When the recess bell first rang, Xu Yifan had never ran out of the classroom door so quick. Before the classmates could even question him about his relationship with Li Xiaoyu, he already left. Only his deskmate Fatty Wang managed to catch his shadow at the end of the corridor.
"Yifan! Where you running! You can run away from me, but you can't run away from love!"
Yifan could only shout back "She's not my girlfriend!"
Fatty Wang was livid, shouting across the hallway. "The more you deny it, the truer it gets! Yifan, you're a wanted man!"
Running down the hallway, Fatty Wang was pouring out mountains of sweat. Despite everyone calling him a "fatty", he wasn't truly fat. He had the shape of a big dumpling, and his arms were thick as legs! Chasing after Yifan's shadow, Fatty Wang could barely keep up, just when he was about to give up. He found Yifan standing in the middle of the corridor, staring at the wall.
Wang struggled as he closed down the distance, breathing heavily as he caught his breath. "What's wrong?"
Yifan didn't reply, leaving Wang Dazhi to do the detective work. He looked up, finding the school's notice board hanging on the wall. On it, numerous posters, advertisements, and notices were littered throughout. But one poster was far above the rest, catching both their attention.
It read:
Join the Football Club! Tryout today after school!
It was crudely made, lacking the professionalism of the other posters around, but it emitted an unnatural charm. Written in vibrant markers and filled with messy handwriting. It looked like something made in the bedroom last minute. Yifan didn't know why, but he instinctively imagined Li Xiaoyu intently crafting this recruitment notice, putting up hours of effort.
His heart skipped a beat.
Wang Dazhi flashed a look of understanding. With a cheeky smile, he said: "Look! Your goddess even started a football club just for you!"
Yifan looked at fatty with wide eyes. With a loud voice, he shouted back. "She's not my girlfriend!"
"Tsk. Why you denying huh? You just don't realise it yet, you blind fool!"
Wang Dazhi had a stubborn look, which only infuriated Yifan further. No matter how hard he tried to explain, Fatty just wouldn't listen to reason!
Taking another look at the poster, Fatty side-eyed his best friend. "You're going, right?"
Yifan was silent, taking a momentary pause. But he looked down at his shoes. His eyes wavering with complicated thoughts. "No… I'll pass."
Wang Dazhi was stunned speechless. He broke into a frenzy, his bear-like hand slapping down on Yifan's forehead. "What?! Are you mad?! Didn't you always claim to love football? Now that there's a football club, you're not joining? Cold feet?!"
Yifan rubbed his head. He had a lowered expression, and his true feelings hidden behind a blank face. He sighed. "I'm… not good enough."
"Says who?!" Fatty Wang blurted out, arms gesturing in wide manner. "Just cause some passerby say so?! Who cares what other people say?"
"You haven't even tried and you already lost hope? What are you, chicken?"
"But… it's impossible."
"Impossible or not, how would you know if you don't at least try?!"
Yifan wanted to argue back, but Wang Dazhi already wrapped his meaty arm around his shoulder, dragging him down the corridor. "Stop arguing, we're going to the tryout, and I'm dragging you with me!"
Yifan wanted to protest, but his weak frame couldn't put up any resistance against Fatty's strength.
"Let me go! Let's me go!" Yifan shouted, but his words fell on deaf ears.
As the recess bell rang, more and more students appeared in the hallway. Some classmates familiar, but more were unfamiliar. Yet it seemed today, there were a lot more gazes at the two best friends. Yifan could only be dragged along like a helpless pet, under Fatty Wang's control, they arrived at the school cafeteria.
The two friends were lucky that were fast to get out of class, because the cafeteria line was soon filled with eager students buying food. Some students even missed their breakfast, and had little choice but to resort to cafeteria food to fill their stomachs. Arriving at the front of the line, Wang Dazhi confidently said: "The usual please, auntie!"
The cafeteria lady, an experienced worker that had been with the school for more than a decade, released a warm smile. "Of course. 3 steamed buns, am I right?"
Fatty Wang released a smile. "Auntie knows me best!"
Then she gazed at the small and frail Yifan locked in Fatty's grasp. "And what about your friend over here?"
Yifan was about to refuse, but before he could even reply. Wang Dazhi shouted, "Get him some rice cake, I'll pay!"
The cafeteria lady laughed. "Ha, what a good friend. You're lucky to have friends like Wang Dazhi" She said, eyeing Yifan.
The latter could only nod helplessly.
Sitting in the cafeteria with a rice cake in hand, Yifan was completely quiet not knowing what to say. Fatty Wang was beside him, devouring the steamed buns like there was no tomorrow.
For a minute Yifan was lost in his own thoughts. The mysterious girl, the strange deity, and the events that led to today. It was all too much, came crushing down and destroying his ordinary life.
"What's wrong? Eat! You won't do good at tryout without energy." Fatty Wang stated, nudging him by the side.
Yifan could only nod silently, but doubt lingered in his heart.
The previously quiet cafeteria grow in clamour, and students poured in one by one.
Yifan could've sworn he imagined it, but were there more stares his way? Just then, a group of students were looking at his direction, and they didn't look friendly in the slightest! Yifan shivered. Just what had he got himself into?!
Before he could even think, a handsome male student approached the table. Both Yifan and Fatty Wang stopped eating, sensing something important.
The male student slammed his hands down the table! The cafeteria quieted down. Even a pin drop would be louder than now. He pointed. "Xu Yifan! If you fail to join the football club, you must breakup with Li Xiaoyu!"
"huh…. Huh?! ….HUUUHHHHHH!?!?!?!"
At this moment, the whole world was staring at their table. Even the girls were whispering amongst themselves, talking about the infamous "Xu Yifan" And the boy that made such a request to him? — the school's poster boy! The school prince!
Before Yifan could even protest, Fatty Wang already replied for him. "A true man is never afraid! We'll sort this out on the pitch!"
The school prince smirked. "Good! Very good!" Then laughed to himself before walking away to his loyal group of followers.
Yifan cowered behind Wang Dazhi. "Fatty, aren't you just inviting trouble?! You know what those followers are like, don't you? And I have no chance at the tryout! You're embarrassing me!"
Wang Dazhi's eyes turned fiery red. With a loud bang, his meaty hand slapped Yifan hard. "How do you know?! Says who! Even if the chances are almost impossible, it's not 0%!"
"I…"
YIfan fell into a long silence. The cafeteria returned to its usual vigour, but it seems there was a deeper tension underneath. Occasional stares coming their way, and even the girls were pointing at their direction. Even if they were trying to hide it, Yifan could tell he was the topic of the school, the name on everyone's tongue.
It felt… suffocating. Like a drowning into a bottomless lake with no way out.
When recess finally ended, Yifan was amongst the first to run away, seeking refuge at his classroom. At the very least, he could have some peace with a teacher in the room. Yet the moment he stepped inside, he found the entire class staring at him up and down. Even the supposedly untouchable female classmates gave him another glance.
His skin tingled, his head lowered. Too many eyes, too much attention. Yifan struggled to his own desk, head lowered, begging class to start.
Fatty Wang only smirked. "Bro, you're famous!"