No longer kids

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Once upon a summer, in a quiet small town, nine best friends met in a park. The day was warm and the sun shining, making the day perfect for playing together. They rolled and tumbled on the grass and chattered the day away. They were young and free, and nothing could stand in the way of their friendship.

Sofia, a bossy but courteous, selfish yet selfless, easy to disturb but not to exclude from games in the play park. The boys were playing football, and Sofia was there playing volleyball by herself next to them. They asked her to go play somewhere else in an intolerant way and she stood still like a wall, insisting to continue playing. One of the mean boys got angry and threw her ball away. It is usually Alfie, she pushed him, and so did he, that he always ends up making the poor girl cry. With that angelic baby face, she gets her mother for help; a good-hearted woman who stood in every case on both sides trying to fix their mutual banal issues in the most effective manner. Although the children always considered Sofia's mother an example of peace, they always kept that low portion of hatred towards the little girl. The unforgettable memory for both her and Alfie was when he used to pick up varied species of insects and run after her, for him it was amusing, while she saw in that an escapable nightmare. To make her weep was part of his daily routine, something he found fun doing for the whole summer, he was showing his friendship through that. The two had the habit of seeing each other even in spring as if they were fated for bothering each other, but in fact, this season was the most in which both Alfie and Sofia become closer as only Sofia, Luna her sister and him used to come during that period of the year. Together, day and night that they never quit each other till lunch time or dinner. For them It felt like sharing the same house; they had the habit of sitting on the stairs of one of the buildings where they stay in summer telling jokes, playing cards, go for a picnic, sit on the swings, play in the empty swimming pool, or even wander outside the park.

By the time, Sofia and Alfie realized that combined they made one family, they only knew so after that both their parents knew the other family's name, they were told that they were from the same blood, belonging to the same family.

Year after another, her and Alfie became good friends, it leveled up to knocking at one another's door to come out, asking about each other, play and get into trouble together; she was his partner in crime, and he was hers. From then on, they became one complete puzzle together; good times would not feel good if one of them was somewhere else. She was somebody he could tell secrets to, a lady he would choose over anyone in the room, the first to support, and the only one to care about the most. Every situation she got in, he was there to make every possible effort to protect her, he was known for his sincerity and fairness but Sofia for him was more than a responsibility that he would break both. His eyes were wide open when he caught her with new people or those he considered toxic, like bad company such as smokers, lose women, or alcoholic people, he was overprotective in his mind but could never put that pressure on her, respecting her personal life. He could hear her silence, read her eyes, above all he could feel the cold pain in her heart. For she was that kind of person he would cry for after leaving the place, and extremely happy when she comes again. A person who made his childhood an adventure and his adolescence a regret for past behavior. Now that she had grown up, she became his hero who he would listen to, cry out for, and she was the only one capable of helping him in every happy moment and sorrow. Those forehead kisses from him were not just signs of love and appreciation for their friendship, but also signs of apologies and regrets, that when he hugged her, he wished to weep so hard to give her back those innocent tears she dropped. And who would think he would become such a man.

For the other members, each pair constituted partners. As for Tyler and Lucas were the football teammates,they shared a passion for football, they grew up watching games, practicing drills, and even competing with other footballers. Football used to come naturally to them, and they loved every aspect of it. They have spent countless afternoons playing pickup games with their friends and cheering on their favorite teams. Their love for football has only grown stronger over time, and they continued to bond over the sport even as they grew older. To them, football was more than just a game; it was a childhood pastime that has become an essential part of their friendship.