I take the box, almost dropping it to the floor, and try to pretend I’m not nervous even though I’m probably failing. I ask Santiago to sit on his bed, and I sit next to him. First, I put a bit of rubbing alcohol and clean the part of his forehead I hit, where he has a little cut. I immediately notice there's already a bump.

“Max, be gentle, please. It hurts a lot,” Santiago pleads while squeezing my wrist. Every time it hurts, he doesn’t say anything, just squeezes my wrist harder.

I was so concentrated about not hurting him as I applied the cream and covered the cut with a band aid, that I didn’t notice his childish gesture. Now, I can’t help but laugh. I fix his bangs to hide the band aid. Suddenly, Sandy opens the door. At first, I don’t understand why she looks so surprised, but then I realize that, for someone who doesn’t know what happened, it may look as if I’m touching Santiago.

“I- I think I’m interrupting. I should’ve knocked. I’m sorry!” And she closes the door.

“Sandy, come back! You’re not interrupting anything!” I yell, a bit desperate. I don’t want her misunderstanding what she saw and causing trouble to Santiago. Despite all the worries in my mind, when I look at Santiago, he remains impassive. He looks calm, sitting next to me as if he doesn’t really understand what just happened. I take him by the arm and we run after Sandy. After I explain what happened, stuttering and messy, Sandy starts laughing loudly.

After that the three of us go back to the yard and practice serving. It's harder than I imagined. According to the rules I have to hit the feather at waist height, and if possible, the feather has to go to the other side almost brushing the net, to make it difficult for the one receiving. But, more importantly, it has to go over the white line of the opposing area.

“This is it for today,” Sandy says, and she starts dismantling the net. “Next time we’ll play a match.”

I didn’t feel the time passing, but, looking at the purple light entering the yard, I realize it’s late.

“Max, your house is close, right? Do you mind if I come with you? I’m just curious to see how close you live,” Santiago says, shyly, and I just nod in reply. I take my things and we walk towards my house surrounded by that purple light reflecting from the sky, it soon turns darker, and then the artificial lights of the city turn everything yellow.