"Sweet beauty..."
"You attempt to swoon me with such cliché semantics?"
"Speaking such truths is considered semantics?"
"Yes... but being cheesy is never wrong."
"Then I shall switch tactics. You are a hideous being, and your face is an abomination to my senses."
"It appears I have blessed myself with the presence of a gentleman."
"Have I successfully swooned you?"
"Give more compliments of thus, and I may consider such."
"Hey, Lan!" Mayl said as she approached Tory, who was sitting on the grassy floor underneath their walnut tree with a notebook in his lap.
"Hey, Mayl!" Tory replied, smiling as he greeted his friend.
"You doing fine?" Mayl smiled back.
"I'm doing well." Tory replied.
"Just sitting here under the pine?" Mayl asked.
"Just sitting here in the sunshine." Tory said, "What brings you here this very day?"
"To keep this guy, here, at bay." Mayl replied.
"If you guys could stop flirting in rhyme, that would be great." Lan spoke following shortly behind Mayl.
"Feeling left out, Lan?" Mayl asked.
"You know I can't rhyme like that." Lan said, "Honestly, I don't even know what a rhyme is."
"You should read more, Lan." Tory proposed, "Maybe then you'll be able to play along with us."
"Believe me," Lan commented, sitting next to Tory underneath the tree, "This lady has been trying to get me to read for years. Still hasn't worked."
"None of the books I show him interest him." Mayl explained, still standing.
"Well, you have to start somewhere, Lan." Tory said, "How about we try some children's books!"
"That would be wonderful! They're short, visual, and contain words that Lan can actually understand!" Mayl and Tory began to laugh together.
"You know, I'm starting to think that you guys are just teasing me..." Lan pretended to pout.
"You know we're just playing around." Mayl plopped down next to Lan, running her hand through his hair. Lan smiled as he wrapped his arm around her.
"How's soccer treating you?" Tory asked.
"We won our last game, which was a real surprise." Lan explained, "We were tenth in the league going against the third place seat."
"It was a close game, too." Mayl said, "It came down to the last five minutes of the second half. Lan managed to clutch a goal that put them ahead by one."
"Isn't that such a Lan thing to do?" Tory laughed, "Making everyone wait until the end of the game before you do something useful." Mayl and Lan joined him.
"I just have to warm up, is all." Lan smiled, "There's a reason why they keep me on the team."
"They can't afford for you to leave the team." Mayl said.
"Why so?" Tory asked.
"We've sort of been having a mass exodus of players recently." Lan explained, "Many of the people who've been on the team for years are leaving, and I'm the only one left with seniority enough to captain the team."
"You sound as though you're not up to the responsibility." Tory said.
"No, I like being captain and all—helping the new players develop their skill—but it's always a little upsetting when your friend leaves the team, right?"
"I feel as though I am being referenced." Tory said.
"Somewhat, but not in a bad way." Lan said, "It actually started with you, those years back, then people just began dropping out year after year."
"I never went and watched any of your games," Tory said, "So I really don't know who is and isn't on the team anymore."
"You weren't really on our team for that long, right?" Lan asked, "You were only with us for two seasons or so."
"Yeah. Only two seasons." Tory said.
"Man... it felt like you were on the team forever." Lan said, "When you left, it really caught us off guard."
"Yeah..." Tory shyly, almost in embarrassment, replied, "Sorry about that..."
"But, you're doing okay now, right?" Lan asked, "That thing you were dealing with is taken care of, right?"
"Come now, Lan." Mayl interrupted, "That is none of your concern."
"What?" Lan asked, "I'm just making sure everything is okay. I'm not being mean or anything."
"It's fine, Mayl." Tory said, "I don't mind. I'm doing well, now, Lan. Thanks."
"That means you can rejoin the team, right?" Lan proposed, "You know, if you rejoined the team, then maybe everyone else might rejoin, too. It would be like an italian renaissance but for our soccer team!"
"Lan..." Mayl chuckled.
"I'll think about it, but..." Tory said, "I don't think I have it in me anymore. It's been five years, Lan."
"Talent like yours doesn't just diminish over time. It's natural. It's an instinct. It's like a predator!" Lan stretch his fingers like claws for emphasis.
"Lan, I think you're losing it..." Mayl laughed.
"No! I'm serious! People would literally cower in fear when Tory took the field!" Lan explained to Mayl, "Blood would be drawn! Meat would be torn from bone!"
