Five

"I don't want to," Zachary spewed, glaring at his father, causing his mother to gasp loudly.

"Zachary!" Mr. Robertson looked extremely pissed as he slammed a fist on the table. It made Mrs. Robertson jump in surprise again.

"Honey.." She was trying to calm her husband down but her hand was brushed off by Mr. Robertson.

"I told you I don't want to. If you like her so much, why don't you marry her instead?" Zachary indifferently said as he placed his fork down the plate. The action and words only made Mr. Robertson more aggravated. His son's rude behavior was something he couldn't control ever since he was a kid.

"Zachary. Your father only wants what's best for you," his mother tried to join and help his father. Zachary smirked sarcastically at the words she used. When did getting engaged to someone you haven't even met once become the "best" thing for your child to do?

It was then his phone vibrated in his pocket, pulling everyone's attention to him. He slid it open and read the message.

It was from Coach Brix.

Zachary heard the loud thud inside. Just what was he expecting? The person he wanted to call the most was probably busy with her new boyfriend. Zachary couldn't help but glare at his parents, the only objects he could see and blame at the moment. After a few seconds, Zachary got up.

"I gotta go for practice. Bye, parents," Zachary waved to his parents who only looked more shocked than they were.

Mr. Robertson's eyebrows knitted in anger, then heavily sighed as he slowly calmed down but was still confused as hell.

Zachary had been a rude, disobedient, always doing what he wanted kind of son since he was a kid and he doesn't really go to dinners with his parents. Parents who only have time and effort for their company to become richer. Was there a day Zachary was taken care of by "mom" when he was sick? Nope. They never really cared. Not one bit.

When Zachary turned sixteen, he had left home and started living in his own apartment. Of course, Mr. Robertson was the one to pay all the bills and his other necessities. As much as he wanted to be a more father figure to Zachary, he didn't have the time and effort for it. Every second of his life was being spent for their company. He strongly believed it was for Zachary's sake. For his future.

In the past three years, Zachary actually became a bit closer to them. He agreed to have dinner with his parents once a month. Mr. Robertson knew how Zachary hated the idea and was actually surprised when Zachary agreed to it one day. Even now, Mr. Robertson didn't know what caused Zachary to make that decision.

That was why they were shocked to see Zachary acting up like his old self again. Though Mr. Robertson had a hunch of the reason... He cleared his throat and turned to look at his wife.

"Call Mrs. Addison and tell her Zachary couldn't make it yet because he has practice. And send her and her daughter their favorite sweets to make amends for it."

"But Honey, that woman doesn't like sweets too much."

"Just give her what she wants," Mr. Robertson looked like he was about to snap.

"But Hon-"

"Just do it!"

And he did snap in the end.

Ah, temperament. Just where did Zachary inherit it?

When Zachary arrived at the swimming area, he found Coach Brix and his other teammates almost finishing up their warm-up. To be honest, Zachary didn't have the energy to do this. Not when things felt like they wouldn't be so good anymore in his life ever since someone destroyed it. Strong word but it was the painful truth.

David was one of the team. There were also two others who were close with Zachary. Actually, he got along with them all well. 

"Chad! You're late as well?" Coach Brix's eyebrows twitched, finding another head behind Zachary.

Zachary fisted his hands.

Chad walked towards Zachary, and Zachary almost pounced and destroyed Chad's face right there, if not for David who immediately came in between. Just being in the same place with Chad made Zachary's blood boil.

David cleared his throat and signaled the two other friends to distract Coach Brix.

"You two! Can you not take whatever war you're having in here? We're a team!" David silently scolded the two who kept glaring at each other.

"You three over there! Why are you still standing there? Chad! Zachary! Proceed to the lockers and change quickly! David, get into the water!" Coach Brix ordered. He then used his whistle to order the others to come into the water as well.

Zachary glared at Chad before leaving, and headed to the locker room and changed. Chad followed behind and Zachary couldn't take it anymore and so he decided to speak.

"So? Are you happy now that you took Kathryn away from me?" Zachary tasted the bitterness of his own words.

Chad seemed to have ignored it though, closing his own locker as he turned and headed out after changing to his swimming trunks. Before he could, Zachary spoke again.

"Don't think this is the end. I'm going to make your lives a living hell." Zachary evilly smirked and headed out with heavy steps.

Chad closed his eyes and took a deep breath, knowing fully well Zachary was someone capable of doing what he had just said. Taking a few more deep breaths, he fisted his hands to control his emotions before he headed out and joined the others in the water after having a quick warm-up.

After a few minutes, Coach Brix's whistle almost made everyone deaf. His face was contorted in anger as he looked at Zachary.

"Zachary! What is your problem? You're not usually like this!" He roared, talking about how Zachary didn't swim faster and had lagged too much than the others this time. Usually, Zachary was among the first few ones to finish it. Yet now, Zachary was the last one. The very last.

He looked so unfocused, so distracted that it made the others wonder, except for David and Chad of course who already had an assumption as to why.

Zachary remained silent, half of his body still underwater as he looked down the water. He was spacing out and a few of his friends already went near him and gave a tap on his shoulder. David felt alarmed and tried to rescue his friend.

"Um, Coach, maybe Zachary just needed to-"

"How about we try again huh? Come on, team, get ready! Another lapse!" Coach Brix suddenly had his fighting spirit back.

They did the same again, doing another 20m race, but to Coach Brix's disappointment, Zachary was the last to finish it again.

"Seriously! What do I do with you, Zachary? Are you a wimp? Do you really-" before Coach Brix could finish his rambling, a fist connected to his jaw and caused him to stumble and fall down the floor.

"Shut your mouth or I'll really beat the crap out of you," Zachary said to his coach on the floor, his eyes hooded as he stared down at his own mentor.

Everyone gasped and froze to where they were. Before anyone could recover from the shock, Zachary had already gone to the locker room, and soon, left the gymnasium.