After finishing his conversation with Declan and returning to his room, Henry sat at his desk. He was troubled, but tomorrow was the start of the comprehensive evaluation period.
Joseph also didn’t unnecessarily talk to him since he was studying. Just last semester at this time, he would have been pleased that Joseph was keeping his mouth shut and it was quiet, but today he couldn’t do that.
His eyes were following the words written in the book, but nothing was entering his head. Henry’s hand holding the pen had also stopped at some point.
Henry was always a student who cared about his grades, but the past month or so of classes had been a continuous string of days when he couldn’t concentrate because of Declan Russell. Now was the time to deal with the consequences.
He would have, if only Declan filling his head wasn’t tormenting him.
He sat at his desk in a daze for a long time, but all that time passed meaninglessly.
At some point, Henry gave up studying. The more he studied, the more the content seemed to just get jumbled in his head, so for him it was an inevitable choice.
“Ha… I’m screwed.”
Henry muttered quietly and buried his face in his book. He let out a big sigh and eventually threw himself onto the bed.
Hearing that presence, Joseph turned his head and asked in puzzlement.
“Not studying? What’s gotten into you?”
“…Can’t concentrate.”
Henry said as if muttering. Even at Henry’s words, Joseph asked with a giggle.
“Want me to turn off the light?”
“…You’re going to do more anyway.”
“I’ll just turn on the desk lamp. If you can’t study, at least get some good sleep.”
Overflowing with consideration, Joseph told Henry that and turned off the room light.
Henry pulled the blanket up to his neck and closed his eyes.
The night before finals. Henry hadn’t known he’d be in such a headache-inducing and irritating situation.
Usually at this time, he would only be fixated on tomorrow’s test results.
But now, more than that.
What Declan Russell might be thinking. Thoughts about him occupied more of Henry’s mind.
It was absurd.
***
After the exam ended, Henry immediately pulled himself together and headed to the library. Because he was really in big trouble.
He made consecutive mistakes even on problems he would normally solve sufficiently and get right. It couldn’t be helped since all the letters written on the paper only looked blurry.
In the end, barely satisfied with just filling in all the answers, Henry ended up bombing the science exam.
He had to come to his senses at some point. He couldn’t ruin all his life plans because of Declan Russell, could he?
The school library was moderately crowded, befitting the comprehensive evaluation period. Those concentrating on studying for exams. Those writing essays. Those doing alternative assignments. The breathing sounds of people each doing their own work, and the scratching sound of pens created noise.
Unlike usual, Henry chose the most secluded seat to sit in and opened his book.
Except for meal times, the day passed well as he sat all day just looking at books.
At some point, the sun was setting. Darkness began to settle over the entire building.
Had they gone back to the dormitory one by one? When he looked around, students were now sitting sparsely.
Henry, sitting by the window, lightly surveyed his surroundings, stretched his arms, then lowered his eyes again. He was looking at the material to study, but the efficiency was much lower than usual. Progress was much slower.
Looking at the situation, it seemed he’d have to pull an all-nighter today.
Time passed for a long while like that and the dead of night arrived.
Keeping the resolution to study even if it meant staying up all night wasn’t easy. In the first place, this was all a situation Henry was experiencing for the first time, since the concept of studying little by little in advance was deeply ingrained in him.
Eventually, Henry’s head, unable to overcome drowsiness, dropped. Before he could even realize he was dozing off, Henry fell asleep.
How much time had passed?
Thud-!
Something with appropriate weight was placed right next to Henry’s ear.
Before he could even perceive it, Henry’s eyes, which had been sound asleep, snapped open. Then he was flustered by the fact that he’d fallen asleep.
Henry’s face went blank as he looked down where the sound had come from. A caffeinated drink and energy bar were placed there.
Henry’s head quickly turned to find the person who left him the gift. But the other person had already been gone for a while.
The library had become much emptier than the last scene Henry had seen just before falling asleep.
There was no longer anyone visible here who would hand him something like this. Everyone had their heads buried, their minds occupied with preparing for the end of the semester.
Should I grab the nearest person and ask who left it? Henry pondered for a very short time.
Though he didn’t end up following through.
Henry felt grateful to the unknown person and opened the canned drink.
Probably one of the female students who supported him or liked him. Henry arbitrarily guessed and was certain. Without considering any other possibilities at all.
Eating all the drinks and snacks that someone anonymous had left for him, Henry focused intently on studying. Because there really were only a few hours left now.
***
For Henry, this comprehensive evaluation period was quite an ordeal of days. Not only had he not prepared for the evaluations, but there were also enough factors interfering with his preparation.
After several days of battling drowsiness from staying up all night, Henry finally became a free man.
The fall semester was ending, and Christmas was approaching. Today at Platts was the day of the year-end party to commemorate the end of the year.
While a sense of liberation came, on the other hand, he wasn’t entirely comfortable. Because during the break period, naturally he would have to attend church every day and stay at home.
And so finally, on the day of the closing ceremony.
Having finished packing, Henry made his last attendance of the semester. He was called by the Football Club’s coach.
There weren’t many reasons to be called by Coach at this time. Most of them were likely to be about things Henry would be happy about or had been hoping for.
Instantly forgetting the things that had complicated him until now, Henry headed to the office where Coach was, smiling brightly.
“Coach. It’s Henry.”
Knock, knock-. Henry announced his presence by tapping on the door.
“Oh, yeah. Come on in.”
Coach’s welcoming voice came as if he’d been waiting. But it wasn’t only Coach who greeted Henry as he opened the door full of anticipation.
Inside, Declan Russell, with his usual quietness, was there together.
For a moment, Henry nearly lost the smile he’d been wearing continuously. He caught his lips that nearly stiffened. Henry struggled to feign his usual calm.
“You called for me.”
He’d thought he was being called for something good, but seeing that Declan was already there first, anxiety raised its head again.
However, fortunately.
“Henry, you roughly know, right? The All-Star game held for 12th graders.”
“Yes. I know.”
“Right. It’s the last public stage for 12th graders whose regular season has ended. At the same time, it’s also a game where scouts confirm with their own eyes the actual game performance of students they have in mind. Usually, recruiting enters the final stage starting from this showcase.”
Henry nodded earnestly at Coach’s words explaining content he already knew.
“From our school’s 12th grade, Troy and Tillman, Dylan, and even Joe were invited.”
It was something he’d vaguely expected. No, to be precise, it was more than expected.
Platts was a school well-known for football. However, there weren’t that many who played football after graduating high school, or who could.
David was also one such example. He played football quite well, but didn’t dream of being a player.
It was a position where only those called the most promising prospects among carefully selected players were invited—those who secured a spot on the first team at Platts, which was evaluated as having high walls for starters, and even caught the eyes of college scouts.
Among the 12th graders for whom advancing to the college league had become half a fait accompli, calling Henry and Declan, who were still 11th graders, to this place meant.
“You two were also invited to the site as preliminary candidates for next year. Think of it as a place where you go watch the game, do some interviews, take profile photos and show your face, and go comfortably. You’ll go, right?”
Coach asked with the certainty that there was no way they’d refuse.
There was no need to think about it. Henry immediately gave his answer without hesitation.
“Yes.”
“Good. Declan?”
Coach called his name. Henry glanced at him.
He didn’t even imagine an answer of not going. He thought it was natural. It was a position that everyone who had ever played football dreamed of.
Declan raised his head and looked directly at Coach.
“I won’t go.”
The moment Declan’s answer was heard, Henry blinked slowly, doubting what he’d heard.
This bastard. What is he saying right now?
