RUN WITH ME
CHAPTER 20: THE CHALLENGE

"Hello, boyfriend!" Gavin who was chatting casually with his two friends while enjoying meatballs turned to the source of the voice when he felt familiar with it. From a distance, the net could catch the figure of Arunika walking with her bright face while waving at Gavin, whereas Hera could only shake her head resignedly beside the woman.

Arunika said his sentence in a loud voice so that many people heard, causing whispers of questions about the relationship of the two people. Gavin immediately knew, the sentence was sarcasm so he only laughed a little while looking at Arunika who took a seat on his right side.

"Have my girlfriend eaten?" asked Arunika while holding her head with a fist whose elbow rests on the table, then giving a ignorant look at the man—everytime raise both eyebrows.

Hera, Maverick, and Floyd who saw it immediately made gestures as if they were vomiting, while Gavin again covered his mouth with a fist—rested laughter. Then came the mischievous idea in Gavin's head, which was to follow the disgusting charade of Arunika.

He stabbed the only meatball left on his plate with a fork and thrust it into Arunika's mouth. "It has. Here's the remaining one, will you?" bargain Gavin while changing his position to be the same as Arunika, just the opposite.

Arunika really tried hard to hold back her laughter, she did not expect that the man would follow her behavior. But because the meatball in front of his eyes is very tempting, without further ado the woman immediately ate it. "Thanks, hon," he said, munching on the meatball, also giving a wink to his eyes. The interaction was already invisible to the three others there so Hera quickly pulled Arunika's hand to go fetch some food, while the drawn one just laughed out loud.

Whether Gavin and Arunika realize it or not, the interaction was seen by almost everyone in the canteen— because the gossip had spread to one school. Now they are divided into two camps, one believing in Arunika-Gavin relations and the other not. The reason they believe is that there are so many school boys who secretly like Arunika because of her friendly and superely nature that is able to make the men fascinated in an instant, so they assume it happens also in Gavin—let alone for almost two weeks Arunika and Gavin often play with—and maybe they have only been dating for a few days so initially do not want to go public. On the other hand, the reason for those who do not believe is the period of friends or introductions that are considered too short. Hasn't they known each other for a month and have dared to date? Not likely. So, this camp considers the entire action was just a charade because it already knows the rumors circulating.

Arunika and Hera finally return to the table with a tray filled with food. There may still be confused with the concept of canteen in this school because sometimes have to take food that has been served, but sometimes can also buy it, as Gavin did when Arunika was sick. Let Arunika explain briefly. Arunika school has two hours of rest, in the first hour of rest, all students are required to eat food that has been served by the school, while in the second hour of rest, all students are required to eat food that has been served by the school, students can buy food in other stores because usually the stock of food provided is thinned or even run out. Well, now a second break, so Gavin can buy meatballs and Arunika takes food cooked by the school chef.

The woman sat down next to Gavin and began to enjoy her meal. But before long he felt an intense gaze so he glanced at Gavin who had been staring fixedly at the sausage plate. Arunika stabbed one of the sausages with her fork and brought it closer to Gavin's mouth, making the man a little surprised.

"Eating, rather than being seen," said Arunika while chuckling. Gavin then realized, Arunika realized his desire for the sausage so he rubbed his nape awkwardly. But that does not mean he rejected the sausage, Gavin devoured the sausage in one mouthful and thanked him. Hera, Maverick, and Floyd simultaneously turned heads.

"When have you been comfortable with bribes like this?" maverick asked suspiciously, as did Floyd and Hera who gave similar expressions.

Arunika and Gavin glanced at each other, then recalled the trip around the city yesterday. In order to fulfill his talk to introduce the city to Gavin, Arunika really attracts the man anywhere, one of them is a night market that sells a lot of snacks. Because of the heat, Arunika bought every snack that he thought was interesting. The woman was not aware that her hands were only two and could not carry all the food she bought—even her bag was finally clad in Gavin's neck. In the end, inevitably they have to bribe each other in order to enjoy the snacks.