"The last time I checked, Lan," Mayl replied, "You were the only one who ever drew blood on the field. And that blood was from Tory."
"Hey, even the predator needs... ugh... a predator." Lan said.
"And now that predator volunteers for the Youth League." Tory said, "And he's pretty happy there."
"The predator has been neutered." Lan said, "And, subconsciously, wants to ravage the field once again."
"This is the most ridiculous conversation I have heard in a while." Mayl commented.
"This is how most of my and Tory's conversations go." Lan said.
"You won't understand, Mayl." Tory said.
"Whatever..." Mayl rolled her eyes.
"Does anyone have the time?" Lan asked, "I need to leave for practice soon."
"You have a P.E.T, right?" Mayl said, "Can't you check the time yourself?"
"Uh-oh..." Tory raised his eyebrows to Lan.
"I ticked off the lady..." Lan raised his eyebrows back.
"I am not ticked off." Mayl said.
"I know you're not." Lan wrapped his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder, "We're just teasing." Mayl formed a small smile on her face as she reached into her pocket and retrieved her P.E.T.
"Fifteen minutes until five." She replied.
"What? I need to go!" Lan said as he quickly stood on his feet, "Talk to you both later!" Turning, Lan began to jog and eventually sprint down the path leading to the far end of the park, towards the soccer field his team practiced on, leaving only Tory and Mayl to their own devices.
"What an exit." Tory spoke.
"Yet it's so distinctly Lan, you know?" Mayl replied. The two fell into a silence. It has been a couple months since Tory and Mayl have been alone like this—-a couple months since they re-established their friendship.
"So... writing once more underneath the walnut tree?" Mayl asked as she peered at the notebook lying on the grass beside him.
"Writing once more but only for me." Tory replied, smiling, as he took hold of the notebook.
"Writing a story about kings and queens?" Mayl smiled back.
"Nope. Writing a story with only a simple scene." Tory explained.
"And what partakes in this particular scene?" Mayl asked.
"Nothing particularly keen..." Tory said.
"Can I read it?" Mayl asked, breaking the rhyme.
"It's only eight lines." Tory said, "It's nothing, really—just some bad writing."
"There is no such thing as 'bad writing'." Mayl said, "That's what my father always says."
"Hmm..." Tory eyed the notebook, "I guess you're right..."
"Yes!" Mayl smiled as she scooched her way beside Tory, closing the gap that Lan created between them. Tory handed her the notebook and she quickly read the eight lines.
"I will be honest with you, Tory," Mayl began, "I don't think I ever saw something like this before."
"What do you mean?" Tory asked.
"The use of insults rather than cheesy compliments to swoon someone." Mayl said, "I would develop this more."
"Thanks." Tory replied, receiving the notebook back from Mayl, "I've actually been having some writer's block recently."
"What's going on?" Mayl asked.
"I'll get motivated to write, right?" Tory explained, "And I'll get my notebook and whatever and walk down here to the park, but once I sit down, my mind goes blank and I lose that motivation."
"Have you just tried, then, writing your thoughts down?" Mayl implored, "I'm not talking about fully flushing out your ideas, just writing whatever you're thinking down and coming back to revise them later."
"I always struggled with revising my work." Tory said, "It just doesn't feel right writing something down and leaving it be."
"But, Tory, no one can write something perfect the first time." Mayl explained, "Even the great writers of old revised their work."
"True..." Tory said.
"Plus, you revised before." Mayl said, "The ode you wrote had many copy edits strewn about and sections scribbled out.
"True again," Tory said, "But I was motivated then. Of course, the source of that motivation was different..."
"Tell you what," Mayl proposed, "How about we get some ice cream from the truck near the south side of the park and talk more about this? Maybe that will give you some inspiration and motivation to write."
"You think that'll help?" Tory asked.
"Hey, if it doesn't, then at least you get ice cream out of it." Mayl smiled.
"Deal." Tory smiled back, and the two stood from under their tree and began walking to their ice cream destination.
"Two strawberry scoops, please." Mayl asked the ice cream man. Nodding his head, he turned back into his vehicle, grabbed a small plastic container and napkin, and plopped two strawberry scoops into it. Exchanging the ice cream with a couple dollar bills, Mayl turned and walked to the small bench located near the truck. Tory waited for her there, his three scoops of chocolate ice cream waiting with him.
