LOGINAkira's POV
His eyes flashed something between disbelief and amusement.
“No you're not.”
He wasn't told? Now how do I explain this to him?
“I am your…”
“Get out of my way,” he brushed past me, not giving me a chance to speak.
“Kael… Kael…” I called but he had already walked away.
Now what do I do? This would be fucking harder than I expected.
I sat at his doorstep and waited for him to return, using the time to finish up with my homework.
“You? Why are you still here?” He asked as he walked in.
It took what felt like three hours or more for him to get back. It was already dark.
“Like I said earlier… I am your tutor, your parents hired me to tutor you so you could pass the upcoming final exams,” I explained.
“Well… It's late already.” He walked in, leaving me outside.
I packed up my books and left. Day one was definitely a failure. Kael didn't even give me a chance. How was this even gonna work?
Walking into my home, I was met with a thick aroma coming from the kitchen, it awakened my senses. Mum was back!
“Hey darling, where did you go off to?” She asked.
I wasn’t sure about telling her the truth yet. I don't know if this alliance with Kael would ever work out.
“Doing homework with my classmate,” I lied.
Disappointment washed over me. I shouldn't be lying to my mother.
“Okay sweetie, dinner is almost ready,” she said with a sweet smile. A smile that I knew wasn't true. Deep down that pretentious smile was a woman carrying the burden of a whole nation on her shoulders.
I smiled back at her and proceeded to drop my books in the room. I had a little shower before I settled down for a meal, just like she taught me to always do.
The next day at school, Kael was nowhere to be found. Not that I was actually looking for him, he just didn't bully me like he always did. Normally, by this time of the day, he would have sent me on an errand or two, and if I didn't comply, I'd face severe consequences.
I should be feeling relieved right? Kael wasn't ordering me around today, he didn't even cross paths with me.
But I wanted to see him, I needed to finalize yesterday's discussion with him.
Time at school flew faster than expected, now I was at his doorstep again, ringing his doorbell.
He opened up after about 10 mins. He didn't look surprised to see me unlike yesterday.
His hair was in a gorgeous mess, his eyelids found it hard to stay open, his shirt a little ruffled, but he still looked hot. His appearance mostly says: I interrupted his sleep.
“Hey Kael,” I said after a few seconds of silence.
He released his grip on the door and he walked in, I followed behind him and closed the door.
Kael was very rude, and that's his special way of saying ‘come in.’ But it’s sort of an improvement, compared to yesterday — today he let me in. He wore a softer expression than yesterday too. Seems like someone had knocked some sense into his head. Well… it's good for me, it would make my job a lot easier.
“Let's make this clear,” he turned to me. “You are my tutor for the time being, our relationship at school doesn't change. If I ever hear a word of this at school, you're toast.”
Relationship at school?
He means bullying me, while I obediently do his biddings because I have a pathetic life.
I took that as a threat more than a warning. I knew he was capable of doing terrible things.
“Understood.”
“Good,” he turned away from me and he ascended the stairs. He could have said: ‘I will be back soon Milky’.
Who was I kidding? He doesn't regard me in any way. And right now, I was nothing more than an obstacle he needed to get out of his way.
I sat and waited for him for minutes, till something in my head told me he wasn't coming back anytime soon.
So this was it? He'd just let me sit here and waste my time. He could at least behave a little more mature.
“Kael?... This… Kael…”
I got no response. I decided to take my leave.
I made a mental note to report the issue to the principal at school tomorrow. I am no longer interested in tutoring Kael, he isn't interested in getting tutored by me.
************
Standing beside my locker, I spotted the girl from the other day amidst the hallway, she didn't see me. I wanted to call out to her, unfortunately I do not know her name.
I had to return the clothes she gave me back. I waved at her, she turned abruptly, our eyes locked.
I grinned a little as she approached me.
“Hi.”
“I have been trying to reach you, thanks for the other day,” I opened my locker and brought out the clothes.
I made sure to wash them clean.
“No problem, you can keep them,” she smiled.
“It's your clothes.”
“No, you keep it.”
“Camila…” A black girl called from behind us, she was calling the girl. Her name was Camila.
“Bye, see you around sometime,” Camila said walking over to her friend.
“Thanks,” I waved at her.
I returned the clothes back to my locker.
“This would come in handy,” I muttered under my breath.
“You, come with me,” a deep voice said — one which I recognized like the back of my palm.
I followed him to wherever it was he was taking me to. And that was behind the lockers.
“Look… What happened yesterday…” he seemed to be out of words.
Was he trying to explain himself to me?
“It's fine, I don't want to tutor you anymore.” I looked down at my feet.
“Shut up… Take these books, deliver them to my house after school,” he handed me
his homework.
Here I was, thinking he wanted to apologize to me. It's still the same Kael, why was I getting my hopes up?