Even so, it is impossible for Arunika and Gavin to tell the truth, they may actually be considered dating. The woman opened her mouth, ready to give a reason that she thought was reasonable. Unfortunately, a man suddenly appeared beside the table where the five people were sitting. Hera, Maverick, and Floyd glanced sharply, feeling the arrival of this person was interfering with their interrogation. On the other hand, there is a heart that feels relieved, but the relief is immediately overflowing when you realize who the person is.

"What's up, Archie?" asked Arunika with a flat face. Of course he still remembers the incident that the man hurt Gavin and did not want to confess, as well as the incident of his hand being pelted by a basketball by the man standing next to Archie.

"Come, one-on-one," challenged Archie while staring intently at Gavin. The five people at the table were shocked, why is this all of a sudden? Arunika looked directly at Gavin, with her facial expression as if asking, what is the problem with her. Gavin caught the question so he shook his head with a face full of honesty.

"Why did you suddenly challenge him?" maverick asked with an unacceptable face. He knew Gavin had never offended the young man after the incident the other day, even Gavin did not bother him.

Not answering Maverick's question, Archie continued to give a sharp look at Gavin, then looked at the very thin sitting distance between Arunika and Gavin. Gavin followed the opponent's gaze which changed direction and began to feel suspicious.

"It seems like I subconsciously disturbed your heart, yes," Gavin asked with a meaningful look. Archie realized the meaning of the words, in contrast to the others who could only put on a confused face.

Just say if you want Arunika to see your basketball game, inner Gavin with a little annoyed.

"In a moment, you want to repeat the match because you want me to see that you're not wrong? Of course you won't be wrong because I saw the game." Arunika emphasized the word 'me' in her second sentence, indicating this match and the previous one were different. Archie clenched his teeth, his heart began to heat up as Arunika blatantly defended Gavin. Gavin noticed the change in expression so he became more convinced by his conjecture.

"And it seems like something is getting hotter here," Gavin said with a mischievous smile, causing Archie to stare back at him. Arunika hit Gavin's arm slowly with an annoyed face.

"What did you say earlier, anyway? Already, let—"

"When?" Arunika, Hera, Maverick, and Floyd widened their eyes to hear the question coming out of Gavin's mouth. The four of them gave a confused and incredulous look to the man who was looking at Archie with a faint smile.

Again Gavin did the unexpected. Arunika still remembers it clearly, the man does not like to look for problems with others, even he immediately considers his problem with Archie—the person who made him injured—completed in minutes. So did Maverick and Floyd who were confused. They are well aware, Gavin is always trying to avoid problems with others and does not want to make fights with others. Why is he accepting this challenge now?

"Tomorrow, after school in the indoor field. The referee's the upperclassman on the school basketball team, deal?" Without thinking Gavin nodded in agreement, while the others still put on a confused face. After the deal, Archie's gang finally stepped away with the chairman giving a confident look at the outcome of tomorrow's game. In any case Archie is still a basketball child who has been practicing almost every day, in contrast to Gavin who only plays for entertainment. So Archie is optimistic for tomorrow.

"Why did you suddenly change your mind?" arunika asked which made Gavin confused.

"Change what thoughts?"

"You who once asked me not to interfere in your decision to resolve the issue with Archie that was less than five minutes because you did not want to prolong the problem, now instead accept the challenge from him?" It was Arunika who made Gavin smile.

"I didn't know Archie before, Arunika. But once observed, he was not a person who could be deterred in the way I used to be, so I chose to fulfill his ego let him stop." Arunika shakes her head, asking for more explanation. Gavin who saw it was anxious himself.

"Belating me." That one word was able to answer Arunika's confusion of "ego" Archie.

...Because we do not accept our closeness, the inner Gavin continues.

In contrast to Arunika who immediately believed Gavin's reason; Hera, Maverick, and Floyd looked at each other, as if communicating through it. They begin to realize, there seems to be another reason why Gavin accepted Archie's challenge.

Are we thinking the same thing? Inner those three people with meaningful gazes.

...⁕⁕⁕...