"Strawberry?" Tory asked, taking another bite from his chocolate paradise.
"Yeah. I always get strawberry." Mayl replied, "Didn't you know that?"
"Probably." Tory said, "How's it taste?"
"I didn't even take a bite from it yet." Mayl said, "I like to wait for my ice cream to melt a little bit."
"You're one of those people? Despicable..." Tory took another large bite from his ice cream, "Augh!..."
"See!" Mayl laughed at Tory's brain freeze, "That's why you have to let it warm up a little."
"I'll admit," Tory spoke, rubbing his head, "I felt some karma in that brain freeze." The two sat quite for another moment.
"How's the youth league going?" Mayl asked.
"It's going great." Tory said, "The team is really coming together this year."
"I'm sure with the help of 'the predator', any team can be whipped into shape, huh?" Mayl chuckled.
"Lan's just speaking crazy now." Tory said, "He's always over exaggerating the way I play."
"Isn't that what Lan always does?" Mayl asked, "Over exaggerate things?"
"Yeah..." Tory chuckled, "He really wants me back on that team..."
"What do you think about it?" Mayl asked.
"Think about what?" Tory returned.
"About joining the team." Mayl clarified, "What do you think about it?"
"I don't know..." Tory said, "I left the team for a reason."
"And that reason is taken care of, no?" Mayl said.
"Well, yeah..." Tory said, "But it's been five years. Things change, you know?"
"Things do change," Mayl agreed, "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"It seems to me that Lan thinks me re-joining the team is going to somehow magically bring back the olden days." Tory said, "And that's not going to happen. It's just not going to be the same." Mayl waited for Tory to finish.
"Lan has this idealized view that seems very naïve to me." Tory continued, "I... I don't even know if I would like it."
"What about it do you think you won't like?" Mayl asked.
"Just being back in the game." Tory answered, "The sense of competition. Being on the youth league for so long, I've grown to love the fact that I don't have to worry about whether we win or lose. Everybody is happy. Everybody is so cheery after the game is done... Plus, I don't know how Lan would react if I told him no..."
"Don't worry about that." Mayl said, "Lan's an understanding person. If you tell him you don't want to rejoin the team, he'll understand."
"I feel as though he would be crushed." Tory replied.
"Like I said, don't worry about that." Mayl said, "Do what you want to do, not what you think he wants you to do."
"Thanks, Mayl." Tory said, "I appreciate the help."
"Anytime, Tory." Mayl smiled, "We're friends? Remember? That's what we do."
"Yeah..." Tory felt a light, fluffy feeling grow within him. Another moment of silence ensued.
"Well, what about you?" Tory asked, "What's going on with you?"
"Me?" Mayl asked, pointing to herself.
"Is there another red-head in the vicinity?" Tory asked, pretending to look around themselves. Mayl began to laugh and playfully shove Tory on his shoulder.
"We are not here to talk about me." Mayl said, "We are here to talk about you and your writer's block."
"What?" Tory replied, "We aren't allowed to talk about you even a little bit?"
"Maybe later." Mayl chuckled.
"I'm starting to think you're hiding something from me..." Tory pretended to put on a serious thinking face, "You've been acting very suspicious lately, you know that?"
"How about we start walking?" Mayl said as she stood from the bench.
"Aha!" Tory celebrated, "This is a poor type of distraction, Mayl. You can't hide anything from me!"
"Please, Tory," Mayl replied as they began to walk together, "What could I possibly be hiding from you?"
"Let me guess..." Tory began to ponder as he looked to the sky, "It's the hair, isn't it? The red hair is starting to get to you."
"What?" Mayl asked, "You're starting to make as much sense as Lan."
"So it's not the red hair?" Tory asked.
"No!" Mayl laughed, "I actually love my red hair."
"Well... it fits you're... ugh..." Tory pretended to stutter, "Personality?"
"Really? You had that long to come up with a response and the best you can do is 'personality'?" Mayl smiled.
"It's hard for me to lie, you know?" Tory smiled.
"You little—!" Mayl began to chase Tory. Both laughing, they ran into the grass beside the path. Tory, the soccer player, was easily able to juke Mayl left or right and easily evade her pursuits.
"Come, Mayl," Tory taunted, "You expect to catch me with those moves?" Hubris gets the best of everyone. Lacking focus for only a moment, Mayl was able to compromise Tory. However, as Tory made an unexpected left turn to escape his entrapment, Mayl's leg stood in his way, causing him to trip and collapse to the floor. Unfortunately, collapsing with him, was his container of chocolate ice scream, which stained not only the grass below, but also his face and shirt.
