[One Shot] For You, My Lover...

I could not even believe on what I saw just now.

"That's just... it?"

The person in front of me was sitting while holding his laughter. He nodded or mocked, only God knew it best.

"I must say that was because your requirements were quite... invincible,"

I frowned. Where did it go wrong?

"You should be thankful for only choosing 2 out of 3, that means only the unlucky one to be excluded," he just patted my head like a child. Unlike me, he got tons of application for his team.

"This is a large-scale competition, we should represent our school with the best candidate. Anyone to be selected based on his capability, not luck,"

"Sure, but still, good luck, then," He just nodded without really listened. He looked at the 3 sheets of application of mine. I snatched them all and just left the room.

I had only 2 weeks to prepare for my own team, so I called each of the applicants to have a session immediately. Since we would become a team, I already set some expectation that they had to meet.

Someone named Marcus was agreed to have interview after his basketball training. He was the first year student, 2 years younger than me. I walked to the hall and sat calmly on the free seat. A group of people were still on training, but they were about to finish. Around 10 minutes later, a person came up to me. He was way taller than me but he had a baby-face type. His sweats were distracting me and pushing me quite away from him.

"So why did you apply to be on my team?"

"My friend did, I thought he put his name but it's mine instead, sorry,"

F*ck. "But do you think you're qualified to join?"

"What is it about again?"

I hated myself realizing I just wasted my time to be here.

"It's a quiz competition," the smile that I put on was even too fake. I held my breath to calm myself.

"What kind of quiz?" another dumb question from him might cause him a punch in the eye.

"Everything. You are expected to know anything since it's random,"

He looked uninterested, I really wanted to leave in an instant.

"Well, thank you for your time, tell your friends not to pull any prank like this, it's not fun, really,"

"Hey," when I sat up from my seat, he called in a very loud voice. "I am good with quiz, though,"

I turned my back, smiled wider than ever. "But you have no intention to join the competition, right?"

"Who said that?" he then came forward and stood in front of me. Even though he's younger, he had a tall figure just like any other basketball athlete.

Not even an academic student.

"So, are you interested to join?" I asked one more time.

"Yes, I don't like it when I get rejected, like now,"

I kept my attitude enough to him. I held the application letter that I brought anywhere tightly. "There are other applicants that is more determined and qualified than you. I will consider it after I interview them all,"

He peeked at the files I kept, "You seemed to have not that many choices though. I am good with sports, I bet you need my knowledge as well,"

Well, he's quite right. "Yes, I will consider that too then,"

Since a sight of him annoyed me too much, I just wanted to go away quickly of him. But this one persistent child just followed me anywhere I went. I stopped him when he really followed me behind.

"What are you doing?" as a nice senior, I still tried to keep calm.

"I wanted to see all the applicants,"

"Who said you could do that?"

"I want to make sure they are not even better than me,"

Huh. Such a narcissist. "I have your number, I will let you know the result if you're selected, or you can wait at the announcement later,"

"But I don't have yours," he pulled out his phone and threw it to me. What a nice move to ask for a number.

"You will have it once I text you," I returned the phone.

"I can't wait. I have anxiety disorder, that's not good for my health,"

I looked at him, suspiciously. I did not believe anything he said. He had that prankster look. I knew he just teased me.

"No, just count the sheep if you can't sleep tonight,"

"Can't I call you instead? I don't like dreaming sheep,"

"Hey," I called him. "You're aware I am way older than you, and I am the one that will determine whether you're passed or not, right?" that meant, once you messed with me, you're no to go.

"Hey, trust me, you need me. What about this, you give me your number, then we will have a trial first, if I fail, then it's okay, you can select anyone as you wish,"

I frowned. Something felt not right, but I couldn't identify it at all. It's like I was manipulated by him already. I had no way to reject him for now, so I just gave him my number.

"Eh? Not ringing?"

I gave him the wrong number intentionally. But I didn't expect him to call right away.

"My battery is dead,"

"But it's connecting," he checked on me.

"Am I pressing a wrong number?" I took his phone one more time. This boy was not to mess. I bet he had a brain too.

But this time, he didn't call it again. It's as if he knew I gave him the right one. And I really gave him my number.

Only after when his friend called, then he sent me a goodbye. I was relieved after that. This boy would be a no, never.

But the other two were disaster. Was it really a trend to apply other person's names as a prank? Was it something funny to them?

After calling the other two, they simply refused to join and said that it's not them that applied.

Instead of taking out someone, now I needed anyone to fill the empty seat. It could be anyone but where should I find that kind of person?

But before I even had to think on how to look at first, someone knocked the door and peeked at the room.

"Excuse me," he did not even let his body part to come inside. I could only see his head at the door. "I saw the poster on the wall that you're recruiting team for a quiz competition. Is it still open?"

