The afternoon after the rain was clean and blue.The sky looked washed, the wind was soft.A perfect day for kids to play outside.
"Pass the ball back!" Weihao shouted.
"Coming!" Hao kicked the ball back, and the three of them kept passing it around, laughter mixing with the sound of the ball hitting the ground.
"Wait, I need water…" Kanghui stopped, breathing heavy.
The ball suddenly bounced off and hit Kanghui.
"Sorry, sorry, I wasn't paying attention!" Hao called, then suddenly turned and ran toward the small shop nearby.
"What's up with him?" Weihao asked.
"No idea. I didn't even say anything," Kanghui replied, confused.
"Your water," Weihao pointed.
Kanghui looked down; his water had already spilled on the ground. He sighed."Forget it."
Soon Hao ran back, carrying three bottles of soda.
"Sorry about just now," he said, handing them over.
Kanghui raised an eyebrow. "Wow, did your mom suddenly give you money?"
Hao rolled his eyes. "Do you think that's possible? Just drink."
Weihao grinned. "Kanghui, can you always spill your water like this? Then I can drink soda too."
Kanghui and Hao both stared at him, speechless.
The three of them sat on a park bench, drinking soda, chatting about random things.
Kanghui smirked. "Weihao, looks like Hao's seatmate at school is kinda special to him today."
Weihao leaned closer. "Tell me more. Someone actually noticed Hao?"
Hao sighed. "I was just not feeling well. She helped me talk to the teacher. Nothing special."
"Nonono," Weihao shook his head. "You're usually like the king of no-friends."
"Transparent," Kanghui added.
Hao took a deep breath. "Please give me back my soda money."
Their laughter echoed across the playground, mixing with the wind.
Hao looked at his soda, thinking quietly:—I used to think you two were the most important people in my life.—No matter what happens, I always wanted to stand by you.—If those things hadn't happened, maybe we'd still be like this…Just like family.