#and in the notes section. lo and behold. an explanation. i just had to keep reading LMAO

[lokh]

yall i just found a star trek!ygo fic outline. i KNOW im not gonna write it. should i post it somewhere

[out-of-this-dimension]

The Star Fox Adventures Game Manual -- Analysis

So, you may remember a few months back, I received a lot of hate mail on AO3 and FF.net for a fic that I posted that I’ve since taken down in hopes of redoing someday.  The hate was largely from people who don’t like Panther (the fic was Krystal x Panther) but a lot of their arguments were attempts to debunk how “canon” my fic is.  With a lot of my fics, I don’t stray too far from canon, but I do fill in “gaps�� with my own headcanons.  I feel like the SF series is a comfortable enough blank slate to do that.  Mild spoilers for future fics, but one of these headcanons is that Panther is Cerinian.  I’ve actually covered this headcanon previously on my blog but I’m too lazy to look up the link.  

One of the arguments my “secret admirer” tried to make about how my fic “contradicts canon” is that “Well, Panther can’t be Cerinian because the Star Fox Adventures manual says that Krystal is the sole survivor.” (and then they made a hate fic about how my headcanon of Panther being Cerinian couldn’t possibly work, but that’s a story for another time).

Admittingly, I hadn’t looked at the manual in most of a decade, so that little tidbit escaped my memory.  But honestly, with Cerinian OCs flying around left and right in the fandom, I thought it was an odd piece of info to nitpick about.  Regardless, it sparked some intrigue, so I decided to poke around the internet and lo and behold, I found a PDF copy of the manual.  Since it’s been a long while since the last time I read the manual, I decided to do an analysis on it.  Analysis with pictures under the cut!

This is the “prologue” of Star Fox Adventures and while it’s all good and dandy, I want to point out three very important things-- 1. Peppy retired at this point, not after Krystal showed up. I mean, this is relatively minor but I thought it was noteworthy that our Barrel-Roll Loving Team Dad was already going to be retired before the “next SF game”-- whatever that would have been, though I’m fairly certain Assault’s development launched right at the heels of Adventures, if not while Adventures was in late development still. 2. Slippy apparently traded in his pilot’s wings to become a mechanic, which is... blatantly ignored in both Assault and Command because while he does mechanic-like stuff (playing off of his role as the “team smartie pants”), he still very much is a pilot. 3. Falco left because he was bored is only a rumor.  I know “Farewell Beloved Falco” tackles this to a degree. I want to also note that this inspired me to re-read Farewell Beloved Falco on Monday and there’s no real point in the manga that says Falco left because he was bored (I have my own speculation as to why he left but I’ll save that for later).  I find it really odd that the manual says Falco “simply disappeared”, when he very clearly left with great bravado at the end of the manga.  He didn’t vanish into the night or anything, like this would imply.  He said he was going to go solo for a bit and flew off after the Titania Incident.  It... feels like maybe there was a miscommunication here between who was giving the person writing the manual details.

This is the Character Bio page, which, to my secret admirer’s glee, does contain the info that Krystal is the only survivor of Cerinia.  It also name drops Cornerian Weapons R&D, which has also never been heard of before or since this manual. I actually searched excessively for more mentions about this and yielded no results.  Curious.  I had never noticed that and assumed Slippy had just been tinkering on stuff for fun.  Also oof, my heart at ROB being considered a full-fledged SF member.

I’m going to skip over the parts I don’t have any commentary on.  

So it’s pretty clear from the final product that Rareware had no idea what they were doing with the SpellStones.  They clearly absorb magic from the planet to keep the planet from falling apart (which says to me that this is not the planet’s natural state but I’ve talked about that before so I’ll spare you the ramble).  But what was going on with them is really unclear.  I understand that Dinosaur Planet gives a better explanation of the SpellStones but that purpose does not seem to be canon any longer.

The text here implies that Scales has every single SpellStone in his possession (the Queen EarthWalker ALSO states he removed the SpellStones himself).  Yet, when you make it into the game...

(Special note: I found this pic on Google and the file was called “Asshole”, which, tbh isn’t inaccurate but it gave me a chuckle so I thought I’d share it.)

