Ping told himself he was just passing by.
That was all.
The basketball court was loud– shouts,laughter,the dull thud of a ball hitting the ground.
But his eyes found keng immediately. It surprised him how easy it was now, as if his gaze had learned where to go on its own.
Keng was playing basketball.
His movements were confident, effortless.
The way he ran, the way he laughed with his friends,the way sunlight caught in his hair – ping finally understood why girls lost their breath around him. He wasn't even trying.
Ping stood at the edge of the field, unnoticed, watching.
So this is how he looks... when he's not looking at me .
He didn't realize he'd been staring for too long.
"Ping?".
The voice startled him.
Keng had already noticed him.
"What are you doing here?", keng asked gently as he walked over, his eyes flicked around the noisy field.
"It's crowded here,are you okay?,we should go".
Before ping could react , keng reached for his hand.
Ping froze – and pulled back slightly.
"You ... you like basketball a lot?", ping blurted out instead, surprising even himself.
Keng blinked, then laughed softly," is that what you wanted to know?"
Ping nodded, embarrassed.
"Yes I like basketball..... a lot "keng replied.
"Then why do you always ditch your friends anytime they asked you out to play " he looked keng in the eye like a little kid asking his mom why he didn't buy him ice cream.
Keng didn't answer immediately. His eyes stayed on ping's face,calm and certain.
" Because it's you". Keng said simply.
Ping's heart skipped.
"What else do you like doing?",, ping asked quickly, trying to hide it.
"Oh" keng leaned closer, eyes playful,
"Why? Do you want to get to know me?".
Ping swallowed "I..... I just wanted to know",his eyes starring at the ground biting on his lips as if scolding himself for asking that question.
Keng smiled at ping's cute reaction "I also like seeing you, little ping".
A sudden shout cut through the moment.
"Oi, keng!"
One of his friends threw the ball toward him too hard,too careless.
Ping barely had time to react.
But keng did.
In one swift movement, he caught the ball mid–air, stepping in front of ping without thinking.
His expression sharpened as he turned to his friends.
"What's wrong with you?", he snapped,
"Watch where you throw".
The field went quiet for a second, his friends immediately realized what they'd done.
"Sorry ", one of them said, looking genuinely guilty , "we didn't mean to ".
They glanced at ping,"sorry, ping ".
Ping nodded quickly, a little flustered,he knew they cared.
Keng turned back to him, concern replacing the sharpness.
"Are you hurt?"
Ping shook his head but his mind was somewhere else.
His gaze..... It's different
He looks at me differently
Oi, why am I overthinking this?
"Ping?"
Keng lifted his hands and gently touched ping's forehead,brows knitting together" you spaced out, are you sure you're okay?",
The touch pulled ping back instantly.
"I'm fine ", he said too quickly.
Later that day, ping carried a small container in his bag.
He had hesitated all morning.
His mom had packed his favorite dish, and an extra potion. He hadn't said why, but she'd smiled like she already knew.
When he finally saw keng , ping slowed.
Maybe this is weird
What if he doesn't like it?
What if....
Keng noticed the container before ping could hide it.
"What's that ?" Keng asked, reaching out and taking it from him naturally.
Ping panicked"W.... wait –!"
Keng opened it.
"This is for you ", ping said quietly, cheeks warm.
Keng took a bite without hesitation.
Then another.
"I like it ", he said simply.
Ping stared .
He took it
He really took it.
A quiet warmth spread through ping's chest. He didn't say anything – he didn't need to.
Watching keng eat, watching the way his expression softened,ping realized something new.
It wasn't just keng's smile
Or his voice
Or the way he protected him.
It was the little things.
And ping was noticing all of them.
Extra:
Ping went home humming all through the way, when he got home he met his mom in the living room he looked at her with a keen expression
"So....?"
She knew that he wanted to say something.
"P'keng likes the food",he said humming and hopping all the way to his room.
I might have to make this dish everyday
His mom thought to herself laughing.