Monday morning arrived with the usual chatter.
The classroom buzzed with rustling bags, bright voices, and the chaotic energy that only the first P.E. class of the week could create.
The air felt a little too lively for my taste, a bit too bright, but not unpleasant.
I sat at my desk, watching everyone move around.
My classmates were guessing what activity we'd have. Some of the girls near the window were fixing their hair, whispering excitedly about something I didn't bother trying to hear.
"Yuan, have you changed yet?"
Liu Cheng's cheerful voice cut through the noise.
I looked up.
He was already in his sports uniform, grinning like he had won something before the day even started.
"Almost," I said, closing the book I'd been pretending to read.
He leaned closer conspiratorially.
"Guess what? Apparently we're joining up with another class for P.E. today."
I blinked.
"Really? Which one?"
"Class 2-B."
He smirked.
"So maybe I'll finally get to crush those guys from the basketball club in something other than, well... basketball."
I sighed quietly.
"You're too competitive for your own good."
"Hey, it's called school spirit," he said proudly. "Besides, it's not just that—"
He paused dramatically, then lowered his voice.
"There's also someone I want to see."
I stared at him.
"...Don't tell me."
"Yep," he said, grinning like a fool. "My crush might be in that group. Isn't that great?"
I shook my head, amused despite myself.
"You never change."
Around us, some of the girls were buzzing with excitement as well, giggling about who they might run into.
For them, P.E. wasn't just P.E.—it was practically a social gathering.
Cheng nudged me with his elbow.
"You hear that? Everyone's fired up. Even the girls."
My gaze drifted toward the front rows.
Zhao Yiyi and her friends were chatting among themselves—smiles, laughter, that effortless warmth that drew people in without trying.
Beside her, Lin Xia was talking animatedly, making the others laugh with something trivial but, somehow, infectious.
"I guess so," I said.
Cheng nudged me again.
"Come on, don't tell me you're not even a little excited. Maybe you'll meet someone interesting today."
I gave him a flat look.
"You sound like my mother."
He laughed.
"Hey, someone's gotta push you out of your comfort zone."
I stood up and grabbed my bag.
"You go be bold. I'll try to survive the heat."
"Fair enough," he said with a confident grin. "But one day, Yuan—mark my words—you're gonna thank me."
I shook my head, amused.
"You really don't miss any chance, do you?"
"Of course not. That's how life works. Gotta be bold."
We headed out together, the corridor filled with voices and laughter spilling from every room.
Outside, the sun had already climbed high—
and the field shimmered faintly under the warm morning light.
******
The sun was already high when we stepped onto the school field.
The faint scent of grass drifted through the warm air, mixed with the sound of sneakers scraping against the ground. Teachers had already set up the equipment—volleyball nets on one side, cones and small goals on the other.
"All right, everyone!"
The teacher's voice carried across the field.
"Today, Class 2-A and Class 2-B will be sharing this session. Boys, you'll be playing football matches; girls, you'll be playing volleyball. We'll rotate halfway, so stay ready."
A few cheers rose from both classes.
Beside me, Cheng looked like he had been waiting for this moment his whole life.
As we were grouped up, people immediately started forming teams.
Cheng naturally joined the more athletic students—the ones who lived in sports clubs. I didn't mind. I preferred staying on the quieter side of things, filling whatever position needed.
Soon, the first boys' match began.
Those of us not playing yet sat by the sidelines.
Not far away, the girls' volleyball match had already started.
Their laughter carried over the field—light, bright, riding on the wind.
And it didn't take long to understand why everyone had been so eager about today.
A group of girls from our class had gathered near the volleyball court, whispering and pointing toward the boys' field. Their attention wasn't on the match—it was on a tall guy from Class 2-B who had just joined the game.
Li Rui.
I'd heard the name before.
One of those "popular types"—good at sports, sociable, the kind people naturally gravitated toward.
Cheng followed my line of sight and smirked.
"Ah, so you noticed. That's him—the guy trying to get close to Zhao Yiyi, right?"
I blinked. "Really?"
"Yep," he said, half teasing, half amused.
"Rumor is he's been trying to invite her out since last week. No wonder the girls look so fired up. He's practically a celebrity."
Across the field, I spotted Yiyi and her friends near the edge of the volleyball court.
