Chapter 7 - The Sports Fest
1972 Words
Vlarius’ POV
Ever since I approached and apologized to Aoi on the rooftop last week, he stopped being aloof and he started greeting me back everytime I say hi to him. Though, he still doesn’t look at me directly in the eyes. He’s no longer the rude jerk that he was before.
I can also say that we technically made up.
It’s also been a week since the last time he had his ‘heat’. According to the scientists, the heat comes every month. It’s just like the women’s cycle—though, it has its very own cycle. They’re still not sure but the heat will come even if it’s still not its time to come yet, as long as it gets triggered, it can come.
Anyway, it’s the foundation week of our school and today, all of the students in our school are required to join the sports fest. I joined the basketball tournament and it’s scheduled later this afternoon. While waiting, me and Marvin watched the track and field event.
Usually, I would refuse Marvin’s invitation to watch that event to get some rest before our matches starts but because Marvin forced me this time—using his puppy eyes so that he could convince me, so I had no choice. I agreed to watch one game of track and field with him.
I sighed. I really can’t reject Marvin every time he does that.
We sat on the bench and watched the freshmen run with all their strength.
“Woah! Look Vlar! They’re really, really fast!” Marvin said to me excitingly. I nodded and looked at the field again.
They’re really fast at running and they jump really high.
“I heard that one of the runners there is actually a member of the track and field. That’s a plus because he already has an experience when it comes to this thing. Though, it puts the other runners at a disadvantage.” Marvin said.
I smirked. Maybe I should try signing up on the track and field event next year. It seems fun.
In the first lap, the Class A was won even though there was a bit of a delay in their first runner. They’re lucky to have a fast runner in the final lap.
I stood up from the bench and looked at Marvin.
“What?”
“You’re already leaving?” Marvin asked me while using the same puppy eyes that he used before. I chuckled and nodded my head.
“But…”
“The game’s already over. I only promised that I’ll watch one game with you.” I said to him. Marvin pouted. I smiled and pat his head. I was about to walk away when I overheard the students beside us.
“Hey, isn’t that the Japanese transfer student?”
“Who?”
“Takahashi, that student who aced the exams in the midterms.”
“Really? Wow, I didn’t expect him to join this track and field event.”
“I know, right?”
I stopped from walking and I turned around and looked at the field to see the person who they’re talking about. And after a few seconds of looking around the field, I saw Aoi who’s currently tying a scarf around his head.
“Aoi…” I whispered his name.
Aoi’s hair was tied and because of that, I can see his face clearly.
My lips parted.
He somehow looks different.
He looks, beautiful.
“Hey, aren’t you leaving?” I looked behind me and saw Marvin who’s giving me a confused look. I cleared my throat and immediately sat down. Marvin’s eyebrows furrowed.
“What’s up with you, I thought you’re leaving after watching one game?” Marvin asked me. I shook my head.
“I-I’m staying, I just realized that I have some time left.”
“But you need to rest right—”I immediately cut off his words.
“I-I can rest later. Anyway—” I cleared my throat and pointed at the field. “—let’s focus on watching this game.” I said to him. Marvin squinted his eyes but eventually, he just nodded his head and focused on the field.
Ah damn it, it’s really rare for me to tell a lie to Marvin because as much as possible, I wanted him to trust me and by that, I need to be honest to him. I also don’t know why I lied, I mean, I can just say that Aoi’s playing and I want to watch him play.
I don’t know why I just couldn’t bring myself to tell him that. I sighed and bit my lower lip.
I should ignore this uneasy feeling now and just focus on the game.
While watching the game, I couldn’t stop looking at Aoi who’s doing some stretching on the field. He really looks different. I don’t really know if it’s just me or it’s because he have his hair tied up now.
I really could see his features now that his hair’s tied up. First, his eyes really aren’t mean, it’s just too chinkee and I think it has to do with him being a Japanese. Plus, he always have this resting b***h face that’s why people often misunderstands him.
Like I did before.
But I finally realized after ‘that’ thing happened to us that it really wasn’t his fault that he looks like he’s always glaring at people, it’s just because of his eyes.
His cute, chinkee eyes that I used to hate before.
I smiled and continued on looking at Aoi. He’s finally walking to the starting line. He stretched again before finally setting in the position.
He looks serious.
And beautiful…
I cleared my throat and focused on him.
The whistle was blown and the event started. Aoi ran really fast and I was cheering on him silently when a student ran past him. My eyes widened. I could see that Aoi’s really trying to outrun the person in front of him but he couldn’t.
I was really planning on watching him and cheer him in silence but I really wasn’t able to suppress myself anymore. My body moved on its own and I shouted, in my loudest voice.
“DON’T LOSE AOI! RUN!”
