"As you already know, Nova, at the end of this month, the Ministry of Education will organize a provincial literature competition. If you have time, I think you should participate. Your talent in using words is a rare advantage, you should use it when you can. Maybe later, you can use that certificate of excellent student to get famous universities to choose you?"
"Yes, teacher." Nova stood next to her desk, nodding his head in response.
Since PE was not a very important class, Nova was asked by the teacher if he could go to the teacher's office to meet her during PE. So Nova still went to PE class like everyone else, except that he played just two games and then asked the PE teacher to leave and go to the teacher's office to meet her.
Nova nodded, obediently listening to her introduction of the upcoming writing competition, but in his mind, he was thinking about…'I wonder how Cupid is… but if he doesn't play the concession game, then that game, victory will be in his hands.'
"6-4!" The referee pointed at the Heos and Liu team of class A-1, who had won another point.
"U…aaaa…!" Cupid's teammates secretly groaned in frustration, while he had his head in the clouds without realizing it.
"I hope mom doesn't fry fish today…" Cupid muttered under his breath: "I hate eating fish…"
"Group A-1 ready for the next server!"
Heos and Liu's team was scoring more points, but Cupid didn't seem to be trying hard.
Bam, bam, after a few more goals, Cupid stood near the net again, wondering if his math score was okay.
Bam, bam, Cupid, regardless of whether he missed or hit, raised his hand, checking how many centimeters his fingernails had grown.
"Hey." Heos was about to say something after seeing Cupid continue missing the shuttlecock, but he was immediately interrupted by the referee.
"21-18! Team A-1 wins!"
After confirming that the final game was over, Cupid walked away, about to return to his row of seats, when, he was suddenly approached by Heos.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"You…didn't play your best…ah…no, it's nothing." Seeing Cupid's expressionless face, Heos thought to himself that Cupid likely wouldn't answer any of his question.
"Uh…" Cupid nodded goodbye before turning around and continuing on his way. But after walking a short distance, he heard Heos and Liu talking from behind.
"Ha…I knew we would win!" Liu happily said and turned to look at his groupmate: "PE class is almost over…Huh?… What are you looking at?"
"No…nothing. I just forgot a question I was going to ask that person from class A-2."
"Huh? What question?"
"Well…it's nothing much, there's just a rumor that Cupid was able to move up to the choice class because Nova was helping him a hand or something, like that. Just curious…"
"Ah…that. I don't think you should pay attention to it…"
"Tck."
"What was that noise?" Liu asked with a frown, turning around but seeing no one in the middle of the field except for the two of them, but that noise definitely wasn't Heos's…well, he must have heard it wrong.
"Tck." Cupid returned to his seat, clicking his tongue loudly, but he was the only one sitting on that bench so no one could hear his clicking sound.
Cupid gritted his teeth, then raised his hand, biting the nail that he thought had grown too long. The reason he was in that class was because he relied on Nova? That's why he was able to sit in this position in class A-2? Who would have thought of such a stupid rumor?
But Cupid knew, since things had already turned out like this, it would be hard to shut those people up. Pushing Nova away would be tiring.
It would be best to do nothing about this, for now…as long as Nova didn't feel uncomfortable about those rumors, everything will be fine.
-o-
"Huh…you lost?"
Cupid nodded, continuing to eat another spoonful of fried rice.
"Out of three matches…only won one?"
Cupid nodded again.
"Oh…uhm…"
"No need to comfort me about it."
"I know! It's just…seeing that you like playing badminton so much, it's a bit sad for you to lose…"
"Class A-1 is a good class. Letting them win once is fine… it's better than causing trouble with them, arguing is tiring, fighting is painful, and competing for points… just quit it, I have no interest in them."
"Hah…" Nova nodded: "It's true that class A-1 is really good, but whatever we're good at, we have to take the win at it!"
"Uhm…" Cupid rolled his eyes, ignoring Nova's words.
Nova was good at literature, and certainly, it was hard for anyone in this school to compete with him. But on the other hand, Nova himself felt like he hadn't done anything noteworthy.
While Cupid had more practical skills, Nova felt like he still needed to try harder.
Cupid turned on the TV again, to see what the topic was today.
While he was cleaning the dishes, Nova turned to ask: "Cupid… are you planning to participate in the upcoming competition?"
"Competition?"
"You don't know…? You fell asleep in class again, didn't you."
While Nova sat at the second table from the top, Cupid sat in the corner of the classroom, near the window. Every time Nova looked down, he saw Cupid often looking out the window or sleeping on the table, especially during math and English classes.
"I forgot~"
"Uh…!" Sighing, Nova didn't understand how this friend could survive in the gifted class with the talent of sleepwalking every time math class came…but Cupid was a quick learner, so as long as Nova pointed out the right key points, Cupid will know how to do it right away.
"Soon, our province will open exams for excellent students," Nova explained: "I know you don't like exams for excellent students, but I heard somewhere when I went to the teacher's room that the University of Arts will soon open a drawing competition for anyone who wants to participate, regardless of age."
"Oh…" Cupid was surprised.
"How about it? Do you want to participate?"
"Hm…"
"Mom's home~!" The front door was pushed open loudly and then someone's heels clattered into the house.
"Hi, Mom." Cupid nodded and quickly stood up to help his mother with his bag: "Nova came for a visit."
"Oh! Hi little Nova, how have you been?"
"Hello, Auntie! I bought some cakes, if you want, feel free to take them."
"Thank you. Well, I'm a bit tired after work, so having some cakes to recharge my energy makes me happy."
Seeing his mother take his sofa to lie down, Cupid went down to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
"So, how is it?" Nova stood nearby, with sparkling eyes he asked Cupid: "Are you going to participate? I think your drawing is quite good, so let's join the competition this time, shall we?"
"N…no thanks…" Cupid's face turned pale: "I think…my drawing is still not good enough."
"Huh? What's wrong with not drawing well enough?! Just try it out!"
"Uhm…no."
"Cupid!"
"No…" Cupid moved a few steps to the other side, trying to avoid Nova.
"Uh…you…! Fine! I'll let you pass this time, when you draw better, let's join in one, alright?"
"I find no fun in competing with others."
"Well…I mean you're right…?" Nova can't convince him if he already set his mind on "not wanting it to do something". So he can only let Cupid off with this one.
After washing the dishes for a while, Cupid turned off the water. At that moment, Nova was startled, turned to Cupid, and excitedly said, "Hey, Cupid."
"What?"
"I asked about that person in class A-1 that I told you about!"
"Uh?" Cupid surprisingly asks: "Did you confess?!"
"N…no!" Nova hit Cupid's hand hard: "I asked what that person is good at, and…that person is good at math! H-how can I ask…such things like that!!! Absolutely no!"
Nova raised his hands to cover his face and silently let out a few miserable screams in his throat.
Cupid stood there, shaking his head repeatedly: "This is hopeless…"