Their hair was tied up neatly for the game, ribbons swaying in the breeze.
Lin Xia was waving and cheering—probably for Cheng—while Yiyi simply smiled politely, her expression calm and distant, just as always.
Before I could look longer, the teacher called for the next group.
"Looks like it's our turn," Cheng said, tightening his shoelaces.
"And guess who we're up against."
He nodded toward the opposite side—the team lining up included Li Rui.
I sighed.
"You sound way too excited."
He flashed a confident grin.
"Of course. This is perfect."
"Perfect for what?"
"To show him I'm the better man."
I couldn't help a small smile.
"You're unbelievable."
The whistle blew.
I took my place near midfield as the cheers grew louder.
The ball rolled.
The match began.
For most people, it was just P.E.
But for Cheng—and for a few others watching from the sidelines—
it was shaping up to be something much more entertaining.
******
The whistle echoed sharply across the field.
For a moment, everything narrowed to the thud of the ball, the scrape of sneakers, and the distant cheers from the volleyball court.
The grass glistened under the sunlight, soft but uneven beneath my steps.
Cheng burst forward with his usual fire, sprinting across the field as if this were the finals of some tournament.
He wasn't the type to play casually. Every run, every kick, every breath—he went all in.
"Hey, pass!" I called as he dodged a defender.
He shot me a quick grin before sending the ball my way.
I trapped it and tried to advance, but the defense tightened instantly.
At the center of it all—unsurprisingly—stood Li Rui.
He intercepted the ball with a smooth, practiced motion.
His expression was calm, almost bored, the kind of ease that belonged to someone used to being watched.
"Nice try," he said with a half-smile before darting past.
I barely had time to turn before Cheng was already after him again.
Their movements were sharp and fast, the air between them charged with an unspoken rivalry.
This wasn't just P.E. anymore—
it had become their match.
From the sidelines, cheers grew louder.
Some of our classmates rooted for Cheng, others for Li Rui.
Even a few girls who'd finished volleyball drifted over to watch, calling encouragement over the fence.
Cheng managed a clever feint, stealing the ball back before firing it into the goal.
He threw his hand up in triumph, grin wide.
His teammates burst into cheers, and I couldn't help laughing a little at how proud he looked.
Li Rui didn't seem upset.
He brushed his bangs aside and smirked.
"Not bad. Guess I'll take this a bit more seriously now."
What followed was a blur—
fast passes, quick interceptions, narrow escapes.
Cheng and Li Rui traded goals like it was a personal duel, each one trying to outdo the other.
The rest of us kept the match balanced, doing our best not to get caught between their battle.
When the whistle blew again, both teams were drenched in sweat, breathing hard—
but smiling.
The score was a draw.
Cheng wiped his forehead with his sleeve, panting.
"Tch... next time I'll definitely win."
Li Rui shrugged lightly, eyes bright.
"Sure. I'll look forward to it."
Their words sounded competitive—
but the respect beneath them was obvious.
As the teacher announced the end of the session, everyone broke into excited chatter, the energy of the match still buzzing through the field.
Cheng slumped onto the grass beside me, lying flat with his arms spread.
"Man... that was fun," he said between breaths. "Feels like forever since I had a real match."
I sat down beside him, looking up at the bright blue sky.
"You really put your all into it, huh?"
He laughed.
"Of course. How could I not, when half the girls were watching?"
I shook my head, smiling.
"You really haven't changed."
"Hey, admit it," he said, turning just enough to glance at me.
"That was a good game, right?"
I watched the sunlight flicker through thin clouds overhead.
"Yeah," I said quietly.
"Yeah... it really was."
******
By the time P.E. finally ended, the heat clung to my skin like a thin layer of dust.
The sun was merciless, and the field smelled faintly of sweat and trampled grass.
Everyone looked exhausted—everyone except Cheng, who somehow still had a grin stretched from ear to ear.
"Not bad, huh?" he said proudly, kicking the ball toward his bag. "I told you we'd win."
I handed him a bottle of water and shook my head.
"You mean you won. The rest of us were just extras in your highlight reel."
He laughed—half pride, half wheezing.
"Hey, did you see Cai Qing just now? She was watching our match. She even cheered when I scored."
Ah.
So that's what he cared about.
