Henry was anxious. Because nothing had happened.
Shouldn’t he be relieved that nothing had happened? It meant Declan Russell hadn’t exposed Henry Lowell’s secret to anyone.
But Declan Russell wasn’t the right person to have such peace of mind about.
Right now, Henry had handed Declan the knife handle, telling him to hurry up and stab him. When he would swing the already-given knife was up to him, wasn’t it?
In the end, Henry had no choice but to tremble in fear of the knife that would fly at him someday.
Since that day, Henry had fallen into the thought that he was playing in the palm of Declan’s hand. Thanks to that, he’d spent the weekdays in an annoyed state from Monday onward. During that time, he also experienced regret for the first time in his life.
Why did it have to be that bastard? No. If only it hadn’t been in front of David’s cabinet that he cried.
If that were the case, it would have just been a bit embarrassing and that would’ve been it.
Carrying such anxiety and regret, time passed again. Monday became Friday, and still nothing had happened.
Every morning, Henry checked his phone as soon as he opened his eyes. Wondering if someone who’d heard the rumor from Declan had contacted him to confirm the truth. Next, he observed Joseph’s behavior. Whether he was avoiding him or not.
It was unsettling. He hoped it wouldn’t burst, but if it was going to burst someday anyway, despair even crept in that it would be better if it burst now.
At this point, he couldn’t help but acknowledge it. The fact that he was scared.
He was afraid of his daily life crumbling. Henry’s daily life wasn’t just about coming to school. Being at the top of his peer group at school was also part of his daily life.
It was the same at home. The youngest son faithful to the Lord who followed his parents’ words well. That was the role given to Henry. When he returned home every weekend, everyone should welcome the lovable youngest.
These were all elements that constituted him. Things that should never crumble.
Coming to school and everyone pointing fingers at him? Returning home and his mother looking at him with cold eyes before going into her room?
It was something he couldn’t even imagine. It meant his utterly natural daily life would be overturned overnight.
Wondering if such a day would really come, Henry was trembling in fear and worrying.
Today too, Henry’s eyes stole glances at Declan, who was warming up beside him, and swallowed a hollow laugh. He’d already ruined practice for several days watching him.
Even while thinking I need to focus on practice today, he couldn’t stop his gaze from constantly turning to Declan Russell.
His heart pounded at his smallest actions, and when he was close to someone talking, he was anxious to the point of going crazy. Wondering if he might be talking about him.
His mood was sinking endlessly to the bottom.
***
“Ugh! Ah, fuck!”
An irritable voice spat out a rough curse. Henry looked at the ball that had hit his hand and flown off in a strange direction. A little distance away, Colton Columbus was sprawled out.
The ball that should have been caught in his hands was rolling beside Colton.
“…Damn it.”
Henry swallowed a curse.
Colton Columbus. Of all people. Somehow he had a feeling this would get annoying.
“Hey, Henry. Are you going to snap out of it or not?”
Just as he expected, an annoyed rebuke came immediately. Henry let out a soundless sigh and said.
“…Sorry.”
He must have been really hurt because Colton could be seen struggling to get up while covering the area he was hit with his hand.
“You seem like you’ve been thinking about other things throughout training lately?”
Sure enough. Soon a confrontational remark came back. Anyway, it was true that Colton got hurt because of his mistake.
Henry suppressed his rising irritation and tried hard to smile as usual.
“Me?”
“Yeah. In the classroom too, during training too. Your eyes never seem to leave Russell.”
I’ve never looked openly, so how does he know? Henry hid the rising doubt and embarrassment in his smile. His fingertips grew cold.
“Ahh—has Henry Lowell lost his touch?”
“…What?”
Colton picking a fight wasn’t that rare. Didn’t he expect this to happen from the moment he realized the person hit by the ball was Colton?
Colton Columbus was a celebrity at school for slightly different reasons than Henry.
He was someone who dug up and spread gossip about students. Given such behavior, Colton Columbus’s reputation wasn’t positive.
But Colton didn’t care. Notoriety was also fame, and it seemed he quite liked the image of an incorrigible troublemaker attached to him.
Many students predicted that if Colton weren’t the chairman’s nephew, he probably would have been expelled long ago. Henry thought so too.
Colton Columbus was someone beyond common sense. It was better not to associate with such an insane bastard if possible.
But when he inevitably clashed with him despite efforts to avoid entanglement, Henry chose to go along with him instead. Because he didn’t want to create unnecessary trouble.
So the usual Henry would have tried to appease Colton and move on even if he got on his nerves.
“Russell transferred and you got dumped by Hazel right away, didn’t you? And as soon as you broke up, Russell and she started dating immediately. Plus, there’s even a rumor going around that you yielded the quarterback position to Russell.”
“…”
“Wow, so even the mighty Henry Lowell is disturbed at this point? Seeing how you lost focus in training and dropped the ball. At this rate, next year’s championship is out the window. Maybe you’ll soon lose the title of best quarterback too, Henry. After acting so superior, what a pity.”
The problem was that Henry wasn’t the usual Henry.
“Say that again, Columbus.”
“Why, are you angry? At the comment that you’re washed up and can’t even focus on training because you’re jealous of Russell? But what can you do when it’s the truth?”
Perhaps Henry’s reaction stimulated his excitement, as Colton grinned meanly and spoke.
“Listen, Columbus.”
“What. Got something to say?”
“You can’t possibly be unaware of the rumor that you secured your starting position in this club thanks to the chairman. You can’t resist rumors after all. Ah, is it different for your own rumors?”
Colton’s expression, which had been drawn in a crooked arc, hardened stiffly.
Henry felt his patience, which he’d held for five days straight, reaching its limit. This action was venting stress obtained from Declan, and after this time passed, he would regret it. Because his rationality was desperately pulling him back.
That didn’t mean it stopped. Hadn’t he already let the words out? They couldn’t be taken back, but he didn’t want to make the effort to take them back anyway.
Above all.
“You need to at least pretend. You always slack off and use tricks during training. You’ve never properly participated in training even once. I at least pretended well, so even if we lost the game, everyone told me I was the game’s MVP. That I did well. But you?”
“This bastard…”
“You’re not in a position to give me advice. Right? If anything, I should be the one worrying about you and giving you advice.”
These were words he’d wanted to say every time he saw Colton. After pouring out the words he’d pressed down and held in, he felt satisfied as if his insides had been cleared out. Henry could smile refreshingly.
Seeing Henry’s bright smile, strength entered Colton’s right hand.
In the atmosphere that had cooled like ice, the surroundings had somehow become quiet. A tension hung between the two as if fists would fly at any moment. Club members who’d been continuing preparations for training not far away read the situation.
“Colton! Henry apologized. Calm down. Both of you are going too far with your words.”
“That’s right. Henry said he was sorry. It’s also true that you said unnecessary things to Henry first. Stop it. Henry, did something happen to make you angry today?”
Everyone sided with Henry and urged Colton to stop. Even though it was Colton who got hit by the ball due to Henry’s mistake, and verbal abuse of a fairly similar level had been exchanged.
Henry was satisfied with the atmosphere flowing as he expected. It was a victory created by his reputation so far.
“…Yeah, right. That’s what I should do. My words were harsh. I’ll apologize, sorry. Let’s make up, Columbus.”
Henry smiled as if he’d forgotten all the insults he’d just heard and extended his hand to him. At Henry’s reconciliation request, those who’d been watching the two breathed sighs of relief.
However, Colton didn’t stop.
Colton stepped forward with his left foot.
“You son of a bitch!”
Whoosh, Colton swung his fist fast enough to make a sound.
