As Bonnie went to answer a video call, Yanis turned her attention back to the basketball court. Earlier, Bonnie had mentioned how cool Zane looked playing ball and Yanis couldn't agree more. She had never seen Zane play before this semester and assumed he wasn't any good. But now, watching him move on the court with so many others around, Yanis couldn't take her eyes off of him. In fact, she only saw Zane.
After the game ended and everyone was catching their breath on the steps nearby, Albi brought over some water as per Zane's request. Taking a bottle from Albi's hand, Zane asked Yanis if she could help open it for him.
"Zane," Robin interjected as he came over to grab some water too. "Can you wait until I have a sip first? I can't drink with you talking like that."
Zane glanced at him before retorting: "If you're not going to drink it then don't take it - wasting is shameful."
Robin rolled his eyes but took a sip anyway while complaining about how they were all beaten badly in the game earlier.
Yanis chuckled and got up to get some water for Robin herself: "Drink more. I'm in charge here."
Robin thanked her and teased Zane about being less considerate than Yanis.
Zane shot Robin a look before turning back to Yanis: "So... was I cool out there?"
Yanis was still trying to process everything when she met his gaze but quickly nodded in agreement: "Yes! You were really cool - especially super-cool!"
"I'm also pretty cool right?" Ivan chimed in as he walked over with his phone ready.
His voice carried enough that even Robin heard him ask who was cooler between them all - himself or Zane?
Throwing his empty bottle towards Robin without looking away from Ivan or Yanis' reactions, Zane simply said nothing while waiting for an answer from them both.
Robin quickly raised her hand to catch the ball. "Don't be so stingy, we just wanted to ask your wife if we're handsome or not," hhe said.
Yanis looked at Robin and answered seriously, "You're all handsome."
"Our Yanis knows best..."
"But none of you are as handsome as Zane!"
Robin's words got stuck in his throat halfway through.
Ivan groaned, "I don't even want to eat dinner tonight."
The group was having a good time when Ahmed suddenly appeared with a few people. "Are you guys playing basketball? Want to play together?" he asked.
After the awkward moment earlier, Ahmed was looking for opportunities to save face. He had heard that Zane and his friends were playing basketball here, so he brought some of his former basketball teammates who had good relationships with him over in an attempt to regain some respect on the court.
When Robin heard Ahmed's question, he twisted the cap back onto her water bottle and looked at him. "Sure, why not? We're in a good mood today," he said.
Then Robin turned to Zane and asked him directly: "Zane, will you take me as your teammate this time?"
Zane glanced at Ahmed before finally agreeing with Robin: "Sure."
After checking his phone for messages and replying back Ivan walked up to Zane: "Count me in too."
A few other people who had played well with Zane earlier also joined their team soon after that.
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