"Oh?" I said, unable to resist teasing him. "I didn't realize this was that kind of match. Should I start bringing flowers for your fan club next time?"
He choked on his water, nearly spilling it.
"W–what! It's not like that, I just—hey, forget it."
I chuckled and let him off the hook.
Cheng could act loud and confident all day long, but when it came to crushes, he turned into an embarrassed middle-schooler again.
The bell for lunch rang, saving him from further suffering.
"I'm heading to the cafeteria," he said quickly, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "You coming?"
"I'll catch up later. I need something cold first."
"Alright, don't faint before lunch!" he called, already jogging off with the others.
The field quieted after everyone left.
I walked toward the vending machine beside the gym, still feeling the heat pressing down on my shoulders.
I fed in a few coins—clink, whirrr—and a can of lemon soda rolled down with a satisfying thud.
As I bent to pick it up, someone stepped up beside me.
Out of habit, I glanced over—
—and froze for a heartbeat.
Ye Ling.
Just like at the bookstore—calm, soft expression, hair loosely tied behind her.
She blinked when she recognized me, tilting her head slightly.
"Oh—Tang Yuan, right? From Class 2-A."
I straightened a little, surprised she remembered.
"Yeah. And you're Ye Ling. Didn't expect to run into you here."
She smiled faintly—subtle, but enough to soften her entire face.
"Neither did I. You come here often?"
"Only when I'm dying of thirst," I said, raising the soda.
She let out a quiet laugh—light, gentle.
For a moment, it felt like a breeze cutting through the heavy afternoon heat.
We talked for a few minutes.
Nothing special—just simple things about the heat, how exhausting the match was, how the other boys were going overboard again.
But somehow, it felt easy to talk to her.
Calm. Natural.
Eventually, she gave a little wave and walked off to join her friends waiting near the gym.
I watched her go for a second, the faint sound of her steps fading into the noise of lunchtime chatter.
That made twice now—two unexpected meetings in a row.
Maybe fate had a sense of humor after all.
******
When I walked back into the classroom, most students had already finished lunch.
The air carried a faint mix of bread, milk tea, and leftover warmth — the familiar scent of break time that always lingered too long.
The chatter died down as the bell rang.
A few boys were still arguing over who scored better in the match earlier, their voices rising and falling like a background radio.
Cheng leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers.
The moment he spotted me heading toward my seat, his grin sharpened with suspicious enthusiasm.
"Yuan," he said in a low, teasing tone, "I saw you near the vending machine earlier. Who was that girl you were talking to? She looked kinda familiar."
I gave him a flat look as I set my drink on the desk.
"You sure you didn't imagine it? Maybe the heat melted your brain."
He laughed. "Oh, come on. You never talk to girls unless it's absolutely necessary. So don't tell me it's nothing."
"It is nothing," I said, finally sitting down. "Just someone I ran into."
That only made his smirk widen.
"A coincidence, huh? You should write a novel about that — Fate by the Vending Machine."
I sighed.
"You're reading too many romance manga again."
Cheng clicked his tongue but looked satisfied, turning away just as the teacher walked in.
The afternoon drifted by slowly.
Chalk tapped steadily against the blackboard.
Sunlight softened into a warm gold, stretching long shadows across desks.
Some students fought sleep; others whispered quietly when the teacher wasn't looking.
I listened, took notes, and watched the light shift across the window frame — the usual rhythm of an ordinary school day.
When the final bell rang, the classroom erupted into motion.
Chairs scraped, bags rustled, voices rose in overlapping waves.
Cheng was already packing up.
"Heading home right away?" he asked, stretching.
"Yeah. Might stop by the bookstore."
He grinned.
"The world could be ending, and you'd still think, 'Maybe there's a new release.'"
I shrugged. "Someone has to keep them in business."
He laughed, clapped my shoulder, and headed off to meet the others.
Eventually the room quieted, leaving only the warm glow of the setting sun spilling across empty desks.
I lingered by the window, watching students drift across the courtyard in small groups — talking, laughing, weaving through the orange light like scenes from a peaceful film.
It felt like an ordinary day.
And yet...
My thoughts wandered back, uninvited, to a calm voice and a faint smile at a vending machine.
Just a coincidence, I told myself.
But as I picked up my bag and stepped out of the classroom,
some part of me knew it didn't quite feel like one.