Chapter 5. Interrupted

The sudden burst of loud voices outside the stall instantly snapped both of them back to reality.

   The restroom door slammed closed. Students who walked in moved around noisily, laughing and talking over each other.

   Leon’s eyes flew open fully. At the same time, Noa jerked back slightly. His hand slid away from Leon's cheek. His head pulled back just enough to create breathing space between them.

   Neither of them moved further, and neither spoke.

   They stood frozen inside the cramped stall. They stared at each other while their hearts pounded violently.

   Outside, the students remained completely unaware, talking at the top of their voices and moving around.

   Water ran from one of the sinks while loud chatter bounced around the restroom walls.

   “Bro, Coach Finn nearly killed us today.”

   “I swear my legs are gone.” Another muttered.

   “You still coming tonight?” The other asked.

   “I think I will take an excuse, my legs ache badly from that fall.” The guy responded.

   They chatted on and on.

   From the closed stall, Leon swallowed hard. Noa’s breathing was still uneven.    

   The terrifying part was that

Leon felt it and realized his own breathing was also uneven.

   Noa’s thoughts swirled within him, and a slight smile curved his lips at their position.

   Leon wondered why a sane person should smile at their awkward situation.

   Suddenly, his anger came rushing back all at once. His blue eyes blazed as he glared at Noa furiously.

   Noa stared right back, clearing the smile off his face.

   Before Leon could speak, Noa quickly lifted a finger to his lips. A sign to Leon not to make a sound.

   Noa’s gaze darkened slightly, but he said nothing.

   They remained trapped in silence while the voices outside continued for another painfully long second.

   Leon could hear his own pulse hammering inside his ears. Could they hear it, too? Could Noa hear it? He wondered. Then, finally, the students started leaving. Their voices faded.

   The restroom door shut again.

Silence crashed back instantly.

   “Move,” Leon muttered sharply in a low voice with gritted teeth, but Noa didn’t.

   Leon’s anger flared immediately.

   “I said move the fuck away.”

   Angrily, he shoved Noa hard on the shoulder this time.

   Noa barely budged.

   “Will you calm down first?” Noa whispered tensely. “I need to say something.”

   “No.” Leon’s voice shook with restrained fury. “Your stupid actions almost caused a fucking scandal. I don’t want to hear anything coming out of your mouth.”

   He tried pushing past him again, but Noa blocked the stall door once more.

   “Just fucking listen to me.” This time Noa’s voice carried frustration and guilt. Seeing Leon this angry suddenly made him realize how badly he’d pushed things.

   “I said no.” Leon’s chest rose sharply with every breath. “I’m not interested in whatever bullshit you want to say. I want to leave. Right now. So move aside.”

   Noa hesitated briefly before speaking again. “I want to say I’m sorry. I didn’t…”

   “I don’t fucking care if you’re sorry.” Leon shoved him hard again. This time, Noa let him through.

   The stall door unlocked violently as Leon stormed out.

   He walked straight toward the sink area and turned on the faucet aggressively before scrubbing his hands under the rushing water like he was trying to erase something from his skin.

   His movements were sharp, angry, and unstable.

   Noa followed slowly but stopped several feet behind him. His eyes never left Leon.

   Water dripped from Leon’s fingers as he splashed some onto his face roughly before gripping the edge of the sink tightly.

   “Leon,” Noa started quietly. “I’m really sorry for coming onto you but I know you wanted…”

   “You shut the fuck up,” Leon said and spun around instantly. His eyes burned with real anger now.

   “That fantasy exists only in your fucked up head,” he snapped harshly. “I don’t want you. Do you hear me?”

   Noa’s jaw clenched.

   Leon turned away again and yanked a paper towel from the dispenser before dabbing aggressively at his face.

   But Noa stepped forward anyway. “Really?” he asked softly. “Then why did you close your eyes when I touched your cheek?”

   Leon froze for a second.

   “You gave in to it,” Noa continued quietly. “You were waiting for me to kiss you.”

   “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” Leon’s voice came out harsher but less steady.

   Noa noticed immediately.

