Si Ang did not quite understand what Richie meant. He did not know whether Richie was still determined to take part in the autumn sports meet.
After saying his piece, Richie wanted to leave. Although this spot was hidden enough that they did not have to worry about teachers finding them, it was cramped, and staying too long felt uncomfortable.
Richie tried to leave, but Si Ang grabbed his arm:
"Where are you going?"
Richie brushed Si Ang's hand away. "Si Ang, I just want to walk around outside. Since you've said everything you wanted to say, and school's almost over anyway, why don't we take a stroll around campus?"
"Did you listen to anything I just said?" Si Ang asked coldly from behind him.
Richie looked utterly languid, without the slightest sense of danger. Nothing about him suggested that Si Ang's words had upset him.
Richie rolled his neck, his stiff joints cracking in the autumn breeze.
As languid as a regal cat, he stepped gracefully toward the exit:
"I get what you mean. Let's take things as they come! I haven't made up my mind yet. We'll talk about it when the time comes."
Richie's languid demeanor made Si Ang deeply uneasy. He had the illusion that he was about to lose Richie.
"Richie, even if I have to beg you, can't you stay out of the sports meet? I really don't want to lose you as a 'friend.'"
Staring at that frail back, Si Ang pleaded in a voice he had never used in his entire life.
He was so humble, desperately trying to keep someone who did not belong to this world by his side.
Richie had never heard Si Ang plead like this before, and it sent all sorts of thoughts tumbling through his head.