I can't say I do without you

Practice game

I wandered around the field to search for Tal. Not that far distant, I spotted somebody waving. When I took a closer look, I was sure it was Tal and other music club members. I dashed towards them, climbing the third bleacher to get closer.

"I honestly didn't expect that many students would watch," I said, surprised.

"And even the FSA students attend only to watch the game. This is how intense their battle will be." Tal added.

"I could hardly wait."

We waited over 20 minutes for the two school players to appear. Even Raeanna isn't here yet. Every minute, I check my phone to see whether Raeanna has responded to my text. "Please, Raeanna, please come," I murmured.

The noise of the students came to a halt as if an angel had passed by. Only the whistle of the wind and the chirping of a bird can be heard. The students' gaze was focused in a single direction. I glanced at where they were looking. At the bottom of the field, I could see Raeanna standing, searching for someone.

I rose from my seat and waved at her. "Come on over here, Raeanna!" I yelled, waving my hands in the air.

She returned my wave with a smile. I ran up the bleachers to meet Raeanna. "I thought you weren't going to show up."

It surprised me when she clutched me and said, "Thank you so much for inviting me."

I smiled once more as I stroked her back. "It's simply my way of making you happy."

As I got back to my seat, I realized everyone was staring at us, particularly the Amarillo students, and so did Tal.

"What on earth do you think you're doing?" Tal whispered.

"Huh?"

"You should not have brought Raeanna here. Didn't anyone ever tell you that you couldn't..."

"I'm aware, Tal, but don't you think this prince's decision is unfair to Raeanna, even though she was the one who suffered the most, the one who sacrificed for the two of them?"

"You do not know what the prince can do to you, especially since you are the one who invited her."

"Well, I'm aware of it, and I'm used to it. I've been dealing with the pain he causes me since the very first time I saw him."

"What?!" Tal glared at me.

"Nothing."

The opening song indicates that the game is about to begin. The Fort Street team arrived first, prompting a resounding yell from their students. Followed by the Amarillo team. Amarillo kept shouting for our team like the FSA students, shouting like it was blowing my ears out. My thoughts turned to the bobbles I had created the night before. I took it from my bag, which was lying on the floor.

"Raeanna?" I took Raeanna's hand in mine and slid the bobble one into it.

"What is it for?" she asked.

"Let's cheer for the prince together."

"Gemma... you did this just for this event," she said as she messed up my hair. "Now I'm relieved because I know there's someone I can trust with Cynfael."

I stood up and helped Raeanna to her feet.

"Gemma!"

I raised both of my hands, which were holding the bobble.

"Prince Augustus!!! I know it's just a practice game, but please do your best. Don't let them win!" I yelled as I turned my gaze to Raeanna, nodding to tell her she was the next to cheer on the prince.

"C-C-Cynfael..."

"C-CNYFAEL!!!" she yelled as loud as she could.

For a while, the surroundings were deafeningly quiet. The prince shifted his gaze to us. I feel as if I'm in a drama film. When Prince Augustus and Raeanna's gazes met, they both came to a halt. It was only stopped by the ring, which indicated that the game had already begun. I started waving Raeanna's bobble to Prince Augustus before he could take his place.

I could tell Raeanna wasn't feeling well because her heart seemed to break every time she saw the prince. "Hey, are you alright?" I asked.

She simply nodded, unable to take her gaze away from the prince.

Right before the game, Prince Augustus and a Fort Street Academy team member meet with the referee to toss a coin. Amarillo would then receive the ball first, and Fort Street Academy would defend. The ball is positioned in the center of a small circular area. Because of the rule, the Amarillo team may not enter the circle. To start the game, the Fort Street team passes the ball forward.