Akira’s POV Five days. That was all we had until the championship. I stared at the calendar on my phone while sitting at the kitchen table, slowly stirring my drink. Five days until Kael, Justin, Adrienne, and the rest of the team stepped onto the ice against Ravencrest Academy. Five days until all the practices, arguments, mistakes, and second chances were finally tested. And somehow, life outside hockey was still moving. My phone buzzed. Camila: I think I'm going to lose my mind. I smiled. Me: What happened? Her reply came almost immediately. Camila: Saturday. I frowned. Me: What about Saturday? Camila: The dinner. I laughed. Of course. The dinner with her parents and Daniel's family. The same dinner she had almost forgotten about. I typed back. Me: You're going. Camila: Unfortunately. I laughed again. Then another message appeared. Camila: And Adrienne wants to see me afterward. I smiled. Me: So what's the problem? There was a long pause. The
Justin’s POVI arrived at the rink before sunrise. I barely slept after Coach's message.Report to my office tomorrow morning before practice. There's something we need to discuss about the championship.I'd spent half the night wondering what it meant. Maybe he'd changed his mind. Maybe the school had discovered something else.Maybe— I stopped myself. No, I wasn't going to start imagining the worst.I'd spent enough time running from consequences. Whatever Coach wanted, I would face it. I knocked on his office door."Come in."I stepped inside. Coach was sitting behind his desk with several sheets of paper in front of him.He looked up."Close the door."I did. My heart immediately started beating faster."Sit."I sat. Coach folded his hands."You know why you're here?""Not exactly."He nodded. "Good. Because I want you to listen before you react."I swallowed. "Okay."He pushed one of the papers toward me. I looked down. It was the championship lineup..My eyes scanned the names.T
Justin’s POVThe room felt painfully quiet.I stared at the administrator standing in front of me, waiting for the words that would decide whether I would play in the championship.I had prepared myself for the worst. Maybe I deserved it.After everything that happened, nobody would have blamed the school for removing me from the roster.The administrator looked down at the folder."Yesterday's scrimmage was reviewed by Coach and the athletic department."My heart pounded. She continued."Your academic requirements have been met."I released a breath."But your conduct remains a concern."I nodded. "I understand."She looked at Coach."However, Coach has recommended that you be given one final opportunity."My head snapped up. Coach? He nodded."One chance."I stared at him. "You mean...""You can remain on the championship roster," Coach said, "but you're on probation."I couldn't speak. The administrator continued."Any deliberate unsportsmanlike behavior, fighting, retaliation, or
Justin’s POVI barely slept. The paper Coach had given me was still sitting on my desk the next morning.Championship eligibility: UNDER REVIEW.I had read those words so many times that they had started to blur together. I knew I had passed the chemistry assessment. I knew my grades had improved.But I also knew why the school was reviewing me again. It wasn't only about my grades.After the fight with Kael, the school had every reason to question whether I could control myself during a high-pressure game.And honestly? I couldn't blame them. I had spent months letting anger control me.Yesterday, Kael had told me he wanted me on the team. I couldn't let him down, not because I wanted his approval.Because for once, I wanted to earn something honestly.I grabbed my bag and headed for school. Today, I wasn't going to make excuses.>>>>>>>>Akira’s POVI noticed Justin the moment I entered the classroom. He was sitting alone, his usual group wasn't around him. He wasn't laughing, he wa
Kael’s POVThe next afternoon, the rink felt different..Maybe it was because everyone knew what Coach had planned. Or maybe it was because I knew exactly who I would have to play beside.Justin. Adrienne.The three of us stood near the bench while Coach explained the rules."Full-contact scrimmage," he said. "I want intensity, but I don't want stupidity. You play hard, you play smart, and you keep your heads."His eyes landed on me. Then Justin."Especially you two." Justin nodded. I looked away. I didn't need the reminder. Coach pointed at the lineup board."Kael, center. Adrienne, left wing. Justin, right wing."Justin glanced at me. For a second, neither of us said anything. Adrienne cleared his throat."So….” I looked at him. He smiled awkwardly. "Guess we're teammates." Justin gave a small nod."Looks like it."Coach blew his whistle. "Get on the ice!"We moved. I tightened my gloves. This was going to be interesting.>>>>>>>>Akira’s POVI sat in the bleachers beside Camila. I w
Akira’s POVThe sound of hockey sticks hitting the ice echoed through the rink. Usually, it was one of my favorite sounds. Today, it made my stomach twist.I stood near the bleachers with my arms folded, watching the players skate across the rink. Kael was there, Adrienne was there, and Justin was there. For the first time since everything came crashing down, we were all in the same place again.I hadn't planned on coming to practice. I had actually told myself I wouldn't.But then Coach had asked me to help with some schoolwork related to the team's academic requirements, and somehow, I had ended up standing here.Maybe I was also tired of running away. Justin noticed me almost immediately. His stick slowed. For one second, our eyes met. I looked away.Not because I was scared. Because I didn't want him to think that looking at him meant I was ready to forgive him. I wasn't.Coach blew his whistle. "Eyes on the drill!" Everyone moved again. I watched Justin skate away. He looked diff







