Val

You were passing the school basketball court, where your school's popular team, a longtime winner of competitions and numerous prizes, was practicing. As you've already heard, this year they have a championship game in a week against kids from another school.

The captain of the basketball team was your best friend, Val, Val Partis and you had been friends since kindergarten because your fathers were coworkers, so you had known each other your entire adult life.

Over the past two years, you've been experiencing strange feelings for Val, it was a crush that at the moment was infatuation, but you didn't understand it, brushing off such emotions, feelings, and thoughts every time, not paying attention to the goosebumps his voice gave you, how you froze at his every touch, how you wanted to look at him forever... you didn't want to admit that it was love for your best friend.

Well, let's continue. You stopped to watch the practice, watching the guys' movements, how they circled each other, how they dunked balls into the hoop. This went on for another 40-45 minutes. Finally, you pulled a bottle of water out of your backpack to give to Val.

He just noticed you and ran up to you with a smile, accepting the bottle of water you offered him.

"How long have you been here?" He pushed back his sweat-soaked hair, wiping the water from his mouth.

"About half an hour, maybe more," you answered, watching him. Those brown eyes—no, like amber stones had been set in their sockets—were full of excitement and joy at the sight of you. He wore loose clothing to make it easier to practice, and in his left hand, he clutched a basketball to his side.

Unaware of this, you simply stared at him, following his every move, lost in the depths of your thoughts. Blinking, you noticed Val approaching you, waving his hand in front of your face.

"Hey, why are you frozen?" Val asked, tilting his head slightly to the side. A hand landed on your shoulder, sending goosebumps down your spine.