"Yes," I could not hide my excitement. Finally I found someone who was willing. "Come in let me interview you first,"

He sat in front of me as I instructed. He had a good manner, well, my first impression was already satisfied.

"I never saw your face before, which class are you from?"

So his name was Heinrich, a transfer student that moved in to the city just a week ago. He said he had participated in similar competition and won 3rd place. I was ecstatic to hear that, it meant I found a gem.

So I decided to test his skill. I had some samples of question from previous year and tested to him. Well, he almost got everything right. Finding him made me look forwards for a glory of my team.

I shook his hands, "Welcome to the team," I smiled to him widely. He then asked for another member. I reached my phone and called the bastard to come to the room.

Marcus came not too long after that and peeked at Heinrich. He did not talk much but just sat beside Heinrich. He then saw the lists of question sample that I left at the desk in front of us and then smirked. He looked satisfied that he got admitted without even being questioned.

"You're the transfer student, right?"

Heinrich nodded to Marcus. "We're from the same class,"

I was not really interested but quickly responded, "Oh? That's nice, you two will get along well,"

"No, I don't really know him, but nice to meet you, bro," he pulled Heinrich hands and shook him hard.

"Okay then, welcome to the team for both of you. We have 2 weeks to prepare for the competition and I beg you to come here everyday after school to exercise, is that okay for you both?"

"Not okay, I have training every Monday and Wednesday," Marcus was one of basketball team, his excuse was reasonable.

"Mine is fine," Heinrich responded with a wide smile.

"Great," I talked to Heinrich. "And for you, no problem, but you need to catch up," I switched to Marcus.

"But how can I do that?"

 

"There will be piles of cheat sheet you need to memorize by yourself then I will test you the day after, so be prepared,"

Marcus sighed. He signaled such disagreement.

"Just so you know, I am quite a tough person and take this competition seriously. I expect you both to get serious and be prepared from now on. If you have any complaint, please inform me now," I warned them.

"No, I'm fine, I am okay with everything," Heinrich smiled to me. His enthusiasm made me moved.

Then I looked at Marcus. "I'm fine too," he was less aggressive as before.

"Great, here is the first cheat sheet for you both, memorize them well and see you tomorrow,"

I stood up but both of them still unmoved. I looked at them, I meant we're dismissed for today. But both of them still reluctant to go.

"Is there any else you want to say?"

"Let's have a dinner first for welcoming our new team," Marcus pulled Heinrich and mine to get off the room.

No, no, I wasn't that social person. I wasn't used to any social activity too. I tried hard to reject Marcus many times but he still grabbed my arm and circled his arms around my shoulder so that I would not go anywhere. Heinrich was following from behind and giggling. He looked fine with it.

We finally arrived at a place that Marcus directed to. After we chose a seat and placed order, Marcus and Heinrich did not make any sound which made us too awkward. So I planned to break the ice.

"So Heinrich, why decided to move here?" I hadn't asked him during interview before.

He leaned his back until finally voiced out, "I tried to follow the path of someone I admired here,"

"So you knew someone?"

He nodded. "But he might not remember me,"

I didn't understand, "What do you mean? But how did you know he didn't remember you?"

He put his smile. "I am just nobody to him,"

"Is he someone from our school?"

He nodded. "Moron, didn't you listen to him? If that guy wasn't from our school, he wouldn't bother transfer here," Marcus was really too straight forward.

"There's another possibility he already graduated though," I justified myself to not look too stupid at Marcus.

Heinrich laughed, "You're right but he's still a student here too,"

"Is he someone I know?"

 

Heinrich just smiled, as if he couldn't even answer it easily as a simple yes or no. "Someone great actually. It took me a great effort to be accepted here. My grades were bad at first, so I had no choice to study harder than ever. I didn't know this school had a really high standard and requirement at first,"

Marcus laughed. "I never took the entrance exam,"

"Yes, a talented stupid like you should be grateful," I sneered at Marcus. What a show-off. Everything that he talked always provoked me.

Then I looked at Heinrich once more. "So, how great was he to change you like that? Any name?"

He just smiled. "I bet a few names would pop out of your mind now?"

I thought hard. "A great person with great personality too... is it Kevin?"

Heinrich didn't respond at all. So even though I mentioned the right person, he wouldn't give me any clue then.

"Name is not really important, I am more curious on why you decided to follow him like that. What is your goal?"

He looked at me shyly but seriously. "I wanted to support him. I wanted to make sure he get everything he wanted in his life. I wanted to..." he decided not to talk anymore.

"But why? Is he some kind of a role model to you?" I asked him further. That kind of thought really didn't make sense to me.

"He's like Adrien James to me," Marcus mentioned someone that I vaguely remembered his name was written on the alumni wall of honor. I also remembered his name was quite known in basketball world which was not my interest.

