The relationship between Henry Lowell and Declan Russell hadn’t been bad from the beginning.
No, to tell the truth, Henry had disliked Declan from the start. Henry wanted to polish his school days to perfection, which the whole world would dig into once he became a professional player after graduation.
Everything was proceeding according to plan. And that plan was supposed to continue smoothly until he safely finished high school and made his debut.
If only it weren’t for damn Declan Russell’s transfer.
The day he transferred in. In just a few hours, praise for his appearance spread throughout the entire school.
The male students looked at Declan and disliked him, saying his face was pretty like a woman’s despite his huge body, but that was just their opinion.
Henry wasn’t stupid, so he knew that the appearance the male students disliked for being pretty was something the female students really liked.
From the male students’ reaction, Henry predicted that the power he held might be divided, and his thought became reality in just half a day.
A female student from the cheerleading club who had seen Declan Russell—Hazel—fell for him at first sight and confessed.
The problem was, that day was about two days after Hazel and Henry had broken up.
Even then, Henry Lowell had tried to embrace Declan generously.
‘Hey, Henry. It looks like Declan accepted Hazel’s confession.’
‘Mm, really?’
‘Are you okay?’
‘Why wouldn’t I be okay? Hazel and I already broke up. If she found new love, that’s a good thing.’
While brushing off the questions pouring in from around him as if it were nothing.
Besides, Henry’s dating cycle was excessively short. His longest relationship had been just about 20 days.
Maybe because of that. Everyone accepted Henry’s act with a “That’s true.”
This was both to manage Henry’s own image and for Declan’s sake.
Imagine if he had directly said he didn’t like Declan there. Declan would have immediately become the enemy of all the male students in the school.
This would have definitely been annoying and uncomfortable for Declan. But Henry endured it out of consideration for him. Though Declan didn’t even notice Henry’s consideration.
No. Now that he thought about it, Henry thought he might have deliberately pretended not to notice.
But, well. It didn’t really matter. Up to this point wasn’t the decisive reason Henry came to hate Declan Russell. It was just one of the many reasons he could give if someone asked, “Why do you hate Declan?”
Wise Henry knew he couldn’t take back the power that had already been divided. Instead, he thought that since things had turned out this way, becoming friends with Declan would be good for both of them.
The friendship of men who divided the school’s power. Wasn’t that quite fictional and the kind of material female students would like?
Therefore. There was a day when Henry greeted Declan first when they passed each other. Even smiling brightly.
‘Um, you’re Declan Russell, right? Nice to meet you.’
Henry naturally expected an answer. But contrary to his expectations, Declan Russell glanced at Henry and just passed right by.
‘Uh… are you okay?’
Henry’s friends nearby asked, unable to hide their bewilderment. Henry answered his friends with a bitter face.
‘I guess he doesn’t like me because of Hazel.’
Whether it was really because of Hazel. He couldn’t gauge the exact reason, but it didn’t bother him much. To Henry, the existence of someone who disliked him was impossible.
His pride was hurt, but Henry made an effort to hide such signs. He thought it was a necessary act to make Declan his ally.
Then he heard that Declan had played football at his previous school too. He’d expected it—he was tall and big.
Henry went directly to the coach and told him about Declan. The coach’s eyes sparkled as he sought him out, and Declan ended up being scouted to the football club.
Platts was a school fairly well-known for football, and now Henry was adding even more to that reputation.
The fact that “he played football at Platts and ran games with Henry Lowell” was going to be a source of pride that everyone who attended school at the same time could use. …At least, that’s what Henry himself thought.
Therefore, Henry was convinced he had created something for Declan to be proud of for the rest of his life. The thought that Declan would also have become his ally by now was a bonus.
‘Declan Russell, what’s your position?’
‘Quarterback.’
Until he found out he was in the same position as himself.
The coach who heard Declan’s answer looked at Henry with a troubled face.
‘Ah… we have Henry. You can only play quarterback if you’re a better player than Henry. Your build is good so it’s worth trying, but would you like to have a practice game?’
At the coach’s question, Declan looked at Henry once, then answered with a light laugh.
‘No, I’ve also played center. It’s fine if it’s not quarterback.’
To Henry’s ears, it felt as if the words “Since you’re aiming for pro, I won’t steal your position and block your path” had been omitted.
Being “yielded” the quarterback position was something that didn’t exist in Henry’s dictionary.
‘No! Coach, let’s decide after a practice game.’
Above all, center was the position of David, whom he liked. David didn’t really suit center in terms of build or strength.
If David went up against a big bastard like that, it was obvious David would lose. Then wouldn’t that mean he’d have to rub shoulders with that bastard instead of David during games?