"Oh!" Mayl stopped, "I'm so sorry, Tory! I didn't mean to trip you like that!"
"That's all right." Tory said, picking himself up from the ground, "I only had a scoop or so left of ice cream."
"I'm more concerned about you than the ice cream..." Mayl said, "Here." Tory took the napkin that Mayl offered and began to wipe some chocolate from his face. Folding the napkin in half, he began to rub the little chocolate he could from his shirt.
"Don't do that." Mayl said, "Dab, not rub."
"What?" Tory asked, "Dab?"
"Dab your shirt. Don't rub it." Mayl explained, "That's just going to stain the shirt even more."
"Pardon your pardon?" Tory asked again.
"Here," Mayl sighed as she grabbed the napkin from Tory's hand, "This." She began to dab the chocolate stain off Tory's shirt.
"Oh... that's what you meant..." Tory felt felt that warm, cuddly feeling grow larger.
"I can buy you another ice cream if you would like." Mayl proposed, letting go of Tory's shirt.
"Don't worry about it." Tory assured, "Like I said, I only had a scoop left." The two walked for a moment over to a trash can and disposed of the compromised ice cream and dirty napkin. Mayl, of course, still enjoyed her two strawberry scoops.
"That's what happens when you mess with me, Tory." Mayl began to tease, "Some call me a 'The Predator' too, you know."
"Kick a man while he's down after apologies have been granted..." Tory said as they both continued walking, "You really are a predator."
"Devilishly..." Mayl laughed.
"The red hair should've tipped me off." Tory replied.
"Oh... you really want to talk about this again?" Mayl said.
"I don't have any ice cream to hold me back this time." Tory smiled.
"Your face and shirt say otherwise." Mayl said.
"These are nothing but a war wound." Tory said, "A symbol of my bravery and experience. I went up against the true predator and lived to tell the tale."
"Whatever..." Mayl laughed, rolling her eyes.
"Plus, I can actually run now." Tory said.
"Wh—?" But, before she could finish, Tory quickly scattered Mayl's neatly brushed hair with his hand and began to run off down the trail.
"You really are a little—" Mayl scolded a final time before chasing him down the path.
Tory, laughing uncontrollably as he continued to run away, effortlessly, from the red-head, made his way back to their same tree. Hiding behind the trunk, Tory began to walk in circles as Mayl, standing behind the trunk, failed to grab him. Tory was just too quick, and the trunk too large. Plus, she only had one hand free, the other was still handling her ice cream. Finally, Mayl just sat under the tree, laying her back onto the tree trunk.
"Admitting defeat?" Tory asked, carefully poking his head from behind the tree.
"I never said such a thing..." Mayl said. Tory could see her breathing a little heavier than normal.
"How about we postpone this battle for a different time?" Tory asked.
"I'll accept that proposal." Mayl said.
"Cool." Tory said, taking a seat next to her. A notification sounded from Mayl's P.E.T. Digging it out of her pocket, she looked at the screen. A text had arrived.
"I'm nosy." Tory said, looking at Mayl.
"It's just Lan." Mayl said, "He's done with practice but he's going home right away."
"What?" Tory said, "Tell him to stop being a baby and come hang out with us some more."
"'Tory said stop being a baby and come hang out with us some more.'" Mayl spoke aloud as she typed her text.
"We can go get ice cream." Tory said.
"Tory, we just got back from getting ice cream." Mayl said.
"I know. But Lan didn't get any and you owe me three scoops of chocolate." Tory formed a devilish grin on his face.
"What? You said we were good!" Mayl said. Tory began to laugh maniacally. Mayl rolled her eyes as she checked her P.E.T for the text she just recieved.
"Lan says he's really tired and wants to go home and sleep." Mayl said.
"Tell him sleep is for the weak." Tory said.
"'Tory said sleep is for the'—wait," Mayl stopped, "I'm not going to be some mailwoman. You can text him."
"Okay." Tory said, "Give me your P.E.T."
"No!" Mayl said, "On your P.E.T!"
"What?" Tory said, "It's not as fun messing with Lan if its on my P.E.T."
"Well, you know, I'm sorry about that." Mayl said.
"That's all right. The man's probably tired and needs his sleep." Tory said, "You should stop texting him. You're probably disturbing him, you know?"
