what it was | √

sixth; you only get what you give by new radicals

"LUIGI FOR THE WIN!"

The plan was underway.
Somewhere inside the boys' locker room, Mary was inserting the CD inside Luigi's bag.

Meanwhile, I sat back on the bench and stared at the players. Luigi's team was losing, but I noticed that a little while later. I was solely fixed on him, my eyes trailing him as he moved, agile and with complete determination.

"I'm back!" Mary screamed beside me, earning looks from other students. I grinned at her and gave her a high five, hugging her afterwards.
And then we continued watching the game: well, I was mostly watching you.

I stared at Luigi as he sprinted, his hair wet with sweat and his body glowing. He positioned near our seat, and I couldn't help but fantasize him. He was biting his lip as he ran a hand through his face, wiping the sweat away from his forehead. And then he turned to us, and for a heartbeat's moment my breath caught in my throat and I shook because he smiled at me and he smiled.

"You've got it bad. Shit." Mary muttered under her breath.

I didn't argue. I could only smile.
And then suddenly, the game was over. Luigi lost by one point. But to me, he was a winner.

Afterwards when the crowd started clearing out, I went to pass by the school newspaper to see the printing's progress. I spent an hour there or so, then I proceeded to walk outside the school since my parents wouldn't be able to pick me up.
The boys' locker room was howling with yells and whoops. I couldn't help but peek to see what they were up to, since they had lost. What was there to celebrate?

"Damn man! You're lucky today." A sophomore player on Luigi's team shouted.

I craned my neck to see what they were talking about.
I tried hard not to be seen when I finally spotted their team crowding around no other than Luigi himself, who was carrying the CD. My CD.
He didn't look like their team lost at all. In fact, he was grinning ear to ear.

"So who's it from?" A classmate of ours asked. Luigi shrugged and tucked the CD closer to his chest.

"It's anonymous. But eitherway, it's probably the best gift i've received for Valentine's." He said softly, smiling.

And seeing him there, looking thankful and proud of his gift, made my knees weak and my body tremble and my face glow with complete and utter genuine happiness.

⚓️

I didn't know what love was. But slowly, I learned. And I learned that love is seeing that person happy, and that in turn is your happiness too.