Scales doesn’t possess all of the SpellStones.  Drakor, a mutant in Scales’s army, guards the one at Dragon Rock-- we can assume Scales is responsible for that.  The King RedEye has been fitted with one in his head-- we can assume Scales is responsible for that.  But past that? We find Scales in the CloudRunner Fortress treasury with the first Ocean SpellStone, which he has clearly just found.  And the entire point of DarkIce Mines, the entire reason the SnowHorn are enslaved, is because Scales is looking for the SpellStone.  Which says to me that the SpellStone wasn’t even removed by him.  He wouldn’t have had to enslave the entire tribe to go digging for it otherwise.  He wouldn’t have had to lay siege to CloudRunner Fortress either.

So this entire plot point is absolutely inconsistent to what’s in the manual and even... in the game. What is the reasoning behind this?  Probably the innumerable plot changes during SFAdv’s development.

With the fortunate release of the Dinosaur Planet ROM and the creation of the Warlock Engine by Hugo Peters, a lot has been uncovered in terms of how Dinosaur Planet would have originally looked like.  Dark Ice Mines, for instance, was actually meant to connect via the SnowHorn Wastes (or, Northern Wastes) via a small cave entrance on the other side of the river near where one finds Garunda Te.  The cave still exists in the finalized version of the game but leads to no where.  

However, with Star Fox being added in, I think Rare felt the need to add in things that made the game feel a bit more in line with the Star Fox series.  The planet pieces being torn apart was a way to shove in Arwing sections of the game.  And the devs needed a reason for the change in the planet’s state... and what’s a better throwaway reason than “it’s just magic, bruh”?  So the SpellStones, being focal points in the game’s story, were changed to being part of the reason for the planet falling to pieces. That led to DarkIce Mines, despite having a basically completed map, getting yoinked from the planet’s surface and tossed into space, meaning the entrance was sealed.  The reason for all of this was handwaved into “Oh, Scales did this because he removed the stones” without... the game actually reflecting much of that at all because most of it had been made with a different story in mind.

I think Rare did this hoping that no one would look at the plot too closely but uh oh, that didn’t happen.  And if you need further proof that this was all a bit of an “oopsie” on Rare’s part, you need not look much further than DarkIce Mines once more.  Belina Te has a small throwaway line about how her father hid the SpellStone in the mines.  She says something to the effect of “He didn’t say where he hid it, only that it was somewhere safe” which is code for “Yeah lol I stuck this important object crafted by the gods into the claws of a giant monstrosity but it’s w/e”.  Maybe he was hoping that Galdon would protect it from Scales.  I mean, it’s not a bad thought, really...

But the fact that the game seems to imply Scales has all the stones is still technically wrong.  Now, because I think about these things a little TOO much, here’s my theory as to how this could have technically worked: All the SpellStones are placed in the same spot, you just traverse different routes (The Force Point Temples) to reach that spot. The only way I could see Scales making out with 2 out of 4 SpellStones is that there was a battle between the SharpClaw and the other dinosaurs at the central point where the SpellStones are located and General Scales was only partially successful.  Which could very well be the case, but, unfortunately, the manual and game seem to not act as though this is the case...

tl;dr for that section: This literally makes no sense no matter how you slice it and sure, you can come up for reasons that things ended up this way but ultimately, the game is conflicting with itself about its own story.  But let’s move on.

Apparently atmospheric conditions are so powerful on Sauria that it can interrupt communications, which I thought was a neat lore tidbit.  

So I got 2 things from this tidbit about Saurian.

1. This language is called “relatively new”, even though it’s existed for thousands of years, which feels like a contradiction?  A quick Google search estimates English has been around for 1400 years, to put that into perspective and I think English is considered to be fairly new compared to other languages, but I’m honestly not too terribly learned on that.  Of course, that’s only viewing this through the lens of someone who lives on Earth.  Having a language around in the Lylat System only for “a few thousand years” makes me wonder how long the older languages have existed?  It’s quite possible that a few thousand years isn’t a long lifespan for a language in this universe.  