Aoi suddenly turned his head to my direction while running and when our eyes met, he looked down and then back in front of him again. My eyes widened when he suddenly ran faster than before and he started closing in to the person in front of him. There’s only a few steps left until they reach the finish line. I really thought that he wouldn’t be able to catch up when he suddenly jumped just to reach the finish line.
He won…
I smiled. Aoi looked to my direction again. He was gasping for air and his hair suddenly fell on his face but I swear, before it covered his face, I saw him smile.
And my heart suddenly started fluttering for no reason.
I gulped and immediately looked away from the field when my eyes met with Marvin’s doubtful eyes.
“I…”
“When did you and him get close? I thought you hate the guy?” He asked me. I cleared my throat and smiled.
“L-Let’s talk about this later okay? I have to go.”
“Hey—” Before he could even ask me more questions, I immediately walked away.
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There’s ten minutes left before my basketball match starts. I was really gonna go and meet Aoi and congratulate him for winning the race but because of Marvin, I really wasn’t able to do that.
He’s obviously doubting me right now and I shouldn’t add more things for him to doubt.
I sighed. I really wanted to greet Aoi though…
I sucked in air and wore my jersey before heading out to the court.
The game started and our team was losing because my team wasn’t really focused on winning. We’re ten points behind and it’s the last quarter, I don’t think that we can catch up.
“There’s six minutes left, can we really win this?” Gilbert asked me. He’s one of my team mates and he plays well, he’s actually the only one who’s helping me to win this.
I sighed.
“I don’t know. Maybe not.” I answered him.
“Damn it, I really wanted to have that trophy before I graduate though… f**k, why were we even matched with these stupid dudes?!” Gilbert said and ran with the ball on his hand.
After the time out, the game continued until there’s a minute left.
“f**k, we’re behind four points!” Gilbert cursed. I clicked my tongue.
There’s no f*****g way that we’re going to win this.
We continued on playing. There’s only a few seconds left on the shot clock and the other team is obviously going to just let the time pass by but Gilbert didn’t want that, he ran and slapped the ball out of the player’s hand.
Gilbert finally got the steal and he immediately passed the ball to me. I received it and without having any second thoughts, I went for the three.
It went in but my body was suddenly laying on the floor. I groaned in pain.
“That’s a foul!” Gilbert shouted at the member of the other team.
I didn’t even realized that the guy suddenly jumped into me and forcefully tried to block the shot and hit me on the head!
“Hey are you alright?!” One of my team members approached me and helped me get up. I stood up and groaned again.
That player fell on me purposely!
“Hey! You did that on purpose!” A guy on our team shouted at the man who fell on me. I clicked my tongue. The referee was reviewing the footage of the incident that happened and blew the whistle.
“You’re given the chance to shoot two shots. Can you do it?” Gilbert approached me. I couldn’t answer him because my arm’s really painful and I don’t know if I could do it.
“Come on Vlarius, just a point will do and then we’ll win.”
I closed my eyes and sighed. I couldn’t answer him.
The referee gave me the ball and I dribbled until he blew the whistle. I went to shoot it but the pain suddenly kicked in and the ball didn’t enter the ring.
“Fuck.” I whispered under my breath. The other team’s already grinning as if they’re already celebrating.
Again, I dribbled the ball and waited for the whistle to be blown. The referee was about to blow the whistle when a person on the crowd suddenly shouted.
“MAKE THAT SHOT VLARIUS! DON’T LOSE!”
That was a familiar voice…
My eyes widened and I immediately looked around and saw Aoi on the crowd. Our eyes met and my heart started fluttering again for no reason.
The crowd’s attention suddenly went to him. He blushed and immediately looked down.
I smiled and the sound of the whistle blowing echoed the gymnasium and in a matter of seconds, the game ended with a score of one hundred thirty two to one hundred thirty one.
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After the game, I didn’t waste any time and immediately went to search for Aoi. He wasn’t there during the closing ceremony so I really didn’t see his reaction when we won.
Yes, we won, and I thank Aoi for that. I don’t know but his words suddenly gave me strength to the point that I forgot the pain on my right arm.
I walked around the gymnasium when I suddenly smelled a familiar scent. My eyebrows furrowed.
It’s that sweet smell!
I looked around and ran until I reached a dark corner. As I went in, the scent just became stronger and stronger. I immediately covered my mouth and nose. I can’t go in further because I might lose my control again. I cleared my throat and decided to turn back when I heard a familiar voice.
“H-Help… please, I don’t want this… please stop.”
My eyes widened.
“Aoi.” I whispered his name and without having any second thoughts, I immediately ran to his direction and saw Aoi laying on the floor—almost naked and around him were the guys from the team that we were against with earlier.
“Aoi…” Aoi looked at me and a tear fell from his eyes.
“H-Help… me… Vlarius…”
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NOCTURNALBEAST
- Writer
