An Asian who doesn't play badminton to some degree of "expert-level" is somewhat of a rarity in Fremont
Walking in, frankly, I was a bit stunned. The junior high group had combined with the high school group and our youth group, so there were probably 60 kids here. A Rock Band game blared from the corner, and the gym was split in half. One side was for badminton, the other for broomball. Adults yelled out for signups while kids yelled louder for turns at the video games in the café and the sports in the gym. Feeling slightly awkward for not having brought a racket, I drifted over towards the badminton court. Uncle Alan greeted me warmly. </DL>
<DD>"Hey Kevin!" He gave me a friendly slap on the back.</DL>
<DD>"Hi," I said, glancing over at the court. Vic (short for Victoria
<DD>"No racket?" He appeared a bit confused.</DL>
<DD>"Nope, I don't really play," I responded, trying to hide an embarrassed smile.</DL>
<DD>"Oh." We both turned towards the court again. Vic's partner was actually really good. The opposing team could rarely get off a point. Walking over towards the far wall behind the girls, I quickly recognized several members of our youth group. </DL>
<DD>"Hey!" Several of them turned to welcome me.
<DD>"Yo," I responded, taking my headphones out and putting them in my pocket. Looks like I wouldn't need those for a while. I leaned over against the wall, examining all the cases and equipment. Good thing I didn't bring my crappy excuse for a racket. I was far outclassed. People kept asking me where my racket was; I gave a vague response to each and attempted to focus on the game.</DL>
<DD>Any junior high team that attempted to beat Vic's team was pretty much decimated. They must have been on there for a while now. Once, when they were facing a pair from our youth group, Vic's partner let a point through. Wincing, she stared at her racket while spinning it, as if reprimanding herself. Cute.</DL>
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<p><b>Luna</b></p>
<p><b>07.29.09 ~ 5:45 PM</b></p>
<DD>The summer started off pretty boring, but after awhile I started to have things to do to occupy me. Gone to hang out with friends, work, relax, and just did what made me happy. Today was gonna be a good day to keep me busy. I was strapped with my seatbelt across me heading over to my friend, Tibby's, church thing. I didn't know much about it, but I knew it would be a load of fun. From badminton to Rockband to soccer to meeting new people it would be a blast. I still couldn't get over myself, after all those things that happened in the past, and from that Anita and Tibby invited me to make me feel better. What great friends, right?</DL>
<DD>The minivan was going along the road at 30 miles per hour, with my red and black badminton bag hitting against the back of my seat. Just waiting for us to get there, singing random K-pop songs and annoying my Dad shitlessly. It was our second time driving over here, since I came to service once before. It was pretty good, much better than Dad's old place, but can't complain. I just couldn't wait to get there and play.</DL>
<DD>And exactly when I thought that, we drove up into the drop off section, and there I was finally. Just hope it all goes good. </DL>
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<p><b>~5:50 PM</b></p>
<DD> I almost got lost trying to find the Video Café, where we were supposed to meet and hang out. And it took me awhile to realize it was the big building across from the other big building I was looking at, the building with the huge banner on it saying "VIDEO CAFÉ". Gosh did I fail much?</DL>
<DD> I walked inside, clutching my bulky badminton bag and a hinted smile. Small amount of people here, I thought. I pulled out my phone and checked the time. Only 5:55p.m., pretty close to when it starts, maybe people are getting in late. I took a bigger glimpse around the whole place. The room was huge; it was set up to be like a basketball court, and to the sides was a second story with a projector up top. But I bet we weren't gonna use that anyways. There was a small café looking area to the left, and OH hey look Tibby and other people are there. I took my time to walk over there.</DL>
<DD> "Hey Tibby!"</DL>
<DD>It took her awhile to respond back, since she was busy talking to people of her own church I didn't know. Well I knew one of them; her name was Jovian, a pretty good friend of hers. But there was about 3 other people crowding around her too.</DL>
<DD> "Poncho! Awesome you made it. You wanna sign up for Rockband with us? Can you handle Expert?"</DL>
<DD>"Uhh… I don't think so, isn't there badminton?".</DL>
<DD>Poncho was my nickname since junior high; Tibby is usually the one to call me by it still. But yeah, I haven't even played Rockband once in my life, so I don't think I can do so, unless a miracle comes by me. </DL>
<DD>"Yeah there is, they are setting up the nets. Wanna play with me like how we do on the team?"</DL>
<DD>"Yeah, sure."</DL>
<DD>"Okay. Lets warm up first."</DL>
<DD>I followed her out to the courts and dropped down my bag to the floor. Grabbed out my badminton shoes and racket, and sat down. Putting on the shoes and opening my second bag around my racket. I began to stretch as she signed us up for the first match. More and more people started to flow into the place. As soon as I was done with getting ready we rallied for awhile as we waited for our first opponent. </DL>