2. Who were these off-worlders?  And boy do I have theories.

Theory 1. The Krazoa.  They are seemingly the gods to the dinosaurs and speak the same language.  This could mean that they taught the dinosaurs this new language.  It would fit the bill for their portrayal in this game. They are godlike entities, the dinosaurs do revere them... it makes sense.  

Theory 2. The ones who taught the dinosaurs how to talk were the Cerinians. There is mild evidence for this with Krystal understanding Dino Speak without a translator despite being new to the planet (evidenced by the fact the CloudRunner had to explain the Krazoa to her/some dialogue bits about her learning of General Scales/the brief exposition we get about her searching the Lylat System for answers).  You could argue this is due to her telepathy - she could just simply be talking in a way that the dinosaurs can understand but I don’t think Krystal’s telepathy had been firmly established as part of her character at this point (she had the ability to leave telepathic messages onto her staff and she could channel magic into Andross, but her true telepathy powers weren’t really shown until Assault).  Krystal’s staff also seems strangely in-tune with Sauria, which I’ve theorized about previously.  I’m mostly thinking on the Magic Caves that are conveniently scattered on Sauria.  It could be that Cerinians had built the shrines within the Magic Caves to help their descendants out if they ever showed up to Sauria.  So, I guess the tl;dr version is “Maybe the Cerinians had previously been on Sauria and had established the Magic Caves and had taught the dinosaurs their native language?” 

To summarize my thoughts, the manual is a reflection of SFAdv itself- riddled with weird plot inconsistencies that you can almost fudge reasons/logic to cover but some of it feels like stretches for the sake of making plot make sense.  There’s some contradictions in the lore/story but despite that, there’s still interesting tidbits to be found.  

If anything, this booklet kind of validates my feelings from the post I made about canon awhile back.  Not all of the canon makes sense when you nitpick it to death.  When the source material conflicts with itself, you’re not going to win a “this is canon because x and y, etc” because... well... the story itself doesn’t even seem to know what’s canon.

Additionally, canon is something derived partially from people’s own experiences.  Two people can consume the same media and come to different conclusions and that’s fine.  We don’t need to have these tired debates about whose interpretation of canon is better.  We just need people to understand that while their interpretation may fit them but it may not fit everyone.  And that’s why, as I have begun doing Fanon Hot Take posts, I keep that disclaimer up.  I don’t wanna say “My opinion of how to interpret canon/fanon is the best opinion” because that’s stupid. There is no definitive “best” because it’s all subjective.  But people get into their own feelings so much about their interpretations and that’s when we have these debates of “well, my idea is better than yours”.  Then people try to dismantle each other instead of just appreciating the different ideas being brought to the table.  And it’s exhausting.

Frankly, I don’t ever think Panther being Cerinian will be canon.  But Nintendo has not, as of this date, said he’s not.  But that’s my interpretation of his character until Nintendo gives us more to go off of.  And if my interpretation bothers someone enough that they decide to send me harassment over it, then that’s on them.  I will not be apologizing for my interpretations, even if they do go against the grain.  It’s a pity people like that exist, that would rather tear at others than try to just enjoy the content that appeals directly to him but alas, they are not the first person to be like that and they will not be the last.

On a lighter note, while I am still bothered by this person going out of their way to be so spiteful, I want to thank them for inspiring me to look at the text.  It validated my feelings further and it made me realize how stupid the canon debate is.  I actually had a blast going back over this book and re-reading everything.  I hadn’t gotten to lay eyes on this booklet in years!  I really hope I get to do this for other SF games because a lot of these manuals have such hidden gems.

Thank you for reading this ramble/analysis!

[ijuanainspire]

Daily Grind

So you wanna be a law student huh? Whether you’re that philanthropic person who wants to give justice to the poor or you’re that straight A- student who wants to prove more or a victim of your parents’ obsession or profession, then WELCOME! Or better yet, GOODBYE. 

Law school means saying good bye to lot of things such as your weekly night out or that Saturday night drinking spree with barkadas. Law school means less (or none at all) chill nights and saying hello to tons (literally) of readings and case digests. 

It is a war. And it is ferocious. It will take your time, your life and will need a lot of dedication. But do not fear because every drop of sweat, blood and tears will be worth it and is worth it once you conquer this profession. 

