After the intense exam period, students returned to school, trying to settle back into their normal routines. However, the looming parent-teacher meeting scheduled for later that week kept them on edge. The thought of their parents hearing detailed feedback about their exam results added a layer of stress that none of them could shake.
Kiddy, however, had a plan to help everyone relax. During lunch, he pulled out a brightly colored box from his bag and revealed a new board game he had bought. His friends—Ammy, Mando, Sam, Lily, and Harry—gathered around him, their eyes wide with surprise.
"Kiddy, are you serious?" Ammy asked, a mix of amusement and concern on her face. "Bringing a board game to school? What if you get caught?"
Sam chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, man. You've got guts. But what are we supposed to do with that during class?"
Kiddy grinned confidently. "Why would we get caught? We just need to be sneaky about it. Come on, it'll be fun. We all need a break after those exams, and this is the perfect way to take our minds off the meeting."
The others exchanged glances, half-convinced but still nervous. Ultimately, their curiosity got the better of them, and they agreed to play. They decided that the best time to do it would be during English class, which was known to be a bit more relaxed, but they weren't sure how Mr. Thompson would react to them playing a game during class.
As the class began, the group discreetly set up the board game at the back of the room, trying to keep it out of sight. They took turns rolling the dice and moving their pieces, stifling giggles and trying to focus on the game while pretending to listen to the lesson.
However, it didn't take long for Mr. Thompson to notice something was up. He paused in the middle of explaining a poem and glanced toward the back of the room. The group immediately froze, trying to act casual, but it was too late.
"You all seem awfully distracted back there," Mr. Thompson said with a raised eyebrow. He started walking toward them, and the group braced for a scolding. But then, to their surprise, a grin spread across his face as he spotted the board game. "Is that what I think it is?"
Kiddy, trying to salvage the situation, gave a sheepish smile. "Uh, yeah, Mr. Thompson. We just thought—"
Mr. Thompson cut him off with a chuckle. "Well, I'll be. You know, I used to love playing this game when I was your age." He pulled up a chair and sat down with them. "Mind if I join in?"
The group stared at him in disbelief. Then, as they realized he was serious, they all burst into laughter. The tension they'd been feeling melted away as Mr. Thompson took a turn, playing along with them. The rest of the class quickly caught on, and soon, everyone in the room was gathered around, watching and cheering as the game unfolded.
What had started as a risky move to have some fun turned into an impromptu free period, with Mr. Thompson leading the charge. The students laughed and relaxed, enjoying the break from their usual routine.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Mr. Thompson stood up and smiled at the group. "Alright, that's enough fun for today. But remember, it's important to balance work and play. Just don't let this become a habit in every class, alright?"
The group nodded, still grinning as they packed up the game. As they left the classroom, Kiddy's friends couldn't stop talking about how unexpected and fun the class had turned out to be.
"Looks like you were right, Kiddy," Ammy said, nudging him. "We needed that. And who knew Mr. Thompson was so cool?"
Kiddy laughed. "See? Sometimes taking a little risk pays off."
As they walked down the hallway, the stress of the upcoming parent-teacher meeting felt a little less heavy.
After a grueling math class that left everyone feeling drained, Kiddy and his group decided to head to a nearby park to unwind. The sun was shining, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves on the trees. It was the perfect place to relax and let go of the day's stress.
The group settled on a grassy spot under a large oak tree. Kiddy, Ammy, Sam, Lily, Harry, and Mando all stretched out on the grass, enjoying the moment of peace.
As they sat there, Sam cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. He exchanged a quick look with Lily, who nodded encouragingly.
"Guys," Sam began, a small smile playing on his lips. "Lily and I have something to tell you."
Everyone turned to them, curious. Sam and Lily looked at each other again before Sam continued. "Well... Lily and I are dating."
For a moment, there was complete silence. Everyone stared at them in stunned disbelief—everyone except Kiddy, who leaned back with a knowing grin. He had already pieced it together when he saw them at the grocery store, but the others were completely caught off guard.
Ammy was the first to break the silence. "Wait, what? Since when?" She looked between Sam and Lily, her mind racing. "How did this happen? I didn't even notice!"
Sam chuckled. "It's been a little while. We didn't want to make a big deal out of it, especially with the exams and everything."
Lily blushed but smiled. "Yeah, we've been keeping it low-key. But we figured it was time to let you guys know."
Harry, who was still new to the group, looked a bit confused. "Wait, hold on. How did I miss all of this? When did this start?"
Kiddy leaned over to Harry, whispering. "I caught on when I saw them shopping together the day before the exams. They were all cozy, and I just knew something was up."
Harry nodded, processing the information. "Wow, okay. That's... cool. Congrats, I guess?" He laughed, still getting used to all the dynamics of the group.
Meanwhile, Mando sat quietly, scratching his head in confusion. He blinked at Sam and Lily, trying to piece it all together. "So... you guys are a couple now?" he asked slowly, trying to wrap his mind around it.
Lily laughed softly. "Yes, Mando, we are."
Mando nodded, still looking a bit puzzled. "Huh. Well, okay then. Cool."
The group burst into laughter at Mando's innocent reaction, and soon the atmosphere was light and happy again. Ammy, still a little surprised, smiled warmly at Sam and Lily. "I'm really happy for you guys. It makes sense now that I think about it. You're great together."
Sam grinned, clearly pleased. "Thanks, Ammy. We appreciate that."
Sam, feeling the group's curiosity, decided to explain how his relationship with Lily began.
"Okay, so it all started after that study session at Kiddy's house," Sam began. "I left and headed to the general store nearby to grab a few things. As luck would have it, Lily had left just after me and ended up at the same store."
Lily nodded, picking up the story. "We didn't plan it, but we bumped into each other and decided to walk home together. Everything was normal until... we got confronted by this random dog."
Ammy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A dog? What happened?"
Sam chuckled, shaking his head. "This dog wasn't just any dog. It was a thief. It spotted Lily's sandwich and snatched it right out of her hand before bolting off."
Everyone burst into laughter at the image, but Sam continued with a smirk. "I couldn't just let it get away with that, so I chased after it. And, well, I managed to catch it, but not without getting bitten on the shoulder."
Lily sighed, a playful hint of exasperation in her voice. "Sam can be stubborn sometimes. He brought the sandwich back, but I made him come to my place so I could patch him up. After that, I told him he needed to see a doctor just to be safe."
Ammy was laughing, but she also looked impressed. "Wow, Sam. That's quite the story. You're like a hero... kind of."
Sam shrugged with a grin. "I guess. Anyway, after that little adventure, we started studying together more often. And then... well, feelings developed."
Lily smiled, continuing, "We didn't plan on it, but we ended up going on our first date one day before the exam. It wasn't anything fancy—just a simple outing at the grocery store."
Kiddy, who had been listening with a grin, chimed in, " a grocery store ,Some first date, huh?"
Sam laughed and playfully shot back, "Hey, it worked, didn't it? I have a girlfriend now, Kiddy. Do you?"
The group erupted in laughter, with Kiddy becoming the target of their playful teasing. He laughed along with them, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, you got me there."
As they continued to joke around, the atmosphere became even lighter, and the group's bond felt stronger than ever. Despite the stress of school and exams.