"Tory, you are a show. You know that?" Mayl chuckled, "The way you can just flip on a dime, sometimes, really shocks me."
"Thanks!" Tory smiled at her.
"You goof..." She chuckled back and playfully pushed his shoulder again.
"Come now." Mayl began, "Let's finally begin to talk about your writing."
"I thought that's what the ice cream was for." Tory said, "And we did zero talking."
"People get distracted." Mayl said, "Come on. Talk to me."
"About what? I said everything I needed to say, right?" Tory asked.
"No. Talk to me about your ideas." Mayl said, "What do you like to write about?"
"Romances." Tory said, "I really like romances. Not, like, dramatic romances or anything like that. Just... simple love stories. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, and they live happily-ever-after."
"That explains what I read earlier." Mayl said.
"Their just so... wholesome, you know?" Tory smiled at her, "Something you can read and just be oblivious..."
"Are you referencing...?" Mayl asked.
"Maybe..." Tory replied.
"You know, Raika just came out with another book." Mayl said, "Maybe we both should buy a copy and read it together... like before."
"But we didn't have two books." Tory corrected, "You only had one, and I would sit next to you, just like this, and listen to you read."
"I know that, but wouldn't you want to read along?" Mayl asked.
"Nay. I want to listen to you read." Tory said, "You have an excellent reading voice."
"And we can talk about the themes and symbolisms and meanings of the book." Mayl responded.
"Of course, like we always used to do." Tory said, as he laid his head on Mayl's shoulder, "And I would fall asleep, just like this, because you would speak for far too long and I would slump over onto your shoulder."
"You liar!" Mayl laughed, yet she didn't push Tory's head away, "I never talked that much."
"Suit yourself..." Tory said as he closed his eyes, "They were the best naps I took. Who knew a shoulder would be so good to sleep on. I mean, the shoulder has leaning and crying covered, but sleeping? This thing could do anything..." Mayl chuckled as she removed some small leaves that blew into Tory's hair.
"Speaking of the past, maybe you can rejoin the soccer team while we're at it." Mayl said.
"And then maybe everybody else will rejoin the team as well," Tory repeated, "And then we could have, like, an italian renaissance but for our soccer team!" Mayl laughed.
"I was thinking more so I could watch you on the field." Mayl said, "I never did get to see you play..."
"You weren't missing much," Tory said, "really."
"I don't know..." Mayl replied, "I never got to cheer for you. I never even saw you score on the opposing team."
"That's all right..." Tory said, "Maybe someday..." There was a moment of silence.
"Well... why not today?" Mayl asked.
"What?" Tory asked. Before being able to receive an answer, Mayl quickly stood up, knocking Tory's head from her shoulder, and stood in front of him.
"Here we are at the final minute of the second half." Mayl began to commentate, "The ACDC Raiders are tied with the CyberCity Cardinals two to two. The Raiders are attacking, and if they're able to break the tie, their chances of winning skyrocket. However, if the Cardinals are able to defend their own, they extend the game thirty minutes, giving them the possibility of breaking the tie and ending this game."
"Mayl... what are you doing?" Tory asked, smiling, still sitting beneath the tree.
"We see the prized player, Tory Froid, number six, standing between the midfielders, ready to advance forward at a given chance." Mayl continued.
"Mayl, is this really necessary?" Tory asked, starting to feel a little embarrassed,
"Number eight of the Raiders passes the ball to number nine and they work their way down field, meeting minor resistance from the Cardinals' centre midfielders as they pass the ball back and forth." Mayl continued, "But, what's this? Number six of the Raiders is sitting on the field! The ball's in play! The famous striker, known for his ferocity, appears to have his flame dowsed!"
"Okay... okay..." Tory smiled, standing.
"It would appear that number six was only giving himself a handicap." Mayl said, "The ego and confidence this player oozes can be felt even here, deep in the stands." Tory jogged forward a couple feet or so and took an offensive stance, awaiting further commentary from Mayl.
"Number five passes the ball to number one, bypassing a Cardinal fielder." Mayl continued, "Number one is making a push forward! The Cardinals' centre backs are starting to see some play, now, as they begin to pursue the attackers. 45 seconds left!" Tory trotted forward, looking left and right as to simulate him taking account of his teammates.