So how to gear up for this battle? Here are some of the materials I personally use and recommend if you have finally decided to commit yourself to the realms of law school. 

1. Codals

A lot of people have judged me while I’m inside a public utility vehicle while I was reading or carrying with me my codals. They literally look like the Bible and if people around you are unaware of what they are, they will think you’re weird reading a Bible inside a jeepney or LRT. But nevermind them since these babies will save your ass once inside lawschool. These are the codified laws and they come in either the regular size about the size of a regular notebook or the mini versions which I prefer since they are more portable and easy to handle. 

So where to buy them? They are available in your local National Bookstore or you can go to Rex Bookstore as it is the best place to go grab them. But beware, these precious babies are kinda costly but definitely a good investment. A codal can range from Php 600.00 to Php 1,000.00 or even more depends on the subject. Don’t confuse yourself with a codal and a reviewer or annotated book. A codal contains purely the law. A reviewer or annotated book contains explanations from different professors or justices. Sometimes, it depends upon your professor whom he prefers so I advice not to buy annotated books until you meet your profs. < 3

Into online shopping? Rex has a website and they deliver! Check out the link : https://www.rexestore.com/2-law?id_category=2&n=637

2. Pens, Highlighters

Aside from reading a lot, writing is another staple in law school. So invest wisely on a good sign pen. Most law schools adhere to sign pens/fountain pen only policy during their exams meaning you can only use those kind of pens when answering your exams, so better invest in a comfortable and good pen as early as your first day on law school. Good penmanship is a must and sometimes help (some professors will credit for good penmanship). So if you have crappy handwriting, better buy a writing book where you can practice your hand writing. Professors won’t bother reading your answers if you have bad handwriting. 

I personally use a Pilot Hi-Tecpoint V5 or V7 in Black, Red and Blue. I use Black solely for exam purposes while the Red pen is dedicated to my notes and reminders. Using a bright color helps me to retain things in my mind better. I use the Blue pen to write either the date or topic in my papers or reviewers, it keeps me organize and helps me to recall. A pen costs about Php 45.00 to Php 50.00 depends on the store selling them. Some of my classmates use G-tech but I tend to misplace a lot of those pricey things. 

My favorite highlighter is the Stabilo Pastel Yellow or the Sharpie also in Yellow. They cost about Php 35.00 to Php 45.00 each. I have them in different shades: A Neon Pink for titles of cases, the Yellow for important facts or doctrines, a Neon Yellow for super important lines in cases, a Pastel Pink for the names and details of the persons in the case and a lot more colors coz why not right? :D

Recently, Stabilo released new highlighters which come in slimmer versions also in pastel shades. Although, I still prefer using the traditional ones. Invest wisely on your pens and coloring materials as they will help you adjust into comfort once classes start. 

3. Pen capsule/ Pencil case

When you have become a highlighter and pen hoarder, you will definitely need a container for them. In law school, most students prefer using Pen Capsules. They are that cylindrical looking pencil case which can stand on its own, which allows you to just pick your pen upright and voila! Although it is not a requirement in law school, it is a preferred must have. 

I bought my pen capsule in SM Department store, in their Stationery section. It was really cheap, only Php 99.00 and comes in two colors, Pink and Gray. However, when I tried to buy again, they sold out and eversince, they haven’t restocked (that was way in 2016 and still checking out until 2019). FILED is another shop which sells pen capsules. I’m not sure if they are the pioneer in selling but if they are, credits to them. However FILED pen capsules are kinda costly if you ask me. A regular one costs around Php 300.00 or more. I once gifted a FILED pen cap to a friend and it cost nearly Php 500.00 but it was really pretty! It was in pink and had embroidery. The quality is mighty fine, worth the price. Although if compared side by side with the one I bought in SM, the FILED pen cap appears to be slimmer and limited in space. But it is definitely a pretty pencil case. 

Check out the FILED website, they do delivery! https://filed.com.ph/collections/pens-pen-cases

(Disclaimer: I do not own this photo. Grabbed from the page of FILED. So this is the Pen Capsule I gifted for my friend, the Pink one. Pretty aye?) 

