Friday arrived with a dreary gray sky hanging overhead, the kind of morning that made getting out of bed feel like a Herculean task. Liewen shuffled into school with his hood up, headphones on, and a faint scowl on his face. He hadn't slept well. Not because of nightmares, but because his thoughts were too loud for his own good. The cafeteria incident replayed in his mind more times than he wanted to admit.
He wasn't sure what to make of Malik. The guy seemed harmless enough, but there was something about him that felt... off. Too smooth, too confident. Liewen wasn't used to people like that. People like Malik had a way of pulling you into their game, whether you wanted to be there or not.
The day dragged until lunch, where Liewen found himself heading to their usual corner of the cafeteria. Kian was already there, waving enthusiastically with a tray in hand. Next to him sat Malik, leaning back in his chair like he owned the place.
"Hey, man!" Kian called out, his smile so wide it almost looked painful.
Liewen hesitated for a moment before trudging over. As he approached, Malik glanced up from his phone and smirked.
"Ah, the elusive Liewen," Malik said. "Glad you could join us."
Liewen sat down without responding, keeping his eyes on his tray. He wasn't sure what Malik wanted from him, but he wasn't in the mood to find out.
"You're a man of mystery, you know that?" Malik continued, undeterred by Liewen's silence.
Kian laughed. "That's just Liewen. He likes to keep things low-key."
"Low-key?" Malik raised an eyebrow. "That's one way to put it. Personally, I think he's plotting something. World domination, maybe."
Liewen glanced up, shooting Malik a look. "You've figured me out," he deadpanned.
Malik laughed, a genuine, hearty sound that caught Liewen off guard. "I knew it! I like you, man. You've got that quiet-but-deadly vibe going on."
Kian shook his head. "Ignore him, Liewen. Malik thinks he's a detective or something."
"Not a detective," Malik corrected. "Just observant. And speaking of observations..." He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Why do you always sit in the corner like you're trying to disappear? What's the deal with that?"
Liewen stiffened. He didn't like being put on the spot, especially not by someone he barely knew. "I don't like crowds," he muttered.
Malik nodded thoughtfully. "Fair enough. Crowds can be exhausting. But you know, sitting in the corner makes you an easy target."
Liewen's jaw tightened. He knew Malik wasn't trying to be cruel, but the comment stung anyway.
"Leave him alone, Malik," Kian said, nudging him with his elbow. "You're gonna scare him off."
"Nah, I'm just making conversation," Malik replied, leaning back in his chair again. "Gotta break the ice somehow."
The conversation shifted to other topics after that—schoolwork, sports, random gossip about people Liewen didn't care about. He stayed quiet for the most part, only chiming in when Kian asked him a direct question. Malik, on the other hand, talked enough for all three of them.
By the time lunch was over, Liewen felt like he just ran through a marathon. Socializing was exhausting, even in small doses.
x x x x
After school, Kian and Malik kidnapped him at his locker.
"Hey, we're going to the park," Kian said. "You should come with us."
Liewen hesitated, glancing at Malik, who was leaning casually against the lockers.
"I don't know," Liewen said. "I've got homework."
"Come on, man," Kian said. "You can do homework later. It's just a quick trip."
Liewen sighed. He wasn't in the mood for an argument, and Kian wasn't going to take no for an answer. "Fine," he said reluctantly.
The park was only a few blocks away, a small green space with a basketball court, a playground, and a couple of picnic tables. It wasn't anything special, but it was quiet, which Liewen appreciated.
Malik tossed the basketball in the air, catching it with a spin of his wrist. His grin was infectious, though Liewen wasn't entirely sure he liked it.
"All right, boys," Malik said, his voice brimming with confidence. "Let's see what you've got."
The group Malik had gathered was a mix of familiar faces from school, including two seniors who towered over everyone else. Liewen felt a twinge of apprehension as the teams were formed. It was him, Kian, and Malik against three of Malik's friends.
"We'll go easy on you," one of the seniors said with a smirk, bouncing the ball with practiced ease.
"Don't get too comfortable," Malik shot back, stepping onto the court. "I have a trump card" He clapped Liewen on the shoulder.
Liewen blinked. "I'm not even that good.."
"Don't sell yourself short," Malik said. "Trust me, everyone has potential on the court."
Liewen wasn't convinced. He hadn't played basketball in years, and even then, it was only during gym class. He glanced at Kian, who gave him a reassuring nod.
"You'll do fine," Kian said.
The game started with Malik taking the ball down the court. He moved with an easy confidence, his dribbling smooth and precise. Within seconds, he juked around one of the seniors and took a shot. The ball sailed through the air and swished through the hoop.
"Boom!" Malik shouted, raising his arms triumphantly. "First blood!"
The other team groaned, but they quickly regrouped.
The next play didn't go as smoothly. When the ball was passed to Liewen, he hesitated, unsure of what to do. The moment of indecision cost him; one of the seniors swooped in and snatched the ball away.
"Come on, Liewen!" Malik called out. "Don't freeze up!"
Liewen clenched his jaw, frustrated with himself. He wasn't used to this kind of pressure.
But as the game went on, something shifted. Kian passed him the ball again, and this time, Liewen didn't think—he just moved. He dribbled around one of the defenders, dodging an outstretched arm, and took a shot.
The ball hit the rim, circled around it once, and dropped in.
"Yes!" Kian cheered, pumping his fist in the air.
Liewen felt a small spark of satisfaction. Maybe he wasn't completely hopeless after all.
The game continued, each side fighting hard for the win. Malik was everywhere at once, shouting instructions and making flashy plays that kept the other team on their toes. Kian was steady and reliable, always in the right place at the right time. And Liewen... Liewen found his rhythm.
He wasn't the strongest or the fastest, but he was quick on his feet and surprisingly good at defense. He managed to block a couple of shots and even stole the ball once, much to the other team's frustration.
"Nice one, Liewen!" Malik shouted, giving him a thumbs-up.
By the time the game ended, Liewen was drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, but he felt... good.
Final score: 21–18.
"Not bad, gentlemen," one of the seniors said, clapping Malik on the back. "You guys got lucky."
"Lucky?" Malik echoed, feigning offense. "That was pure skill, my friend."
The senior rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.
As the group dispersed, Malik turned to Liewen. "See? Told you you had potential."
Liewen shrugged, trying to play it cool, but a small part of him was pleased.
"You did great," Kian said, grinning. "We should play again sometime."
Liewen nodded, his heart still racing from the game. For once, he didn't feel like the odd one out.
And that was a feeling he could get used to.
x x x x
As the sun started to set, the three of them sat on a bench, drinking sodas and watching the sky turn shades of orange and pink.
"You know," Malik said, breaking the silence, "life's too short to spend it hiding in the corner."
Liewen frowned, unsure of where Malik was going with this.
"I mean, don't get me wrong," Malik continued, "I get it. The world sucks sometimes. People suck. But you've got to find your thing, you know? The thing that makes it all worth it."
Liewen stared at his soda can, his thoughts swirling. Did he have a "thing"? He wasn't sure.
"What's your thing, Malik?" Kian asked, saving Liewen from having to respond.
Malik grinned. "Charm, obviously."
Kian rolled his eyes. "Of course."
Liewen couldn't help but chuckle. Despite himself, he was starting to warm up to Malik. The guy was obnoxious, sure, but he had a way of making you feel like you belonged, even if you didn't want to.
As they sat there, talking and laughing, Liewen realized something he hadn't expected. For the first time in a long time, he didn't feel like an outsider.
Maybe, just maybe, he'd found his thing. Or at least, the start of it.