Capítulo 63: Chapter 63: Rival School

Xander (3rd) PoV

[Navìlla University]

Xander yawned as he napped on the roof of his school, the warm sun casting a gentle glow over him. The soft breeze rustled his purple hair, and he shifted slightly, sinking deeper into his makeshift pillow— his white backpack. The sounds of campus life below faded into a distant hum, the perfect background for his midday nap.

"Xander!" a voice called out, breaking through the peaceful haze.

Xander groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "Five more minutes!" he mumbled, hoping to drift back to sleep.

"Come on, you can't keep napping up here! We have practice!" The voice belonged to Elyan, a white-haired, nerdy yet strikingly pretty boy who was Xander's teammate and friend. Elyan leaned closer, a look of exasperation on his face. "You promised you'd attend practice today."

"Drills, schmills," Xander replied, muffled under the blanket.

Elyan rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "You realize you're the star player, right? You can't just skip practice because you're too lazy to get up."

Xander peeked out from under the blanket, his violet eyes sparkling with mischief. "But I'm so comfy right now. Besides, I thought we were a team. Can't you just carry me?"

"Not a chance!" Elyan shot back, trying to suppress a grin. "If I carry you, you'll just end up sleeping on my back, and I'll be late too. Now, get up before I drag you down myself."

Xander let out a mock sigh of defeat, finally sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Fine, you win. But only because I don't want to be responsible for you being late."

"Good choice," Elyan replied, his expression softening. "Now, let's go. We need you at your best if we're going to win that championship."

Xander stood, stretching his limbs and yawning again. "Alright, alright. Just give me a minute to gather my stuff."

As he packed his things, he couldn't help but feel grateful for Elyan's persistence. Even if he was a bit of a nag, he always managed to keep Xander grounded.

---

The two made their way to the gym. As they entered, the familiar sound of bouncing basketballs and the smell of polished wood floors welcomed them. Their coach was already waiting for them, hands on her hips, her expression stern yet encouraging.

"Good to see you two finally decided to join us!" she said, her voice cutting through the noise of the gym. "We're starting with laps today. I hope you're ready to run!"

Xander exchanged a glance with Elyan, who shrugged. "Guess we're warming up then," Xander said with a resigned face.

"Let's go!" Coach Ramirez clapped her hands, and the other players began to gather around. "I want ten laps! And don't think I won't be watching. I expect you to give it your all!"

Xander groaned inwardly but pushed himself to the front of the line, ready to take on the challenge.

"Ten laps? You could have at least warned us," he muttered to Elyan as they went to the outdoor track.

"Stop being so lazy. If not for your talent, you would never have made it onto the team."

He rolled his eyes.

Maybe he shouldn't have been grateful for his nagging. "Fine, fine. I'll show you how it's done," he said, picking up his pace.

As they started their first lap, Xander felt the burn in his legs but pushed through it. The rhythmic pounding of their feet against the court echoed in his ears, and he found himself falling into a comfortable rhythm. Elyan kept pace beside him, and they exchanged light-hearted jabs as they ran.

"Try to keep up, star player!" Elyan called out, a playful challenge in his voice.

"Please, I'm just getting warmed up!" Xander shot back, picking up speed as they rounded the first turn.

The laps progressed, and before he knew it, they were halfway through. Xander could feel the sweat beginning to bead on his forehead, but there was an exhilarating rush that came with the challenge. Each lap was a test, not just of stamina but of willpower.

As they approached the final lap, Xander felt a surge of energy. He glanced at Elyan, who was beginning to show signs of fatigue. "Last lap! Let's finish strong!" he shouted, pushing himself to go faster.

"Don't you dare leave me behind!" Elyan replied, gritting his teeth and matching Xander's pace.

With determination fueling his legs, Xander surged ahead, crossing the finish line with a triumphant grin. He turned to see Elyan not far behind, a mix of exhaustion and pride on his face.

"See? Not so lazy after all!" Xander teased, hands on his hips as he wheezed.

Elyan snickered. "You're already out of stamina!"

"Haha, Xander is like an old man!" a guy with fiery red hair and large build said.

Xander glared at the loud brute. Anton was so annoying! He was way to energetic for him.

His legs burned as he pushed himself to gain ground on Anton, who was bounding ahead with that infuriatingly cheerful energy. The redhead had a knack for making everything feel like a competition, and today was no exception.

"Come on, Xander! Is that all you've got?" Anton called over his shoulder, laughing. The sound grated on Xander's nerves, but it also ignited a fire within him.

"Just you wait," he mumbled under his breath, focusing on his breathing as he quickened his pace. The pavement beneath him felt like it was slipping away, but he was determined to catch up. He could hear Elyan's encouraging shouts fading into the background as he concentrated on Anton's back.

With each stride, Xander felt the weight of his earlier laziness lift. He was the star player, after all—he couldn't let Anton, or anyone else, outshine him on the track. He focused on his form, keeping his arms pumping and his legs driving forward.

As they rounded a bend in the outdoor track, Xander pushed through the fatigue, feeling a rush of adrenaline. He could see Anton's fiery hair just ahead, and with a determined burst of energy, he surged forward, aiming to overtake him.

"Not today!" Anton shouted, noticing Xander's advance. To Xander's frustration, the redhead didn't even seem to break a sweat as he picked up his speed effortlessly.

"Just… try to keep up," Xander muttered, a small smirk on his face as he pushed harder, but it was no use. Anton maintained his lead, glancing back at Xander with that infuriating grin, as if he were just out for a leisurely jog.

With one last effort, Xander sprinted toward the finish line, but Anton crossed first, his laughter ringing out like a victory bell. "Too slow, Xander!" he called, raising his arms in triumph.

Xander slowed to a stop, panting heavily, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "You weren't even going full throttle!" he protested, leaning against the railing to catch his breath.

"Maybe," Anton replied, still grinning, clearly pleased with himself. "But you've got to admit, that was fun!"

Elyan caught up to them, slightly out of breath but smiling. "You two are ridiculous. But I have to admit, Anton, that was impressive."

"Thanks!" Anton beamed, looking at Xander with a teasing glint in his eyes. "Next time, maybe you'll actually keep up."

Xander pouted. "Just… you wait. I'll get you next time."

"Sure you will," Anton chuckled, ruffling Xander's hair playfully.

He slapped his hand away, but couldn't help smile slightly at his teammate. Maybe he shoukd start to take things a bit more seriously. They were going to have a practice match soon.