LOGINAkira's POV
I halted at the front of the ice hockey ring, the sound seemed to be coming from there. I mumbled to myself softly, before opening the door to the ring.
Someone was in there, he was on the ice, practicing shots. His jet black hair made it impossible for me not to recognize him. I coughed nervously, calling to his attention. He turned to me, his eyes portraying surprise.
It was Kael, who else could it be? Why the hell is he practicing alone after closing hours? Did he get trapped like me too?
“Milky? Why are you here?” he asked.
“I got locked in,” I said. He stared at me in disbelief.
“I was reading at the library when the school bell rang. I wasn't aware so I got locked in,” I clarified.
“And the Librarian couldn't usher you out?”
“He probably did know I was still there, I usually sit at a corner which makes it hard for people to find me there.”
“That's your problem then,” he turned away from me and continued with what he was doing.
“Why…why are you in here?”
“Practicing.”
“You are practicing all by yourself after school hours?” I was astonished.
“Yeah… Isn’t it nice? I get to have the hockey ring all to myself,” he muttered, turning back to me, while I stared at him like he was speaking gibberish.
“Isn't this place supposed to be locked? How do you even…”
“I am a Blackwood. I get to do what I want, I have special keys to the doors.”
He didn't have to rub it on my face. I knew the Blackwoods were freaking wealthy.
“Ohh!” I responded.
“So can I get the keys?” nervousness sounded through my voice.
He dropped his hockey stick. “Move closer,”
Move closer? The space between us is good enough for me. He tilted his head a little, hinting that I am not moving.
I slowly moved closer to him and I stopped from feets away from him.
“I won't repeat myself.”
I moved closer till we were only centimeters close. He gently moved his hand to my face and he removed my glasses.
“My glasses!” I shrieked.
“They make you look ugly,” he said.
I don't know what that was supposed to mean but I didn't like it.
“I can't see clearly without them.”
“You can see me right?”
I have______ but yeah, I could still see him.
“Yeah…”
“It's just you and I in here, you don't need to see anything else.”
He held my glasses in his hands and moved away from me.
Now, what did he gain from doing this? My glasses make me look ugly… how is that his concern? I thought he wanted to hand me the keys.
“You can sit and watch me now,” he muttered, picking up his hockey stick as he proceeded to continue playing.
“I don't want to watch you.”
“Your opinion doesn't matter.”
I found my way to a seat, without a choice I watched him play.
He showed off his hockey skills bit by bit. I didn't know when I started to enjoy watching him. He shot the puck into the net, which is something that was almost impossible, judging from the distance.
“How was that?” He asked from down the ice.
“It was good. Beautiful shot.” I cheered. He smiled in response. He got out of the ice and picked up his bag which he kept by the board.
I quickly got down to meet him.
“We can leave now,” he muttered.
Thank goodness. Watching him play wasn't bad, but I needed to get home soon.
“Take this,” he pushed his bag to me, just when I thought he was starting to treat me nicely.
An asshole would always be an asshole.
We got out of the school and surprisingly, his chauffeur was already waiting outside.
The man's face flashed with surprise as he saw us working towards the car together.
“Good day sir, good day miss,” he greeted.
“Good day sir,” I smiled at the man.
Kael didn't respond to him. Is he always this rude to everyone?
I wanted to sit in the front seat, but Kael gave me a deadly glare.
“Sit with me.”
I sat with him in the back seat choicelessly.
The drive was very silent and it made it kind of awkward. I wasn't looking forward to having any conversations with Kael but I didn't expect the drive to be so plain.
“Thank you sir,” I said as the car halted and I got down. Kael also got down. I did go to my house, time was gone already, so I walked with Kael towards his house.
“Aren't you going home?” He asked me.
“I still have to tutor you,”
“We already had our lessons.”
“What lessons?”
“Hockey lesson,” he answered bluntly.
“But that isn't…”
“We only do things my way here. You can go to your house.”
I stopped walking and stared at him in confusion.
“Don't do that Milky,” he warned.
“This is so absurd and…”
“I don't wanna hear it. We are doing things my way or I won't let you tutor me anymore.”
“You can't fire me.”
“I can do things that would get you fired,” he threatened.
I backed out immediately. Kael never makes empty threats. There was a time he threatened to _________ and he did ju
st that.
I walked to my house slowly with careless thoughts running in my head. If I want to make this work, I have to play by his rules.
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







