Leon's chest tightened, heart pounding faster than it had in the race. He looked away quickly, cheeks burning.
Maya smiled at both of them, holding her daisies from earlier. "I'm proud of both of you. Honestly, you both make things… interesting."
Leon wanted to argue, but Richard's calm, piercing gaze stopped him. He realized, with sudden clarity, that the real race wasn't just about winning or losing a relay.
It was about keeping pace—with Maya, with Tunde, and, most unexpectedly, with Richard.
The cheers from the relay race still echoed across the campus field as students dispersed toward the various food and game stalls. Leon wiped the sweat from his brow, trying to calm his racing heart, but it refused to slow down. Winning the race should have felt satisfying—but instead, his stomach churned with something he wasn't ready to name.
Maya bounced toward him, a bright smile on her face, holding her notebook. "Leon! You were amazing out there! I didn't know you could run that fast!"
Leon forced a grin, feeling warmth at her praise. "Thanks… I guess all that practice paid off."
Behind him, Richard approached, calm as always, brushing dirt off his sleeves as though the race had been nothing more than a morning stroll. He stopped beside Leon, eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made Leon's chest tighten.
"Not bad," Richard said lightly. "You almost made it look effortless. Almost."
Leon blinked. "Almost?"
Richard smirked faintly. "Don't get cocky. You still nearly lost."
Leon's jaw clenched, and before he could respond, Tunde appeared from nowhere, holding a bag of snacks. "Well, well! Looks like the champions are here! Nice race, guys! Especially you, Leon. You kept me on my toes."
Leon glared at Tunde. "You're unbelievable."
Richard, however, remained silent, his eyes tracking Tunde like a predator assessing a rival. The air between Leon and Richard thickened, almost electric. Leon felt his frustration boil over.
"Why do you always act like you're above everyone?" Leon finally snapped at Richard. "I just—won the race—and you act like it's nothing!"
Richard's calm gaze didn't waver. "Because it's not about the race, Leon. You're letting your emotions get the better of you again."
Leon's face burned. "Emotions? You—" He stopped mid-sentence, realizing Maya was watching, her eyebrows furrowed in concern.
"Guys…" Maya said softly, stepping closer. "What's going on?"
Leon turned to her, his chest tightening. "Nothing. Just… we're fine."
Richard's gaze flicked to Leon and then to Maya. "He's overthinking things."
Leon's cheeks flushed hotter than before. "Overthinking? Me? You're the one who's… you're the one who makes everything a competition!"
Richard's lips curved into a small, almost teasing smile. "Maybe I do. Maybe I like watching you struggle."
Leon's heart skipped a beat. Struggle? Was Richard… enjoying this?
Maya, oblivious to the tension, frowned. "You two are impossible."
Before Leon could reply, Tunde leaned in, voice playful. "Careful, Leon. Don't let him get in your head. Maybe he likes you struggling too."
Leon's hands balled into fists at his sides. He wanted to yell. He wanted to shove Tunde aside. He wanted to punch Richard for smirking like he knew exactly how flustered Leon felt.
Richard, noticing Leon's rising temper, leaned slightly closer, his voice calm but sharp. "You're letting him bother you too much. Control yourself."
Leon froze. Control myself? After everything?
Maya stepped between them instinctively, placing her hands on their chests lightly. "Stop it! Both of you!"
Her sudden movement made Leon take a step back, giving himself room to breathe. He glanced at Richard, whose smirk had softened just a fraction—but not enough to ease Leon's frustration.
"You're so calm," Leon muttered, voice tight. "How do you do that?"
Richard's gaze met his, unflinching. "Because I've learned to control what matters."
Leon swallowed hard. "What matters?"
Richard didn't answer directly. Instead, he glanced at Maya, then back at Leon. "Sometimes, knowing what to hold onto—and what to let go—is all that counts."
Leon felt something stir in his chest—something he didn't understand. A mix of frustration, jealousy, and… something deeper. He looked away quickly, not wanting Maya or Richard to see his face turn red.
Maya's eyes softened. "You two… I don't know what to say. Just… don't fight like this."
Leon exhaled sharply. "I'm not—"
Richard interrupted, calm but firm. "You need to admit something to yourself, Leon. You care. And that's why this bothers you."
Leon's chest tightened painfully. He opened his mouth to argue but found himself unable to speak. Richard's gaze held him in place, steady and challenging, and Leon felt the truth pressing against him, unyielding.
Before he could respond, Tunde's voice cut through the tension. "Hey! Who's ready for the dunk tank challenge?"
Maya jumped slightly, shaking off the tension with a laugh. "Forget it, Tunde! Not now."
Leon and Richard exchanged a brief glance. Silent, tense, but strangely synchronized.
Leon realized then, with a sudden, uncomfortable clarity, that this wasn't just about the relay. It wasn't about Tunde or winning.
It was about Richard.
And maybe, just maybe, Leon was starting to realize that the real challenge wasn't keeping up in races or competitions—it was keeping up with his own feelings.