We were absorbed in the game, our loud laughter and shouts filling the air and drawing the attention of other people. Two students approached us, their eyes sparkling with interest.

One of them, a light complexioned young man, with a beautiful smile and a gentle demeanor introduced himself as Mr K. He was soft-spoken and he asked in his soft and soothing voice, "may we join you?" His tone was hesitant like a child asking permission from a parent.

We couldn't resist the sincerity in his voice and also the prospect of playing knockouts with them made us agree eagerly. From that moment onwards, the game became even more interesting and fun.

Ariel with her dramatic, social butterfly nature, and soft-spoken tone, transformed the game into a hilarious and captivating experience. Her character and presence created a sense of openness amongst us all, making everyone feel at easy.

Every time she was in the game, her non-stop chatter and funny remarks kept us both in the game and enjoying every moment of our time.

Whenever she missed a shot, her loud, exaggerated screams and dramatic reactions had us all bursting into laughter. This drew many people's attention and within minutes, a sizable audience came and watched us play. We both cheered, and laughed due to Ariel's energy and dramatic character.

Thirty minutes into the game, our laughter and cheers were interrupted by the call for supper, bringing our fun to an end. We left the game behind and headed to the dining hall.

As we sat down, Peter and Chris joined us. A few minutes later, Sarah walked in, dressed to impress. Her bright smile captivated us as she approached, and her stunning dress turned heads, drawing the attention of every man in the room. By her side was Charlotte, equally breathtaking in her own right.

The ladies looked stunning, and we couldn't help but stare, mesmerized by their presence. As they walked from the door to our table, whistles and compliments filled the air.

Sarah sat down beside me on my right, while Ariel took the seat on my left. Charlotte joined Peter, with Chris beside her. Chris's face lit up with a big smile, and we could tell he was eager to ask something. We turned to him, and he finally spoke up, his voice cracking with nervousness, 'Sarah and Charlotte, what's the special occasion? You both look...wow beautiful. "

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I noded in agreement, looked downwards and closed my eyes in shyness and said softly, "Chris you are right. Look around us, do you see now that all eyes are on us." I laughed and and jokingly said, "this is the best way to draw attention guys. I love this." My outloud laughter changed everyone's mood around the table. We both became too chatty and cracked lots of jokes.

"Finally, Ariel spoke up with a soft, soothing voice filled with curiosity. 'It seems you all are very close to each other, except for me. So, I want to ask something, starting with you, Cedric. I'll begin with you because we spent some time together playing badminton.'

Before she asked her question, I glanced across the table, and my eyes met Chris's. We exchanged a look of confusion and curiosity, wondering what she might ask. 'I'm curious to know more about you, Cedric. What's your story?' Ariel asked, playfully pushing me with her elbow.

"Ariel's playful elbow didn't go unnoticed by Charlotte, who had been smiling just moments before. Her face suddenly fell, turning pale and angry. No one else at the table seemed to notice, but I caught the subtle change. Her shoulders tensed, and she began tapping her right finger impatiently on the table.

I locked eyes with her, offering a warm, bright smile and a reassuring gaze. She returned the smile, and I could see the tension ease slightly. Then, I turned to Ariel, whose eyes sparkled as she smiled at me. Her white teeth shone brightly, and I couldn't help but smile back. 'Umm, yeah...that's a good one..." I trailed off, pausing with a deep sigh.

"'It's been a long time since I've been asked a question like that,' I said, my mind racing with thoughts. I felt a surge of fear and worry, concerned that this question might uncover the painful past I had worked so hard to bury deep within my heart. Was she trying to bring it all back to the surface? I wondered, but then reminded myself that she knew nothing about me and I was being too hard on myself.

Taking a deep breath, I began to open up. 'Well...as you know, my name is Cedric, and I live with my mom. My dad passed away when I was just 3 years old. We grew up in a small town called Western DC. Don't ask me what DC stands for, I have no idea!' I chuckled nervously after sharing that."

I then continued, my voice cracking, "So, my mom is all I have. We were very poor, I mean, we still are. I grew up with no friends, ridiculed, and my name was used as a curse word most of the time. "

"All I knew was crying. There was never a day I was truly happy..."As the painful memories resurfaced, I broke down in tears. The table fell silent, and soon, everyone was sobbing along with me, moved by my story. Sarah leaned in, her head on my shoulder, and gently rubbed my arm, offering comfort and compassion.

Ariel, being an emotional person, cried uncontrollably as she listened to my story. Peter, with tears in his own eyes, grasped both of my hands and said in his deep, soft voice, filled with compassion and pain, "Dude, I think that's enough. Let's stop right here."

I wiped away my tears and said, my voice filled with gratitude, "Thanks, guys, for being my friends. I don't know if I have told you this before, but you all are the reason I have hope and what keeps me going. Thank you."