Xiao Zhan and Sang Zhi had a bond woven through years of memories—some sweet, some bitter, and many from the tumultuous days of high school. It was a friendship that hadn't always been as effortless as it seemed now. As Sang Zhi, now 25, thought back on how far they'd come, a nostalgic smile played at the corners of her lips, while Xiao Zhan, two years older, sat nearby, lost in his own thoughts.
Their story was more than a timeline of friendship. It was a mosaic of clashes, shared secrets, and unforgettable moments that had formed the foundation of what they now shared. Xiao Zhan's memory drifted back to one of their earliest encounters, back when they were nothing but rivals who couldn't spend five minutes together without butting heads.
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They'd first crossed paths when Sang Zhi was 15, and Xiao Zhan was a senior at their high school. They had been as different as could be—Sang Zhi, a spirited girl with a love for football, and Xiao Zhan, a self-assured 17-year-old with strong opinions on just about everything, especially regarding the field they both claimed as their own.
Sang Zhi could still remember the day they'd first clashed. She was practicing her kicks on the field when she heard an annoyed voice call out from across the grass.
"Hey! This field is for the boys' team!" Xiao Zhan strode over, his expression exasperated as he waved his hand dismissively, as if she were some stray animal.
Sang Zhi straightened, hands on her hips as she glared at him. "I have every right to be here! It's the school's field, not yours!"
Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Do you even know how to play football?"
Her face flushed, and she shot him a scathing look. "Try me. I'm probably better than you!"
He let out a bark of laughter. "Right. We'll see about that." He rolled the ball over to her with a swift kick. "Show me what you've got, then."
In that moment, Sang Zhi saw it as her mission to prove him wrong. Every kick, every pass, every goal she scored seemed to ignite another wave of irritation in Xiao Zhan, and she reveled in it. She knew she wasn't a star player, but she refused to back down just because he thought she shouldn't be there. For the next few weeks, they'd clash on the field almost every day after school, neither willing to let the other win.
Their rivalry was the talk of the school. Friends would gather around the field to watch their endless bickering, often erupting into laughter when Sang Zhi scored a goal or Xiao Zhan blocked her shot with infuriating ease.
But their dynamic began to shift the day she showed up in disguise.
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Sang Zhi was tired of being dismissed because she was a girl, and one day, she decided to do something drastic. She borrowed an old cap from her brother, put on a loose jersey that hid her figure, and snuck onto the field early, blending in with the other players as they began a scrimmage.
It didn't take long for Xiao Zhan to notice her, even in disguise. She was halfway through a play when he called out, his tone amused, "Nice try, Sang Zhi. But you can't fool me that easily."
Sang Zhi's eyes widened as she stumbled, nearly tripping over her own feet. She looked up to see him grinning at her, arms crossed as he watched her with a mixture of amusement and admiration. She knew she'd been caught, but instead of feeling embarrassed, she found herself laughing. Something about the way he looked at her in that moment—acknowledging her effort instead of dismissing her—made her feel like he finally saw her as an equal.
He handed her the ball, his expression softer than she'd ever seen. "Come on, let's see what you've got."
From that day on, their rivalry began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of camaraderie. Xiao Zhan stopped telling her to leave the field, and instead, he began to offer her tips, showing her how to improve her shots and passes. They would still argue—neither was willing to fully back down—but their fights became less heated, their bickering more playful.
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Over time, they became inseparable. Xiao Zhan became her guide and confidante, someone who showed her the ropes of high school life. He took her under his wing, introducing her to his friends, giving her advice on everything from dealing with teachers to handling bullies. Despite his sometimes-brash demeanor, she knew he cared about her in a way that was rare and genuine.
They'd spend hours on the field, talking about everything and nothing. Xiao Zhan would often complain about his classes, telling her how he couldn't wait to leave high school and make something of himself. Sang Zhi would listen, laughing at his grand ambitions, but deep down, she admired his drive and confidence.
In return, she shared her own dreams and fears, talking about her hopes of becoming a teacher one day, someone who could make a difference in the lives of others. Xiao Zhan would listen quietly, nodding thoughtfully as he offered his own perspective.
Through it all, they became each other's constant. When Xiao Zhan graduated and went off to university, they stayed in touch, messaging each other almost every day. Sang Zhi would send him updates about school, and he would reply with stories about his new life on campus. Even with the distance between them, they remained as close as ever.
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As Sang Zhi grew older, she found herself depending on Xiao Zhan in ways she hadn't anticipated. He became her go-to person, the one she turned to whenever she needed advice, comfort, or just someone to talk to. And as she approached her own graduation, she realized just how much he meant to her.
One of her fondest memories was the day he surprised her by showing up at her graduation ceremony, despite his busy schedule. She hadn't expected him to come, knowing how far he'd have to travel, but there he was, standing in the crowd with a proud smile on his face.
"Congratulations, Sang Zhi," he said, pulling her into a tight hug. She could feel the warmth of his embrace, the steady beat of his heart, and for a brief moment, she felt like she was exactly where she belonged.
Their friendship continued to grow as they entered adulthood. They'd visit each other's homes occasionally, spending hours talking, laughing, and reminiscing about their high school days. Xiao Zhan's family welcomed her with open arms, treating her like one of their own, and she felt the same way about him when he visited her family.
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Now, at 25 and 27, their bond was stronger than ever, but there was an unspoken tension between them—an undercurrent of something deeper that neither was willing to acknowledge.
Sang Zhi glanced over at Xiao Zhan, watching as he stared out the window, lost in thought. She could see the faint lines of worry etched on his face, and she felt a pang of concern. Despite his calm exterior, she knew he carried his own burdens, ones he rarely shared with others.
"Hey," she said softly, nudging his arm. "Penny for your thoughts?"
He looked over at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Just… thinking about the past. High school, you know?"
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Can you believe how much we used to fight? I still remember that time you tried to kick me off the field."
He laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Hey, you were pretty stubborn yourself. I think you might have been the only person in the entire school who didn't listen to a word I said."
"Good thing I didn't," she replied with a grin. "Or we wouldn't be here now."
They fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own memories. Sang Zhi could feel her heart beating a little faster as she thought about all the moments they'd shared, the countless times he'd been there for her, even when she didn't realize she needed him.
After a while, Xiao Zhan spoke, his voice soft. "You know, I don't think I ever really thanked you."
She looked at him, surprised. "For what?"
"For… everything. For being there, for putting up with me, for… just being you." His gaze was steady, and there was an intensity in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat. "You've been one of the best parts of my life, Sang Zhi."
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Well, you're not so bad yourself."
They shared a smile, the warmth between them filling the room. Sang Zhi could feel the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air, but she wasn't sure she was ready to face them—not yet.
As they sat together, each lost in their own thoughts, they both knew that their friendship had become something more complex, something neither of them fully understood. They were best friends, confidantes, and perhaps something else entirely.
But for now, they were content to sit in the quiet, savoring the moment and the memories that had brought them to this point, knowing that whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.