Henry wasn’t the only one flustered by the unexpected answer.
The coach seemed to have thought similarly to Henry. That there was no way Declan Russell would refuse.
Unlike Henry, he was the coach, yet he had never properly talked with Declan about whether he was considering a career as a player.
He couldn’t hide his surprise and even began to stutter.
“No, why, why? This great opportunity? Declan, aren’t you going pro?”
The coach asked him urgently.
With a face devoid of any expectation or excitement, Declan answered monotonously.
“No. I have no such thoughts.”
“Do you have a career path in mind? Is that why you’re refusing?”
Declan didn’t answer the coach’s continued question. Realizing that Declan didn’t particularly have a set career path, the coach hurriedly tried to persuade him.
“Declan. Just because you participate in the showcase doesn’t mean you have to go pro. It’s uncertain whether you’ll be called again when you become a 12th grader. Most importantly, after going to college, it’s much more common to branch into other sports-related fields rather than going pro. Only a very small number of kids successfully go pro.”
The coach eagerly laid out the facts. Henry also glanced at Declan while listening to the coach’s explanation.
Being invited to the showcase as a reserve on the 11th-grade list was no ordinary matter. Henry felt this was like a preview toward a long-held dream. That’s why he couldn’t understand Declan all the more.
After playing a blood-pumping game, the spotlight pours on the winner. After becoming a sports star, you receive much love on a nationwide scale.
Football was, without a doubt, one of the most popular sports in America.
To kick away the fastest path to reaching such a position? Why on earth?
Of course, Henry knew that he didn’t aspire to go pro. Hadn’t they talked about it before?
However, it wasn’t that he lacked skill or talent. If anything, what he lacked was ambition and effort.
Declan Russell had talent. Enough to easily solve the relatively lacking parts and still have plenty left over.
Having struggled desperately to win a starting position in middle school, Henry couldn’t understand Declan all the more.
“Think about it one more time. Okay? It’s not too late to decide after going and seeing.”
Despite the coach’s sincere explanation, there was no change in Declan Russell’s decision.
“It’s fine.”
He repeated his refusal once again. It was an unwavering answer that made it feel like none of the persuasion the coach had offered so far had worked at all.
Eventually, the coach seemed to realize that persuading Declan was impossible and sat down in his chair, somewhat deflated.
“Alright, I understand. But if you ever change your mind, let me know.”
“Yes.”
“Okay. You both can go. Henry, if you don’t mind, try persuading Declan. You know how precious this opportunity is.”
He knew well. That’s why it was more of a problem.
Because he was in the process of hating Declan to death, who was kicking away the position he so desperately wanted without a moment’s hesitation.
“Yes.”
Henry, who had been keeping silent, gave a short answer. Then he followed Declan, who had turned around first.
Only the sound of the two people’s footsteps echoed through the hallway. Only after they had gotten quite far from the office did Henry cautiously speak up.
It was a question that couldn’t hide the awkwardness due to the aftermath of their recent fight.
“…Are you really not going to the showcase?”
Declan didn’t even look back at Henry. As if not even a trace of regret remained, he walked looking straight ahead and answered.
“Yeah.”
A short answer of just one syllable.
Henry’s footsteps, having lost his words, slowed down. He glared at Declan’s back for a long while, then eventually let out a sigh and caught up with him.
“Why don’t you want to go? Can’t you tell me this either?”
Naturally, Henry’s tone became sharp. Even though he knew it wasn’t something he had the right to be angry about.
Whenever he stood in front of Declan, he lost all his usual composure. Instead of smiling brightly and responding leisurely, he kept getting angry and making excuses that wouldn’t work.
Even without that, lately Henry had been hating himself for being like this.
“Why are you asking?”
He asked Henry in a tone that suggested he found it just as incomprehensible as Henry did.
In fact, Henry had already been questioning himself as well.
Before the incident in the locker room. If he had heard this story around that time, Henry probably wouldn’t have asked Declan for a reason.
He surely would have smiled brightly in front of the coach, said he would try to persuade him, then quickly walked out and passed by Declan.
Because he would have hated even seeing him in front of him. Because if he voluntarily refused, he would have considered it a good thing.
But now he was curious.
Why was Declan Russell kicking away such a good opportunity with his own feet?
“I don’t understand. It’s an opportunity others want but can’t get. And you received it, but you’re refusing it.”
“Just because you want the opportunity doesn’t mean I’ll want it too. If you think that, you’re mistaken.”
He answered nonchalantly. It would have been better if he had gotten angry or sneered instead.
Declan talked about what he considered important and worked hard for as if it were nothing. That appearance grated Henry’s patience raw.
Eventually, Henry’s hostile gaze turned toward Declan.
“Are you seriously trying to annoy me?”
Only after spitting out the words did he realize. The fact that at some point, he had become quite attached to him.
In fact, Henry Lowell was hoping that he would either declare he would go to the showcase right now, or explain to him that there were circumstances.
“You’re really arrogant.”
“I know.”
Henry finally let out the words he had been holding back. Unlike Henry, who bit his lip anxiously after letting them out, thinking “oh no”—
“So what? Is that a reason for you to be angry at me?”
Declan said with a face that showed not a single wound as always. The admission that flowed out so readily instantly blew away Henry’s efforts to act even a little more rationally.
Henry finally understood why Colton’s group had been so frustrated that they went crazy, unable to do anything about Declan.
Henry Lowell had always hidden negative emotions, wrapping them tightly in pretty wrapping paper so they wouldn’t be exposed. Because the moment they showed to others, someone would be disappointed in him.
He wasn’t used to being hated. He wasn’t used to expressing it either.
Because no one had taught him.
That’s why, even though Henry and Declan had been on bad terms all this time, he had never directly expressed his ‘dislike.’
The fact that Henry Lowell disliked Declan Russell was the same. Everyone only vaguely realized it because Henry’s usual behavior toward others showed such a gentle appearance.
Having lived wrapping himself in a decent shell to that extent, this was the first time he had brought out his raw self like this.
Unrefined words poured out haphazardly.
“…You annoy me. You don’t work hard at anything. You don’t even feel regret. I’ve been working hard until now for just one thing—football, which you treat as nothing.”
It was unpleasant.
The appearance that didn’t change no matter what he brought out and showed.
Conversely, because of that, Declan Russell felt comfortable. A strange certainty that this man would remain unchanged no matter what he showed him.
Because of these thoughts, he kept saying and doing things he didn’t need to.
This time was the same. His head thought he should stop, but Henry’s mouth poured out the words he had kept inside, not knowing when to end.
“My efforts… feel like they’re becoming nothing. Because of you.”
No answer came back.
Henry silently passed by Declan’s side. He didn’t hear footsteps following him.
In fact, Henry was curious whether Declan was showing even the slightest reaction to his words. Enough to want to stop his steps right now, turn back, grab him, and turn him toward himself.
But he held back. Because if he did that, it felt like he would really lose to him.
Even though he had poured out raw emotions for the first time, Henry’s mood didn’t improve at all.