   Leon crumpled the wipe in his fist, threw it in the trash can, and headed straight for the exit.

   “You’ve completely lost your mind,” he spat without turning back. “So stay the hell away from me.”

   Noa stared at his tense back for a second before exhaling slowly.

   “I can’t do that, cutie,” he said to his hearing. “Because I know you want me too.”

   Leon’s hand tightened violently around the restroom door handle.

   “And I’ll make you admit it someday,” Noa said it like a promise.

   The door slammed hard enough to echo through the restroom as Leon stormed out without another word.

   Leaving Noa standing there alone, staring at the closed door.

Still feeling the ghost of Leon’s breath against his body.

   Later that night, their practice didn’t get any complaints. Coach Finn put two of them in the same team. To their surprise, they gave it a good shot.

   After the practice, the sound of skates grinding against the ice echoed through the nearly empty rink.

   Noa leaned against the glass barrier, breathing hard after practice. Other players slowly cleared out. He watched as Leon passed beside him without looking his way. His dark hair clung damply against his forehead, his jersey sticking slightly to his chest from sweat.

   He wished so much he could tell him what his offense was. During the practice anytime their eyes met, he glared at him like an enemy.

   “Captain! You coming?” Nath shouted as he headed out of the rink.

   “In a minute,” Noa answered absentmindedly as his mind switched to Diamond. He wondered if he had replied to his chats.

   He pushed himself away from the glass barrier and headed to the rink exit.

   In the locker room, some mates were busy pulling out their gadgets. Some were already in the shower stall. 

   He headed straight to his locker as he pulled off his groove. Then picked up his phone and unlocked it. His attention remained fixed on the screen as he opened the Too chat app. 

   The screen stayed painfully empty. No reply to his messages or missed calls from Diamond.

   Noa's jaw tightened slightly.

   For three years, there had never been a single night without at least one message from him. Even on exhausting days. Even during road matches. Even when Diamond said he was sick.

   There was always something like jokes, teasing voice notes or even a blurry photo hiding his face.

   For the past two weeks, there had been nothing. Not even a goodnight.

   Noa exhaled slowly and unlocked the screen again despite already checking a few seconds ago.

   Their last chat remained sitting there. His messages for two weeks remained unanswered.

   Noa swallowed hard.

   “Damn idiot...” he muttered under his breath. Then turned and stared at Leon. He had picked up a towel and headed to a shower stall.

   He put the phone in his locker, exhaustion, weighing heavily on his shoulders.

   The truth was that he missed Diamond pathetically. Yet he wanted Leon. That made absolutely no sense because he didn’t even know Diamond’s real face. 

   Only fragments existed. His blue eyes, pink lips, and that sexy body of his which looked like Leon's. Then that soft laugh that somehow always reached straight into Noa’s chest. Yet Diamond had somehow become the safest part of Noa’s miserable life.

   Noa shook his head in disbelief as he removed his jersey. Then the locker beside him opened and closed.

   “You look like somebody dumped you, Cap.” Derek snorted beside him while throwing a towel over his shoulder.

   Noa rolled his eyes weakly. “Shut up, Derek.”

   “Oh my God,” another teammate gasped dramatically. “Captain Noa finally got rejected.”

   The locker room erupted with laughter. Noa forced a smirk, but it faded quickly.

   If only they knew, he thought inwardly.

   He sat heavily on the bench and grabbed his duffel bag. His muscles ache terribly tonight. Between practices, classes, his part-time warehouse shifts, and visiting his sister earlier that evening, his body was beginning to give up on him.

   However, stopping wasn’t an option especially with the debts, and the hospital bills. Then with 

collectors breathing down his neck every month.

   He sighed as he picked up his towel. Then his phone vibrated suddenly.

   His heart jumped. He grabbed it instantly, but the excitement died just as fast. It wasn't Diamond. It was an unknown Number.

   His expression darkened immediately. “Hello,” he answered reluctantly. 

   “Your payment is late again.”

   The rough male voice on the other side instantly tightened every muscle inside Noa’s body.