"May I kiss your forehead, Crimson?" She doesn't recoil or say a word, so I press my lips gently against her forehead. It's a tender and fleeting moment, but it fills me with a warmth that I can't explain.
"Just because a relationship has an expirat...
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DREXEL GENESIS
The day after my friends confronted me about my interest in Crimson, we set out to search for Kash. After a long search, we eventually found him on a basketball court, dribbling a ball with his friends.
"Hey, Grater!" I called out to catch his attention. He immediately stopped playing and gestured for his friends to do the same when he recognized us.
As he walked over with his friends, his face already bore an expression of annoyance and displeasure.
"What brings you here to see me, Drexel? It's not exactly a pleasure to see you," he remarked sarcastically.
With mock melancholy, I jutted my bottom lip out and told Kash, "Don't look so happy to see me. I'm not here to fight." Glancing at my friends for support, I mustered up the courage to go through with what I had planned. It was not that I was nervous to race against Kash (that is just a snowball's chance in Hell), but I was worried about what would happen after the race.
I secretly hoped I would lose so I wouldn't have to confess my feelings, but at the same time, I couldn't bear the thought of losing to Kash. This was not only about Crimson but it was also a matter of pride.
I scolded myself for letting my friends talk me into this. Kash stared me down with a look that made me feel like a speck of dirt on his shiny car tire.
"And why are you here?" he asked coldly.
I straightened my spine and crossed my arms, trying to project an air of confidence and intimidation. For a split second, my eyes met Archer's.
"No," his eyes seemed to say. "You are doing it the other way. Relax your butt. You look like you're holding your shit-"
"-Got it," my eyes said back.
I cleared my throat and stood up straight, knowing that most of the basketball team was familiar with the street racing scene in the city and some of them were even involved in it. I wasn't worried that the word of the challenge will spread to the wrong people.
"I've come to challenge you to a racing duel," I announced.
Kash seemed taken aback by my words, and it took him a moment to process them. He turned to his friends with a confused look. "Marcus, Storm, did you hear what he just heard?"
His lackeys nodded slowly, also looking at us skeptically. We had never openly challenged each other before, so Kash was understandably surprised. "Challenge me?" he repeated incredulously.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"I'm feeling a little adventurous," I said to Kash, flashing a mischievous grin. "And what's more exciting than a little street racing competition with a rival like you? It's all about the thrill, don't you think?"