"What about you? What is your goal to study here?" Heinrich passed the question to me.

"I don't know yet, I don't have anyone to adore or a role model like you both,"

"What is your dream then?" What is my dream...? 

 

I want everything.

[One Shot] Loneliest Person

Something about him that made me intrigued.

Or something about his eyes that made me unmoved.

Or even something about his presence that made me gone crazy.

I tried to resist myself whenever I was always around him. I tried to be his best friend at all, not more or less. I just wanted to be as normal as others. But when I heard a rumor about him, I could not even try not to think about it.

It was when some of my friends warned me when they saw me getting quite close to him. 

I was about to meet him for a quick lunch before class was starting. They came in group and tried to ask me to join the lunch with them. I instantly rejected them because I had plans earlier. Then they frowned and asked me to keep a distance with him.

"Just you two? Dude, let me suggest you not to hang out too often with him. I heard he's gay and that will affect your image too. I don't know if it's true or not, but just stay away from him, yeah?"

I was angry and about to punch him right away. But still, I kept my sanity and be calm. "Where did you hear about it?"

"From his high school mate, it's quite known so that's why none of them really hang around with him,"

"What's wrong with that? It's not like he likes you though," I unconsciously defended him. It's not fair even for anyone not only him.

"Dude, seriously?" after he gave me a sneer, most of his friends made the same face.

"I don't think that's a valid reason to avoid someone," I raised an eyebrow. I thought after many years, people were more open minded and really didn't worry about it anymore.

We were still living at the same old-fashioned society after all.

They finally gave up to persuade me so they finally left. I hurriedly ran towards him knowing that I was late. He already spared a seat and the lunch when I got there. I sat after patted his shoulder.

"Sorry, did you wait long?"

He shook his head. "Not at all. Here's yours. Quick, we need to go to class early, I haven't finished my task,"

"You can see mine,"

"Of course, that's why I bought you this," he pointed at the fancy tuna sandwich in front of me. It was our favorite, sometimes I wondered when would I get sick of this meal. But perhaps I would never feel that since I was always eating with the person beside me, someone that I would never be sick of.

"Hey, K," I called him as natural as I could be.

"What?" he was usually a sweet person, but when I was late, he always became annoying.

"No drinks for me?" I noticed only 1 water bottle on the table.

"You don't bring yours? Go buy yourself then," he just focused on eating.

I saw the queue and looked away again. The canteen was always crowded during the class break time. That's why Keane always hated when we were late even for a minute. I then grabbed his bottle and took a gulp. He shocked by my action and threw a death stare.

"Now you go or you'll choke," I teased him, but when I expected him to laugh it off, he just looked gloomier than before. I took the initiative to go away before his mad worsened.

I bought him, a lot more than what I drank. I gave him not only a water, but juice, milk, and even coffee. Those were for us.

"It's all yours,"

"You son of a b-, how can I take all of them?"

I giggled. I teased him more. I didn't give him plastic bag and I was sure he did not have one either. There's no way he could put all of them to his bag, even if he could, it would only tear his bag apart or gave him a back-pain.

"Really? Then I will help you take this," I took a bottle and drank it up. "Done, now you do yours," I already finished my sandwich so I had a lot of time to stare at him.

" F- you," he looked totally annoyed, but that made him a lot cuter than ever.

Oh, wait. Did I say he was cute? What was I thinking, really?

I suddenly remembered the rumor and took one more time to observe him. Was it true? If yes, then it meant he already had a boyfriend, right? Or how did they know? Was it when he confessed to a boy then got rejected? How come anyone ever found out about it?

Was it okay if I asked him right away?

Then I called Maria, she was the girl that I recently dated with. I wanted to see his reaction first. I used such a sweet word to her, and promised her to take on a date during weekend. It was actually kind of cringe, let alone having him to listen wholly. He didn't bat an eye, I noticed he really ignored me.

Yeah, he was not that kind of person too whose usually interfered other business, and I wasn't usually comfortable when someone involved in my personal business.

"I had a plan with Maria this weekend, what about you?"

He still munched his meal, what a sloth. "Nothing, why?"

"No date?"

He shook his head.

"Hangout with friends?"

He shook his head again. "I think I'm not in the mood. Why are you asking?"

"Then you can help me to arrange for my date!" I booked him for friday night. He just rolled his eye, so I assumed as an okay.

I decided to get closer to him whenever I could. I tried to search for a hint whether the rumor was true or not. It's not because I was disturbed if it turned out that he was gay, all I wanted to know was what kind of person he liked.

It would be very nice if he really liked a guy, though. I felt a sigh of relief only by the thought of that. If it's another thing called happiness, shouldn't I reach it more?