Dear Zhang Ming, Thank you for coming by to watch us play, no matter that you had to leave before the match ended. I— and my teammates too, I guess— appreciate the support. You know as well as I do that luck isn’t how you win these things. I may not know much about chess, but I do know it requires skill and a clever brain to play well. Definitely not a luck thing. Your father plays too? That’s so cool. Does he only play it casually or has he played competitively before? Also, am I the only one who thinks their “CACAW”-ing sounds more like a chicken than an actual phoenix? P.S. Alright, I will. Doesn’t mean I agree though. Dearest Regards, Reke Reynolds
–
Reke was delighted. Just from one response, he’s already learned something new about Zhang Ming.
He slipped his response letter into Zhang Ming’s locker as soon as he arrived at school.
“Well if it isn’t our resident MVP of yesterday’s tournament.” Tyler pops up out of nowhere and wraps an arm around his shoulder.
Reke sighs and greets him, “Hello, Tyler.”
“Eyyy, the man of the hour has arrived!” Chad says when he catches sight of them after turning the corner.
“Good day Reke, and to you Tyler.” Mike greets from beside Chad.
“Finally someone who actually knows how to begin a conversation.” Reke deadpans at Tyler and Chad.
“Come onnnn you know we’re just hyped up after our big win yesterday!” Tyler says, opening his locker from a few ways away from Chad’s.
“Yes, as am I. Excellent work, everyone!” Mike comments with a huge smile.
Right before Reke could respond, he caught sight of Zhang Ming turning the corner and reaching his locker.
As Zhang Ming opens it and starts grabbing his books, Reke decides to greet him.
“Hey! Zhang—” Only for the honey-blonde to slam close his locker and walk away at an even pace.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Mike makes a considering noise, “Did you do something to him?”
“No!” Reke answers, spinning around to face the three, “Of course not!”
“Then why is he doing that?” Mike asks in confusion.
Reke almost sputters, “I don’t know— He gave me that letter and it was good! I swear! I thought—”
“—woah, wait.” Tyler grins, “That letter? Dude!”
Reke blinks in confusion, “What, what do you mean ‘that’ le—”
Mike cuts in, “Maybe there’s something else going on with him?”
Reke only frowns as he turns again to face where Zhang Ming had gone off to, “Could be.” His voice small.
(A/N: Sorry Reke—)
As the day sluggishly went by, Reke noticed that Zhang Ming still did his best to steer clear of him around school. Not just at the start of the day.
It made him confused, and a little disheartened.
He can’t really do anything about it anyway. The last time he tried to do something about it, it blew up so much to the point that Zhang Ming screamed at his face.
(Not really but the point still stands.)
In the end, the only thing he can really do is talk about it to the only person he somewhat considers a friend.
More and more people may have come to know Elizabeth and befriended her. However, she would always go back to Reke who was with her when she was still new and knew no one else in the school.
If only he didn’t keep badgering her about his crush.
(“IT’S NOT A CRUSH!” Reke would ‘whine’ at her whenever she voices out that particular thought.)
Said young man had been talking for about a minute now, and she already felt something of a headache coming up in her head.
“Wait, wait, wait, wait— Backtrack for a minute.” Elizabeth said, cutting into his words. “I thought you two were talking again?”
Reke frowned, “Well, he left a letter for me in my locker.”
“And?”
“I wrote him one back and left it in his locker this morning.
Elizabeth blinked, “…and?”
Reke sighs, “He still won’t talk to me face-to-face. He won’t even go anywhere near me.”
“But he didn’t say anything bad in his letter?”
Reke shakes his head, “No.”
Elizabeth leaned back in her seat and shrugged, “Well, I don’t really know what to tell you.”
“You’re no help at all.” Reke grumbled.
Elizabeth points at him with a frown, “Hey, I am definitely not an omnipotent know-it-all genie who can answer all your problems, Reke.”
“I know, I know.” Reke raised a hand in surrender, “I’m sorry for complaining, I didn’t mean it like that. Thank you for listening to me.”
Elizabeth crossed her arms in front of her chest and closed her eyes, “The amount of pining I have to deal with on a daily basis is already high, what’s one more lovesick boy to add to that.”
“I am not lovesick.”
“Sure you aren’t.”
She could recognize lovesickness from a mile away at this point.
And don’t even get her started on Ivo Mooney.
She already has to deal with Reke’s crush, now she also has to deal with Ivo’s crush. And worst of all, his crush is her.
And okay, it’s not like she doesn’t like him or anything. It’s just that…
(“A hundred roses? It’s so… uhm, expensive?” She tries to say politely, almost grimacing as she holds on to a bouquet and looks at the rest of the roses scattered around her.
Students were already ooh-ing and ahh-ing, taking pictures, and squeeling.
“I can afford it!” He says proudly, “I have the money.”
“That isn’t really the point.” Elizabeth says, “Plus, does it really count as your money if it came from your parents anyway?”
“Well…” Ivo’s voice trails off.
“Right, uhm.” Elizabeth speaks up after an awkward few seconds, “Thank you so much, Ivo. But I honestly, have no idea what to even do with these.”)
…he goes overboard. A lot. It’s sweet but a lot.
Speaking of— “At least you don’t have to do much and Ivo already started chasing after you.”
She blinks at Reke, “What.”
“I’m the one who’s been chasing after Zhang Ming and he still keeps avoiding me.”
“I’m sorry, did you really just equate yourself and Zhang Ming to Ivo and me?”
“I don’t really see the problem with that. My statement makes perfect sense to me.”
“That’s not— You know, I’ll just… not touch this with a 10-inch pole.”
–
Dear Reke, Don’t mention it. Needed to show my team spirit, anyway. Soaring Phoenix pride and whatnot. CACAW or whatever. (No, you’re definitely not the only one.) My father sort of did, I say sort of because he also only did school tournaments. How about you? Did you learn soccer from your parents? Or maybe anything else? P.S. Fine by me. Regards, Zhang Ming
I love how the babies are exchanging letters and Reke is still in full denial 🤣
Yeah, a 100 roses is a bit – a looot – too much lol
Thx for the ch ٩(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )و