I was already settled in the library, working on some assignments. Kenan was late. I checked the time and informed the group chat.
I was deep in my work when I heard the chair opposite me scrape against the floor.
"You're late," I said, eyes still on my laptop.
"Had to meet up with Meeka for a fitting."
I nodded and continued studying.
It wasn't until I felt a nudge that I looked up again.
"Do we have to wear team shirts like usual?" Kenan asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know. This is my first time participating."
He looked taken back. "No wonder."
"What?"
I pulled out my phone and messaged the professor. Even though it was late, he didn't mind messages as long as they were important.
"He said yes. We have to wear the campus shirts. Probably that ugly squared one from the first day."
"We need to pick a color for our team."
"Pink," I said, without thinking too much.
"Why would we wear pink?"
"To make a fashion statement."
"Black can make a statement too."
"Yeah, a heatstroke statement. We'll be frying in the sun. Pink will help us stand out."
Though, honestly, just having Kenan on our team was enough to stand out.
"Let's ask the group chat."
"They'll just pick your idea anyway," Kenan said with a resigned shrug.
"As they should. It makes sense."
"How are we getting the shirts made?"
"I can handle that," Kenan offered.
We went back to studying and left the library a little after seven-thirty.
I could already tell this week was going to be exhausting. I had a new group project and we agreed to meet up next week to plan. Thankfully, they didn't mind the delay.
Friday didn't start the way I wanted it to.
"I told you to get me a small!" I shouted at Kenan, tugging at the oversized shirt.
"You'll get more ventilation."
"Do you hear yourself?"
The field was packed. Juniors, sophomores, even the Dean — he was acting as the spokesperson.
This year, the university was going all out.
The first event was the relay race. The sun was merciless, baking the field until it shimmered. The scent of grass, sweat, and sunscreen filled the air. Whistles blared. Students were herded into teams. It was chaotic.
My shirt went with the wind . I grimaced and tugged at it.
"This is cruel and unusual punishment," I muttered.
Kenan looked like he belonged in a sports commercial ; energetic and annoyingly perfect.
"You ready?" he asked, tossing me the baton.
"No."
I said, trying to sound calm, but my voice wobbled just a little. My palms were damp with sweat, and I kept rubbing them against my shirt. My fingers wouldn't stay still twitchy, jittery .
The volunteer students barked out instructions: "Run to the green flag and back which that counts as one lap. Then pass the baton to the next runner."
By the time Kenan crossed the finish line, I was alive. Barely. We came in second. Now we had to win the rest to stand a chance.
Kenan jogged over, smug. Of course he wasn't even winded.
"You survived," he teased, handing me water.
"I crawled through the gates of hell and back," I muttered.
"Alright everyone, fifteen-minute break, then tug of war!"
We barely caught our breath when the announcement came. Kenan's eyes lit up. I groaned.
"I can already feel my shoulder dislocating."
We headed to Station Three. The rope was thick, dusty, and intimidating.
Our team: Kenan, me, Lucian, Jacob, and three vaguely familiar guys.
Kenan, of course, took the anchor spot. I was somewhere in the middle. If we lost, I'd be dragged face-first.
The whistle blew.
The rope yanked hard. I almost lost my grip.
"Pull, you weaklings!" Kenan shouted from the back, laughing.
"If you have a problem, do better!" I shot back.
My arms burned. My shoulders screamed.
"Would help if you had muscles, Ciro," Kenan grunted.
"So you're body-shaming me now?"
We pulled together. The rope shifted our way. Then theirs. Then back.
"If we lose because you two keep arguing, I'm throwing hands!" Jacob yelled.
Another massive tug — and the rope slid. We were winning.
"You know, if you tried harder, it might help," Kenan said.
"If you shut the hell up, that would help," I snapped.
I could taste victory.
Or maybe just dirt.
"Final pull!" Kenan barked.
We heaved together, and the other team collapsed.
Victory.
The referee blew the whistle. Cheers erupted. Jacob high-fived me so hard my hand stung.
I helped Meeka off the ground. She laughed.
"How did the ground taste?"
"A bit hard."
I turned, searching for the spawn of Satan that was Kenan.
He stood beside Lucian and Jacob, smug as ever. I stomped over.
"What the hell was your problem?"
"Motivational speeches."
"More like taunts and We won anyway."
"Because of me," Kenan said with zero humility.
This half brain two timing son of a -
Making me more irritated than ever before.
"You two argue over the most senseless stuff," Jacob interjected.
"We wouldn't if he didn't say senseless things."
"You're both childish."
"I am not — I mean"
I could not further refute the claims made against me. They were probably choose I would not call myself childish but if the shoes fit.
"Y'all never changed since kids and it was worst back then"
"It's fine," Kenan said, slinging an arm around me, his scent invading my senses. "Don't we get along, right, Ciro?"
"Ugh, don't touch me." I said taking his hands off my shoulders.
We were told to send a pair for the next event. I recommended Lucian and Jacob. They immediately refused.
Rock-paper-scissors settled it. Of course, we were paired together again.
The event: a blindfolded maze. Omegas were blindfolded, Alphas led.
A volunteer tied the blindfold over my eyes. We had less than five minutes.
I could not see anything but rely on my sound but I didn't even have a ounce of faith in Kenan to lead me right.
"Okay, Ciro, walk."
I walked, nervous.
"Why are you so slow? If we lose, I'm blaming you."
I sped up. "Just tell me the next step."
"Turn left."
"Are you sure, Kenan?"
"Yes! Just go."
Reluctantly, I did.
Despite my doubts, we made it out in under three minutes. First place.
The blindfold came off.
"Why were you putting on a show?" Kenan asked.
"I wouldn't trust you if you said the sky was blue." I uttered as I walked off.
I turned to find a drink. I needed to cool down.