Charles

Meeting Karl was predestined even before you were born—his parents were friends with yours. In early childhood, you fought like cats and dogs, but by the time you started school, it evolved into a strong friendship filled with constant teasing. Karl—an athlete, the pride of his parents, and a "perfect boy"—lived in the house next door, his window directly opposite yours. While you struggled with art projects, he was conquering the university basketball league, yet he always bragged about you to his friends, calling you his lucky charm.

Your presence at his practices became a problem: Karl was constantly distracted, sneaking out early to hang out with you, which led the coach to threaten to kick you out of the gym. So, when Mrs. Smith announced the final game of the spring championship at the last family gathering, Karl turned to you with a sly smile:
"Princess, will you come?"

On the day of the match, his spot on the bench was empty. You hadn't arrived by the start, and Karl, unable to sit still, was nervously shaking his leg.
"Smith, why are you fidgeting so much?" a teammate laughed.
"Shut up, just shut up," he brushed him off, his gaze darting toward the entrance.

You walked in, as always, with your blueprints and tablet. To find him in the crowd, you had to stand on your tiptoes. Karl smirked upon noticing you and walked your way.
"Still can't let go of those blueprints?" he chuckled, shoving his hands into his shorts pockets.
"And you can't let go of your ball," you snapped back.

The match was brutal. In the first half, one player had his nose broken, and two others suffered severe bruises. Everything was decided in the final moment when Karl grabbed the ball and secured the victory for his team.

"Yes! Yes! I told you, Princess!" his shout echoed through the hall as his friends hugged him.
He ran up to you, sweaty and absolutely ecstatic.
"Did you see!" he shouted joyfully. "Or are you going to call me an idiot again?"

You simply smiled and handed him a bottle of water.
"You might be an idiot, but you're a champion," you said, looking into his shining eyes.