Tap tap tap!
The ping pong ball bounces, constantly streaking back and forth as the two are immersed in their challenge. Its echo is audible among the rustle of trees and leaves that blow past the concrete yard, where the sun beams down. The heavens had decreed for this matchup to happen, no doubt!
Sean's blond hair, matted with sweat, jumps eagerly with each sway of his body, his movements ebbed with a sense of urgency and desperation to win! An energetic smile coupled with his dynamic movements as he swayed the table tennis racket. The slight burn in his arms was intensifying, and his entire body felt like it was on fire. Not just because of the physical activity he engaged in, but the pink-haired beauty that was his opponent. The only girl who has had his attention for months now.
Her lively, cheery voice. Maybe a god? A witch who had bewitched him? No…that's kinda misogynistic! Sean would shake off the slightly offensive thought.
The girl's name was Ashley. Honestly, he thought there could be a more elegant name for a girl of her stature and quality. But maybe, just maybe, the name Ashley will be redefined by her existence alone.
"Hahaha, you're open!"
Sean spots vulnerability, his eyes locking down on the exact spot to smack the ping pong ball. Immediately, Ashley's rose-tinted lips shot a cute, exasperated gasp, laced in astonishment.
"Wait Sean, let me get my balance first-"
SMACK!
The ball dashes across the pong table, Sean's victory assured by the flashes of the sun's rays above, as his fist rises into the air.
"Oh YEA! I win! What did I tell you? The greatest devil always wins in table tennis, hahah!" he'd blurt out happily, a scoff leaving his mouth. But for Ashley, on the other hand, she wasn't too thrilled; her jaw pumped up as she threw a mini tantrum like an upset girl who couldn't play with her Barbie dolls.
"...Fine then! I guess I shouldn't hang out with devils then! "
Honestly, his heart dropped…believing that he had screwed up in the worse way possible. He'd never seen her this infuriated before. Did I really annoy her that much?
Before proceeding, the blond-haired boy gets his navy blue uniform sweater and wraps it around his waist. Wouldn't want the cranky principal get on his ass for nothing, right? Steps eventually catch up to her, standing side by side, his stature around two inches above hers.
A coerced, awkward smile, a tone that betrayed certainty at heart.
He was scared. Afraid. Terrified. Will everything shatter?
"Come on, I was just joking. I'm no devil, clearly!" Sean reaches his hand for his hair, caressing it with such finesse. No Demon could look this pretty and dashing. "Demons are ugly ya know. They look like snakes, or goats, or…whatever artistic depiction I can think of."
"Oh, you're pretty and dashing?" she'd reply, a curious pout evident.
"Uhh, yea? Isn't that obvious?"
"Sean you DUMMY! Don't you read classic tales of legendary heroes with shining armour that save princesses a hundred times a day?" --a hand comes to lightly karate chop Sean's forehead– "Their strength, bravery, physique, that's what I consider dashing!"
This made the blonde teen question himself amidst their walk. To be dashing, elegant, and handsome, did those things come from being 'strong' and 'brave'? More importantly, are those the sort of guys that Ashley prefers? His eyes move from his pink-haired friend, looking towards the ground, facing his own shadow. Every passing second only delays what the heart wants. His heart wants love…
It wants to express a feeling hidden for quite a while.
Flashes of pink are painted across his slightly tanned skin tone, smoke rapidly hovering above his head. Like a storm–he feels it. A valuable space so seamlessly breached.
A hand lands on his forehead. So soft, so gentle. A warm voice permeates.
"Did you exhaust yourself too much, Sean? Do you want me to carry you back to class?"
She's so close…way too close at almost kissing distance! It's insanity, unbelievable! Yet, she doesn't even so much as flinch or act differently!
"NON!" he'd instinctively scream in French, birds fleeing immediately.
"I mean…no in English! I'm good, Ashley. Thanks for asking though. . ."
The storm blew away every shard of courage. He couldn't do it. It left his mind. There's no point in trying to confess his true feelings to her right now. What if she runs away, calls the police, or hires an assassin?
Dammit. I'm always like this. I back away at important moments…never to fully go through with something.
I'm a dumbass.
Pushing the thought, Sean was still content. Ashley still had that same colourful personality, and didn't take what he said to heart at all, well…he thinks. The boy's usual stride returns as he walks down the path with Ashley, the two intertwining in more discussions. With the laughter that fills the space, it's abruptly halted.
An exotic presence reveals itself.
Instantly, Ashley feels it, the heartfelt passion as this man's muscular body presses into the ground. Like a Greek god, his muscles bulged and contorted with each handstand push-up. The canopied sunlight accented his artistic physique. She had never witnessed a man…so strong, powerful, and elegant in his movement.
Animalistic, yet divine.
"Ashley! What the heck is wrong–" Sean's confusion is answered when his eyes stumble across his former rival in primary school, Ryan the cunning bastard. It then clicks. Her fixation on him, and his stature.
Jesus, don't tell me–
To Ashley, the feeling was clear as day. Her heart skipped thousands of beats, and she herself couldn't properly understand it. But perhaps, this is what they call love.
From that day, everything for Sean changed. A stake had been driven into his heart, changing the course of fate completely. The wound deepens as his childhood rival's voice permeates from a distance.
"Aaah, you haven't changed at all, Sean."
Skillfully getting back on his feet, Ryan's topless body glistens, his condescending snarl pushing against Sean's ego.