"Sure sure she was choking but they did hug up against each other though. She will probably see him as her saviour and fall in love. Maybe the break up was so heartbreaking that it made her so vulnerable," said Kigen with a sly quirk.
"Pssh, they only dated for a day or two. She is barely considered an ex," said Ross before a sharp wheeze passed by his ear.
Wyatt had served the ball but at that angle, it almost hit the net. Ross felt like he had done it on purpose but he knew that would be ridiculous.
Wyatt took his position as middle hitter his tall imposing figure intimidating Arwen on the other side of the net. Lance took his position as the libero, Kigen as the setter, Ross as the opposite hitter, and Wyatt as the middle hitter.
The coach blew the whistle and the game began. The volleyball flew back and forth in a flurry of spikes, digs, and sets. The games started amicable just like a friendly match between two skilled teams.
After the set, the two teams switched sides and while that was happening a guy from class two was heard saying Arwen, "Nice job dork for scoring Kilin. She is a catch," while patting his back. Arwen had no time to defend himself as the coach blew the whistle.
During the second set, the game got extremely heated. Wyatt and Ross, fueled by their competitive spirits, unleashed powerful spikes, aiming them directly at their opponent, Arwen. Arwen was a skilled player, but the relentless targeting left him struggling to defend against the onslaught.
As the game progressed, tensions rose. Arwen's frustration grew with every spike aimed his way, and he fought back valiantly, determined to prove himself. However, the pressure began to take its toll. In a particularly intense rally, one of Ross's spikes connected with Arwen's face, causing his nose to bleed.
The court fell silent as everyone realised the extent of the situation. Wyatt and Ross had crossed a line, and what was once a friendly game had turned into a bullying match. Lance and Kigen exchanged glances. Ross they could get but Wyatt was always calm and indifferent. He must have been that pissed at Arwen to lose his cool like that.
Wyatt and Ross went under the net to the other side to check on Arwen. On the badminton court Keele's heart raced as she watched Arwen, stumble and collapse on the volleyball court. Without a second thought, Keele dashed forward, her concern overriding any hesitation.
As she reached Arwen's side, she noticed Wyatt, one of the boys involved in hitting him with the ball, hovering nearby. Keele's emotions surged, fueled by anger she had towards Wyatt for embarrassing Kilin. She shoved Wyatt away, her actions driven by anger.
Kilin raced after Keele her footsteps echoing on the court. She found Lance berating Keele for her interference. But Keele's gaze, fierce and unyielding, met Lance's furious stare. It was a gaze that held a glimmer of something almost terrifying, a fire burning deep within her. She was moderating for Kilin last night but after the livestream, she went through the forum.
Because of a stupid dumb game, they put Kilin through all that and she became a laughingstock. The only good thing was that Kilin stayed off the school forum most of the time. So yes, Keele was very angry.
Kilin, normally a cheerful and smiling presence, looked anything but at that moment.
Her brows furrowed as she stepped between Keele and Lance, forming a shield against the growing tension her eyes narrowing into a terrifying glare.
As the bystanders watched, Kilin's voice cut through the tense silence. "Lance, hold on a second," she said firmly, her tone laced with an unexpected authority. "I understand you're upset, but let's take a step back and assess the situation."
Wyatt pulled Lance back but it was Kilin's sudden shift in demeanour, that made him hesitate. He had never seen this side of her before, and it made him reconsider his rage-fueled impulse. As he looked into her eyes, he saw a determination that commanded respect. Lance hesitated, his anger momentarily tempered by Kilin's words. He took a step back and Kilin turned to Keele and said, "Let's take him to the infirmary."
The coach who was intrigued by all this drama forgot to say something for a moment. He blew his whistle and pointed at the culprit. "You take him to the infirmary... Why are you guys always so aggressive?"
Ross, "..."
Why was he getting named when it was Wyatt who started this mess anyway? He pursed his lips and helped Arwen who had his nose pointing upwards while pinching it. Wyatt watched them leave his expression as indifferent as before. Lance patted his arm before walking over to the side benches to sit down. All his life he had never been glared at like that by a girl and it was surprisingly terrifying.
***
While walking to the infirmary Keele quickly fetched a tissue from her pocket and handed it to Arwen. "Press this against your nose to stop the bleeding," she instructed, her voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.
Ross grabbed hold of Arwen's arm to support him when he saw Kilin reach out to help him. Ross was very impatient but he didn't show it. With each step, he carefully guided Arwen, making sure to avoid any sudden movements.
"You guys are so mean. What kind of game was that? Everything and everyone is just a game to you and you don't care about other people's feelings," yelled Keele and Ross glanced at Kilin who was silent but her expression was saying everything.
He rubbed the back of his neck and reluctantly apologised to Arwen. "I am sorry Arwen. Things just got a little heated."
Keele rolled her eyes while Arwen replied, "It's fine." He was so forgiving despite being assaulted by a volleyball.
As they reached the infirmary, Nurse Logan, a kind-hearted and experienced nurse, greeted them with a reassuring smile. "What seems to be the problem? It's only been two days since school started and you already got injured. You kids play too rough," he said, his voice soothing.