Sports Day was the only school day where studying didn't matter, homework didn't exist, and even teachers looked less strict.
For Zhao Ming, it was the most important day of the year.
"For once," he said proudly, stretching his arms, "my athletic talent will be appreciated instead of my academic failure being discussed."
"You don't have athletic talent," Su Ran said while writing her name on the participation list.
"I have hidden talent," Zhao Ming replied.
"It only appears during important moments."
Jiang Chen looked at the list.
"You signed up for three events."
Su Ran nodded.
"Yes. Running, relay, and long jump."
Zhao Ming looked shocked.
"You? Running? Voluntarily?"
She crossed her arms.
"I am full of surprises."
Jiang Chen said calmly,
"You will regret this."
She pointed at him.
"You are very negative."
"I am very realistic," he replied.
The 800 Meter Race
By noon, the sun was bright and the field was full of students cheering and shouting.
Su Ran stood at the starting line for the 800 meter race, stretching her arms nervously.
"I don't know why I signed up," she muttered.
Zhao Ming stood near the side of the track yelling,
"Run like a hero! If you win, I will buy you ice cream!"
She shouted back,
"If I win, you owe me ten ice creams!"
Jiang Chen stood next to Zhao Ming, not shouting, just watching quietly.
"Why are you so calm?" Zhao Ming asked him.
"Your friend is about to collapse after 200 meters."
"She won't collapse," Jiang Chen said.
"How do you know?"
"She's more stubborn than she looks."
The Race Starts
The whistle blew, and everyone started running.
Su Ran ran faster than she expected at first, trying to keep up with everyone else. After one lap, she was already breathing heavily.
"This was a bad idea… very bad idea…" she thought.
From the side of the track, Zhao Ming was screaming like this was the Olympics.
"SU RAN! IF YOU STOP NOW I WILL TELL EVERYONE YOU CRIED DURING A MATH TEST!"
She glared at him while running.
"I DID NOT CRY!"
Then she heard another voice, calmer but louder than usual.
"Don't run too fast. Slow down at the corner," Jiang Chen called.
She didn't know why, but she listened.
She slowed slightly at the corner, then kept running.
Her legs hurt.
Her breathing was messy.
She wanted to stop.
Then she heard Zhao Ming again,
"LAST ROW TRIO NEVER QUITS!"
And Jiang Chen's voice again,
"Almost there. Just one more turn."
She gritted her teeth and kept running.
When she finally crossed the finish line, she immediately bent over, trying to breathe.
"I am never… doing this again…" she said between breaths.
Zhao Ming ran over immediately.
"You didn't die! I'm so proud!"
"That was your expectation?" she asked.
Jiang Chen walked over and handed her a bottle of water.
"You did well," he said simply.
She took the water and drank, then looked at him.
"I almost stopped," she admitted.
"But you didn't," he replied.
After the Race
They all sat under a tree near the field, watching other students compete.
Su Ran was still tired, leaning back on her hands.
"You know," she said, looking at the sky,
"I think this is one of those days we'll remember later."
Zhao Ming nodded.
"Yeah. Sports Day is always memorable. Especially when you almost die running."
She ignored him and continued,
"Like… one day we'll be older and we'll think, 'Remember when we sat under this tree after Sports Day?'"
Jiang Chen looked at the field, then at the students running, then at Su Ran.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"I think we'll remember."
Zhao Ming stood up suddenly.
"I won't just remember. I will become rich and then I will sponsor the school and they will name this tree after me."
Su Ran laughed.
"Yes. Zhao Ming Tree. Very historical."
Jiang Chen shook his head slightly.
They sat there for a long time, talking about random things, watching the games, laughing for no big reason.
The sun was warm, the wind was light, and for a moment, everything felt simple.
No exams.
No future worries.
No growing up yet.
Just three friends sitting under a tree on Sports Day,
thinking life would always be this slow and this easy.