4. Bag 

When you are carrying a lot of stuff (codals, pencaps, reviewers etc.), you will definitely need a good bag! Whether it is a back pack or typical go to bag, it doesn’t matter if its a Gucci or Nike, if everything fits, and it’s sturdy, go for it. 

It was a struggle for me to find a good bag, especially my laptop is kinda bulky. But lo and behold online shopping, I finally found the back pack for me.

So I found my back pack in Lazada, it costs only Php 599.00 during the time I purchased it. I was obsessed with it, the size and appearance is just on pointe. Check out the link to see the specifications and other details: https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/pr-miole-v3-classic-leather-backpack-i277598963-s414923985.html?fbclid=IwAR3IluPEaHtDaxRmJQ3rjaFJJkEAodfwHGscbxZGaxQm5_V64gtbvJUPBLQ

6. Laptop 

You will definitely need this. So as early as now invest in a sturdy one! One that has tons of memory because you will use it all! And if possible, buy a laptop that is lightweight. It is an agony to carry around your books and materials and on top of that, a laptop that weighs around 2kg or more. If you have the cash to splurge on a quality and lightweight laptop, just do it. I tell you, it is worth it. 

But of course this is just a personal suggestions and not a law school requirement. If you can’t afford to buy a lightweight laptop, better learn how to manage your stuff in your bag so you won’t burden yourself with all the weight of carrying a heavy bag. 

What laptop to choose? I prefer the iCore series or just ask your local tech guy what laptop can withstand tons of office work and browsing at the same time. That will do the trick. If you want to run DOTA in your laptop, better buy one in the iCore series with a videocard in it. Thank me later! 

So there you goooo.... you may notice, I didn’t put any notebooks or papers. The reason is, we are all different when it comes to studying. I don’t usually use notebooks since all my notes are written in my cases. Yellow papers are a must though, but just pack some for yourself or you’ll end up supplying the whole class. Trust me on this. 

Law school is hard, worth it, crazy and really hard so you’ll really have to love it and learn how to balance your life around it. But that will be for another blog so stay tuned!! I hope this helps!! <3

xxx D.

[allaboutwannaone-blog]

friends to lovers!guanlin

genre: fluff word count: 2.2k author’s note: ok i have decided that i’m super bad with summaries so i omitted it hAH :-) send me requests!! :))

• it’s that time of the year again…*dramatic sigh*

• yes,, it is one week before school starts!! honestly,, you’re kind of really daunted by the upcoming year because you finally were becoming a senior

• you can’t actually believe that YOU, someone who still cuddles with soft toys at night and cries like a baby will be graduating soon like hell nah i’m not ready to step out of my comfort zone, not ready for everyone to judge my ugly ass, not ready to be single yet again (not that being single is wrong!! but you just feel kinda like a loser when everyone around you is already dating 🙁)

• in order to make you feel better about yourself, you decided to go to the mall to get some clothes because,, impulsive splurging is your passion (even though you end up regretting it to the max after that) and bless the lord you need some new colours in your wardrobe because every single thing in your wardrobe is black 

• you casually stroll to the men’s section because you just like oversized shirts a lot,, they make you feel bigger and more confident and looks good too so why not!! and the staff don’t actually give a shit about who goes where in their store so nobody would judge you either famous last words

• just as you were reaching for this super cute red shirt that just calls for you, another hand came into your vision and took that last one off the rack

• startled, you spun around to see who the culprit was and got even more surprised because

• a) holy feck this guy is cute (and by cute i mean the handsomest person you’ve ever seen)

• b) holy feck this guy’s aura and face is colder than eating ice cream in the middle of the winter  

• and you just kind of slither away in fear all while keeping your eyes on him like a snake because you ARE a snake since you eat snacks at night even though you promised your diet app not to

• but that was the last of him you saw for the rest of the break (certainly not the last you thought of him tho!!)

• fast forward to the first day of school,, and you’ve guessed it!

