VARSITY 9 | VOLUME I | BL ✔

FORTY-SIX | COLLISION COURSE

Heart racing, feet sprinting, eyes locked on the ninth laser, Wen erased everything else to focus on his final target. He blocked out everything so well that he did not notice Kean heading straight for him. The two were on a collision course. 

Just a little further! Not having the spare second to turn and see how close the opposing JV player was to her laser, Wen continued sprinting toward the last Azari laser until his hand swiped through it. Just before his skin made contact with the laser, it vanished, and the chime sounded, announcing the end of the game.

No! Wen's heart dropped when he saw the laser disappear. I hadn't touched it yet!

Now that his target was gone, Wen was able to take in the situation he had created for himself. But it was too late, Wen could not stop himself from plowing into Kean. Oh, sh*t.

Wen shut his eyes as he braced for impact. Oof!! 

Everything happened in a matter of seconds, so Wen's arms were still outstretched from his attempt at reaching for the laser. Wen's eyes were still closed as his and Kean's bodies collided. Kean had slowed down drastically in the last second, so he was able to, in a way, catch Wen as the brown-haired plowed into him.

The two became weightless for a moment as Kean fell backward with Wen on top of him. Kean let out a grunt as his back hit the ground, and his head landed on top of Wen's forearm. 

"Oi! Guys! You okay?" Stryke's voice sounded through the two's comms as he checked in on his teammates.

Kean winced as he brought his hand up to his ear to activate his comm device. "Yeah, we're good." After responding to Stryke, Kean looked up at Wen who had propped himself up on his free arm. "You okay?" He then asked, causing Wen to avert his gaze and respond with, "Mm...what about you?"

Kean could not stop the smile that crept to his lips. He had not expected Wen to return his question. Kean's spirit was light as he answered, "Ae, I'm okay."

Upon hearing Kean's response, Wen quickly took his arm out from under Kean's head and scrambled to his feet. "We should regroup with the team," was all Wen said before he turned from Kean and began walking off the field.

Chuckling to himself, Kean thought it was cute how Wen had absolutely no idea what was going on. "Did running into my arms mess you up that badly?" Kean called out in a tease as he sprung to his feet and jogged after Wen.

Whirling around, Wen looked at Kean with wide eyes. "The hell does that mean, Li?"

Ooh, he pulled out the last name. Kean smirked at Wen's reaction. Someone's flustered. Pointing to the giant holo screen floating above the arena, Kean directed Wen's attention to the results of the game. "Where were you running off to in such a hurry? Finalists stay on the field, Kaihan."

"Eh?!" Following Kean's outstretched hand, Wen's jaw dropped as he looked at the results. He could not believe it. They were one of the three finalists!

"H-How??" Wen was in disbelief. He had definitely watched the laser disappear before he could collect it. So...how...? Unless...

Wen's eyes were still big and round as he turned to the boy standing beside him. Kean's smirk told Wen all he needed to know. "You-...How...?!"

Kean's smirk turned into a full-blown smile at Wen's expression of disbelief. "That was a good run back there, but...gotta be faster if you want to beat me." Kean topped off his tease with a wink which caused Wen's face to heat.

Wen could not tell if his cheeks were red because he was mad he lost to Kean, or if it was in reaction to the wink and Kean's bright smile.

"Oh my gosh!! That was so amazing!!" Brix yelled out as he ran up to Wen and Kean who had come to a stop on the field. The remainder of the team was just behind Brix, so no one could stop him from jumping toward Wen and Kean and wrapping his arms around the two's necks. "That was so freaking awesome!! You guys were so cool!"