<DD>The net was a simple volleyball net, so the birdies went through the net most of the time, it was lower too so it was easy to smash down on people. Not that I was a pro at the time, I wasn't even near it (neither am I now) but to me Tibby was. The standards we were playing by were King of the Hill, so whoever win stays on the court. Our first opponent was Anita and Jovian. I think. They were a pretty fair match, since I knew and played both of them before. Every time we missed a shot or hit out we randomly started laughing, it was cool. In the end of the match, Tibby and I won by just a few points, I believe. But our next two matches were such crack ups. </DL>
<DD> Next were Sam and Alex. Sam was so dramatic when we played, touché. After that, we played her friends Allen and Chris, I didn't know them but I knew by the looks they didn't know how to play. They were volleyball players, so most of the time they dove for the shots, and it was incredible when parts of them made it back over the net. </DL>
<DD> During our matches more and more of Tibby's friends came over to watch. I thought they'd all be playing Rockband or something. From the way I was, I got nervous. I don't do well with people watching me, and that's a bad habit of mine. But I just continued on playing badminton, screwing up more and more. At least it was fun. </DL>
<DD>By and by, people came and people left from matches in mostly Tibby's wins. And we were soon kicked off the court, since obviously we won. So, they setted up for soccer right after. </DL>
<DD>I began to change back into my regular shoes and put away my stuff. Allen and Chris convinced me to come play. Excluding the fact my old soccer team was there too. But come on, it's not about competition, right? Right. As dumb as I was, I still held that grudge against them for the soccer team. Let's not get into that. I knew I was foolish.</DL>
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<p><b>~Kevin</b></p>
<p><b>~~8:09 PM</b></p>
<DD>"Okay everyone! Time to clear the courts for indoor soccer!" Uncle Alan's face became slightly redder and he waved his arms, motioning the broomball and badminton players off the courts. I had just joined onto a badminton court and failed epically. Good thing it was stopping.</DL>
<DD>"Form teams of five! Teams of five!" Frantically looking around, I jumped into a group and looked at my teammates. A bunch of people whom I recognized but didn't associate the names with, and...how ironically, that badminton girl. Interesting. Those smelly green jerseys that are used in schools were passed out, and I pulled the excuse for a piece of clothing over my head.</DL>
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<p><b>~Lianne</b></p>
<p><b>~~8:09 PM</b></p>
<DD>We all split up into four teams. I was with some familiar faces and some not familiar ones. They all got together and talked while watching the other teams play. Our team was of Jonathan, Chris, Allen , Leon
<DD>Oh I remember, not being stalkerish at all but he was in one of Kevin Su's profile pictures. What a great way to remember him by. He was pretty quiet; he was just standing there watching the soccer game in front of us. Pretty cute too, in my opinion. Gosh, why am I thinking like this, whatever. I went over to break the ice.</DL>
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<p><b>-Overlook-</b></p>
<p><b>~8:15 PM</b></p>
<DD>After throwing on the jersey, she looked around, seeing which people were her teammates. Noticing that she knew some and some she didn't. But there was one guy she didn't know but looked vaguely familiar. Confusion covered her face as she tried to figure out who he was. She found it was a certain guy who was in her friend, Kevin Su's, profile picture on Facebook. For awhile she took interest in him, looking at him a bit. Walking over, she asked, "Hey are you Kevin Su's friend? Right?"</DL>
<DD>"Uh, yeah?" He responded. They were both substitutes at the time as the fast-paced soccer game raged around them. He tried not to look directly at her, but he wanted to see what she looked like. She certainly had an attractive face...snapping out of it, he turned his attention to the game. Shoot, the other team had scored the first goal.</DL>
<DD>Interrupted by a substitution, he ran into the game. They didn't get a chance to talk until later. Finally, soon after the game ended; the other team against the two won. A bit after, the girl caught up with the guy, smiled and asked, "You go to Lander's right?"</DL>
<DD>"Uh, yeah," he replied. "What's your name?"</DL>
<DD>"Luna."</DL>
<DD>"Kevin."</DL>
<DD>"What grade are you?"</DL>
<DD>"Sophomore," he replied, also smiling, though slightly confused. Either this girl was extremely affable, or...he quickly dismissed the other possibility. "You?"</DL>
<DD>She quickly answered, "Junior at Wening's High." This was good, she was finally making friends like she hoped to. But something was different with this friend, maybe...</DL>
<DD>His sister bounced over to his side, blithely telling him that their dad was there. Slightly disappointed, he walked out of Building C, waving bye as he left.</DL>
<DD>The same disappointment traveled over to her as she waved bye to him back as he left. Soon after, her phone started to ring. It was her Dad there to pick her up early. She ran outside and slipped into the small car. "So what happened? Anything new?" Her Dad asked. "Yeah it was better than expected and well, maybe. Just a start. Start of something." She responded with a smile smeared upon her face once again. They drove off back to the house. The whole time after, she had a concentrated look, thinking about something. Maybe him, maybe.</DL>
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