Chapter 5 (Lana) – Life is…

The thing about life that I like and hate at the same time is that it goes on. Yes, I love the idea that despite everything that I had been experiencing, I know that there will be a time when all of this will come to an end. But what I hate about that thought is the fact that before you reach the time for everything to be okay, you still have to go through all the bad things life throws your way. Just like what I am going through right now. 

Despite having my heart broken, here I am torturing myself as I watch my twin sister and her boyfriend as they do their sweet nothings in front of me, makes me want to shoot myself. 

“You okay?” Calvin asks as he hands me my gear. 

“Why wouldn’t I be?”I asked without looking at him, instead, I focused on putting my gear on.

“You know that I am on your side, right?” Calvin asks as he put his vest on.

I turned to face him. 

“Yes, I know,” I replied smiling.

“With that being said,” Calvin said as he help me put my vest on, “I also know when that smile of yours is true or fake.” 

“I didn’t know that my smile can be fake,” I said as I rolled my eyes at him. 

“Yes it can,” Calvin said as he turns me around to secure my gear. 

“Stop making assumptions about me,” I said as I angrily turned to face him.

But before I can say anything else, Calvin raises his hands as a sign of surrender with a funny look on his face making me laugh. I never would have expected this side of Calvin before. When I first met him he was this quiet, serious guy who was always following Nori around wherever he goes. But after what happened between Nori and me, he changed. He spends more time with me than Nori. And the more time I spend with him, the more I find out that he is not some kind of stuck-up man as he seems to be before. Instead, he seems like my brother from another mother. 

“Gather around,” Drake called out. 

When I started training, I used to be part of Nori and Calvin’s team. At that time, I was not using my magic powers to help the team as it would be unfair to Drake and Leon’s team. But after I introduced my sister to them, I was allowed to use my magic. Being the competitive person that he is, I initially thought that Nori will choose my sister instead of me, but he didn’t. Well, that was before Dana became Nori’s chosen mate. 

Now, things changed and Nori’s friend adjusted to avoid any conflict. Drake and Nori are born to be leaders. And Calvin as well as Leon both admitted that they are both great strategists. The only difference between the two is that Drake is more patient than Nori. 

Noi wanted to retain his tandem with Calvin, but Calvin didn’t want to leave me. That’s when the four rising Alpha of Purple Hill decided to change partners. Sing Drake and Nori are two promising leaders, the became the leaders of the two teams. And since the previous tandem is not possible because of the team's mages, the tandem changed. 

Team one, also called Team Purpura, is led by Nori with Leon as his right hand and of course, her mage is no other than Dana. 

Team two, also called Team Luna, is led by Drake with Calvin as his right hand and me as his mage.

Sometimes, I just want to back out of these competitions, especially after losing the first two against Nori. I never heard anything from Drake, even if he was the one always paying for the food and drinks whenever we lose. Instead, he just keep on encouraging me and giving me pointers that can improve my way of combat to let us win. He was also patient about me not using my magic, even if it was my special purpose for the team. He was always telling me, that using magic is not the only way to win. Even if the reason why we lost two times was because of Dana’s magic.

Losing once was acceptable, it was understood because of the team members being shuffled. But when we lost the second time, people started talking behind my back. Honestly, I was okay with it. I understand them completely. Because I know that if I was in their position, I would have done it as well. 

But being the kind and dependable Drake, it was not something he would tolerate, and gave our team a warning that whoever continued to tell mean things about me will be removed from the group and banned forever. 

After that, people stopped talking, as they gave me back my privacy. 

“Alright, do we have everyone?” Drake asks as we all gather around him. 

“Today, I am confident that we will win,” Drake said confidently as he looks at each one of us. 

“With that being said, I will take the west and the north, Calvin will take the east, and Lana will take the south,” he added. Upon hearing his plan, I couldn’t help but think that he was going crazy. How can he trust the south to me? Me of all people. 

“Drake,” my voice croaked accidentally as I called his name making everyone turn their focus on me. I hated it when they do that. I cleared my throat before trying again. 

“I m-mean, Alpha Drake,” I stammered, “Don’t you think the south is better left to someone else other than me?” I asked. 

Drake’s face broke the seriousness away as he smile at me.

“I know you can handle the south, Lana,” Drake answered confidently as he gives me his handsome smile. Yes, Alpha Drake is handsome, actually, Purple Hill’s Alphas are all handsome in their own way. Which is why you can’t compare them to each other. Everyone has their own look as well and that was mainly what separates them from the other Alphas. 

“I don’t think I can handle the south on my own,” I said honestly. 

Drake stood up and walked toward me, “Yes, I believe that you can do it this time.” 

“But,” I started to say but Drake stopped me even before I can deliver my reason for not accepting the role.

“No buts, Lana,” Drake said as he places his big slender hands on my shoulder, “This time, I know we will win.”

Drake turned around to talk to the other members of the team before I can open my mouth once again to let him know how much I disapprove of his plan. 

“When Drake decides on something, you know very well that it will never change right?” Calvin asks as he stood beside me. 

“Kill me now,” I replied. 

“Oh come on,” Calvin said with a smile as he places his arm over my shoulder, “It’s time to redeem yourself, baby girl,” Calvin added. 

“I think I’m going to be sick,” I said as I stop myself from throwing up.

“Oh, no, you’re not,” Calvin declare as he stood behind me with his hands over my shoulder as he pushes me forward, “Stop being dramatic, it’s just a game.”

“Easy for you to say,” I retorted. 

Calvin turned me around so that I was facing him. What he did next surprised me as he bent down low enough so that making me look into his captivating eyes. 

“Trust me,” he started to say, “This time we will win.”

I exhale the breath that was holding releasing some of the tension in my body. 

“That’s my girl,” he said as he gave me a thumbs up, “Show them what you are capable of.” 

He led the way towards Drake as we all listen to Drake’s instruction one last time. 

Remember what I told you about life earlier? 

Well, this is one of those moments that I hated about life moving on. If only the ground can swallow me whole so that I won’t be having this problem right now. But another thing about life I haven’t told you is how much it sucks. Right now, my life sucks.