The Love Score || Zhuo Zhi

24: Whose Side Are You On?

My eyes glazed over the array of colours, brands and designs, my indecisive mind deciding which to pick. They all looked very pretty... I took the handle of one in my hand and tested its grip. Then I put it back on the shelf and examined another racket, evaluating which one felt the most comfortable and suited me the most.

I pulled the hood of my hoodie further over my head, in case anyone from school would enter the sports store, although it was unlikely. I had come to the sports store that around the area directly after class, so I was still in my school uniform with a hoodie of a size larger over my vest and blouse. Partly because I didn't feel like meeting anybody I recognised in the store alone, especially if they caught me picking out a tennis racket. I felt that revealing my passion for dancing, even if it was just in front of my class and among the dance club members, it was like exposing a part of myself that I didn't want others to see me as. If more people found out that I played tennis too, it would just be another part of my life exposed.

I didn't know why I had to hide like this either. Maybe it was because I had rather keep my hobbies and interests, or just myself, hidden from the public eye. Maybe it was just the lack of self-confidence I had.

I exhaled, pushing away those thoughts and held up another racket. It was an alluring colour, its frame in a green-to-blue gradient. The tape of the handle, wrapped in clear plastic, was white, complementing the colours of the racket. Moreover, it felt right and comfortable in my hand. Better than Si Yang's. I could finally use a racket of my own instead of going through the trouble of constantly borrowing Si Yang's now.

I picked up the green-blue racket and walked through the aisles of the sports store to get to the cashier. I paused in my tracks for a moment, contemplating on whether I should buy a tennis bag too.

It would be more convenient to carry your racket around.

But you're only playing it as a hobby, so it's nothing serious! What's the trouble with carrying it in your hand?

What if you have to carry other stuff along with your racket? Wouldn't a bag make it easier?

"Ugh!" I groaned at my indecisiveness. "Whatever, I'm getting a bag," I muttered to myself, spinning a 180° back down the aisle to pick a tennis bag.

At that instant, I spotted two familiar faces at the end of the aisle approaching me-- Da Chi and Jia Le. I sucked air through my teeth, knowing that they have seen me and that there was no avoiding it. It was fine either way since I found them friendly and not much of a threat. "Hi, Senior Jia Le, Senior Da Chi,"

"S'up, Yue En!" Jia Le beamed cheerfully. "Why are you here?"

"I'm getting a racket for myself," I explained as I walked forwards, halting beside them. "I'm happy I'm finally getting a new one! Doesn't this one look pretty?"

"New racket?" Da Chi asked, puzzled. "So... whose were you using that day at the tennis centre with Ai Qi?"

My throat went dry, and I wanted to slap myself for forgetting that the boys don't know I had Si Yang for a brother. "Uh, I rented mine and Ai Qi's that day," I lied smoothly. Was it even possible to rent rackets? "What are you two doing here?" I questioned hastily.

Jia Le held up two rolls of packaged tape. "I needed to get some new tape for my racket," he said. "Da Chi wanted to tag along with me, so here we are,"

Da Chi's jaw dropped in surprise. "You-- I didn't say I wanted to tag along!" He defended. "You were the one who dragged me here!"

"Was not," Jia Le folded his arms childishly. I held back my giggles as I witnessed my two seniors argue back and forth playfully, Da Chi trying to get the tape out of Jia Le's grasp. Jia Le tossed the tape over to me as Da Chi tried to grab for it. "Yue En, don't give it to him!"