?"
"Then you won't have to.", he said calmly then smiled.
Lila slightly teared up. She stood up from her chair, approached to Lenn and hugged him. Lenn was stunned, he never got one from Lila before, until then.
"Oh, Lila. What are you doing?", he said. He then wrapped his arms around her back.
"I'm sorry.", Lila spoke softly.
"What for?", he asked as he patted her back gently.
She stayed silent and shed tears as she hugged tighter to Lenn.
"Well, I guess you do need it.", he smiled.
Lila spoke while she lets go of Lenn, "It's just, you were so nice to me when I wasn't."
"That's what good friends do.", he smiled.
He offered a high five to Lila, and she was willing to accept it for him.
"High Five!"