He hated that more than death.
‘Huh? What for? We only had David doing it because we didn’t have anyone for center. David was originally a tight end. Going back to his original position is good for David too. Isn’t that right, David?’
The coach’s words weren’t wrong. Since he couldn’t argue against it, Henry hoped David would insist he wanted to stay as center, but.
‘Yes, I’m fine with anything!’
Henry had forgotten.
David was someone who adapted to whatever situation was given to him. So much so that if you molded adaptability into a person, wouldn’t it become him?
In the end, Declan secured the center position. It was a bonus that he emerged as a core member of the team not long after. He didn’t want to admit it, but Declan Russell was good.
Henry had never lost once when it came to physical fights against other students. Even he couldn’t beat Declan in strength.
He’d expected it since he was tall and had a good build, but it was beyond imagination. At the physical ability that was similar to or slightly surpassed Henry, who had been the team’s main force, the coach’s face bloomed with smiles.
It was annoying. Even though nothing had been taken, the thought that Declan was taking his things one by one wouldn’t disappear.
In team sports, the relationship with those running the game together is bound to affect performance. Since the relationship between the team’s first and second priorities was bad, naturally even attacks that should have succeeded often ended in failure.
Even though it was natural that with better members, the results should be better.
Clashes became frequent, there were times they fought and got substituted, and there was even a day when David, who tried to stop them, got hurt.
Around that time, everyone in the school had long since known that Henry Lowell and Declan Russell didn’t get along.
That’s how Henry came to dislike Declan. No, to hate him. He who suddenly appeared from somewhere was the main culprit who ruined his school days that should have been filled with success.
Why he ignored him—the reason wasn’t important or curious. Since there were more than enough reasons for him to hate him this much, his thoughts weren’t important.
Of course, it wasn’t that he considered it important, but Henry was convinced that Declan also hated him.
“…So, that’s the kind of relationship we had. Why did that bastard of all people have to find out! God is so indifferent! No, does He even exist? If God exists, He couldn’t do this to me!”
Blasphemous remarks flowed naturally from the mouth of the youngest son raised in a devout Christian household. It was a remark that would make his parents faint if they heard it.
***
Monday morning, Henry was preparing to go to school.
Having finished his shower, Henry stood in front of the mirror, gripping the sink and continuously muttering something.
Last night, his roommate who had returned from home—Joseph—knocked on the bathroom door with an annoyed voice.
“Hey, Henry! Let me wash up too! At this rate I’m going to go to school without washing! What have you been muttering about since yesterday!”
Joseph was angry at Henry’s incomprehensible state. The Henry he knew was always energetic yet kind.
To be precise, at least he didn’t get down without reason, and he didn’t try to hide that reason either.
But last Sunday, the Henry he faced when he returned to the dorm was like a completely different person. How unfamiliar it was to see him lying in bed, not answering anything, just groaning.
At first, Joseph was worried about Henry.
Wondering if he might be sick, he asked with concern, and the answer came back that he wasn’t sick. Then when he asked what happened, he said he couldn’t tell him.
No matter how many times he asked, Henry just repeated that he couldn’t say.
If that’s the case, then why be so annoying?
When it continued even after a night had passed, Joseph had now reached the point of anger.
As he knocked on the door for a while with that anger, Henry’s voice, which had been muttering incomprehensible words, cut off abruptly.
Creak— The door opened with the sound of old wood.
Water dripped from his not-yet-dry hair, and his face was haggard with his cheeks sunken below the cheekbones.
Joseph felt his rising anger subside at that haggard appearance.
“Joseph…”
“Yeah, what.”
Joseph answered Henry’s call with a much softer voice.
“When you go to school today, no matter what you hear… No. Never mind.”
“Hear? Hear what?”
“Nothing.”
“What is it? Tell me.”
“…If there are any rumors going around about me, don’t believe them and ask me directly.”
Joseph’s brow furrowed at Henry’s out-of-the-blue request.
“What? Did someone get dirt on you or something?”
“It’s not like that.”
“It is, though. You’re not going to tell me who has dirt on you, right?”
Henry couldn’t answer.
How could he say, “Declan figured out I’m gay. How did he figure it out? He caught me bawling while holding a wedding invitation from the guy I had a crush on—”
Henry looked down at Joseph with tired eyes.
“Ugh, fine. I got it.”
In the end, Joseph backed off, though unable to hide his subtle sense of hurt.
Now it was really time to go to school.
Right now, Henry had only one wish.
Please, please.
Let Declan Russell not have told anyone about his secret.
