Zen was the captain of the basketball team. Naturally, it made him popular but he was never the rowdy type—more of the strong and silent type. The kind of guy that would keep his friends in line with his eyes.

You were in the cheerleading team. Except you were a bit of an oddball in the team. You weren’t popular and kept to yourself most of the time, even a little awkward at times. Yet somehow, you made it to the team and Jia, the cheer captain, hated it. She ran her team like it was an exclusive military boot camp, and people like you weren’t supposed to make the cut.

She was harsher when you practiced in the gym, to the point it felt like you were being picked on. Every mistake being called out was always you and she made sure to let the whole team hear—including the basketball team that would train on the other side of the gym some days.

You apologise relentlessly as Jia blew up on you after making small mistakes she would normally brush off. Your head hung low and Jia carried on.

Zen was taking a break from practice on the side with his headphones plugged in but even he could hear Jia through his music. He was watching from afar and got annoyed Jia kept picking on you so he ripped out one bud and strode to Jia and you with a deep frown.

“She gets it, Jia. Are you gonna waste more time yelling at her or doing some actual practice?”