----
The sun had already dipped, leaving streaks of orange behind as we wrapped up the chaos that was Sports Day. But apparently, it wasn't done with us yet.
"Why are we still here?" I groaned, dragging a stack of cones across the field like a snail.
"We forgot to submit the equipment list," Theo said helpfully, holding up a clipboard like it was sacred.
Kai rolled his eyes. "Who needs this many cones anyway? Were we organized a sports day or a traffic jam?"
I laughed and pointed to the storage room. "I'll go put the stuff back. Wait for me at the gate, okay?"
They nodded. I ran off.
Only… the universe hates me.
---
Fifteen minutes later…
Kai stretched against the school gate. "She's taking forever. Did she fall in again?"
Theo frowned. "That's not funny. She should've been back by now."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "I'll go check the store room."
"I'm coming too," Theo said, already walking ahead.
"Of course you are," Kai muttered.
---
They reached the storage room and heard a faint, dramatic voice from inside.
"HELLO? Am I gonna live here forever now? Maybe I'll have to live with ghosts now in night."
Theo rushed to the door. "Lila?! Are you okay?!"
"Oh hey!" she yelled. "Yeah, just accidentally locked myself there."
Kai tried the handle. "It's locked."
"oh god, what should we do now, I should kick the door and broke this" Theo snapped.
Kai looked at him. "Are you crazy, we need the key."
Theo nodded. "good Idea."
Kai grinned. "I'm going to find the key first ."
Theo paused. "This isn't a game—"
"But it's a game for me" Kai called, dashing down the hall.
---
Fifteen chaotic minutes of yelling, arguing over who found the key first, and tripping over brooms later…
"I GOT IT!" Theo shouted , holding a chain like it's the key pranks with Kai.
Kai blinked. "You found it?"
"…No, Still looking for the key though." Theo laughs crazily.
"WHY WOULD YOU SHOUT THEN?!" Kai said and gets annoyed.
From inside the room, Lila called out: "You two sound like a dog and cat arguing!"
Finally, Kai actually found the key and unlocked the door. Lila stood there holding a volleyball like a trophy.
"You okay?" they both asked at the same time.
She blinked. "I'm fine. But next time, I'm dragging one of you with me."
Kai smirked. "I'm ready."
Theo shot him a glare. "In your dream."
And just like that, the three of us walked home under the stars —
tired, weirdly happy, and definitely not ready for what was coming next.
---
End of Chapter 4
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