The final match officially started. As in the previous matches, Noah was energetic in this match too. He was playing powerfully. The crowd was cheering loudly for Black Panthers moreover it would be better to say they were especially cheering for Noah. Cecil, naturally his focus was only on Noah too.
When Noah scored, he always looked in one particular direction. Cecil wasn't sure whether Noah was looking at him or the others. Every time Noah scored, he winked his eyes in the direction of Black Panthers supporters so, it was hard to determine who he was winking at. Girls who came for Noah would scream and claim that wink was for them.
Katherine sneered at those girls shout and said, "What are they so excited for? Noah is winking at Cecil, okay!"
It would also be okay if those girls were from their class but there were juniors and seniors girls too.
Samaira also said, "Let them think whatever they want."
Cecil was silent the whole time. He dared not to think that wink was for him. But still, in some parts of his heart, he hoped it was for him. Ahhh..... why would he torture himself wishing for impossible things?
Noah who was trying to impress Cecil played his best. He would always look at Cecil from the corner of his eyes and see Cecil was also looking at him smiling. But when he really looked at Cecil, Cecil wouldn't smile. So, he was in both an irritating and good mood. He scored a lot thinking Cecil would be impressed by his game. In the future too he must show how good he is to Cecil.
The game ended with an obvious win of 60-45. Black Panthers had scored 60 and Noah won the best player award. Noah was beaming with happiness. His eyes naturally searched for Cecil's figure in the crowd. As usual, Cecil was standing in the middle of the crowd, smiling and clapping at him. Cecil was happy for Noah and clapped as loud as he could. That large crowd almost squeezed him.
After the award ceremony was over, Noah immediately rushed out to search for Cecil. Cecil was standing alone under the tree. He was looking up at the blue sky. He didn't know what Cecil was thinking but Cecil looked too beautiful like an immortal. Noah then slowly walked towards Cecil and patted him from behind. Cecil was surprised to see Noah. He had thought Noah would be with his friends. Even though he was surprised, Cecil smiled at Noah and said,
"Congratulations on winning."
Noah also smiled and said, "Thanks."
Then Noah made Cecil sit down and himself sat beside Cecil. They were silent for a while until Noah asked, "What are your remaining games?"
Cecil adjusted his glasses and answered, "I have only chess competition now. What about you?"
Noah laid on the grass putting his arms under the back of his head.
"Tomorrow I have 100m running race and the day after tomorrow soccer competition. Come and watch me, okay."
"Sure." Even if Noah didn't say him, he would go to watch Noah's game.
Noah looked at Cecil intensely which made Cecil shiver. He looked down at Noah and asked, "What?"
"Cecil, do you have a crush on somebody?"
Cecil was shocked for a while. Why was Noah asking him such a question? Did Noah discover his crush on him? He was getting anxious. So what if Noah discovered? It was a do or die situation. He calmed himself and answered truthfully.
"Yes."
Noah's heart suddenly thumped hard. Cecil really had a crush on someone! Who was it? He remembered Marcus's words. Did Cecil really have a crush on Aerial? He wanted to ask further but the words got stuck on his throat. He just said, "Oh."
Cecil looked at Noah surprisingly. Noah didn't ask who his crush was. Was Noah okay with him? Did Noah like him too? He steeled his heart and asked, "Do you have a crush too?"
Noah thought for a while. Noah's silence was torture for Cecil. Then Noah said, "Hmmm... I don't know if I love them or not."
"So, you do have someone in your heart?"
"Yeah. There's one person I liked since I first came here and saw them but I am not sure if I love them or not. But when I think about them looking or loving someone else except me, I feel suffocated and my heart feels bad."
Cecil wasn't surprised knowing Noah had somebody he liked. Well, that girl must be really beautiful and lucky. He was feeling jealous of that girl who could make Noah feel like that but what could he do? He could just advise Noah as a good friend.
"Then that person has already occupied space in your heart to make you feel and think like that. Just be honest to your feelings."
Honest to his feeling, huh. Noah thought and smiled from the corner of his lips. He shifted on Cecil's lap to lay his head. Cecil was caught off-guard and didn't know what to do. His heart was beating crazily and his palms were sweating. As he was trying to push away Noah, he heard Noah saying,
"Let me stay like this for a while."