"Number 10 of the Cardinals' stole the ball from the Raider's one and is beginning to push forward towards the Raider's goal!" Mayl surprised Tory with a steal. Quickly turning around, Tory went into defense mode, chasing the fictional player down the field.
"Number six is gaining pace!" Mayl said, "He's right behind him!" Tory ran in front of the player and began a one on one dual with him. Trying to dribble away, the fictional character managed to defend himself from Tory's aggressive attack.
"Number six of the Raiders managed to steal the ball from number 10 of the Cardinals." Tory, once again, began running down the field, dribbling the fictional ball between himself as he passed through, by, and around the fictional defense of the CyberCity cardinals, "This is amazing! Number six is blazing down the field as though the field itself is empty! 30 seconds left on the clock!" Tory continued further and further, passing the central circle, passing into the defensive zone, quickly arriving before the penalty box, facing the goalie himself.
"This goalie's tough, and he's ready for number six's attempt at winning the game." Mayl said, "What is he going to do?" Tory begins to juke back in forth, trying to fool the goalie into making a bad move, opening a path for a score.
"The ACDC Raiders are running out of time!" Mayl explained, "20 seconds left!" Still, Tory pandered back and forth, dodging the defenders coming from his behind.
"Number six needs to take a shot!" Mayl said, "10 seconds left!" Tory ditched right, running the width of the field, dragging the goalie to his right as he followed. Finally, Tork took a sharp left, ball rolling slightly in front of him.
"Five seconds left!" Mayl shouted, "It's do or die!" Tory rolled the ball slightly forward, reeled his leg back and shot the ball towards the goal. The goalie was too slow and the ball rammed into the back of the net.
"Goal!" Mayl began to shout, "The ACDC Raiders win! The ACDC Raiders win!" Tory began taking victory laps, his hands raised towards the air as he celebrated his victory.
"The fans swamp the field!" Mayl said as she ran towards Tory. Taking him by surprise, Mayl wrapped her hands around him, hugging the victorious player. Almost losing balance, Tory spun in circles, hugging her as his feet made circles in the grass.
"How accurate was I?" Mayl whispered.
"Not that far off..." Tory whispered back, "Makes me miss it a little."
"This could be every game..." Mayl replied.
"And you would be there, cheering and shouting from the stands?" Tory asked.
"I would never miss a game..." Her voice trailed off as they both moved closer to each other. The faraway, fluffy, cuddly, wholesome excitement rattled throughout Tory's body. An existential bliss dominated his senses as he looked into her eyes.
"And then, after the game, we can return here and you can read to me?" Tory asked.
"And you can sleep on my shoulder," Mayl chuckled slightly, "And fall asleep in my arms."
"I can get used to that..." Tory said, "How about you?"
"I would love it." Mayl replied. The pair fell silent as they both continued to look into each other's eyes. Slowly, Mayl raised her head and the two kissed. The emotional bubble blowing within Tory popped. A climax of intensity and ecstasy shook the very ground they both stood upon. A paradise exploded in Tory's mind. This was the perfect moment.
"Mayl?" a voice called, "Tory?!" The two lovers seperated and looked to the origin of the voice.
"Lan?" Mayl said.
"I—You—" Lan stuttered, "How could you—? Tory?! You were my best friend!"
"Lan—!" Mayl spoke.
"Forget it!" he shouted, "I should have known. After everything that happened? I should have known! I'm a fool! An absolute arrogant, stupid fool for thinking... for thinking—! Ugh!" He turned and began to walk away from them.
"Lan, wait!" Tory said, beginning to walk after him.
"No!" He shouted, turning to face them a final time, "Clearly you two have a thing for each other. But, next time, at least have the dignity and integrity to tell me first before you go off sleeping with each other!" As Lan walked away, Tory could tell a crevice formed in Lan's soul. It was his turn to feel this dilapidated pain. It was his turn to feel a broken heart.
But it wasn't the same. This was a backstab. Lan was just backstabbed by his own best friends. Betrayed be two people who should never do such a thing. To him, it was done. To him, it was over. This was it. The ultimate signal for their abandonment. They abandoned him. No respect in what they did. Not a single thread of respect! No communication, no sophistication, no generosity, no understanding! If they wanted to get together, then they should have told me! She should have ended it with me, not go and cheat like the broad she is! Always flirting together, laughing and giggling to each other... How have I ever put up with this kind of crap?— What? Let bygones be bygones? Okay, then.
Bye! I'm gone!