• by some miraculous turn of fate, you spot a slightly familiar yet unfamiliar face standing right in front of the classroom beside your homeroom teacher 

• it was him

• and boi, he looked finer than a strand of hair wearing the red shirt he picked that day 

• after your teacher’s explanation, it turns out he was a transfer student from taiwan (oH NO NOT AGAIN *cues groans*) and his name was lai guanlin 

• he instantly became a favourite amongst your classmates,, a chorus of small yet audible sighs from the girls could be heard, and the guys were practically bouncing out of their seats to greet him

• after his introduction (that highlighted his super cute accent), he went to his assigned seat, which was conveniently situated behind you. you had no idea whether he actually recognised you or not,, so you gave him a small, hesitant smile but all he did was to just stare blankly at you so hAh prObabLy nOt

• days passed and he settled in pretty well,, he now was friends with this big group of boys  (including him, there are eleven, you believe) who called themselves wanna one and literally have females and males alike practically salivating at the sight of them, so naturally your hopes of getting closer to him were dashed because you weren’t part of that social circle (besides being friends with daehwi in the student council)

• that was also why you’ve decided to throw the thoughts about him to the back of your mind and busied yourself with the upcoming council president selection

• you actually didn’t want to join it at first, but with the encouragement of your peers, you decided to just wing it and yolo for your last year in high school

• but that was also how you found yourself in a battle of nerves with one of the most popular girls in your school, chaewon (ok pls just insert any name here ur enemy’s your pet’s i just randomly chose one)

• chaewon wasn’t really the baddest bitch around, though she can be a little arrogant and quip sarcastic remarks once in a while,, you don’t dislike her, but you don’t like her either 

•  but for some reason, her looks and athletic abilities (which you, for jisoo’s sake had none) have guys and girls alike, just like wanna one, falling at her feet

• it wasn’t like she was a complete airhead either, she got decent grades, is punctual in handing up her homework too,, which makes her a really strong candidate up against you

• the elections came and went, you gave your speech and she gave hers, and unfortunately, but not unpredictably, she won and got to parade around with a makeshift sash the whole day

• you were…undeniably a little sad because hey you really did put in effort to memorise the script and think about how to improve the school (you spent sleepless nights thinking about that okay) and not freak out while talking in front of so many people but you didn’t get it in the end

• but you didn’t want to sound like a sore loser either so you just kept it to yourself,, 

• hOWEveR

• just as you were about to congratulate her,,, she, in all her winning glory, went

• “honestly, you didn’t stand a chance against me but i just went along with it because it made me feel superior. but good game, you tried your best, but hey, it wasn’t enough!”

• to say that you were crushed was an understatement 

• you…had no idea how to react that, so you just stood there and froze for a while 

• but suddenly, a terse voice that sounded dangerously close to you rang out

• “to be honest, we all know you pulled some strings to win because evidently y/n has a way better personality than you.”

• you spun around (deja vu, anyone?) and lo and behold, you see this tall silhouette basked in light and hOLY MAMA that is ,,, LAI. GUAN. LIN. 

• ?1!?1!?1!??1!?1??1 <— your heart and mind at that moment

• “i hope you won’t let this ‘win’ get to your head,, because i and my friends won’t hesitate to get an appeal for her to take your position if you were to act up like this again, so do us all a favour and get out.” 

• ?1!1!1?1??1?1!1!1!!1!1!1!?1?1?1?!1!1!1!!1!1!!1!1!1!1!!1!1!1!!1!1 <— your heart, beating at a 100 miles per hour as you see him turn around and go back to his friends, not without him giving you a gentle smile (you were certain your face was red now yOu’vE beComE a tOmaTo)

• you didn’t see it but his ears had turned red from shyness aw what a cute baby (but only towards you tho 😉) 

• it was after that day,, you guys just- suddenly clicked

• he gave you a nod the next day when he walked past you to get to his seat 

• and when you turned back to thank him, a full blown smile spread across his face (tHAT SMILE,, YOU KNOW THAT SMILE WITH HIS TEETH AND GUMS) and you felt like ‘shit, i’m getting sucked into this black hole but for some reason i don’t want to come out’

• you don’t notice it but his friends sitting behind him are wiggling their eyebrows and gossiping (mmo, ring a bell??) about how cute of a couple you two would make but none of you caught it since you were busy staring at each other,, sharing a moment

