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The impact of the basketball repeatedly hitting the floor reverberated through the floor. Its echoing accompanied with loud, cheerful chatter. Beads of sweat from the highschoolers fling onto the court's flooring. A small group jogging around the court, faces red and soaked with perspiration from strenuous exercise. Others were playing basketball, seemingly energetic and vigorous.
Sunny watched his classmates from a distance, touching his hair. It was gym. His least favourite subject. When the teacher didn't force him to participate, he sat by the sides and watched. He traced the outline of his eye patch with his fingers, it was becoming a habit to touch it.
"Hey"
Sunny turned his head to see Basil smiling warmly but awkwardly. Basil sat next to Sunny. Sunny raised his hand slightly as a quick greeting, trying his best to smile back. It had been a few months since their fight. Things were still awkward but both enjoyed each other's company. "H-how are you?" Basil spoke, breaking the silence. "I'm okay, how are you?" Sunny fidgeted with his fingers. "G-good" Basil replied quickly, looking at the ground. He tugged at his green, knitted sweater vest.
Both boys watched the game in silence, eyes perking up when someone dunked the ball into the hoop. "Gym is so boring" Basil straightened up, hearing Sunny speak. "Yeah, i guess it is. I hate the feeling of being tired and sweating. It's better to just sit out." Basil chuckled lightly, adjusting the flower pin in his hair. His eyes met with the black messy-haired boy's eyes. He could feel his face getting hot.
Sunny's face remained stoic, however, he was indeed feeling a warm feeling in his chest. He didn't recognise these feelings, he didn't even know it was possible to feel this way to another man. He just brushed it off as him thinking Basil is cool and just wanted to be closer? He hasn't hung out with Basil in 4 years, maybe he should invite Basil over. After all, Sunny's mother decided that maybe it would be better to stay in Faraway Town where Sunny could be with his friends.
Sunny adored everything about Basil, the way he laughs, his smile, the way he spent hours rambling on about plants, the way Basil adjusted his hair, the face he makes when deep in thought and so many more things Sunny could list from the top of his head. Sunny didn't notice his face relax. His face got hot thinking about Basil.
Basil. Basil was pretty. Basil was kind. Basil was smart. Basil was warm. Basil was... perfect.
"So what have you been up to?" Basil turned, scratching his neck. "Not much, just recovering and trying to keep up with the honework load. Math can get hard sometimes, haha" Sunny replied, touching his eyepatch. "Ah, right, your eye," Basil glanced forlornly at Sunny's eyepatch,"I'm sorry about, you know.. stabbing out your eye and stuff..." "Nah it's all good, its been a little hard to navigate clearly but I'm fine!"
Sunny sensed Basil's extreme guilt. He scooched closer to Basil, placing his hand in the other's. He smiled, holding Basil's hand, feeling his thumb around Basil's hand. Sunny didn't know why he did this, but he sensed it was the right thing to do. "I'm so lucky I got to meet you, Basil."
Basil looked down at their entwined fingers, his face prickled with blush. Unlike Sunny, Basil has had experience with gay crushes in the past. In a small religious town in the early 2000s, it was pretty risky to be dating another boy. "Y-yeah.. thanks," Basil's voice faltered, his mind rushing with so many thoughts. He felt like his brain was overheating.
Just then, the bell rung. It was time for the next class. Sunny got up, helping Basil up. Their hands still entwined. A few kids were snickering and whispering amongst themselves, pointing at the gay flowerboy and sun. Sunny noticed but didn't understand why the kids were laughing, Basil did not notice, as he was preoccupied with staring at his held hand. It felt magical. Basil checked the lesson schedule, looking forward to the next gym class.