As they made their way back to the gate they had passed through earlier, Mark’s gaze drifted toward the basketball court. The game had just concluded, and a group of students sat on the bleachers, focused on a tall, muscular woman with pink hair styled in a braided rattail. Her commanding presence matched the authority in her voice.

Mark overheard her chastising the class. "The game was a big disappointment. Even though it was just a class activity, you lost against your classmates by 50 points."

A chubby, short-statured teen with wavy chestnut hair from the losing team spoke up timidly, "But we were up against a varsity player, and Annie took our point guard."

The teacher's eyes flashed with anger. "Silence! You think you can reason away your incompetence with excuses? You didn’t put in your best effort—that’s why you lost."

The teen shrank in his seat, visibly embarrassed, while a voice from the crowd piped up, "What a dork." Mark spotted the source: a blonde girl and her two friends, laughing together.

The teacher turned her fiery gaze toward them. "Roxxy, Becca, Missy! Didn’t I make myself clear? Everyone must wear their P.E. uniform to my class!"

The trio, clad in cheerleading uniforms, looked panicked. The blonde stammered, "But we’re on the cheerleading squad, so we thought it was okay—"

The teacher cut her off. "Silence! Do you think being on the cheerleading squad exempts you from the rules? Or are you trying to bypass my instructions with that 'cheering squad' nonsense?"

The blonde attempted to defend herself, "But—"

"Shut up! You’ll give me 25 push-ups for violating the rule and another 25 for talking back, Roxxy. Now move, or I’ll add another 25!"

The trio’s faces fell, their spirits visibly drained as they moved reluctantly to an open area beside the teacher, performing shaky push-ups. Mark, watching from the car, chuckled internally. Man, this would be so much better with some popcorn.

As the girls struggled, Mark noticed the blonde’s arms trembling as she lowered herself to the ground, her large chest almost sandwiching against the surface. His eyes widened, and he immediately snapped out of it, mentally scolding himself. What the hell, man? Am I seriously staring? He shook his head, trying to push the thought away. Get a grip, Mark. You're not a creep. But another thought crept in: Must be good genetics.

He quickly turned his gaze away from the court, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. Diane, focused on the road, glanced at him and asked, "You okay?"

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"Yeah," Mark replied, smiling to cover his embarrassment. "Just a slight headache, but I’m fine."

Diane, sensing something off, handed him a water bottle. "It’s probably the heat. Drink this; maybe it’ll help."

"Thanks," Mark said, gratefully accepting the bottle and taking a few gulps to cool off—both physically and mentally. He felt the cool liquid wash away the lingering embarrassment.

As they drove past the running track and neared the gate, Diane slowed the car. The female guard approached with some paperwork for Diane to sign. "Looks like you’re done with the delivery," the guard remarked with a smile.

"Yep," Diane replied, signing the papers. "A little hiccup along the way, but nothing too bad."

The guard smirked. "Yeah, since you guys came here unexpectedly. But if you’re smiling, I guess it wasn’t too much of a mess."

Mark chuckled at the exchange. Diane, slightly embarrassed, handed back the signed papers. The guard gave them a knowing look. "Alright, you’re all set to go... enjoy your date."

Diane’s face flushed. "No, no, we’re not dating! I promise, it’s not like that!" she said quickly, flustered.

The guard, unconvinced, just grinned mischievously. "If you weren’t Diane’s man, how about coming to my bedroom tonight?"

Mark blinked, momentarily stunned. Is this what being handsome feels like? Damn, this is a first.

Before he could muster a response, Diane suddenly sped off, leaving the guard waving behind them. "Take good care of her for me!" the guard called after them.

Mark stuck his head out the window and yelled back, "Don’t worry, I will!"

As he settled back into his seat, he caught Diane smiling in the rearview mirror. "You know," he teased, "you just made me lose my chance back there. Were you trying to cockblock me?"

Diane raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You didn’t stand a chance with her. She was joking about keeping you in her room, so stop daydreaming."

Mark put a hand to his chest in mock offense. "Really? I mean, look at this face! Isn’t it handsome enough to make even the gods envious?"

Diane shot him a side-eye and snickered. "Heh, maybe you should put on some glasses so you can see reality a little clearer.”

As he glanced at Diane, her focus on the road, he couldn't shake the feeling that this day had turned out to be more interesting than he'd anticipated. There was something about her, a blend of strength and kindness that drew him in.

He thought about how she handled the situation at the gate with the guard—her flustered reaction made him smile. Maybe there was more to explore between them than just a casual friendship.

Disclaimer:

The characters, settings, and elements in this fanfiction are the intellectual property of their respective owners. New Life, New Saga is inspired by Summertime Saga, which is owned by Kompas Productions. This fanfiction is created purely for fun and non-commercial purposes, and I do not claim any ownership of the original works. All rights to the original material belong to their creators. If you appreciate my work and would like to support my writing, consider making a donation on my Patreon. Thank you for your support and for reading!