• small talks became real conversations, what originally was mundane became full of laughter and funny stories he told you about his friends (he tells you deep dark secrets about them like how once daehwi was rocking out to ariana grande in the shower and slipped and fell) 

• you told him about your friends as well and how they thought he was the most good looking person they’ve ever seen,, and he just tells you to tell them that he’s not interested

• you kind of want to probe further but you didn’t want it to be awkward either so you just settled for an questioning look you hope conveyed your message but he just gave you an ambiguous smile,,, which kind of made your heart sink a little because…of course he has a crush, he could literally have anyone he wanted why would he even bother about you

• so you just,,, kept your feelings under the radar for the moment 

• but anyone, everyone could see you were heads over heels for him 

• and that he was heads over heels for you too!!!! he had never shown any interest in any girl except for you

• he dismissed any confession letters that came his way, got rid of girls who would stick to him with the very cold look that scared you in the first place

• he never had much interaction with girls 

• heck, he never even smiled that much with guys besides his friends 

• but you two,, clouded with the delusion that your crush would never like you back, continued being friends close to lovers

• until the day before the basketball finals

• yes, guanlin was part of the basketball team, and was the co-captain in fact, which is a really amazing feat considering he just entered your school a few months ago

• you were staying back in school to help settle some stuff with the council since you were still a rank higher up than the rest,, you needed to get everything right for tomorrow’s big game, make sure the ushers know their duty, the students knew where to sit, the court was decorated and at its cleanest state

• and guanlin was practising to get his shots right for tomorrow because he didn’t want to let anyone down,, and most importantly, he didn’t want to look like a loser in front of you!! after two hours of training, the coach let the players go for a thirty minute break before going back to shoot some hoops again

• wandering around the school, he saw the door of a conference room slightly ajar, and heard your melodious voice flowing from it

• peeping in, he saw you standing in front of the board, laying out the plans for tomorrow and observing how you carried yourself, your confidence, your beauty and he came to the conclusion that yo,, it was,, now or never

• clutching the extra jersey he had in his hands tightly, he opened the door, apologised for the interruption and beckoned for you to come out

• you were escorted outside with the sound of wolf-whistles and clapping but you paid no heed to them, only looking at the seemingly flustered boy standing in front of you

• guanlin: “hi?”

• you: “hey!”

• him: “okay so tomorrow is the championship right? you’ll be there right?”

• you: “yes, why do you ask?”

• him, throwing the dry-fit shirt to you: “it’syoursnowpleasewearthistomorrowand…”

• you, barely catching it and not making sense of the situation at all: “and?”

• him: “if i score the winning goal, will you date me?”

• everything went still for a second

• you looked down at the jersey that had his name proudly printed on it and supposedly belonged to you forever now, and looked up at his expectant and nervous face bewilderedly 

• you: “wait, can you repeat that again?”

* him, mildly exasperated that you were taking so long to give him an answer: “date me if i score the winning goal tomorrow.”

• honestly the stunned look on your face makes him want to just pinch your cheeks and kiss you but he’ll resist for the sake of the fact that you might not reciprocate his feelings

• but when you replied him with “okay, deal.”, he couldn’t help but just give you the biggest and loveliest hug you’ve ever experienced

• it was like,, you belonged there

• in that warm cocoon of heat and love 

• and guess what??

• the next day came and everyone, and i mEAN EVER Y ON E was looking at you striding into the venue with his jersey and the wanna one members were just like MY BABY HAS FINALLY GROWN BALLS I AM SO PROUD OF HIM *wipes tears from eyes* 

• you cheered and screamed so loudly for him you swear they could probably hear you from australia and when it came down to the last seconds, where the other team was just leading by two points,, guanlin caught the ball and dribbled it towards the other side of the court

• those seconds felt like ages and just when he was about to make the three-pointer,, he looked at you with that smile on his face

• …and sCORED!!1!1!1!1!1!!1!!1!!!!!!!!

• you jumped out of your seat and hi-fived your friends around you, celebrating their victory until you see them suddenly freezing, looking behind you

• you turned around (again, deja vu???) and saw him, guanlin, with the brightest smile that seriously could light up the universe if he tried 

• “so, date me?”